13 detained over illegal gold mining in Kelantan, Pahang forests since 2023
Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department director-general Datuk Zahari Ibrahim said four of the cases were recorded in Kelantan and two in Pahang.
He said 12 people were arrested in Kelantan, while one was detained in Pahang.
The cases in Kelantan were detected in the Batu Papan Forest Reserve, Berangkat Forest Reserve, Ulu Temiang Forest Reserve, and Hulu Galas Forest Reserve.
"In Pahang, the offences occurred in the Kechau Forest Reserve and Sungai Yu Forest Reserve," he told the New Straits Times.
Zahari said the illegal mining activities detected within the Permanent Forest Reserves remain under control, thanks to active enforcement and monitoring.
He added that the overall situation in the East Coast states is not alarming but remains under close watch by the relevant authorities.
"In Kelantan, two types of residents are typically involved.
"First, those engaged in gold panning, and second, those acting as guides or middlemen for illegal miners, including foreigners," he said.
He added that these illegal operations often exploit legitimate exploration licences issued for mineral tenements to disguise their activities.
Zahari said certain forest areas had become hotspots due to their proximity to approved exploration sites, making it difficult for enforcement agencies to distinguish between legal and illegal operations.
"Illegal miners tend to operate discreetly, taking advantage of licensed exploration areas to avoid detection.
"These activities are usually carried out during off-peak hours to avoid enforcement patrols," he added.
Zahari said the department continues to work closely with other enforcement agencies to protect the integrity of the Permanent Forest Reserves and to take firm action against those who violate forestry and mineral laws.
Yesterday, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan had said that gold mining activities in the state's forest reserves mostly involve traditional, small-scale panning carried out by locals.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Bukit Aman: Don't turn justice into vigilantism
KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman has warned against the prevalence of mob justice following the death of two suspects - a snatch thief and a flasher - who were attacked by members of the public in two separate incidents recently. Federal Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said they understand the public's frustration when witnessing crimes, but strongly advised against taking matters into their your own hands. "We don't want justice to turn into vigilantism," Azmi told the New Straits Times. "Malaysians must allow law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties. "Let the police investigate and take appropriate action through legal means. He said the public should immediately contact the police in such situations and avoid actions that could lead to unintended consequences or criminal liability. In two recent incidents, police arrested 15 people who were suspected of assaulting the suspects which led to their deaths. On July 27, a 51-year-old man was beaten to death by members of the public after he had allegedly committed sexual harassment by exposing his private parts at the parking area of a supermarket in Jasin, Melaka. Members of the public, who noticed the suspect's behaviour, gave chase and caught up with him. He was then assaulted. The suspect, who was married, was found dead in front of a kindergarten. Following the incident, police arrested seven people, including a Pakistani national to assist in investigations. On July 22, a suspected snatch thief was allegedly beaten to death in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. The snatch incident, involving a 36-year-old kindergarten teacher occurred in a residential area in Batu 9, Cheras. Her screams alerted several member of the public who caught and assaulted the thief. Paramedics confirmed that the suspect, believed to be a foreigner, had died, believed to be as a result of the beatings. Police arrested eight men, aged between 22 and 72, who were believed to be involved in the assault of the suspected thief. Meanwhile, Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) executive council member Datuk Muhammad Fuad Talib said no one was above the law. The former Subang Jaya police chief said laws have been enacted through public representatives and should be respected. "Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. "It should be remembered that the court of law will sentence these offenders once they are convicted," he said adding that the public should not punish suspects. He said such actions were nothing more than seeking vengeance. "No one should inflict harm or use excessive force when apprehending and effecting a public arrest. "Minimum usage of force could be used if the suspect resisted not to cause injuries or death," he said adding that if the suspect surrendered and did not resist, no harm or force could be inflicted on him.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Foreign hawkers still rampant at KL markets despite ban
KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign workers are still rampant at Pudu Market and Kompleks Pasar Raja Bot, also known as Chow Kit Market, despite repeated warnings from Kuala Lumpur City Hall. A check by the New Straits Times found that nearly half of the stalls at both markets were manned by foreigners, mainly from Bangladesh, Indonesia and Myanmar. A butcher in Chow Kit, who has been trading since 1975, said foreign hawkers managed to operate by renting licences from locals. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said: "When the authorities come, the foreign hawkers run off and the licence holder takes over the stall to avoid getting caught or fined." It is learnt that some foreigners also sell live chickens and slaughter them on demand, which is a banned practice in the market. The butcher also said locals were often more demanding than foreigners, which contributed to the latter's growing presence. "I once hired a local worker, but he demanded extra pay and accommodation. Before leaving, he stole some money and my motorcycle," he claimed. "Foreigners won't do that, they work purely to earn," he added. At Pudu Market, many foreigners, particularly Bangladeshis, were still seen operating stalls as late as 1pm. A woman, who has worked there since 1995, said the number of foreign traders surged after the Covid-19 pandemic. "In the early 2000s, there were only two or three of them. After the pandemic, they started coming in large numbers," she said, preferring anonymity. She said their presence had affected local hawkers' business, as they drew customers by allegedly selling vegetables at cheaper prices. "They cheat during weighing. After it's done, they remove about 200g of the original amount, and that's not a small quantity," she claimed. Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said the long-standing ban on foreign hawkers and market traders in the city remained firmly enforced.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
JB car washes reclassified as high-risk over Singapore-only allegations
JOHOR BARU: Car wash centres in the city have been reclassified as high-risk businesses following repeated breaches of regulations, prompting tighter licensing conditions and stricter enforcement by the Johor Baru City Council. Its mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said the decision was made during a recent meeting of the council's licensing committee, in response to persistent non-compliance among operators. "Operators have consistently failed to adhere to wastewater treatment standards, caused damage to public roads, and neglected to maintain proper premises. "They will now be subject to increased scrutiny, including mandatory worker registration and infrastructure inspections," he said after chairing its full council meeting at Menara MBJB today. He warned that failure to comply could result in licence suspension or cancellation under existing laws and regulations. The move follows public backlash over a car wash outlet in Taman Abad that allegedly prioritised Singapore-registered vehicles while turning away local customers. A viral post last week claimed that foreign workers at the outlet had refused to service Malaysian cars, citing "full bookings from Singaporean clients". In response, Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor instructed all local councils to take firm action against outlets that exclusively served foreigners, calling such practices unacceptable and grounds for licence termination. Haffiz said the city council's enforcement officers had conducted checks but found no formal complaints lodged, and the claims remained unsubstantiated. "We are monitoring the situation closely. If such discriminatory practices are confirmed, we will revoke the licence," he said, adding that premium 'water wax' services, priced from RM40, were being marketed primarily to Singaporean customers. Earlier, the New Straits Times reported that some outlets charged up to RM80 for "water wax" treatments. There are currently 543 licensed car wash outlets operating under the city council's jurisdiction. Last year, 53 unlicensed centres were shut down. As of June this year, a further 33 illegal operators have been identified and are being dealt with.
