SEREMBAN: Claims that illegal gold mining is being conducted along Sg Lenggeng near here are untrue, says Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
The Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar also denied allegations that he and Lenggeng assemblyman Datuk Mohd Asna Amin had received millions from sales of the gold, claims that had gone viral on social media.
He said he had no knowledge of gold deposits in the area but added that he had instructed the Lands and Mines Department as well as the Mineral and Geoscience Department to investigate.
He was speaking to reporters after chairing the state exco meeting at Wisma Negri here on Wednesday (Jan 15).
The viral video alleges that gold is being illegally mined instead of sand mining along the river.
Aminuddin said that a company that owns land in the area had been awarded a licence to mine sand and rehabilitate the riverbank.
The project is a joint venture between the company and an agency under the Negri Sembilan Foundation.
He said if there were gold deposits in the area, the state government would issue a licence to parties keen to mine it.
"It can be a new source of revenue as the state government will earn royalties from the gold mining activity," he said.
Aminuddin added that only one licence had been issued to mine gold in the state.
"A company was given a licence in Gemas but they are still doing exploration work for now," he said.
Aminuddin also said the Negri government had identified two areas for rare earth elements (REE) mining.
"Some companies are in the midst of applying for licenses," he said.
