Himpunan Hijau 2.0 rallies outside of Kuantan, too
A group of NGOs are identifying rallying points in several states to support the Himpunan Hijau 2.0 gathering in Kuantan on Sunday, turning the protest against rare earths refining into a nationwide affair.
A group of NGOs are identifying rallying points in several states to support the Himpunan Hijau 2.0 gathering in Kuantan on Sunday, turning the protest against rare earths refining into a nationwide affair.
The organisers, who want the protest against the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) in Gebeng to be heard loud and clear, have pinpointed gathering locations in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ipoh and Kota Kinabalu, with locations in the other states being identified.
Rallies in these locations will start at the same time as the 9.30am Himpunan Hijau 2.0 gathering at the MPK1 field in Kuantan, which the organisers say will be take place in a festival-like atmosphere.
“This is for the benefit of members of the public in the other states who do not have time or the means to get to Kuantan. They can come to these locations,” said an organising committee member who declined to be named.
“It’s up to the individual to choose whether to go Kuantan or to any of the other gathering points,” he said.
The nationwide campaign is jointly organised by the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia, Anything But Umno, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), National Interlok Action Team and Save Jalan Sultan Committee.
Details of the event are expected to be announced on Wednesday.
Going bald on masse
Meanwhile, a group of Kuantan residents on Sunday went bald en masse in the lead-up to the coming Sunday's rally against the setting up of Lamp.
Some 16 of them, who gathered next to the Kuantan market at 8am, described Lamp and Lynas Corporation as “filaments of trouble” and they wished for the plant to be removed from Malaysian soil.
“The Lamp issue is a major environmental concern, so the participants would like to express our concern for Kuantan through the action of shaving off their hair,” said the organiser, Winson Ooi.
And among those who went bald was a two-year-old boy.
Critics of the controversial plant, set to begin operations later in the year, are worry of possible radiation and other health issues.
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