IPOH - Kerajaan Persekutuan setakat ini tiada sebarang perancangan untuk menguruskan hasil unsur nadir bumi bukan radioaktif (NR-REE) termasuk melalui syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC).
Menteri Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad berkata, pihaknya kini hanya dalam perbincangan melibatkan kerangka industri REE sebagaimana yang dihasratkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebelum ini supaya negara tidak sekadar menggali, tetapi turut menjual bahan mentah.
"Saya ingat Perak dah lalui proses itu sebelum ini sebagai pengeluar timah dan sebagainya, kita nak seperti dalam industri minyak, kita gali dan juga proses di negara ini, jadi dapat pulangan kepada negara.
"Jadi tentang soal untuk tubuhkan GLC dan sebagainya, tidak timbul buat masa ini walaupun ada dicadangkan di perbahasan Parlimen.
"Kita bergerak mengikut kerangka Perlembagaan dengan mineral selain daripada minyak dan gas terletak di bawah kerajaan negeri," katanya pada sidang media dekat sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas sekiranya terdapat rancangan untuk menubuhkan GLC bagi menguruskan hasil NR-REE di negeri terlibat.
Ditanya jika terdapat kekhuatiran hasil NR-REE mungkin diuruskan GLC, Nik Nazmi menjawab: "Tiada kekhuatiran itu."
Julai lepas, Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad pada persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak berkata, kerajaan negeri akan memastikan NR-REE kekal milik kerajaan negeri dan tidak akan diuruskan oleh GLC. - Bernama
IPOH, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- All development carried out must adhere to the guidelines set by the Department of Town and Country Planning (PLANMalaysia) to prevent unwanted incidents, said Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
He said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), through the Department of Minerals and Geosciences Malaysia (JMG), will assess the land condition, while the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) will do the same for development that affects forests and wildlife.
He said PLANMalaysia, which is under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), has valid reasons for establishing the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (KSAS).
"We know that land is a state matter, which is why our guidelines are directed to state governments or local authorities (local government authorities) that approve the Planning Permission (KM), as it falls within their jurisdiction.
"When PLANMalaysia designates an area as an Environmentally Sensitive Area or when the Department of Environment (DOE) issues warnings in reports like the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), it is for a reason," he told a press conference here today.
He said this when asked whether NRES is involved in reviewing reports on land clearing for agricultural purposes to ensure the affected area is safe and does not lead to disasters such as floods and water surge phenomena.
He said the reason for PLANMalaysia establishing KSAS and the DOE strict in issuing the EIA report is to ensure public safety, as well as to prioritise environmental protection.
Regarding the water surge incident in Ulu Slim, he advised the public to exercise caution when planning picnics at river sites and to always follow the advice and guidelines issued by the authorities.
Meanwhile, regarding complaints about air and odour pollution in the Simpang Pulai area, Nik Nazmi said the DOE had inspected a scheduled waste recovery facility in Simpang Pulai, which was said to be the cause of the air and odour pollution in the area and several actions had been taken.
IPOH: Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam (NRES) memberi jaminan bahawa hasil perlombongan mineral unsur nadir bumi bukan radioaktif (NR-REE) akan kekal menjadi hak kerajaan negeri yang mengusahakannya.
Menterinya, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad berkata, ia kerana berpandukan Perlembagaan, perlombongan sebarang jenis mineral termasuk NR-REE, selain minyak dan gas (O&G) di bawah bidang kuasa kerajaan negeri.
Beliau berkata, jaminan itu dibuat biarpun sebelum ini terdapat cadangan penubuhan syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC) di peringkat pusat untuk bertindak sebagai pengawal selia perlombongan NR-REE di negara ini.
Di peringkat kerajaan pusat, katanya, rangkaian industri mineral NR-REE yang lengkap ingin dibangunkan membabitkan hal eksport, penyelidikan dan pembangunan (R&D) hasil mineral itu.
"Sebagaimana yang Perdana Menteri (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) hasratkan supaya kita tidak hanya gali dan jual bahan (NR-REE) mentah, kita hendak ianya macam dalam industri minyak (apabila) kita gali dan proses maka kita dapat nilai (keuntungan) berkenaan.
"Kita bergerak mengikut kerangka Perlembagaan kita yang mana mineral selain daripada O&G, mineral ini terletak di bawah bidang kuasa kerajaan negeri. Cuma kita tentulah hendak bangunkan satu rangkaian industri yang lengkap dan bila ianya dieksport itu membabitkan kuasa kerajaan Persekutuan.
"Tetapi yang kita buat (bagi NR-REE), dia berbeza daripada model PETRONAS yang 1974 (Akta Kemajuan Petroleum 1974 [Akta 144]).
"Kita tidak ada rancangan itu (GLC pusat memiliki dan menguasai hak hasil perlombongan mineral) setakat ini, yang kita ada hanya kita sudah luluskan prosedur operasi standard (SOP) untuk NR-REE," katanya dalam sidang media berhubung aduan pencemaran bau dan udara di kawasan Simpang Pulai, di sini hari ini.
