Gold rush: Malaysia’s Kelantan to let poor residents dig for precious metal

Malaysia’s northeastern state of Kelantan plans to issue licences for small-scale gold panning, formalising a practice that has long existed on its riverbanks and promising a modest boost for low-income residents as gold prices hover near historic highs. The state government opened applications for official licences on January 1, allowing residents to pan for gold manually in designated areas, according to state news agency Bernama. The move targets daily wage earners and those in irregular...