Anti-Lynas group to protest in Australia, again
Published: Nov 21, 2011 1:31 PM | Updated: Nov 21, 2011 2:39 PM
A group objecting to the Lynas Advance Material Plant near Kuantan will be protesting in Sydney next week, its second such protest in Australia, in an effort to stop the rare earth metal plant it has declared as dangerous from starting operations.
The Save Malaysia Stop Lynas group will make yet another bid to stop the rare earth metal plant from taking off at Gebeng, at the Lynas AGM.
A group objecting to the Lynas Advance Material Plant near Kuantan will be protesting in Sydney next week, its second such protest in Australia, in an effort to stop the rare earth metal plant it has declared as dangerous from starting operations.
In a statement today, Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) said campaign supporters would be protesting outside the venue of the company's annual general meeting, from 10am to noon on Nov 30.
SMSL acting chairperson Phua Kai Lit claimed Lynas had pre-empted government approval again by projecting an unrealistically early production date, despite government warnings not to do so.
"(Lynas) has no respect for our government and the people of Malaysia. How can we risk our future with this company?" Phua asked.
The group also asked how the government could tolerate such disrespect.
"If Lynas disregards our government's warning now, how can we trust that it will not be even more defiant and arrogant once the operating licence is issued?"
They claimed that Lynas had pressured the government for a two-year pre-operating licence last week, despite neither having an acceptable long-term management plan nor having consulted the public, the latter being a condition for licensing.
Check shoddy construction claims, govt told
The group also demanded that the government carries out an independent engineering audit of the plant before even considering Lynas' licence, in wake of a New York Times article in June that the plant had serious structural defects due to hurried construction.
"Given the corrosive substances involved in rare earth processing, any construction defect will lead to serious leaks and contamination problems," said Phua.
"We simply cannot trust Lynas to do the right thing."
Lynas executive chairperson Nicholas Curtis had previously denied these allegations, claiming they would not compromise on engineering standards.
Earlier this month, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed reportedly slammed Lynas during an interview for projecting that it would receive a pre-operating licence by the end of the year.
"They have no business to pre-empt the (Atomic Energy Licensing) Board. No business at all to issue these kind of statements and we have reprimanded them," Mustapa reportedly had said.
During the interview with The Malaysian Insider, the minister also criticised Lynas for not being transparent enough, and admitted that both Lynas and the government had failed to engage with the community from the start.
SMSL, fearing that radioactive materials from the plant would affect local residents' health, visited Australia on a six-day trip beginning on July 5 this year, where the group members picketed at Lynas' headquarters, held forums and lobbied Australian lawmakers.
In a statement today, Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) said campaign supporters would be protesting outside the venue of the company's annual general meeting, from 10am to noon on Nov 30.
SMSL acting chairperson Phua Kai Lit claimed Lynas had pre-empted government approval again by projecting an unrealistically early production date, despite government warnings not to do so.
"(Lynas) has no respect for our government and the people of Malaysia. How can we risk our future with this company?" Phua asked.The group also asked how the government could tolerate such disrespect.
"If Lynas disregards our government's warning now, how can we trust that it will not be even more defiant and arrogant once the operating licence is issued?"
They claimed that Lynas had pressured the government for a two-year pre-operating licence last week, despite neither having an acceptable long-term management plan nor having consulted the public, the latter being a condition for licensing.
Check shoddy construction claims, govt told
The group also demanded that the government carries out an independent engineering audit of the plant before even considering Lynas' licence, in wake of a New York Times article in June that the plant had serious structural defects due to hurried construction.
"Given the corrosive substances involved in rare earth processing, any construction defect will lead to serious leaks and contamination problems," said Phua.
"We simply cannot trust Lynas to do the right thing."
Lynas executive chairperson Nicholas Curtis had previously denied these allegations, claiming they would not compromise on engineering standards.Earlier this month, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed reportedly slammed Lynas during an interview for projecting that it would receive a pre-operating licence by the end of the year.
"They have no business to pre-empt the (Atomic Energy Licensing) Board. No business at all to issue these kind of statements and we have reprimanded them," Mustapa reportedly had said.
During the interview with The Malaysian Insider, the minister also criticised Lynas for not being transparent enough, and admitted that both Lynas and the government had failed to engage with the community from the start.
SMSL, fearing that radioactive materials from the plant would affect local residents' health, visited Australia on a six-day trip beginning on July 5 this year, where the group members picketed at Lynas' headquarters, held forums and lobbied Australian lawmakers.
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