Idris dredges sand mining controversy in Asahan

MALACCA POLLS | Issues linked to sea reclamation are a common matter for Malacca's coastal constituencies but the impact of such projects have extended across the entire state, including the interiors of Asahan.

Asahan is located in the northeastern part of Malacca and is the farthest inland from the coast. However, sand is being mined in the constituency and transported to the coast.

One such area, said Pakatan Harapan's Asahan candidate Idris Haron (above), is in Nyalas, where sand mining is scarring the local landscape.

Idris, who has been sacked from Umno, had accused the Umno-Bersatu government under Sulaiman Md Ali of abuse with regard to sand mining.

However, his opponents claim that Idris too was involved in such activities when he led the BN state government from 2013 to 2018.

Idris was an exco member in the state government headed by Sulaiman until last month, after he led three other assemblypersons withdrew their support for Sulaiman, causing the state government to collapse.

He and the other rebels were subsequently sacked from their parties and Sulaiman called for fresh polls after approval from state Governor Mohd Ali Rustam.

Idris said after criticising Sulaiman's government about sand mining, he was warned to abide by the Official Secrets Act (OSA). Idris said he had also given information to the MACC.

In Asahan, Idris claimed seven companies have been approved for sand mining in Bukit Senggeh.

"As far as I can remember, all sand mining activities there were previously terminated but now sand mining is being restarted," he told Malaysiakini in an interview.

Idris said the sand mining there was stopped as they previously did not get the necessary approvals and there were also concerns that it could lead to floods in the area.

He added that the sand mining activities there were also causing an end to small farms.

Idris also alleged cheating in the sand mining activities.

"The permit holders are supposed to pay 70 sen per cubic metre of sand that has been mined to the federal government.

"But after the sand was used to reclaim the Malacca coast and hundreds of millions made, the permit holders will cheat the federal government by declaring a lower volume.

'The theft of sand royalty is happening," he said.

Among the beneficiaries, Idris claimed, was a candidate in the Malacca polls.

Idris was fielded by PKR as a Harapan candidate after he was sacked from Umno.

He faces BN's Fairul Nizam, PN's Dhanesh Basil and independent candidates Mohd Noor Salleh, Azmar Ab Hamid and Mohd Akhir Ayob.

Asahan comprises 64 percent Malay, 23 percent Chinese, 11 percent Indians and two percent others. In the last general election, BN won by a 275-vote majority.

Tomorrow will be the last day of the 12-day campaign for the Malacca polls. Voters will decide on Saturday.