IPOH: Stern action will be taken against those mining and removing sand from the Pasir Panjang beach in Manjung without approval from the relevant authorities, warns Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
However, he said this activity had so far not been detected at the turtle landing area.
“The land is privately owned, so we cannot prevent its owner from carrying out activities on that piece of land except for removing the sand without a licence,” he said when contacted by Bernama yesterday.
Earlier, two NGOs – Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa) – urged Saarani to take stern action against the alleged illegal sand mining activity.
SAM field researcher Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman said it had been observed that this activity was still going on, ignoring the prohibition by the authorities.
“I urge the Mentri Besar, who is in charge of land, forestry and natural resources portfolio and as chairman of the state planning committee as well as a member of the national physical planning council to look into this issue and take action against those involved,” he said in a statement.