Anti-Lynas group wants pow-wow with Dr M
The Save Malaysia Stop Lynas coalition has requested to meet Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad ahead of an expected Cabinet decision on whether to renew Australia's Lynas Corp's operating license for its rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan.
SMSL spokesperson Tan Bun Teet said the government needed to hear their concerns over Lynas' proposed waste management plans before making its final decision...
The Save Malaysia Stop Lynas coalition has requested to meet Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad ahead of an expected Cabinet decision on whether to renew Australia's Lynas Corp's operating license for its rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan.
SMSL spokesperson Tan Bun Teet said the government needed to hear their concerns over Lynas' proposed waste management plans before making its final decision.
"We wrote to Tun about three weeks ago, but our letter was neither acknowledged or replied," Tan told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall this morning.
He also claimed that Mahathir had previously engaged with Lynas, and therefore, SMSL, with its backing by over 80 civil society groups, should similarly be allowed to explain their concerns surrounding the dangers of radioactive wastes from the plant.
Among others, Tan said the government should evaluate Lynas' financial capability to manage waste produced at its plant, including reported plans to build a permanent waste disposal facility on site.
“Before Tun or Cabinet decides on whether to renew Lynas’ license, I will kindly request them to do a full financial audit of Lynas capabilities to manage the waste in the manner that they have proposed,” said Tan.
He pointed out the audit was necessary considering the high cost involved to set-up a permanent waste disposal facility, and that Lynas Corp had so far only paid US$11.05 million (RM45.44 million) in cash to the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) as its security deposit.
"The rest (of the amount) is paid in bonds, so the government must consider whether Lynas has the financial capability (to carry out its proposal)," he said.
Also present at the press conference was Bersih chairperson Thomas Fann, who reminded the government of its election promise to be environmentally friendly and not bow down to demands from large corporations and crony capitalists.
“This is the time for the Cabinet to show that they mean what they say,” he stressed.
Two of the three waste streams produced at the Lynas facility in Gebeng are the radioactive water leach purification (WLP) residue and non-radioactive neutralisation underflow (NUF) residue.
Up to December last year, the accumulated WLP residue at Lynas' facility was 451,564 tonnes, while the NUF waste amounted to 1.113 million tonnes.
Bentong MP Wong Tuck had reportedly revealed that Lynas had paid the cash amount to AELB as its security deposits in 2013 and 2014, but subsequent payments totalling US$31.16 million (RM128.13 million) were paid in bonds instead.
Meanwhile, Tan also urged Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin to stand firm on her intention for Lynas to export its waste, particularly the WLP residue, as a condition for renewing its operating licence.
“She and other cabinet members need to take into consideration the lives of future Malaysians before making decisions on Lynas’ operations,” he said, adding that if the government failed to do so, voters such as the residents are likely to vote against Pakatan Harapan.
Yeo was initially scheduled to meet with her Australian counterpart last month to discuss conditions for Lynas' operations and waste management.
On June 19, however, it was reported that the meeting had been postponed.
Prior to the Australian election, Canberra had rejected Putrajaya's bid to return waste produced by the Lynas plant to Australia.
