KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will withdraw its seizure order on more than 10 million tonnes of bauxite stockpiles in Pahang.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Azam Baki said the decision was made after the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry (NRE), Department of Minerals and Geoscience and the state government agreed to introduce new rules to curb the illegal mining of bauxite.
It was hoped that such an action would help reduce corruption and abuse of power, particularly involving the illegal bauxite activity, he said in a statement today.
Azam said the withdrawal of the bauxite seizure order was to allow miners to remove their stockpiles while the moratorium was still in force.
“It should be noted that the withdrawal of the seizure order does not mean new mining activities are allowed in the state,” he said.
Azam also said both the NRE and the state government had laid out a set of rules for bauxite mining operators to adhere to ensure that the removal of the stockpiles would be made in an orderly manner.
“As such, the operators must sign an agreement before the approved permit (AP) application for them to retrieve the stockpiles are approved by the NRE.
“Among others, it includes the pledge that they will not be involved in bribery and abuse of power,” he said.
Azam said the MACC would work with the ministry and the Pahang government to monitor the relocation of the bauxite stockpiles, and to ensure that no new mining activities took place in areas not allowed by the state government.
Any party found to be involved in illegal bauxite mining will face legal action under the MACC Act 2009 and the Penal Code, he added.