Natural resources, environment and climate change minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the figure was provided by the minerals and geoscience department.

“We can carry out work (with regards to REE exploration) without touching our permanent forest reserves,” he said when winding-up the debate of the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review.

Nik Nazmi also said it was compulsory for state governments intending to allow mining of REE in forest reserves to “replace” the de-gazetted acreage.

Currently, Putrajaya prohibits the mining of REE in permanent forest reserves, water catchment areas and environmentally sensitive areas, he said.

“That would be the last resort. (Plus) we (the ministry) do not want such a scenario (the mining of REE in permanent forest reserves).”

In June, Nik Nazmi told the Dewan Rakyat that 16.1 million tonnes of non-radioactive REE (NR-REE), with a market value of RM809.6 billion, had been discovered in Malaysia.

The department has identified 29 areas with strategic potential for NR-REE in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu.