Sanusi reveals Anwar’s link to bid by Indonesian tycoon for Kedah rare earth rights
The Kedah menteri besar says the prime minister had accompanied Riza Chalid to Kedah, where the tycoon had applied for REE rights.
(MalaysiaNow) – Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the series of accusations against him over the theft of rare earth elements (REE) is linked to bids by an Indonesian tycoon to get mining rights to the lucrative minerals in the state.
Sanusi, who has filed a defamation suit against Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution for accusing him of being involved in the theft of REE in the state, identified the tycoon as prominent Indonesian businessman Riza Chalid.
He said Riza had come to Kedah accompanied by Anwar Ibrahim to meet a certain individual.
“It turns out that Riza Chalid came to apply for the REE mining area. He came with his boss, Anwar Ibrahim!
“No wonder Pudin (Saifuddin) is working very hard; that’s the reason,” he told a ceramah last night.
On Oct 2, a Facebook page of the Kedah royal family posted about Anwar’s audience with Kedah ruler Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.
According to the post, Anwar, who was then the Port Dickson MP, had brought Riza with him.
Sanusi also revealed that days before the dissolution of the state assembly, he was contacted by someone who informed him that Riza wanted to donate sacrificial cows.
Sanusi said he declined the offer.
“I was worried because elections were around the corner and the cows could be construed as bribery.”
Sanusi said his administration has no problem approving applications to exploit REE resources in the state as long as it benefits Kedahans.
“Come, whoever it is, whether it’s Anwar Ibrahim, Saifuddin, or Riza Chalid. Come,” he added.
Saifuddin, who is also the PKR secretary-general, has been at the forefront of attacks against Sanusi in Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional’s bid to wrest Kedah at the coming polls.
