YOURSAY 'If the waste is not dangerous, why bother to send out of this country? Indeed, Australia has refused to accept the waste.'

Ministers insist Lynas must ship wastes abroad

Swipenter: "The obligation imposed on Lynas in this matter is very clear. The government will not compromise on the health and safety of the rakyat and the environment in dealing with the issue of Lynas," said four cabinet ministers, whose portfolios are directly related to the rare earth processing plant project.

This is definitely an afterthought by the four ministers when opposition to Lynas was reaching boiling point.

This is unlikely a condition for the latter to invest and set up the plant. If they stop Lynas from operating now then Umno-BN government has to fork out huge compensation to Lynas and have our reputation as a good country to invest by foreigners savaged.

Or somehow all of a sudden, they find a "safe means" of disposing and storing the waste and go ahead to let Lynas operate and take the political risk/fallout.

Umno-BN has not learn to engage the rakyat concerning matters of national interest even after losing their two-thirds majority in GE12 but as usual come out with their double talk to fool us and continue with their habit of forcing and pushing things down our throats.

Keturunan Malaysia: If what Lynas Malaysia managing director Mashal Ahmad said is true about that Lynas' wastes could not be exported because of international laws banning shipments of such materials, then don't tell me our four ministers don't know about the laws and/or Mashal didn't brief them earlier?

Then again if the four ministers knew about it, how come this Lynas plant is still approved and the go-ahead is given, or are they attempting what they thought is a worthy good try to pull the wool over the eyes of the rakyat?

What is more interesting now is that since they can't ship out the waste because it is illegal, where the heck are they going to dump it?

Anonymous #12566075: If the international law prohibits export of waste from rear earth refining, why the government cabinet issued the TOL (temporary operation licence) on condition that such waste must be exported out from Malaysia?

Does the four ministers know this before the TOL was issued? In all probability whether they know or otherwise, the four ministers have been acting on this issue unlawfully.

They must take responsibilities on allowing processing of rear earth to start even on the TOL basis. This also reflect the low quality of our ministers in the cabinet.

Anonymous #57019477: All of us have missed the catch. Lynas is saying this include the by-products of the waste, which later they will be twisting to say that they are yet to come out with by-products and until then you could not say they are keeping the waste in Malaysia.

All in all, they are buying time at our expense.

Ferdtan: The four cabinet ministers reiterated that the rare earth residue must be exported citing Lynas' TOL condition. They are merely stating the view without suggesting action/actions to be taken if Lynas refuses to abide the condition.

In fact, Lynas is saying very clearly that they are not going to export the radioactive waste. So if the four ministers are sincere and not play-acting, they should demand there and then for Lynas' TOL to be suspended or revoked immediately.

It is obvious that they are buying time to fool the people until the GE is over. Ministers, show us with actions and not mere words - words of a politician is not worth a dime, especially those from BN leaders.

Changenow: Government officers must be stationed in the company's premises to take over the wastes if safe disposal methods are available.

It appears they do not have this procedure in place. With an international ban on its exports, why subject citizens to such risks.

Paul Warren: The government is in for a rude shock. Whatever agreement signed, the Australians can insist that it was done within the framework of international laws and that it is implicit that those laws will be followed.

In other words, Malaysia fully understanding that international law forbids the export of radioactive materials, and has agreed for Lynas to produce this radioactive materials here in the country.

It follows, therefore, that Malaysia knows the radioactive waste will not be exported, but stored here on our shores.

Love Malaysia: Ironically they kept on saying that rare earth is not dangerous. They even proved it by having some people touching the materials bare handed and showed it on TV.

If the waste is not dangerous, why bother to send out of this country. Australia has refused to accept the waste. Maybe they should bury the waste in Pahang MB's backyard.

Not Confused: Isn't it amazing how public attention, focused through impartial media can exert pressure and successfully counter arguments put forward by Lynas regarding the removal of hazardous waste from Malaysian soil.

If it had been up to the mainstream media, they would be ranting and raving about the protesters being anti-government and barking that many professionals here in Malaysia had certified that there was no risk to the plant.

Keep it up guys - the court of public opinion continues to grind slowly but true and on course.

Rick Teo: So what's going to happen now? Lynas is firm that they cannot export waste and the ministers said they have to export waste. So how is the ‘sandiwara' going to end?

Anonymous_40c3: I am so glad this is not a nuclear reactor. Imagine firing it up and then deciding how the radioactive waste is going to be dealt with based on assurances by the plant operator.

Strange how this country's great minds work.

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