In a mess: A photographer entering one of the houses that thieves had broken into to dig for the tantalum. THE tantalum thieves are back in Patani Road as they broke into all the five dilapidated double-storey houses to dig up several holes for tantalum, which is also known as orr kim (Hokkien for black gold).
Datuk Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo said he was informed of the matter by the Kampung Makam Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) last week.
“This is the second incident following the first report in February this year when the thieves broke into two of the five houses for the rare metal.
“After the complaint, the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) stationed a security guard at the houses,” he told a press conference at the Patani Road community hall yesterday.
Jagdeep Singh believed this time around, the thieves broke into the houses from the back lane to dig up for tantalum after the guard was off duty after 7pm.
“As this similar incident happened for a second time, I would write in to council president Patahiyah Ismail to urge her to take necessary action to solve the matter.
“One of the solutions is to beef up the security within the vicinity,” he explained.
The five abandoned houses belong to the council Valuation Department and used to be the staff quarters.
It was reported on Feb 27 in The Star that the thieves broke into two of the five houses and dug several holes to steal the tantalum, a by-product of tin smelting.
Tantalum is a rare element which resists corrosion. It is mainly used in capacitors and tubes for electronic circuits, cutting tools, as a super alloy in aerospace structures and jet engines, and in heat exchangers.
It also contains a natural radioactive element called uranium thorium. When tantalum ‘decays’ it emits a gas which is harmful when inhaled.
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