Nik Nazmi ditanya mengenai kebimbangan yang pernah disuarakan oleh Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad bahawa kerajaan Perak serta negeri lain yang mengusahakan perlombongan NR-REE khuatir terhadap hasil perlombongan mineral itu yang dikatakan akan dikawal oleh kerajaan pusat.
Saarani pada sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Perak Julai lalu, menyatakan kebimbangan itu dan memaklumkan hasil NR-REE adalah hak kerajaan negeri dan akan terus mempertahankan hak khususnya sudut royalti.
Saarani dalam pada itu bagaimanapun mengakui kerajaan pusat akan menjadi fasilitator atau penyelaras kepada aktiviti-aktiviti yang berkaitan dengan NR-REE.
Penyataan itu diberikan Saarani susulan ura-ura yang berlegar kemungkinan satu akta mengenai NR-REE akan digubal di peringkat kerajaan pusat sebagaimana kewujudan Akta Petroleum (Langkah-langkah Keselamatan) 1984 (Akta 302).
Kewujudan Akta 302 terdahulu, didakwa segelintir pihak mengakibatkan kerajaan pusat mengawal hingga membawa kepada situasi 'pilih kasih' apabila terdapat negeri memperoleh royalti manakala sebilangan negeri tertentu tidak memperolehinya.
April lalu, Nik Nazmi dilapor menyatakan keperluan untuk Akta Pembangunan Mineral 1994 dipinda dalam usaha memenuhi keperluan pembangunan kerangka model perniagaan NR-REE negara.
Kerangka perundangan itu adalah perkara asas yang perlu diselesaikan terlebih dahulu sebelum perbincangan dibuat mengenai penubuhan GLC meneroka dan mengawal selia industri berkenaan.
IPOH: The Federal Government currently has no plans to manage non-radioactive rare earth element (NR-REE) resources, including through government-linked companies (GLCs). Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the government is still discussing the REE industry framework and planning how to manage REE resources, following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's vision to not only extract but also process and sell these materials. "Perak has experience as a tin producer and we want to do something similar in the REE industry, by extracting and processing the resources locally so that the value stays within the country," he told a press conference near here today. He said there are no plans to set up a GLC to manage NR-REE at this time, even though the idea has been discussed in Parliament, adding that according to the Constitution, the management of minerals other than oil and gas falls under state government authority. Nik Nazmi further assured that there are no concerns about GLCs managing NR-REE. In July, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad confirmed that the state government will keep NR-REE under state control and will not involve GLCs in its management.
KUALA LUMPUR: Ever since last Friday (Aug 23), money changer Noor has felt fear whenever she steps out of her workplace on Jalan Masjid India.
“When I am in the building, I feel safe but when I am walking outside, I feel afraid … I am looking at the ground in fear,” said the mother of two, who has been working in the bustling area for about 10 years.
An Indian tourist fell into a sinkhole in front of Malayan Mansion last Friday morning, mere metres from where Ms Noor works. While she did not witness the incident, she has watched the video of what happened and worries the same could happen to her.
“I don’t know how many times I have walked on that exact spot. Sometimes in the morning, I am seated on that bench next to the spot while waiting for the shop to open,” said Ms Noor, who declined to provide her full name.
On Fridays, thousands of Muslims would also attend prayers at Masjid India, spilling out to the surrounding areas with their prayer mats, added Mr Hairul Hizwan, 34, who runs a stall selling Malay kueh, drinks and coconut water.
“I can only imagine if the incident had occurred then,” he told CNA.
Ever since the incident, the area – home to several department stores and goldsmiths – has been shunned by locals and tourists alike.
Ms Noor said business at her shop has plunged by nearly 90 per cent. “This is a tourist area where thousands (typically) come for shopping because of the competitive prices,” she said.
Mr Hairul, who has been operating there for the past 15 years, could easily sell 400 curry puffs a day before the incident. In recent days, he has sold less than half that amount.
“Like it or not, I must come here. I earn a daily wage and don’t have a fixed monthly income,” he lamented. “I don’t know how long this will be for.”
Mr Mohd Zuri Yusoff, a security guard at the Malayan Mansion, said he was shocked to hear about the incident as the walkway was used by thousands of people daily.
"I am definitely more careful now when I walk around the area," he said, adding he would also continue to show up for work.
While this is not the first time a sinkhole has appeared on the street – a similar cave-in occurred about 50m away just last month in front of the Masjid India community police station – the heightened worry is because last Friday’s incident claimed a victim, they believe.
Search and rescue efforts for the missing victim, identified as Ms Vijayaletchumy, entered their fifth day on Tuesday (Aug 27) with rescuers doing more flushing of the manholes around the area and searching the Pantai Dalam treatment plant 7km away, where the sewer ends.
Separately, another cave-in occurred on Aug 27 in the Kuala Lumpur suburb of Kampung Kerinchi, along Jalan Pantai Permai, due to a collapsed drain. No casualties or injuries were reported.
WAS IT THE LIMESTONE?
