FMT FOCUS PETALING JAYA: The illegal sand-mining issue in Selangor has kicked up a storm, with many ducking for cover in the aftermath of its expose by Kapar MP S Manickavasagam.
While state-owned company in charge of sand-mining operations in Selangor, Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB), has been largely silent on the issue, several have come out to pass the buck.
One of them is Selayang MP William Leong, who has been blamed by the residents of Kampung Orang Asli Hulu Kuang for not taking appropriate action to stop the sand mining.
Leong shed some light on the matter in an interview with FMT, and came to the defence of the land office.
“The land office can only send enforcement agents from time to time. When they go, they (the illegal operators) stop their sand-mining operations,” he said.
Leong said that it was the responsibility of KSSB to take possession of these sites and prevent illegal operations from taking place.
“The onus is on KSSB to quickly take possession and control the situation by appointing contractors,” he added.
“It's like putting a saucer of milk there and you don’t watch it. [The] land office [has] limited resources [and] cannot guard all the areas.
“In Kuang and Kundang, the people there are very upset and they have held demonstrations to protest these activities. It is causing security concerns.”
Leong said KSSB is “inefficient” and if it does not take responsibility, "we have to rethink how the entire sand business is managed in Selangor”.
'Difficult to catch them red-handed'
Selangor state exco Yaakob Sapari, however, defended KSSB and instead laid the blame squarely on the land office.
“KSSB is responsible for the operations (giving out the licences). The group (that should be) in charge of cracking down on illegal operations is the land office.”
When asked if he was involved in organising any crackdowns, Sapari was evasive and told FMT to “go publish the story”.
Arfa'eza Aziz, press secretary to the Selangor menteri besar, said the state relied on the district office to act against illegal sand-mining operations.
“Whenever we get a complaint through the public complaints bureau, be it from the media or the public, we would refer it to the local council,” he said.
Arfa'eza, however, admitted that the follow-ups to complaints made on illegal sand-mining operations were a problem, especially where enforcement was concerned.
“Enforcement also involves the environment and irrigation departments and not only the local council. It's quite difficult to catch them red-handed.
“The enforcement officers very rarely catch them on the spot. When we go after the illegal operators, they run and leave their excavators behind,” he added.
Due to logistical problems, the officers are sometimes unable to seize the excavators and have had to settle on confiscating the engines.
Arfa'eza also denied allegations that Hajiman Ibrahim, the Selangor MB's brother, was also involved in the illegal operations.
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