CARETAKER Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has said there is a major plot to taint his image by linking him with the issue of illegal rare earths mining in the state. 

“I was made to understand that the MACC is probing the MBI (MBI Kedah), not the MB. I am MB, not MBI. 

“Hence, how come there was a news report (on a menteri besar being investigated) being published before the (investigation) process even started? 

“Obviously, there are certain agendas to paint a bad picture of the MB. So, that is what is going on,” he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times in Alor Star today. 

The PAS election director said he had not been contacted by the MACC pertaining to the investigation, adding that he only knew what was reported about the matter from news reports. 

Sanusi said the plot to link him with the rare earth minerals theft had been hatched for some time ahead of the coming state elections. 

“I was informed that right after the PKR Youth wing lodged a report with the MACC, they immediately launched an investigation. This shows there is a plot, and the plot had been hatched a long time ago. 

“The only thing that was brainstormed to link a mismanagement in Kedah is the rare earth minerals issue although the issue clearly involved theft. 

“If I knew that someone was stealing of course I would have caught him. It is theft, so would anyone have known beforehand? 

“Thus, these theft incidents are being developed into a narrative that they somehow involved the menteri besar. If I were to steal, would I steal from my own state? Surely I would be stealing from other states,” he was quoted as saying. 

Yesterday, it was reported that the MACC has opened an investigation paper on misappropriation and abuse of power in the mining of rare earth elements believed to be illegal, which involved a menteri besar and caused losses to a state government.  

A MACC source said the issue of illegal mining and loss of rare earths revenue was reported by several civil society organisations including Gerakan Anti-Sanusi in March and several residents in Bukit Enggang Sik, where large scale illegal mining was carried out before it was busted by the authorities.  

Today, MACC remanded the CEO of Menteri Besar Kedah Incorporated and a company director to help in investigations. 

This, sources said, was in relation to the rare earths mining sector in the state involving bribes exceeding RM13 million. 

Sources said the remand order was issued for three days until July 21 by Magistrate Wan Shahida Abd Rahim at the Alor Star magistrate’s court and by Magistrate Norsyakirah Che Hashim at the Shah Alam magistrate’s court. 

“The two suspects aged 63 and 40 were arrested around Tuesday afternoon in Alor Star and Kuala Lumpur,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

According to the source, the arrest of the two individuals was the result of an investigation into illegal mining activities carried out by a company that received protection from certain authorities since 2020. – July 19, 2023.