Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob said "friends" of the opposition elected representative who opposed the construction of Lynas rare earth processing plant have received contracts to build the plant.

Adnan wants Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd to issue a list of contractors who received the contracts and did construction work for public viewing.

"They (the contractors involved) are not my friends, but friends of the elected representative who opposed the construction of the plant," he said when tabling Pahang's 2012 budget in the state assembly today.

He said health and safety issues are the government's priorities before issuing a pre-operational licence to Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd to process rare earth.

However, certain parties have politicised the construction of the plant at Gebeng industrial area to fit their narrow-minded politics.

Adnan said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and foreign experts have confirmed that construction of the plant is safe but certain parties continue to distort facts that it will be harmful to the people.

"The government has issued guidelines which they (Lynas) need to fully comply with the prescribed conditions."

The menteri besar said the Barisan Nasional government never acted or make any decision that could be harmful to the people.

"We live on the votes of the people. Why should we do something to destroy the people?" he said, adding that he hoped the opposition does not continue to politicise the issue for their political interests based on slander and lies.

- Bernama