THE pilot project for lanthanide rare earth mining in Hulu Perak is not in the permanent forest reserve (PFR) and is outside the central forest spine (CFS) area, said Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad. 

He said the site involves land owned by the state’s Agricultural Development Corporation. 

“So, any party, especially the non-governmental organisations that claim the area involved is under PFR, I suggest that they check with the state Forestry Department and the Land and Mines Office. 

“I have personally checked with the departments concerned and it has been proven that the area is not under the PFR or CFS,” he told a press conference after launching the 2030 Perak Sejahtera Plan in Ipoh today. 

Yesterday, Sahabat Alam Malaysia urged the Perak government to review the implementation of the lanthanide rare earth mining project in Hulu Perak, claiming that the project is located in the ecological corridor that connects the Kenderong Forest Reserve and the Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve, which is a wildlife habitat. – Bernama, June 15, 2022.