Thirty 'green' riders have embarked on a 2,800km tour of peninsular Malaysia in 39 days, before joining forces with a protest at Gebeng in a bid to shut down the Lynas rare earth refinery plant.

 

The group was flagged off from Dataran Merdeka today. They will travel north to Alor Setar, then turn east to Kuala Terengganu, and travel the coast until Johor Baru and Pengerang, before heading to Kuantan on June 21.

 

Their expedition will pass through 37 towns where they will spend a night.

The group will also act as ‘green’ ambassadors, and spread the message of environment preservation with particular attention to the issues involving Lynas, Bukit Koman cyanide gold mine, and the incinerator controversy in Kuala Lumpur.

 

This ride is due to the individual initiative of property agent George Fong, 42 who planned the expedition, which they have dubbed  the ‘2,800 Green Ride’ with three other friends. They will be riding all the way.

 

Two others have made the same commitment. They are a 58 year old retiree and a 38 year old freelance sub-title writer who has not done this before, but had spent RM3,000 to purchase a mountain bike and full  accessories just to show support.

 

"I hail from Pahang. There are two major environmental issues there - Lynas and the Bukit Koman gold mine,” said Fong in explaining his motivation.

 

More will join the group when it arrives at Rawang this evening. Among them will be DAP Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah together with his Ubah bicycle team.

 

“This is not about Himpunan Hijau, this is about Malaysians claiming back their land and their right to environment preservation, as well as their right to say 'no' to Lynas”, said Bersih chairperson Maria Chin.

 

"Why are we here today? We are here because of this company (Lynas)," said Himpunan Hijau chairperson Wong Tack , while stamping on a giant map to mark the exact location of the rare earth plant.

 

"The riders will be arriving at Gebeng in 39 days, and together we will make sure the plant shuts down on June 22," he said.

 

Wong ( right ) was referring to "622 Shut Down Lynas", another movement organised by Himpunan Hijau to block the main entrance of Lynas plant to make sure nothing and nobody comes in and out of the plant.

 

National laureate A Samad Said and Adam Adli from the Bersih secretariat were among those there to see the riders off.

 

The team left after a short prayer session conducted by Defend Our Heritage Association chief, Ishak Surin.