Govt fears enriching PN states, Sanusi claims on rare earth SOP delay

Free Malaysia Today

14-05-2025

Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor said rare earths would present a new and major source of revenue for states once guidelines for mining were released.
PETALING JAYA : Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor claims the government is dilly-dallying on releasing SOPs for the mining of rare earth elements (REE) for fear of enriching the four Perikatan Nasional-led states.
Sanusi said the states of Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis have rich deposits of rare earths, and their mining would present a new and major source of revenue once the guidelines were released.
'That's why it's said that these people (the federal authorities) do not dare to issue the SOPs, because once the SOPs are out, these states will become rich.
'I believe that's the reason why the SOPs aren't out yet, because there's a lot of REE in the (PN-led states),' the PAS leader was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.
Yesterday, Sanusi reportedly said Kedah was still waiting for the natural resources and environmental sustainability ministry's official SOPs for REE mining.
In 2023, it was reported that the minerals and geosciences department found 16.1 million tonnes of non-radioactive REE in Malaysia with a market value of RM809.6 billion.
The department had identified 29 areas with strategic potential for REE in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Azam Baki later urged for the establishment of SOPs for mining rare earth elements, following a probe into a RM13 million REE mining project in Kedah, over which Sanusi was questioned.