POLICE arrested four local men and five foreigners who were attempting to explore rare earth elements (REE) in Compartment 35, Rimba Teloi Forest Reserve in Sik, on September 14.

Kedah police chief Fisol Salleh said the suspects, aged between 30 and 70, were charged under section 47(1) of the National Forestry Act 1984 for entering the forest reserve without a permit, in a Baling court today.

They were also charged under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for various immigration offences.

“On September 14, police and a team from the Kedah State Forestry Department carried out Op Bersepadu in the Sik forest reserve area and seized three vehicles in Compartment 35,” Fisol said at a press conference at the Kedah police contingent headquarters in Alor Star today.

“Four local men, four Indonesians and a Chinese national found at the location were taken into custody. Initial investigations revealed that they were scouting for sites for REE exploration.”

He said the suspects failed to provide any permission letters to enter the Rimba Teloi Forest Reserve and explore for REE. 

“The foreigners entered the country using work permits. However, the permits were not intended for working in Kedah, so they misused the documents,” he said.

“We believe they entered the area about four months ago to explore for REE. Their activities were still in the early stages, unrelated to REE in the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve in Sik.”

Fisol also said police arrested a local man along with eight Myanmar nationals in Changlun on September 20 and foiled a migrant smuggling operation.

“A team from the Kubang Pasu district police headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Division and the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security Complex seized a Perodua Axia in Taman Hosba, Changlun at 5pm,” he said.

“Upon inspection, it was found that a local man, suspected to be the driver, was in the car with three women, one man and a boy from Myanmar without valid travel documents.

“Based on the information received, at 5.45pm on the same day, police made further arrests of two Myanmar men and a woman in a rubber plantation in Kampung Cherok Mokan, Changlun, believed to be a transit point for newly arrived Myanmar nationals in Malaysia.” – Bernama, September 24, 2023.