Muhyiddin Yassin said the Selangor government should use its wisdom in tackling the sand mining issue, which appears to have gone out of control in the state, instead of seeking assistance from the federal government.

The deputy prime minister said this was because the federal government had no jurisdiction on matters concerning land and water.

"It's a state matter, which should be resolved by the Selangor menteri besar. I don't want to take over the responsibility of the menteri besar," he told reporters after opening the Jeli Umno delegates meeting today.

muhyiddin yassin pc 170310The media today reported that the state government appeared to have failed in tackling the problem of sand theft in the state, after Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim submitted a letter to Muhyiddin to seek the federal government's cooperation in resolving the issue.

Muhyiddin said the Selangor government should take appropriate measures in tackling the issue as the state had its own agencies.

He said Selangor had its state legal adviser, who was capable of taking appropriate measures on the sand issue.

“He (the Selangor MB) must resolve the sand issue, as if there is no one who can settle the matter," he said.

Asked whether he had received the letter from Khalid on the sand theft, Muhyiddin said he had yet to receive it.

Muhyiddin to meet Tok Guru

Commenting on the willingness of Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to meet with him to discuss Umno-PAS cooperation, Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, said he would decide on a suitable time for the meeting.

pas muktamar 130610 nik abdul aziz nik mat 1"I appreciate Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz's open attitude on the matter," he said.

He said what was important was to nurture solidarity between PAS and Umno as it was something good.

Muhyiddin said the cooperation should be discussed in view of the requests by several groups who wanted the Malays to be united again.

He refuted the claim that Umno was weak, which was why it tried to cooperate with PAS.

"Umno has its own strength and is a party that champions the cause of Islam and the Malays," he added.

Khir Toyo: Previously only on private land 

Meanwhile in Shah Alam, Selangor Opposition Leader Dr Mohamad
Khir Toyo concurred with Muhyiddin that Khalid should not drag the federal government into the illegal sand mining problems in the state.

Khir, who is the assemblyperson for Sungai Panjang, said the previous Selangor administration (under his leadership) had succeeded in controlling state government land from being used for sand mining.

It was the policy of the BN state government then to only allow sand mining on private-owned land and not on land owned by the state government, he added.   

- Bernama