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Free Malaysia Today
30-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
No digging, rare earth mining will be environmentally friendly, says Perak MB
Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad said all rare earth mining activities will comply with SOPs. (Bernama pic) LENGGONG : The Perak government has given an assurance that all mining activities involving non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) will not harm the environment. Menteri besar Saarani Mohamad said although rare earth mining presents a new opportunity for generating state revenue, the government will not compromise on protecting the people's interests. He said the state government guarantees that NR-REE activities will utilise modern mining technologies to improve efficiency and safety while safeguarding the environment. 'When we initiated the NR-REE mining pilot project in Kenering, Hulu Perak, one of the key requirements was strict compliance with environmental impact assessment procedures, particularly those concerning environmental protection,' he said at a press conference after presenting the progress report of the Perak Sejahtera 2030 plan here today. 'The latest extraction method for this mineral no longer involves digging, but uses the in-situ leaching (ISL) method, which involves injecting ammonium sulfate solution into the ground to dissolve the rare earth elements, which are then pumped back to the surface for processing.' Saarani said the state government would not allow NR-REE mining activities if it does not comply with standard operating procedures and the requirements set by the relevant technical agencies. 'NR-REE mining using the ISL method is the latest sustainable approach with controlled environmental impact, low operational costs, and good worker safety standards,' he said. 'Therefore, we do not have to worry about landslides, there will be no clearing of trees, and the forest reserve itself will be protected. If it causes environmental damage, we will not allow it.' It was previously reported that the state government had identified new potential NR-REE mineral sites in three additional districts apart from Hulu Perak, with estimated reserves of 1.7 million metric tonnes. Saarani said based on preliminary studies by the Perak minerals and geoscience department, the districts include Kuala Kangsar, Kinta, Larut Matang and Selama, with 70% to 80% of the potential NR-REE reserves located within forest reserve areas.
Malay Mail
11-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Gerik bus crash ‘darkest moment' in officer's 18 years of service in Malaysian Civil Defence Force
IPOH, June 11 — The crash at Kilometre 53 of the East-West Highway in Gerik, which claimed 15 lives early yesterday morning, marked a dark moment in the 18-year career of Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) officer, Muhammad Yusuf Nuruddin. Initially unaware of the severity of the tragedy, involving a chartered bus and a Perodua Alza, near Tasik Banding, the APM officer, from Hulu Perak, believed it was just a routine accident without any casualties. When he and three other personnel of Hulu Perak APM — Mohd Zamri Taib, 47, Muhammad Isma Aliff Mohd Asri, 24, and Muhammad Mainun Azim Azman, 28 — were informed that the crash had resulted in 15 fatalities, they were momentarily stunned. 'I recall bus-related incidents before — one overturned and another veered off the road, but none involved any fatalities. This time, it was different, and it's something I will never forget. 'I didn't even get to see the condition of the deceased victims because my priority was to provide immediate aid. We handed over the deceased to the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) and the Ministry of Health (MOH),' he told Bernama, still visibly affected by the incident. Asked to elaborate, Muhammad Yusuf, 38, said that the APM team arrived at the crash site about an hour after receiving the emergency call. Upon arrival, the JBPM and MOH teams were already on-site conducting rescue operations. The area was pitch-black, forcing rescuers to rely on vehicle headlights for visibility. In the dim light, they noticed several injured victims sitting by the roadside. 'At that time, the atmosphere was eerily quiet and completely dark. There were no sounds from the victims. Only the rescuers' voices giving instructions could be heard. Perhaps the victims were still in shock,' he said. During the rescue operation, Muhammad Yusuf and his team worked fast to provide initial aid to the victims, including those with serious injuries like broken limbs or internal bleeding. He remembered seeing a victim with a serious head injury. An initial assessment revealed no visible fractures, so rescuers provided immediate treatment before transporting the victim to hospital. 'Then we transported another victim with a broken arm to the Gerik Hospital, while ambulances from MOH and JBPM ferried others. 'During the journey to the hospital, one victim suffered internal bleeding and vomited blood twice. We suctioned the blood to prevent suffocation and ensure it did not obstruct the victim's breathing,' he said. In addition to the 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students who lost their lives, the accident also resulted in injuries to 33 other individuals, including the bus driver, his assistant, and three passengers from a Perodua Alza. — Bernama
