The willingness of investors from China to invest in an industrial park located close to the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) in Gebeng, Kuantan, is proof that operation of the rare earths refinery is “safe and a non-issue".

azlanInternational Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed told a press conference today that the investors were aware of the location of the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP).

However, none of them have raised issues concerning the Lynas plant with either him or the Malaysia Investment Development Authority.

Mustapa said he was confident that issues surrounding Lamp would not affect projects worth RM1.5 billion that have been proposed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"We are confident that this issue will not affect the confidence in the investment," he said, adding that the government estimated for the 1,500 acres park to attract a total investment of RM7.5 billion by 2020.

When asked if the investors have no fear towards the project, he said, "The issue has never been raised by the Chinese investors who came to see me and MIDA (officers)".

The ground-breaking ceremony is estimated to be held in the first quarter of the year.

MCKIP is a private project located in the East Coast Economic Region, which was initiated by both the China and Malaysia governments.

The then China premier Wen Jiabao visited Malaysia two years ago and established the Qingzhou Industrial Park to mark the significance of the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and China.

Mustapa noted that the China government has been directly involved in the planning stage of the MCKIP, and that companies in China have shown interest in the projects due to the strategic locations of Kuantan and Qinzhou.

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