Perak MB requests state be excluded from NR-REE export moratorium

Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.-filepic

IPOH: Perak has requested to be excluded from the moratorium on the export of non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE), says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

The Perak Mentri Besar said he had expressed his stand on the matter at a recent meeting between mentri besar and chief ministers with the Prime Minister.

"I explained that with the sale of the raw material, Perak received RM25.2mil royalty payments last year, and thus the Federal Government must not prevent the state government from exporting the product.

“I request that the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry firstly exclude Perak from the moratorium to export until there is a set policy by the ministry.

“Secondly the ministry must set up an entity that becomes the buyer for the NR-REE material,” he told a press conference after launching the Perak State Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC) pre-order Aidilfitri Rahmah sales.

During the event, Saarani also launched SADC’s Perak Agrotourism Carnival 2024.

Saarani was asked to comment on minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s statement in Parliament last week that all state governments have been reminded to comply with the moratorium on the export of NR-REE, which has been in effect since Jan 1.

He had said that a reminder letter on the matter had been issued to all state governments on March 6.

Nik Nazmi had said that during the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister had stressed that all state governments must abide by the existing policies, especially related to NR-REE export mining operations, which fall under the government’s jurisdiction.

Saarani added in the meantime, investors have also approached state representatives in their interest to invest in downstream industrial factories.

“We are looking at this matter seriously, and I will meet the minister to request him to give Perak the privilege to continue with the export.

“The state already has the material, and we cannot export it, that is not right. The Federal Government must have a body that is willing to buy and process the material in the country, and I hope the ministry will agree to this,” he added.