With two more weeks to go, more and more groups have thrown in their support towards Himpunan Hijau 2.0, a public rally which calls for the termination of  the Lynas Advance Materials Plant (Lamp) project in Gebeng, Kuantan.

NONE At a press conference yesterday, Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) president Tan Yew Sing ( right ) declared that the Chinese umbrella group is against the controversial rare earth project, and that he will personally attend the planned gathering on Feb 26.

Citing the Bukit Merah Asian Rare Earth (ARE) plant incident as a “bitter experience”, he stressed that public safety should be a priority instead of economic benefit.

“We still remember the incident of ARE, where locals were exposed to radiation from the waste product.

“How can we allow this tragedy to happen again and let the people to live in sickness and pain forever?” he asked.

Also present at the conference were Himpunan Hijau 2.0 committee chairman Wong Tack and his fellow members.

NONE This rally, which follows the group’s first rally on Oct 9, is scheduled to be held at the Kuantan municipal field on Feb 26, starting at 9.30am.

However, this would be the first public gathering to be held at downtown Kuantan since the Lynas issue erupted, and it is expected to face obstruction from the police.

The previous rallies were mostly held on the outskirts of Kuantan, without much interference from the police.

This is also the second rally to be held after the government’s issuance of a temporary operating licence to Lynas last Monday.

Some 2,000 residents from around Kuantan gathered on Teluk Cempedak beach last Saturday, in a rally organised by another anti-Lynas group, Save Malaysia.

NONE Besides KLSCAH, the Himpunan Hijau 2.0 committee also met with several political parties and civil groups at a meeting later. The groups included Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Parti Rakyat Malaysia, Bersih 2.0, Anything But Umno, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia and Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia.

According to Himpunan Hijau 2.0 publicity chief Lee Chean Chung, all these groups have pledged their support and their leaders will also join the rally.

The leaders include both Bersih 2.0 co-chairpersons Ambiga Sreenevasan and A Samad Said, and PSM secretary general S Arutchelvan.