GUA MUSANG: Over RM1,000.
That is how much illegal gold miners in Kelantan can make daily by digging for the precious metal in a forest reserve here.
It is for this reason that illegal miners are willing to risk arrest and their lives in search of gold.
One miner who only wanted to be known as Saiful, 32, said he knew of some "gold hunters" who could buy a car cash from illegal mining.
He said the miners used water pumps to draw sand from the riverbed.
In deeper waters, some would even dive to the bottom of the river to bring the pump hose to the riverbed.
Several areas in Gua Musang have drawn miners including Sungai Galas, Kampung Pulai and Taman Rusa.
"There are also villagers who pan gold for extra income," he said, adding any gold found would be stockpiled before it is sold to a middleman who would then sell it to goldsmiths.
"The price of gold depends on market prices," said Saiful who has been mining for five years.
Foreigners also involved in illegal mining
Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the authorities recently arrested two foreigners for illegal mining in Taman Negara Kelantan.
The arrests were part of a joint operation with the General Operations Force, Federal Reserve Unit and the police.
Kadir said investigations revealed the suspects were involved in large-scale mining as evidenced by tools and machinery found at the site.
"More shockingly, we discovered an excavator that was used to dig up soil in the area," he said, adding around RM500,000 in equipment was seized during the operation.
The suspects, both from Myanmar, are believed to entered the country using United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) refugee cards.
Kadir said he was also concerned that the miners would also catch or hunt protected wildlife in the reserve to be eaten or smuggled overseas.
Villagers pay the price
Iskandar Yusof, a villager who lives near Sungai Galas said the mining has resulted in sedimentation.
"The river is our main source of water. Now it is dirty and murky," said Iskandar, adding the mining is damaging the environment.
High prices driving demand
The illegal mining is believed to be linked to high gold prices which have risen to RM395 a gramme.
The retail price for 916 gold may hit the RM400 per gramme mark by year-end.
HABIB Senior General Manager Mohd Zaruddin Mahmud said although gold prices were unstable, they have risen by nearly 16 per cent in the past six months.
The rise in prices has been driven by geopolitical issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Gaza conflict, he said.
"The (high) price of gold is also affected by the instability of our currency."
Despite this, Mohd Zaruddin said demand for gold has not changed as many still bought gold pieces to wear or for investment.