COMMENT | Rare earth: Will we ever learn from past debacles?
COMMENT | I refer to your article "Can Kedah extract 'clean' rare earth elements?" It is indeed well-researched, comprehensive, and written in a form very understandable to the layperson on a highly technical subject.
This is a trending hot issue, and I am surprised the academics and scientists have not come up with such a write-up for the benefit of the people. Such articles truly add value and recognition to Malaysiakini. Kudos and keep it up.
This article gives a clear, unambiguous, and I should say truthful, perspective regarding rare earth elements (REEs) compared to the wishy-washy statement by Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
However, it should be noted that scientific literature tends to be biased and conservative in discussing the real dangers of practicalities like actual mining processing et cetera. Lab experiments or desktop research cannot unravel the true effects of nature.
Worse still are people with invested interests who intentionally mislead and sing praises. Even the MB who is supposed to represent the welfare of people seemed to be taken in by the billions of ringgit and has become the chief mouthpiece of the company.
We should look at the safety and efficacy of the operations in the context of Malaysia. Even household wastes and scheduled wastes in urban areas of KL and Selangor are dumped discriminately right under our noses...
Does anyone believe the promises that REEs can be safely extracted and without damaging the environment?
COMMENT | I refer to your article "Can Kedah extract 'clean' rare earth elements?" It is indeed well-researched, comprehensive, and written in a form very understandable to the layperson on a highly technical subject.
This is a trending hot issue, and I am surprised the academics and scientists have not come up with such a write-up for the benefit of the people. Such articles truly add value and recognition to Malaysiakini. Kudos and keep it up.
This article gives a clear, unambiguous, and I should say truthful, perspective regarding rare earth elements (REEs) compared to the wishy-washy statement by Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
However, it should be noted that scientific literature tends to be biased and conservative in discussing the real dangers of practicalities like actual mining processing et cetera. Lab experiments or desktop research cannot unravel the true effects of nature.
Worse still are people with invested interests who intentionally mislead and sing praises. Even the MB who is supposed to represent the welfare of people seemed to be taken in by the billions of ringgit and has become the chief mouthpiece of the company.
We should look at the safety and efficacy of the operations in the context of Malaysia. Even household wastes and scheduled wastes in urban areas of KL and Selangor are dumped discriminately right under our noses leading to frequent pollution of drinking water.
Forest logging is certified as sustainably logged, but in practice what we see is completely barren land in the aftermath, with nobody taking responsibility. Corruption, cronyism, collusion or lack of monitoring and enforcement trumps all the good-intentioned laws and regulations.
We failed miserably in managing what is above the earth and right in front of our eyes. So does anyone believe in the promises of safety and no damage in the extraction of dangerous substances like REEs buried deep in the ground?
Leaching technology is a myth and a smokescreen, and it deviously hides the real damages lurking deep underground. Like a festering diabetic wound, it only shows up at the terminal stage, long after those people who plundered and profited have bolted.
Leaching is analogous to parasitic plants perched high in trees, it sucks the nutrients out of the healthy tree, unnoticeable to anyone, and eventually kills the tree, slowly but surely.
Investors are attracted to leaching technology because it is dirt cheap. It is indeed a small part of the conventional process of mining and extraction.
The conventional process involves mining, transportation, processing, separation and extraction, which may include leaching, treatment of extracts and wastes management and disposal.
In leaching, all these processes are involved but are done in-situ, with nature bearing the brunt of all the other processes.
Drops of water which originates far in the hinterland eventually end up in the ocean. How can anyone claim that liquid chemicals pumped into the earth will stay where it is.
In fact, these chemicals not only contaminate but destroy the natural capacity of the earth to cleanse pollutants. And the Kedah government proudly claims that the mining is not in the watershed areas but only surrounding it. What hogwash.
Even now, if the process is so safe, and an agreement signed, why is the identity of the company a state secret, sealed with a non-disclosure clause? Doesn't this smell horribly toxic even at the start?
Is this Malaysia's standard operating procedure of doing things of public interest? Instead of being transparent, open, engaging and consultative, everything is hushed up. Is Malaysia practising wild west cowboy tactics of shoot first, talk later?
I can bet the environmental impact assessment will be approved in due time. After all, the study is financed by the investor, with most likely a generous overhead to grease and smoothen the process. Would any so-called independent consultant turn in a negative report?
Why do you think Malaysia is a favourite hunting ground for such dangerous and dirty ventures when REEs are found all over the world? Even now we are dealing with the world's plastic waste rubbish dumped on our shores and Lynas. When will we ever learn?
We, humans, understand only a minuscule part of nature and its mysteries, a drop in the ocean. All religions are rooted in and based on respecting nature. We surrender ourselves to God or supernatural beings as the proxy to nature.
Even Einstein acknowledged there is something unexplainable beyond us that controls everything. Why then are our decision-makers playing God by giving all sorts of assurances, just for the sake of money. Money can be earned in more halal ways, but nature and its inhabitants cannot be replaced.
I make this plea, as someone who has been involved for over three decades in spearheading environmental policymaking both in our government and Asean, please cancel this venture. I have seen and heard it all.
Even if we have to terminate the signed contract with damages, it's worth it. We will understand.
I would also love to be challenged and proven wrong by scientists and analysts or anyone. I can at least sleep well, knowing I was mistaken in my assessment.
RAMAN LETCHUMANAN was director, Environment/Conservation, Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (1993-2000), head of Environment/Haze/Disaster Management, Asean Secretariat, Jakarta (2000-2014) and senior fellow at S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2014-2016).
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
