SNAPSHOT | Lynas to submit 'updated' EIA report; ex-lawmaker urges rethink of Gig Workers Act

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm and 9pm.

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3 jail terms for crashing police roadblock; Oct 6 to hear judicial review bid by Altantuya's dad

2pm

Lynas

• Lynas Rare Earths Ltd confirmed it will be submitting an “updated” environmental impact assessment (EIA) to the Environment Department (DOE) following a request from the latter.

  In a brief statement today, Lynas said the DOE had issued the request after the EIA report initially submitted by the company had undergone a technical review in accordance with the Malaysian regulatory assessment process.

  The DOE previously rejected the EIA report, which is linked to Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s proposed expansion of operations in Gebeng, Pahang.

READ MORE: DOE rejects Lynas EIA for Gebeng plant expansion

Gig workers’ protection

• Former DAP lawmaker Charles Santiago said the Gig Workers Act 2025 should be “rethought” to ensure employers protect workers from the effects of climate change, such as heat stress.

  In a statement today, he said service providers such as Grab and FoodPanda should be required to provide delivery riders with breaks, safe waiting areas, and the right to “pause” work without suffering penalties.

  Advocating for the development of a National Heat Action Plan, Charles asserted that extreme heat should be legally recognised as an occupational hazard, instead of being treated as “ordinary weather or personal responsibility”.

READ MORE: VIDEO | On the road in rising heat: The daily reality of Malaysia's delivery riders

MACC

• Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup said his ministry will cooperate with an MACC probe into the transfer of three elephants from Taiping Zoo to Japan’s Tennoji Zoo.

  

  In a statement today, he said the ministry will not shield any party if misconduct, irregularities, or breaches of procedure are proven.

Politics

• Urimai pro-tem chairperson P Ramasamy has again taken a swipe at PAS, claiming the Islamist party deserves “a rare credit” for weakening the opposition bloc to satisfy its leaders’ egos.

  In a statement today, he theorised that Perikatan Nasional’s move to leave Bersatu’s fate in the coalition “hanging” after a meeting last night could be due to PAS’ realisation that the Muhyiddin Yassin-led party is prepared to “fight back”.

  The visible disarray within the opposition, Ramasamy warned, will only benefit its opponents ahead of the upcoming state and general elections.

READ MORE: 'Jealous' PAS should be 'thanked' for breaking up PN - Ramasamy

• DAP senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran has called for a halt to the use of artificial intelligence to spread disinformation with defamatory elements.

  He was referring to a social media post about a “mega pork meat sale” event attended by DAP veteran Lim Guan Eng.

  The senator claimed that the post by TikTok account user @rebel.dynasty69_ had inserted a woman wearing a headscarf into pictures of the June 14 event, which was mainly catered to the Chinese community at Taman Segemal in Butterworth, Penang.

  

  Lingeshwaran said Lim had already lodged a police report regarding the matter, adding that he hoped the authorities, including MCMC, would act against the TikTok account and any other parties involved.

  He added that the event, in Lim’s parliamentary constituency of Bagan, had been held annually for the past few years without complaints.

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