Saved from sand-mining

What say you on the issue below?

IF not for the timely information by the local community of Jenderam Hilir in Dengkil and immediate action by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), a large tract of land in the area would have been lost due to illegal sand- mining.

A signboard put up at the entrance of the area to be mined displays the logo of Syabas and flags and emblem of the Selangor government.

But the water concessionaire says they know nothing about it.

Syabas corporate coommunications and public affairs general manager Abdul Halem Mat Som refuted claims that the area where the sand-mining was to be carried out, belongs to the company.

Meanwhile, the Taman Bandar Baru Dengkil-based company that is involved in the sand-mining activity, Top Supply (Y&B) Trading Sdn Bhd (TSTSB), claimed on the signboard that they were the contractors assigned by Syabas.

Not our project: Abdul Halem pointing to the signboard erected by the sand mining company displaying the Syabas logo, Selangor state flag and emblem in Jenderam Hilir, Sepang.

“As far as Syabas is concerned, the company is only involved in water distribution.

“Sand mining comes under the jurisdiction of the state government and therefore it is not within Syabas’ purview to either give approval or even recommend a third party for such activities,’’ said Abdul Halem.

A visit to the area showed that the signboard was placed about 300m from the sand-mining site. There were two containers but so far sand mining activities have not started.

Abdul Halem said he learnt about the ploy when a local resident called Syabas on Monday to enquire if the company was involved in sand-mining activities apart from water distribution.

“We will be lodging a police report. We are also conducting our own investigations to find out why TSTSB is blatantly displaying the Syabas logo while claiming they are conducting the sand-mining activities on Syabas’ approval,’’ said Abdul Halem.

Still intact: The area in Jenderam Hilir saved from sand mining.

When contacted, TSTSB regulatory officer Hamzah Hassan said the project was approved in 2007 by the previous Barisan Nasional government.

He said all negotiations and approval for the sand-mining opertaions were made under the previous government.

Hamzah said the BN government had also given them a reference number (SYA/EC/BPDD/MISC/VOl(206)07 to undertake the project.

“There was no notice from the present government asking us to abort the operation, so we thought everything was in order.

“We also received a reference letter from Syabas then allowing us to conduct the sand mining on the land which was said to be theirs,’’ said Hamzah.

A check with the Sepang district office revealed that no such licence issued for sand-mining activities in Jenderam Hilir.