IPOH: The rare earth mining project in Hulu Perak has not started as claimed, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

       The Perak Mentri Besar said the satellite images of the site was of the project that was stopped last year.

       "Before I was Mentri Besar, the previous government announced the finding of some new elements, which was lanthanide.

       "So some preliminary works were started on a small scale such as retention ponds and tarred roads before they were ordered to stop in 2021," he told reporters after attending the state-level National Cooperatives Day celebration at a hotel in Bandar Meru Raya here on Saturday (June 11).

       An online news portal had reported that a satellite image, supposedly of the lanthanide mining site in Gerik.

       "The reason why we stopped the work was that we wanted it to follow the standard operating procedure.

       "While the project has had an environmental impact assessment, there are many other assessments that still need approval before it can get the approval from the Gerik District Council," he said.