KOTA BARU: Kelantan state government today said the iron ore mine in Kuala Koh, Gua Musang, was sealed two weeks ago after it was found to be operating without approval from the Mineral and Geoscience Department since 2017.
Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob, who confirmed this, said the company had an operating licence from the state government, but had failed to renew related permits that expired two years ago.
“The company owner must obtain approval from the Mineral and Geoscience Department before conducting any mining activities.
“This was not done and he continued with the mining activities,” he said.
On another matter, Ahmad said the Federal Government and its agencies should not be blamed for the deaths of 15 members of the Orang Asli Batek tribe in Kuala Koh recently.
“All quarters are responsible. Don’t simply blame agencies such as the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) and others for this incident.
“Jakoa has been helping and taking care of the Orang Asli all this while,” he said.
The Orang Asli settlement in Kuala Koh made headlines recently after 15 tribe members died of measles between last month and early this month.