SHAH ALAM, Jan 21 — Selangor has been identified as among nine states in Malaysia with measured rare earth element (REE) resources totalling 274,144 metric tonnes.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup said this is based on a nationwide study covering an area of 103.9 sq km, carried out by the Minerals and Geoscience Department (JMG) from 2021 to 2025.
Other than Selangor, the other states include Terengganu, Perak, Kedah, Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Kelantan, and Johor.
"The ministry, together with relevant ministries and agencies, remains committed to developing the country's REE industry in phases across the entire value chain, while emphasising legal compliance, environmental protection and public safety," he said.
Arthur was responding to Batu Kawan MP Chow Kon Yeow via a written Parliamentary reply on the direction of Malaysia’s REE industry, during the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.
However, he did not provide a breakdown of the figure for each state.
The minister also outlined the respective roles of Federal and state governments, noting that states have authority over land matters, including mining permits and approvals, while the Federal government is responsible for national policy formulation, industry coordination, technical regulation, safety, environmental oversight, and export control.
Initial surveys have also identified inferred REE resources in several states, primarily in ion-adsorption clay deposits in Peninsular Malaysia.
“These findings remain at the preliminary resource stage and require further verification before any full-scale commercial activity can be considered,” Arthur said.
He added that the government will continue to ensure that the development of Malaysia’s REE industry is carried out responsibly and sustainably, in support of the country's economic prosperity and the well-being of its people.
Perak has already implemented a pilot REE mining project since 2022, closely monitored by the authorities, while Kelantan, Pahang, Johor, and Negeri Sembilan are still at the study, exploration, or technical evaluation stages.
Meanwhile, Selangor has not approved any REE mining activities, with Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari saying in November last year that the state government is focused on the processing sector and the development of downstream industries to enhance economic value.
