Monday, August 2, 2010

Selangor Promises to Reveal ‘Sand Tycoons’

SHAH ALAM: Selangor will reveal the names of the directors of all companies given permits to mine sand in the state prior to 2008.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the list of names were being checked to ascertain if the individuals were directors of the companies when the sand mining permits were given to the firms.

“The directors and shareholders may have changed and because of this, we have to verify first before we release their names,” Khalid told reporters after launching the Selangor Astronomy Convention at the SACC Convention Centre here yesterday.

Last Thursday, the Selangor Government released the names of 158 companies that were awarded sand mining permits between 2005 and 2007, when the state was under Barisan Nasional rule.

The Pakatan Rakyat-led state government’s sand mining company Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd has given 66 permits to mine sand.

Khalid said that besides sand theft, gaping holes left behind by mining activities had also posed a problem.

He said according to the laws governing sand mining, the areas must be rehabilitated and the holes filled up.

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