Two Harapan MPs among 500 protesters against Lynas

Around 500 people protested against the government's decision to extend Lynas' permit to operate a rare earth refinery in Pahang have gathered at Taman Gelora, Kuantan today.

The protest, which kicked off at about 8am, saw protesters carrying placards and banners denouncing the government and demanding the resignation of Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh and Bentong MP Wong Tack.

Fuziah - a deputy minister - and Wong are two of Pakatan Harapan's most recognisable faces in the anti-Lynas campaign.

One placard featured a caricature of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and read "environmental colonialism".

The protesters also chanted 'No U-turn' and 'Close Lynas' when they featured a mock bus carrying the message: 'Pakatan breaches its promise'.

The mock bus also carried the images of the premier, Harapan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.

Another placard contained Chinese calligraphy and was held by DAP assemblyperson Ronnie Liu, which contained a sarcastic message aimed at the federal government.

"While loving the people like his own child, money is also his child," read the message. Liu is the lawmaker for Sungai Pelek in Selangor, but hails from Raub, Pahang.

Liu's colleagues in DAP, including Bentong MP Wong Tack, Tras state assemblyperson Chow Yu Hui and Tanah Rata state assemblyperson Chiong Yoke Kong appeared later.

Teruntum state assemblyperson Sim Chon Siang, whose constituency is where the protest venue is today, also appeared with PKR Semambu state assemblyperson Lee Chean Chung.

At one point, Parti Sosialis Malaysia members, who participated in the rally, turned to the representatives and demanded they fulfil the Pakatan Harapan pledge.

"Fulfill your pledge and don't cheat the people," they chanted.

The rally organiser Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) also showed on stage the portraits or images of 40 Harapan ministers, lawmakers and leaders who had pledged to close down Lynas factory.

The group then chanted on stage 'jon-loi loh' ('come back' in Hakka dialect) to symbolise calling these Harapan leaders, who have forgotten about their pledge, to come back and stand together with the people.

The rally, which began with morning exercises at the famous tourist spot, ended with SMSL chairperson Tan Bun Teet and the protesters tearing apart the relevant page of Pakatan Harapan.

The rally ended by 9.30 am.

Local authorities had not given the protest organisers permission to use the venue. The local police had advised them to rally elsewhere and the law can be applied because organisers did not obtain permission from the venue owner.

When met later, Tan appeared to be happy with the crowd size as he expected only 200 protesters to turn up.

However, Tan disagreed with some protesters who urged both Wong Tack and Fuziah Salleh to go.

"If they resign, it will leave behind the 'yes man', we need to have some opposition voices inside," he said. 

RELATED REPORTS