THE state government is coming down hard on illegal sand mining operators with an operation called Op K3.
State executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the operation, is an initiative by police, the Road Transport Department and the Perak Land and Mines Department.
“The hotspots for illegal sand mining activities in the state are Kampar and Batang Padang,” Dr Mah said.
Speaking here on Monday after chairing a meeting on the matter at the State Secretariat building, Dr Mah said illegal sand mining was causing leakages in the state’s economy.
“The state is losing millions in revenue because of the irresponsible act by the operators.”
Dr Mah said sand from Perak
was usually sought after in Selangor.
“However, the demand was showing signs of slowing down as Selangor has a new supplier in Pahang,” he said.
Dr Mah said some of these operators used hardware shops as a front for their illegal activities.
“To date, we have closed down two hardware shops in Kampar and one in Batang Padang for selling illegally mind sand.”
Dr Mah warned operators to stop their activities before they are caught and said the authorities would not hesitate to seize the operators’ lorries and impose hefty fines.
Dr Mah also said the state would set up Pasir Perak Sdn Bhd under the state’s investment arm Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc) next year to sell sand.
Like Selangor’s Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd, Dr Mah said Pasir Perak Sdn Bhd would ensure operators adhered to the rules.
“If there are operators who misuse their permit, MB Inc would either suspend their permit or blacklist them,” he said.