The issuance of the temporary operating licence (TOL) to Lynas (M) Sdn Bhd has been postponed pending a decision on an appeal by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Maximus Ongkili.

Atomic Energy Licensing Board executive secretary Abdul Aziz Adnan said that three parties had submitted their appeals to the minister on the TOL approval given by the board to Lynas.

"Pending decision on the appeal, the minister had instructed the board to defer issuing the TOL to Lynas," he said in a statement issued today.

He said the hearing on the appeals was held on April 17.

- Bernama