Pakatan Rakyat MPs has opted to stay away from tonight’s Australia Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur after finding out that Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd is one of the sponsors of the event.

Despite acknowledging the importance in attending the auspicious event, special to all Australians, Pakatan said that will regretfully turned down the invitation by the Australian High Commission.

"As you are aware, a large number of Malaysian public consider Lynas rare earth processing plant as an unwelcome investment in Malaysia. Our attendance to the function will be contravening Pakatan Rakyat's principles and election pledges," said three Pakatan MPs - Tian Chua ( left ), V Sivakumar and Syed Azman Syed Nawawi said in a joint statement.

The three claim to be representing the three major Pakatan's component parties -PKR, DAP and PAS respectively.

The three said they hoped the Australia High Commission will accept that the party's stand against “irresponsible environmental polluters” and that this will not weaken the friendship and goodwill coalition shares with the Australian people.

Meanwhile, environmentalist group Himpunan Hijau is planing to stage a protest at the event today.

The NGO had worked nationwide for three months from last August to secure over one million signatures in a petition to close the Lynas' rare earth refinery in Gebeng, Kuantan.