Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is not keen on Lynas Corporation’s invitation for a meeting in Australia, and has instead advised the company to speak to its critics in Kuantan, Pahang.

Lim said Lynas’ chief executive officer Nicholas Curtis had somehow found out about his official visit to Victoria, Australia, scheduled for March 23-26 and had extended the invitation.

NONE For now, Lim has yet to decide on whether to accept the invitation, stressing that he will consult the Kuantan-based anti-Lynas grassroots first.

“Personally, my decision is not to meet him in Australia. He should not meet me even in Malaysia. He should meet people who will be affected by the Lynas plant,” said Lim.

Lim was speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Curtis should meet the direct stakeholders

He also showed an email invitation by a public relations company on behalf of Curtis, addressed to his press secretary.

“I’m surprised he knows about my visit and that he wants to meet me. I think he has never met the people in Kuantan before,” he said.

To a question, Lim said he does not see the rejection of Curtis’ invitation as a loss of opportunity to understand the issue better, reiterating that he is not the person with whom Lynas needs to dialogue.

“The stakeholders who are directly affected are more important than me.

NONE "I’m the chief minister of Penang not Pahang, so I think it’s only proper that the people of Pahang should decide,” he added.

Lim had appointed Pahang DAP organising secretary Lee Chin Chen ( right in picture ), who was present today, to consult the local anti-Lynas group.

Lee, a committee member of Himpunan Hijau 2.0, said he would raise this matter at a meeting tonight.

He will also consult the committee of another anti-Lynas group, 'Save Malaysia'.