New Straits Times 21 Jun 10;
A WHOPPING RM600 million worth of sand is illegally mined nationwide annually, with RM145 million of this smuggled to Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) estimates that 3,000 lorry-loads of sand is transported to barges which take the commodity to the foreign destinations.
Its investigations director, Mustafar Ali, said each barge carried at least 5,000 tonnes of sand. This meant that 15 million tonnes of sand leaves Malaysian shores annually despite a government ban on the export of the commodity.
"This is what we know. Imagine how many more lorries and barges are leaving without our knowledge," he told the New Straits Times.
It is estimated that up to 75 per cent of the sand is being sold to Malaysians who use it in construction projects, the manufacturing of abrasives and production of bricks.
But at least 25 per cent is exported for construction projects in the three countries.
Mustafar said the mining of sand without permits was illegal with sale abroad considered smuggling.
"Those involved are clearly breaking the law and can be prosecuted."
Illegal sand mining is being carried out in Pahang, Perak, Selangor, Johor and Malacca.
Mustafar said the removal of sand had a detrimental effect on the ecology of rivers and sea beds.
"It has caused soil erosion and the destruction of animal habitats. How will our fishing and agricultural industries survive?"
Mustafa blamed poor enforcement for rampant sand mining, with some closing an eye due to corrupt practices.
"Malaysians must cooperate to curb illegal sand mining," he said, adding that MACC had detained 43 people for involvement in the activity in January.
Those nabbed included 30 enforcement agency officers and 13 from the private sector.
Mustafar said those arrested had allegedly solicited between RM500 and RM88,000 in bribes from those involved in the racket.
"Some even resorted to offering sexual favours to ensure illegal sand mining operations continued," he said, adding that several cases were pending in court.
Mustafar said MACC was determined to nab those involved in illegal sand mining.
He urged those with information on the illegal activity to lodge reports with the commission.
Heavy toll on the environment
New Straits Times 21 Jun 10;
RAMPANT sand mining in the Klang Valley has had a tangible effect on the ecology, leading to cases of deforestation and pollution.
The demand for the commodity in the construction and industrial sectors has pushed miners to expand operations with telling results on the environment.
According to a recent Audit Department report, sand mining in 26 locations had led to erosion and the formation of shallow pools.
The activity had also led to deforestation of the surrounding areas and sedimentation in rivers.
State Land and Mines Department officials found that miners in eight of the locations were operating without permits.
Sand mining has also contributed to sound and air pollution.
A recent Audit Department poll of 100 respondents in Semenyih revealed that 85 of them, comprising hostel students, felt that the quality of air had deteriorated.
The students also complained that the area was no longer conducive for studying due to the loud noise from the sand mining site.
Roads have also been damaged by lorries transporting sand.
'I was threatened with gun'
New Straits Times 21 Jun 10;
SAND mining is truly "dirty" business.
Besides the adverse effects on the environment, there are also claims of unethical methods being employed to threaten people in the industry.
This appears to be panning out in Rasa, a small town seven kilometres from Kuala Kubu Baru, where the grapevine is full of stories of how things are not right as far as the business is concerned.
Questions are being asked whether the companies mining sand along Sungai Rasa are keeping to the conditions of their permit and whether supervision by the authorities is as tight as it should be.
One person who has been at odds with the manner the activity is carried out in the town has also allegedly been threatened with a pistol.
Five months ago, police, the Hulu Selangor district office and the Selangor Land and Mines Department received reports on illegal sand mining but nothing much appears to have been done.
Contractor Zahar Rusuli, who claims to have been threatened with a pistol by two people who came to his Batang Kali home, is appalled by the lack of enforcement by the authorities in Rasa.
According to the 43-year-old who was involved with sand mining at the river last year but has since stopped doing so, there are allegedly six illegal sand mining sites operating in the Hulu Selangor district.
A check on a 20ha site along Sungai Rasa revealed several mining activities in progress.
Zahar claimed that the mining might have encroached on government land.
"I believe mining along the river has encroached on government land as there was a disused mining pool beside the river which has since become part of the operations."
Zahar said his problems began last December when his company, Tuaman Enterprise, was offered a three-month deal by Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) to participate in a sand mining project along the river.
He claimed that soon after work began, he found that the operator was not mining according to regulations stipulated in the contract.
"I have tried to do this business by abiding by the law. But it is difficult to sell sand to purchasers when they can buy illegal sand for a lower price."
Zahar has yet to get back the RM20,000 deposit that he placed for the contract from KSSB.
A storm of allegations
New Straits Times 21 Jun 10;
A SAND "storm" has been blowing in Selangor following allegations of impropriety in the mining of sand.
At the centre of the controversy are Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB), the state-government subsidiary overseeing the industry, and Kapar member of parliament S. Mani-kavasagam.
The Parti Keadilan Rakyat MP had made allegations that things were not right as far as sand mining was concerned in the state, adding that there could be corruption involved. He lodged a police report on May 12.
The Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency subsequently found indications of mismanagement in KSSB.
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim later said while findings did not show evidence of corrupt practices, action had been taken against inefficient officers in the subsidiary.
