Unchecked sand mining a hazard to environment, says Malaysian geologist

The Star 26 Jun 10;

PETALING JAYA: Rampant sand mining activities, if left unchecked, can adversely affect the environment and quality of water in the country, a geologist said.

“Enforcement agencies should step up efforts to check illegal sand mining. Those involved in illegal sand mining would certainly not give any regard to mitigation measures to reduce its negative impact on the environment,” said Prof Dr Abdul Ghani Rafek of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

He was commenting on Starprobe reports that illegal sand mining activities were being carried out in Johor, Selangor, Pahang and Perak.

Universiti Putra Malaysia Faculty of Economics and Management deputy dean Prof Dr Mohamed Shahwahid Othman called on the authorities to carry out a cost-benefit analysis of sand mining.

“It is also high time that the state governments review royalty fees imposed on sand.

“The authorities will lose out in terms of revenue if illegal sand mining and smuggling activities are left unchecked,” he said.

Dr Shahwahid called on the authorities to set up a national-level task force to check illegal sand mining.

“The police, Land and Mines Department, District Office and other relevant agencies should join forces and form a task force at national level to carry out raids from state to state,” he said.

Another academic, who declined to be named, said it was difficult to carry out outdoor research activities because “thugs” were preventing research groups from entering sand mines and forest reserves.

“They drove away our excursion group although we told them we were on a scientific expedition,” said the lecturer.

Government combating menace of sand smuggling
Nelsaon Benjamin The Star 26 Jun 10;

JOHOR BARU: The Government is serious about tackling sand smuggling activities and is taking action to combat the menace.

High ranking officials from various departments including Customs, the police, Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM), Land and Mines and other related agencies held a special meeting recently to discuss the issue, a source said.

It was learnt that the meeting was chaired by Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam.

“The Government is serious about combating the problem as it is a threat to national security and a loss to the country in terms of revenue,” the source said.

Yesterday, Mahmood said he was in Johor for a meeting to discuss security issues.

“This sand mining issue is to be handled by the Customs Department,” he said.

It is learnt that the APMM and police will increase patrols to check on sand smuggling activities in the state.

Authorities had observed some barges, believed to be involved in illegal sand mining, trying to evade the authorities by going into Indonesian waters before heading towards Singapore.

APMM (southern region) commander First Admiral Datuk Che Hassan Jusoh said the agency would continue to patrol and check such activities.

“Since last year, we have checked at least 402 tugboats, barges and pontoons and have found four cases of sand smuggling,” he said, adding that the cases occurred in Batu Pahat, Kota Tinggi, Pontian and Mersing.

Besides using vessels, the agency would also deploy helicopters to carry out surveillance, he added.

Marine Police Region 2 chief Asst Comm Mohd Khamsani Abdul Rahman said police had also been carrying out inspection of pontoons that were carrying sand to ensure they had the proper documents.

“We will continue to carry out stringent checks to prevent illegal activities in our waters,” he said.