S'gor exco: Press should apologise for sand reports

A Selangor executive councillor today demanded that four newspapers apologise for running inaccurate reports on alleged illegal sand mining in Bukit Canggang.

Exco member in charge of natural resources Yaakob Sapari (left) said that, should Star, Sinar Harian, Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian fail to apologise, he would suggest that Kuala Semesta Sdn Bhd’s lawyer lodges a police report against the newspapers.

“The menteri besar has already explained yesterday that there is a permit for the sand mining. I want them to retract (their stories),” said Yaakob, who is also Kota Anggerik assemblyperson.

He was winding-up on points raised in the Supplementary Bill debate in the state assembly.

Batang Kali assemblyperson Mohd Isa Abu Kasim interjected with suggestion that the state government should put up billboards to show that any sand mining operation is legal, to avoid similar misunderstandings in the future.

“You cannot blame the media for running the report,” he said.

Not seeing the signs

This annoyed Yaakob ticked off both Mohd Isa and opposition leader Mohd Khir Toyo for not checking the facts and feeding incorrect information to the media.

“The next time Batang Kali and Sungai Panjang (assemblypersons) visit a sand mine, you should go through the front door and not the back door," he said.

“At the entrance to the mines, there are clear signs that the operations have a permit, but Sungai Panjang likes to go through the back door so he cannot see (the signs)."

Yesterday, Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim (left) had refuted the newspaper reports, saying the pictures taken were of a legal mine in Kg Olak Lempit in Kuala Langat, and not in Bukit Canggang as claimed.

He also rubbished Khir Toyo’s claim that 10 million tonnes of sand worth RM220 million were moved out of the mine in two weeks, saying such a feat was physically impossible.