KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): Former environment minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has called upon the government to explain whether the Perak state government has violated the ban on the export of rare earth elements (REE).
This comes after Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad reportedly informed the state assembly on Sept 26 that its pilot project involving the mining of non-radioactive REE, covering an area of 78 hectares in Mukim Kenering, Hulu Perak, had generated almost RM16 million in royalties for the Perak government.
During the debate session on Budget 2024 in Dewan Rakyat on Thursday, Tuan Ibrahim (PN-Kubang Kerian) expressed his surprise upon reading news about the Perak government's announcement that it had received RM16 million in revenue from the export of rare earth carbonate (REC) to China until July 2023.
"The state has exported REC to China ten times. Does this mean that the state government has ignored the federal government's policy? If this is indeed the case, it's a very unfortunate situation for our nation, where the prime minister's announcement has been disregarded," he said.
Tuan Ibrahim expressed his support for the government's move to ban REE exports, emphasising that it is imperative that state governments' policies be aligned with Putrajaya's.
During the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysian Plan (2021-2025), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a policy prohibiting the export of REE, in a bid to prevent exploitation and loss of resources, while ensuring maximum returns for the country.
Meanwhile, Tuan Ibrahim said that Malaysia possesses approximately RM809.6 billion worth of REE reserves, with seven states identified as high-potential REE resources, as he urged the government to swiftly acquire the necessary expertise to safeguard the interests of states with abundant REE resources.
"Without this expertise, I am concerned that REE will continue to be encroached upon and stolen. I believe that if the export ban is universally adhered to, and the government can successfully extract REE, the revenue generated will surpass current government projections," he added.
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