The parliamentary select committee (PSC) on the safety of the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) has proposed to the government to insist on public consultation sessions prior to launching new high-impact projects, especially one that involves public safety.

Malay-language daily Berita Harian , quoting a source, reported that the public hearing sessions is one of the six recommendation which will be tabled for debate in the Dewan Rakyat on June 18.

The reason is to ensure that locals will be equipped with the facts and information on the project, and to avoid political manipulations.

The PSC, which is headed by Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin, will be finalising the recommendations at their last meeting tomorrow.

Last month, local groups criticised Khaled’s assurance that the rare earths plant is the safest and the most advanced plant of its kind in the world.