Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Maximus Ongkili has claimed no project in the world would get 100 percent approval from the public.

NONE In reference to the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) in Gebeng, Pahang, he said people are generally satisfied with the project, after a series of public consultations by a parliamentary select committee (PSC).

“Well, this (always happens). There’s no project in the world that will be 100 percent accepted (by the people), what more in this particular field (rare earths industry),” he told  a press conference today after launching the Multimedia Super Corridor Knowledge Workers Development Centre.

Ongkili noted that according to the findings of the PSC, most of the public wanted to see the economy of the country grow, and this plant plays a major role of that.

He claimed that the government had considered everything and listened to the majority before issuing the temporary operating licence (TOL) to Lynas.

“The PSC had gone through the process, it’s a majority view... That is what parliamentary democracy is all about, you can never be happy with everything,” he added.

AELB announced on Jan 30 that the board had agreed to issue the TOL for the Lamp and had officially issued it last week. It would take effect from Sept 3 and would be valid for two years.

Environmentalist group Himpunan Hijau has threatened to blockade Kuantan Port should Lynas commence its import of raw materials for processing at its Gebeng plant.

The government had previously formed a PSC on the project and had recommended that the plant should be given the TOL after a three-month study.

When asked about the blockade by Himpunan Hijau, Ongkili said that the government will leave this matter to the relevant authority.

He also added that the government will continue to engage the public to explain to them that the plant is safe.

“We will continue to engage with them, to continue to have forums with them, to explain that the plant is safe. Anything more than that, we leave it to the authorities to maintain law and order in this country.

“From the perspective of science, we have nothing else to say, except to say it’s safe,” he added.