Malaysian social media has been abuzz, sharing past research findings of the Malaysian capital being susceptible to sinkholes, landslides and rockfalls due to its geology.
According to a 2017 study by researchers from the Universiti Teknologi MARA’s Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, Kuala Lumpur has two different geological formations: The Kenny Hill Formation which consists of sedimentary rocks, and Kuala Lumpur Limestone Formation with “highly erratic karstic constituents”.
Rapid development over the past 158 years has led to “specific changes in topography and geomorphology such as the appearance of sinkholes”, the study stated.
While sinkholes cannot be completely prevented, the authors said they can be systematically managed, such as by accurately mapping hazard zones before any development takes place.
Many cities around the world are, in fact, built on limestone, said Dr Lim Choun Sian, senior researcher at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
“It is not really a red flag to build on limestone,” he told CNA. “You must make sure that the design and construction is based on proper investigations and there must be proper mitigation measures in place.”
The cause of last Friday’s incident is still not known, experts noted.
While the city’s widespread limestone bedrock is well-known, this does not apply to all areas of Kuala Lumpur, noted Dr Nor Shahidah Mohd Nazer, an expert in geological engineering and soil mechanics.
Agreeing, Dr Lim said that it has not been established that the Masjid India area is built on limestone.
“It is possible that it is, but we can’t say until there are checks. People are just making guesses that it is, because almost half of Kuala Lumpur is on limestone,” he said.
“We have to establish the kind of geology and conduct thorough investigations.”
Even if the incident site is built on limestone, which is prone to dissolution, this does not happen overnight, said Dr Nor Shahidah of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
“We are talking about the geological time scale here so maybe hundreds, thousands or even a million years,” she said, adding that she disagreed with claims circulating online that Kuala Lumpur is unsafe and there was potential for a “giant sinkhole” to emerge at any time.
“The area is close to a major river confluence so ground saturation and underground water flow could potentially exacerbate undercutting erosion and (cause) part of the soil stratum to be hollowed,” she added.
The day before, several areas of Kuala Lumpur including in the city centre had been hit by flash floods following heavy rain.
The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) also noted in a statement after the incident that the sinkhole appears to be about 24m from Klang River.
That said, cave-ins can also be human-induced, said Dr Lim. A 10m-deep sinkhole on a road in the Golden Triangle area of Kuala Lumpur in 2014 was caused by a burst water pipe, for instance.
Based on photos and videos taken of the Jalan Masjid India site, last Friday’s incident could be associated with utilities, Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) president Dr Jeffrey Chiang Choong Luin said on Sunday.
There have been several similar incidents in Kuala Lumpur in the past few years, but they may not have been reported as the cave-ins “didn’t swallow people or cars”, added Dr Lim
IS KUALA LUMPUR SAFE?
Despite reassurances by Kuala Lumpur mayor Maimunah Mohd Sharif, the question on many people’s minds is whether Kuala Lumpur – a city of almost two million inhabitants – is structurally safe. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, has a population of almost 9 million people.
Experts CNA spoke to did not disagree with Dr Maimunah, who had said Kuala Lumpur has been developed for a long time and claims that it was unsafe for development must be backed up by strong evidence.
Most of Kuala Lumpur’s construction would have adhered to certain standards, Dr Lim noted.
“You can’t simply build modern buildings. There are a lot of underground trains in the city and digging (of) the tunnels couldn’t have been done without the proper investigations, many of which have been done by international experts.
“Accidents happen but they don’t only happen in Malaysia,” he said.
CAN SIMILAR INCIDENTS BE PREVENTED?
Last Friday’s incident is a reminder to observe rigorous engineering standards, as well as an opportunity to reassess heavily developed areas in light of climate change, experts said.
It has shown the importance of keeping to best practices in the design, construction and maintenance of underground utilities, IEM's Dr Chiang said in a statement on Aug 25
He told CNA that local authorities, particularly the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, should look into the mapping of ground conditions using sonar or geophone mapping, especially in key areas where there are high concentrations of people.
“Of course there will be a cost to it but this would … alleviate the concerns of people,” he said.
Dr Nor Shahidah said there is a need to address urban geology issues that have come to the fore because of climate extremes.
Residents living in some sinkhole-prone areas have also urged Kuala Lumpur City Hall to publish the city’s underground mapping system so they can be informed of the infrastructure lying beneath their neighbourhoods, local media reported.
Civil society group Save Kuala Lumpur’s chairman M Ali said Bangsar, Federal Hill and Brickfields have been “prone to sinkholes for decades, with some occurring in quick succession within days”, news outlet The Star reported.
By publishing the city’s underground mapping system, Kuala Lumpur City Hall can “promote transparency, accountability and, most importantly, safety”, Brickfields Rukun Tetangga chairman SKK Naidu told The Star.
Like them, Ms Noor, the money changer along Jalan Masjid India, wants to feel safe again.
“There are so many buildings here. What if the land below the buildings is not stable? Could the buildings here collapse suddenly and cause more loss of life?” she asked.
