By Khirtini K Kumaran

ertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia ( PEKA ) did not pull any punches in voicing out against Kedah ’ s proposed rare earth element ( REE ) mining .

PEKA president Puan Sri

Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil said they were against such activities as they were still mitigating the damage caused by REE mining in Perak decades ago .

“ The new and latest method being campaigned and lauded by the Kedah MB has not been tested to prove it was eco-friendly ,” said Shariffa .

“ We should not allow the mining to be approved . The economic returns versus environmental destruction , water pollution , radioactive contamination and loss of biodiversity will not be worth it .”

Shariffa was perplexed why Kedah was in such hurry when the big and developed nations were being very careful about REE extraction in their country .

Concerns over REE mining and its impact on the environment and health surfaced when Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor announced the State had appointed a company to conduct mineral exploration .

The State had reached an agreement with a Kuala Lumpur-based joint venture company to mine for REE said to be found in abundance in parts of the State . Sanusi claimed the REE reserves were worth RM62 billion .

“ The REE was not radioactive and was found in Sik , Ulu Muda and Baling , and I hear in some parts of Lenggong , Perak too . It has been common knowledge to geologists for the past 20 years ,” he said on Dec 2 , 2020 .

Following the announcement , Penang urged the federal government to prevent REE mining in Kedah to protect the water supply of Perlis , Kedah and Penang .

Several NGOs and environmental groups were also steadfastly against the State ’ s venture .

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah responded that Putrajaya would not allow REE without proper testing and technical approvals , and more so , if it affected forest reserves .

Shamsul ’ s ministry is responsible for ensuring mining activities and management of natural resources were conducted sustainably .

Shamsul shared on Dec 9 that his ministry was drafting standard operating procedures ( SOPs ) on mining the non-radioactive rare earth elements ( NR-REE ) to ensure sustainable mining .

“ Many efforts have been made to realise the potential of natural resources , including NR-REE for it to be a new

PEKA president Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil .

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah .

Kedah MB Muhammad Sanusi Nor .

A truck at a rock quarry in Malaysia .

economic source for the country ,” said Shamsul .

“ The SOPs will include the entire process from mining to the handling of wastes , shutting of mining sites and manufacturing processes .”

He added the SOPs were also supported by relevant laws such

as the Mineral Development Act 1994 , Geological Survey Act 1974 , Environmental Quality Act 1974 , Industrial Co-ordination Act 1975 and mineral enactment in respective states .

Based on a survey conducted by the Mineral and Geoscience Department under the 11th Malaysia Plan , the

Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam ( PEKA ) Malaysia is an NGO established in 2010 by environmentalist Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil , who also serves as its president .

The acronym , PEKA , means sensitive in the Malay language and reflects PEKA members ’ attitude and commitment toward its cause of preserving , conserving and protecting the natural environment and all its various biodiversity .

PEKA Malaysia was formed with the vision to save the oldest rainforest with all its biodiversity from extinction , as part of the total living environment for people , and its mission is to be a force in ensuring the preservation ,