The two additional conditions imposed by the Ministry of Science and Technology (Mosti) on Lynas Corporation for their rare earth plant in Gebeng are not enough to inspire confidence, said anti-Lynas activists.


 <img align="left" alt="NONE" height="200" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/470/e3aac736441f5cfcbec43607aa423caf.jpg" width="300"/>
 According to Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) spokeperson Tan Bun Teet, the conditions are "not convincing" as there is no guarantee that they will be followed through.


 "Didn't the International Atomic Energy Agency make 11 recommendations to the Atomic Energy Licencing Board (AELB) last year? Which of these recommendations has in practice been followed through?


 "Yet the AELB, with the blessing of the Mosti, went ahead to approve the temporary operating licence for Lynas," he said in a statement.


 Mosti had yesterday
 <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/200976" target="_blank">
 
 rejected
 
 </a>
 SMSL's appeal to the ministry to suspend the temporary operating licence, but added two extra conditions which are to be met by the Australian company:


 <ul>
 <li>
 Lynas must come up with an immobolisation mechanism against the radioactive elements in its waste to prevent these from spreading to the surrounding areas; and
 </li>
 </ul>
 <ul>
 <li>
 Lynas must come up with an emergency response plan to contain dust created by radioactive residue disposal facilities from spreading into the atmosphere and surrounding areas, and this plan must be approved by the AELB's board.
 </li>
 </ul>


 
 
 Demonstration on Tuesday
 
 


 Lynas has in June last year said it was committed to implementing all the International Atomic Energy Agency's recommendations.


 Tan said the fight against the Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) will continue through a judicial review after the parliamentary select committee inquiry on the rare earth plant publishes its findings.


 <img align="right" alt="NONE" height="180" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/463/c4a7ac3f4032208a64b5d96aa8455b1f.jpg" width="266"/>
 SMSL and a number of Kuantan residents will file a case against the government once the findings are published.


 The findings are expected to be published this month.


 SMSL had boycotted the inquiry when the committee could not guarantee immunity from defamation suits from Lynas, which had earlier this year commenced defamation proceedings against the group.


 In response, Tan said protestors will gather at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to stage a peaceful protest against the "gag" exercise on the anti-Lynas movement.


 "Not only has Lynas been aggressive in pushing ahead its controversial project which risks polluting our land, our river and our sea, it is also trying to shut us up!"


 Tan said several busloads of protestors are expected to arrive from different parts of Malaysia at 9.30am on June 19 for the demonstration, and urges all who want to participate to contact SMSL.


 
 
 Gov&rsquo;t playing trial and error?
 
 


 Meanwhile, another anti-Lynas group Himpunan Hijau has also denounced the new conditions, saying that the TOL should not have been approved at all.


 &ldquo;In the first place, what is the logic behind the issuance of a TOL to such a massively polluting project that can cause severe irreversible harm to the future of humanity and this nation?&rdquo;


 <img align="left" alt="NONE" height="200" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/467/868f6b4cc69500b6617220a6599dca12.jpg" width="200"/>
 &ldquo;If the Mosti and AELB are so sure that this project will not cause serious harm to the people and the environment, why not issue a permanent license?


 &ldquo;So what is the meaning of a TOL? That Mosti and AELB are not sure (of Lynas impact)? Things are not in place? Trial and error?&rdquo; said Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tack (
 
 left
 
 ) in a statement today.


 He said the additional conditions prove that the authorities are continuing a charade to deceive the rakyat.


 Wong urged the Science and Technology minister Maximus Ongkili to do a ground survey on the Mamut copper mine in Ranau, Sarawak and the former Asian Rare Earth (ARE) site in Bukit Merah so he could comprehend the immense suffering by the people there, due to toxic pollution.


 He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who had on June 12 repeated that the government would consider scrapping the Lynas project, while Lynas gets the green light despite massive objections having been voiced loud and clear.


 &ldquo;With the current sentiment boiling in the community, our Prime minister still cannot read what his people want.


 <img align="right" alt="penang himpunan hijau 2 260212 03" height="200" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/445/abed81c7f1dbe2ea541ed51fec764cd3.jpg" width="296"/>
 &ldquo;Where are you Mr Prime Minister? Have you lost touch with your rakyat and control of this country?&rdquo; he asked.


 To respond to the inaction, the group is gearing up to organise a day-long rally from June 23 to 24 starting 12pm at Pantai Balok, Pahang.


 Dubbed as &lsquo;Occupy Balok-Gebeng 24 Hours&rsquo;, the protestors plan to march from the venue to Gebeng Commercial Centre and later to Lamp at 9am on Sunday.


 Joining the rally will be a slew of PAS leaders including deputy president Mohamad Sabu, Pahang PAS commissioner Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.


 &nbsp;

<img align="left" alt="NONE" height="64" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/451/4747b55fa63fef29b3207d166a93f36d.jpg" width="64"/>

 UPDATED 7.23PM

The two new conditions imposed by Mosti on Lynas for the Gebeng rare earth plant are not enough, they say.

Anti-Lynas groups unmoved by Mosti's new conditions

~RM12

Share

ABOUT

DIGITAL NETWORK

TERMS OF USE

GENERAL LINE

SUBSCRIPTION / TECH SUPPORT

EDITORIAL

LOCATION

RSS FEEDS

DAILY NEWS DIGEST