Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has unveiled pictures purportedly showing Sanusi Nor, the former Kedah Menteri Besar, visiting a mining site allegedly involved in the extraction of rare earth elements (REE). During a press conference in Kubang Pasu, Kedah, Saifuddin presented these images, claiming they were taken on Feb 19 in the Bukit Enggang forest reserve in Sik.
The minister accused Sanusi of being aware of the alleged REE theft in Kedah but failing to take appropriate action after witnessing the environmental devastation caused by intensive mining. Saifuddin, who also serves as PKR secretary-general, stated that he stands firm in his allegations despite threats of a lawsuit from Sanusi.
Earlier, Saifuddin had shared a photograph of Sanusi with a man identified as So Loi Fat, whom he alleged was involved in mining REE under the Kedah Menteri Besar Incorporated (Kedah MBI). A letter purportedly signed by Kedah MBI CEO Sobri Osman was also presented by Saifuddin, mentioning two Chinese nationals, including So.
In response, Sanusi revealed that the Chinese national had previous dealings with Kedah MBI and had an agreement for REE extraction before his tenure. Furthermore, he claimed that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had once introduced an Indonesian tycoon, Riza Chalid, to the possibility of mining REE in Kedah, as both of them visited the state a few weeks before the dissolution of the state assembly.