vox populi small thumbnail'The people who approved this move will be long gone, either dead or kicked out of this administration when something bad eventually happens.'

IAEA panel gives green light to Lynas plant

Indon Planter According to the New York Times, the rare earth plant is hazardous but the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) panel gave it the green light. Something is fishy.

Panel members, according to NYT, were "whisked through the factory in a single morning, partly because of security concerns about protesters outside the refinery gates." And yet they are able to provide technical recommendations.

I can assure you that in order for palm oil producers to be certified RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) compliant, the certification has to be more stringent than this.

Faz: The conclusion is as expected, because its based on the standard that is being used everywhere in the world.

Still, the main question is why the plant has to be here and not in Western Australia, which is nearer to the raw material. Why should Gebeng store the "safe" radioactive waste here?

I know, these two questions are outside the purview of the review panel, but these are the main concern of the people of Gebeng. The people-friendly-1-Malaysia government is not giving an honest answer.

Werewolves: It is good that International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) intends to follow the recommendations. Please do so and also conduct an investigation into the allegations of the so-called memo in New York Times.

TSC: All the money made from the rare earth processing will not be able to pay for the suffering of the future generations. How foolhardy of those powers-that-be to knowingly jump into the fire.

Antidote: Sorry for those of you in Pahang who voted for BN, you are leaving your children a cancer legacy. My sympathies and advanced condolences.

Kgen: An expected decision by a biased party which seeks to promote nuclear energy. How can approval be given when there is no long-term plan for waste management? I pity the people of Kuantan and the unborn babies there.

Five years later, we will see high incidences of cancer, leukemia and abnormal births in Kuantan.

Ong Guan Sin: People who have commented on this IAEA decision have missed the point. Japan is still suffering the pain from Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster. All radiation-related risks should be avoided at all costs.

Processes and procedures may look safe. But the people who actually work with them matter. And in a country so lacking in good governance and transparency, we have a disaster in waiting.

Pity Him! The people who endorsed and approved this move will be long gone, either dead or kicked out of this administration when things bad eventually happen.

But is this Lynas' fault that they want the facility here? The answer is definitely not. It is that of the Malaysian government's.

Mohan Ghandi: Australia with a huge land mass would not have the plant there but tiny Malaysia, with residents living within 3km of the proposed plant, has given its approval. I rest my case.


Bersih to cops: Name route, we will follow

Anonymous: Smart move by Bersih chief S Ambiga to throw the monkey back to the police and let them dictate how best they can control the crowd properly. The ball is now in their court. Anyone against this rally is against democracy.

David Dass: Bersih through Ambiga has given the police the assurance that the proposed rally will be peaceful. She has also refuted the suggestion that the opposition is behind the proposed rally. She has made the further important point that the Bersih demands are addressed to the government in power and are not designed to topple the government in power.

It is within the competence of the government to address the demands made by Bersih for free and fair elections. The Election Commission can be directed to publish a clear statement addressing the issues raised and giving a clear undertaking to address them. In this way, much of the sting from the demands will be removed. It is clear to all that these demands have widespread resonance.

Bersih has also asked the IGP to specify a route that its supporters must take. The government can only gain from being seen to be acting softly on this matter. After all, freedom of peaceful assembly is a guaranteed right under the constitution. Which way goes, Malaysia?

Makorang: That's how it is done in Jakarta. On the night before the demonstration, the Jakarta police chief goes on TV to inform the participants the starting point, the route to Parliament/Rumah Presiden and the route to follow after the memorandum handover. Half of the road is for the demonstrators, the other half for smooth flow of traffic.

Pakman: The discussion and friendly meeting with inspector-general of police Ismail Omar will prevail if the police act professionally and react in the same manner as their Indonesian counterpart.

The security and the safety of the people should be the uttermost importance and this event will determine whether police will help prevent any untoward incident from happening.

RR: At any cost, the three groups rallying on July 9 must be miles away from each other. Only a few leaders of each group should be allowed to present their petition with police escort to the king at different intervals.

This is to avoid any clash or violence between the groups that may result in innocent people being injured or hurt. We salute Amiga for her rational thinking. God bless her.

Evening breeze: IGP, step back a little, since Bersih 2.0 is prepared to follow the route as to your proposal. Brute force will bring you and the nation nowhere. Besides, it is too late to stop Bersih 2.0.

Elsewhere in the world, Australia Bersih is already in top gear getting ready for the July 9 rallies in all major cities in Australia. We in Australia urge Umno Youth and Perkasa members to join us.

Dr Saravananr: Hats off to Ambiga - a woman with guts of steel and a brain of a genius. I was there for Bersih 1.0 and I definitely will be there for Bersih 2.0, with or without a police permit.

The IGP should better play his cards right as this is one slick chick knows what she saying and doing.

 

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