Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob said although the mining licence was issued by the state government, permission had to be obtained from the department to carry out mining activities.

The mining company had a mining licence issued by the state government, but not permission from the department, he told reporters.

Kelantan Pakatan Harapan chairman Husam Musa recently called for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate mining activities in Kuala Koh following an incident of pneumonia outbreak in an Orang Asli settlement in Gua Musang.

In response to another question, on the state government’s claim for payment of oil royalty, Ahmad said the state government had fulfilled the requirements set by the federal government, including withdrawing its legal suit on the matter.

“Right now, the state government is just awaiting feedback from the federal government,” he said, adding that it was hoped that the federal government would expedite the oil royalty payment to Kelantan to enable the state government to use it to improve the socio-economic status of the people in the state.