The anti-Lynas group Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) bought full-page advertisements in two major Chinese dailies today to plead for public donations to fund its legal struggle in Australia.

The advertisements in the Sin Chew Daily and Guang Ming Daily , feature former Asian Rare Earth (ARE) factory labourer Lai Kwan and her late son Cheah Kok Leong, who was born with congenital defects allegedly due to excessive radiation from the ARE factory in Bukit Merah, Perak.

NONE Cheah passed away last month at the age of 29. He has become a symbol for the movement against the Lynas rare earths refinery in Gebeng, Kuantan.

The advertisement appeals to every Malaysian to fork out RM10 for the movement to continue its legal fight in the Australian court.

SMSL chairperson Tan Boon Teet ( right ) told Malaysiakini today that the group needs A$70,000 (RM240,000) to fund its legal action to stop Lynas from transporting rare earths from Australia to Malaysia to be processed.

 

Tan explained that although Lynas has been granted an import licence from the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), the Australian authority has not issued an exporting licence to the company.

"Hence, we hope to stop rare earths from being exported to Malaysia through this way," he said.

How to make the donation

According to him, the advertisement sponsored by supporters will run in both dailies for three consecutive days from today.

Asked why they did not put the advertisement in the other language newspapers, Tan said their funds were limited and they believed that the other language dailies would not accept the advertisement.

Donations can be deposited into a Public Bank account by the name of Pertubuhan Solidariti Hijau Kuantan (a/c no: 3173473113)

Besides taking legal action in Australia, the group has also filed an appeal to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Maximus Ongkili to cancel the temporary operating licence issued to Lynas.

The hearing of their appeal is to be held tomorrow, at the AELB office in Bangi.

Should the minister reject their appeal, SMSL will initiate a new round of legal battles in court to challenge the minister's decision, said Tan.