KUANTAN: Illegal bauxite mining activities at Bukit Goh went undetected for over a year, reportedly taking place near the border of the Felda settlement and Jabor, Terengganu.

Unlike in the past, settlers at Felda Bukit Goh were unaware of the illegal extraction of minerals, as lorries transporting bauxite did not use the roads within the scheme.

A source said that since the mining operation was carried out near the Felda Bukit Goh-Jabor border, the lorries were allegedly using the roads near the Aspa Cottage roundabout in Gebeng.

"News about illegal mining comes as a shock to many settlers.

"There have been no mining activities since the moratorium was imposed in 2016, and most of the former mining sites are overgrown with bushes.

"Those behind the recent illegal mining works are believed to have previously secured permission to clear the bauxite stockpiles at certain sites near Felda Bukit Goh-Jabor border but ended up mining fresh sites.

"Last year, the authorities detained several men for illegal bauxite mining activities at a different location," he said when contacted.

The source did not rule out the possibility that mining activities were conducted on private land owned by settlers at Felda Bukit Goh and works were done with the land owners knowledge.

However, the source expressed shock that the illegal activities had gone undetected by the Pahang Enforcement Unit (UPNP) elite team, which usually deploys drones to curb land encroachment across the state.

On Nov 14, MACC detained three people, including a Pahang government official, for illegally extracting minerals, including bauxite, at Bukit Goh here since 2022.

They have been remanded till Nov 19.

Today, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki disclosed the "mastermind" in the illegal extraction activities is a "Datuk Seri."

Meanwhile, Sungai Lembing assemblyman Mohamad Ayub Mat Ashri said no mining licences were granted to any operators to extract bauxite at Felda Bukit Goh.

"I was shocked to learn about the arrest.

"I would never compromise with those violating procedures involving mineral resources or rare earth resources.

"I hope the enforcement authorities, including MACC, will conduct a detailed probe into the matter and bring all those involved, regardless of their position in any agencies, to face the law," he said, adding the latest raid must bring an end to illegal bauxite mining activities here.

New Straits Times has contacted Pahang Land and Mines office director Datuk Hamdan Hussin for more details on the site where the illegal exploration of minerals was carried out.

On July 6 last year, the UPNP team spotted a bauxite site near the Malaysia China Kuantan Industrial Park and Sungai Ular and seized four tipper trucks and two excavators.

A month later, six people were arrested for their alleged involvement in illegal bauxite mining activities where UPNP seized three tipper trucks and two excavators.