Kelantan:<Text>

The Kelantan government is opening up new opportunities for the people, especially the low-income group and irregular workers, to increase their daily income through manual gold panning activities when official license applications are opened on Jan 1. The move is seen as a balanced effort by the state government in helping the economy of the people, while also ensuring that gold panning activities are carried out in a controlled, safe and environmentally friendly manner.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kelantan Land and Mines director, Nik Raisnan Daud, stated that the current gold price in the market is around 918 riyals (approximately RM565.77 per gramme) for 916 gold, with the possibility of fluctuations of up to 100 riyals. He emphasized that the state government believes small-scale panners can still participate in this activity, particularly those who rely on daily income and irregular jobs.

Nik Raisnan highlighted the importance of s afety and community well-being, noting that the state government plans to designate specific areas to ensure gold panning is conducted without disturbing local populations. A crucial stipulation is that gold panning must be done manually without large-scale machinery to prevent environmental harm and ensure safety.

He also mentioned that the number of applications received so far was encouraging. However, each application would be thoroughly reviewed according to the set conditions, with priority given to the less fortunate to help them increase their income legally.

Gold panner, Ramzu Zaman Yusuf, 52, expressed his support for the initiative, stating that it would significantly benefit the people of Kelantan, especially those with low incomes. As a campsite operator in Gunung Reng, Jeli, Ramzu plans to submit an official application soon, noting that having a license would make the activity more controlled and legal.

Similarly, Ahmad Fauzan Mohd Zain, a r est area operator in Jeli, has submitted an application for a gold panning license and is awaiting further conditions and approval. He mentioned that the application process involves a payment of RM100 for the application and another RM100 upon approval. The activity, allowed only on a small scale, will be subject to additional conditions based on current needs, differing from the long-established mining licenses.

Ahmad Fauzan also noted that applicants are awaiting further announcements about the determination of panning areas, allowed equipment, and enforcement methods. He reassured that despite these conditions and fees, there remains a strong interest in applying for a license to ensure that the activity is conducted legally and in an orderly manner.