Foreign firms want to set up crude oil refinery plant

TWO companies have offered to set up a crude oil refinery plant in Yan, Kedah, involving billions of ringgit in investment. 

Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said a third company wanted to undertake the delivery of crude oil via the Trans-Peninsular pipeline from Yan to Bachok, Kelantan.  

He said the three companies, which included two foreign firms, had applied to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry through Malaysia Industrial Development Authority (Mida). 

“We will know the results on Dec 15,” he said. 

Mahdzir, in his winding-up speech, said the state has set up a taskforce led by Kedah Economic Planning Unit director Datuk Bashirudin Abdul Jamil to handle land matters for the project. 

Mahdzir said the state accepted the view on the environmental impact and social implication of the project raised by Azizan Abdul Razak (PAS-Sungai Limau). 

He said the state would meet with the assemblymen in the district to explain the project. 

The state assembly adjourned sine die.  

Later at a press conference, Mahdzir said the Kedah Religious Department was monitoring two shops which were operated by Rufaqa Corporation. 

“So far no action has been taken on the two shops,” he said.