Expert panel fails to win over Lynas detractors

Groups opposed to the Lynas Advanced Material Plant in Gebeng, Pahang, remain deeply suspicious of the government despite it naming nine experts on an international panel to review the project’s safety compliance.

The Stop Lynas, Save Malaysia group said they are still unconvinced that the government is acting in the people’s interests, stressing that the experts were appointed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which they say is in favour of nuclear power plants.

“It looks like they (government) are going in headstrong, and it looks like the result will not be favourable to the people,” said Vincent Jiam, the group’s spokesperson.

Yesterday, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed announced a nine-member panel of experts that will review the health and safety aspects of Lynas’ on-going rare earth refinery project - touted to be the largest facility outside of China once completed.

The panel is scheduled to carry out its work here from May 29 to June 3, and will submit its report to the government by the end of June. Mustapa pledged to make the panel’s findings and recommendations public.

Despite the assurance, Jiam said the motivation behind the setting-up of the panel remains questionable as not once had his group or other protestors been approached for their opinions.

“We have the right to put the people whom we want on the panel, recommended environmentalists and health experts. IAEA is pro-nuclear development... the people they appointed won’t cover all the areas that we are concerned about.”

Jiam also questioned the short period of time the panel will spend in Malaysia to review the project.

‘Gov’t should come to us’

The onus remains on the government to make the effort to reach out to the public, particularly residents in Gebeng and nearby Kuantan, as the project’s detractors have already made their position crystal clear, he added.

“It’s for them to come to us. If they make us work for it, then it’s like they are just giving us trouble,” he said.

Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh meanwhile took Mustapa and his ministry to task for simply passing the buck to the national Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), which in turn left it to the IAEA to form the panel.

She stressed that the IAEA does not even cover the correct field of expertise to address public concerns over the Lynas plant.

“The IAEA is the wrong body to consult because they deal with proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear power plants. They deal with high-level radiation, not the level of thorium which is of concern here.

“We are looking for experts on low-level effects, including ingestion and inhalation. We are not talking of nuclear reactors,” she said.

Fuziah, who is a PKR vice-president, also questioned why the panel’s terms of reference have yet to be made known, while echoing Jiam’s concerns over the absence of environmental experts on the panel.

She said the government should have taken public concerns as its terms of reference before even setting out to form the panel, which should include eco-toxicologists, environmental engineers and public health experts in low-level radiation.

The government must also make it clear what benchmarks the panel will follow in making its assessment of the rare earth refinery, making sure that it only follows the most stringent of requirements, she added.

‘Loopholes exploited by Lynas’

Fuziah did not dispute Lynas’ claims that it was given a licence to run its plant in Australia, but said it is important to note that it is the Environmental Protection Agency in Australia and not its AELB-equivalent that approves such projects.

She pointed out that among the requirements set in Australia is for all waste from the rare earth refinery to be returned to Mount Weld, where it was originally sourced.

American company Molycorp Mineral was required to build proper waste storage facilities with lead walls while it's refinery in Mount Pass, California was still operational, Fuziah added.

“Here the AELB is saying they can scatter it everywhere, and Lynas say they can use clay walls and impermeable plastic lining, but that is just a temporary measure used in Australia.

Fuziah ( far right ) questioned the apparent double standards between Australia and Malaysia.

“Lynas is finding loopholes in our laws, and taking advantage of Malaysia. This is very unbecoming of Lynas, since they are treading on our rights,” she said.

“If the panel of experts are looking at standards, then we expect nothing less than what is practised in Australia and the US.”

Rally at Australia High Commission

In a press statement today, the group called upon those who support their cause to join them as they lead a peaceful walk in Kuala Lumpur on May 20 to send a memorandum of protest to the Australian High Commission there. 

These are among other events planned which include protest gatherings on Father's Day and health forums to discuss the impact of the plant next month. 

Although the plant is still in construction, the group said the effects are already felt through declining tourism and property value. 

"Business has suffered a gradual decline and people are contemplating relocating their families and businesses...

"(The Lynas plant) has cast a long shadow over every aspect of our living activities," the group, which intends to register with the Registrar of Societies said.