The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry have dismissed a claim that Australian mining giant Lynas has begun bringing rare earth ores into Malaysia.

In a joint press statement today, the ministries pointed out that any importation will require Lynas to obtain a Class E licence and an import permit from the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB).

azlan "At this point in time, Lynas has neither been issued an AELB Class E licence nor does it qualify yet for a permit to import rare earth ores into Malaysia."

The ministries added that they had made it clear to anti-Lynas activists at an Oct 7 meeting that the importation has yet to begin.

"At the meeting, the anti-Lynas representatives told Miti they had information that Lynas was planning to import rare earth ores (this month) via Kuantan Port and asked if this was true.

"Both Miti and AELB (under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry) categorically stated that Lynas had not been given any permission to import ores into the country. This position has not changed."

NONE The statement comes after Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh (left) at a press conference on Oct 13 said Lynas is expected to begin shipping the ore from Port Weld,  Australia by the end of this month.

Reacting to the claim, environmental group Stop Lynas Save Malaysia urged the AELB to reaffirm its position that Lynas had not been granted any licence, including the pre-operating licence.

Lynas is building a rare earth refinery in Gebeng, near Kuantan, over the continuing objections of residents who are fearful of problems such as radiation.