Friday 28 October 2011

SMSL press release on the press conference held on the 28th Oct 2011


SMSL has on the 7th of Oct 2011 met with MITI and ensuing from the meeting MITI has agreed to send a team of officials comprising of various relevant departments to come to Kuantan to conduct a dialogue with the stakeholders concerning the LAMP issue.

We have written to MITI and posted the letter to MITI by express post on the 14th Oct 2011. Till this day we have yet to receive a reply. We hereby urge the department concerned especially MITI to  walk their talk and send a team of the officials as promised to come and have an open dialogue with the local stakeholders on the issue. We shall send them a reminder and we hope they will demonstrate their sincerity in carrying out their promise and come to Kuantan to engage in a civil and open dialogue with the residents living around this region.

We have also written to Lynas Malaysia at the local office in Gebeng to start a dialogue with them through an email on the 19th Oct 2011. We understand that Lynas Malaysia has claimed that they had engaged the local residents as required by the IAEA report published on the 30th June and since then they claimed to have engaged 3000 residents inclusive of SMSL representatives.

We wish to state categorically here  that we had never been invited nor engaged by Lynas Malaysia since the publication of the IAEA report to have a dialogue with them. We have voluntarily called Lynas Malaysia at the local office here on the 14thOct 2011 to  request for a meeting with them concerning the LAMP issue. We subsequently followed up with the email on the 19th Oct after the committee had deliberated and agreed  to initiate the move to engage with them. We wholeheartedly believe in civil discourse with any party that has an interest in this issue. We are still waiting for Lynas Malaysia to make a reply.

“1311 FOR OUR FAMILIES” EVENT (13/11/2011 at Taman Gelora,  7.30am)

Meanwhile we believe that people’s wishes should be respected by all parties be it Lynas Malaysia as well as the Government of the day. In order to deliver a clearer message to these parties concerned, we are organizing an event with the theme ‘ For our families…” on the 13th Nov 2011. On this day we call upon all families in Kemaman, Gebeng, Balok , Kuantan and Gambang to come forth and gather at the Taman Gelora to demonstrate peacefully  their stand on the LAMP issue!

We urge them to  wear the SMSL T shirts to say NO to the LAMP! We urge all residents and individuals who love their home and family to come forward and tell our government that we don not want LAMP!  We want to send the similar message to the Australian Government and Lynas Australia that we DO NOT WANT LYNAS TO BE AROUND OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD NOR ANYWHERE IN MALAYSIA! We want them to know even if our government has no will to stop the project we will endeavor all we can to stop it from operating! We call upon all supporters who share the same goal to stop Lynas to come forward to walk their talk and demonstrate to the authorities that we will do anything within our means to stop this toxic project that will leave behind millions of tons of solid wastes that are  radioactive and full of heavy metals that will eventually seep into the waterway and end up on our dinner table through the food chain!

Wednesday 19 October 2011

Welcome to SaveMalaysia.org Version 3.0!


We are proud announce the launch of Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas!'s newly refurbished website. (Version 3.0). It has the same contents and layout albeit with a few cosmetic changes to cope with the ever-changing times. We now have larger text fonts, a fresh backdrop and a brand new header! Feel free to stay and browse. Get to know our issues up-close and learn why the people of Kuantan and the rest of Malaysia do not welcome Lynas Corporation and their rare earth plant in their beloved land. Let's Save the Future Generation of Malaysia together by Stopping Lynas!


Tuesday 18 October 2011

Save Malaysia Stop Lynas press conference on 18th Oct 2011

*Save Malaysia Stop Lynas press conference on 18th Oct 2011*

Recently through facebook and press statements by our people’s representative YB Fuziah, questions were raised as to whether Lynas has begun their shipment of Rare Earth ores (REO) to the kuantan port . The relevant authorities and Lynas have come out with their own statements to deny the claim.

SMSL has also received calls by concerned citizens regarding the same. We did an investigation and we
wish to inform the public that

1. REO cannot be shipped into Kuantan port without a permit from AELB

2. It will be shipped from Freemantle in WA to Singapore for transshipment before it reaches Kuantan port.

3. It will be labeled as radioactive once it reaches Kuantan Port but will not be Considered as radioactive anywhere along the route.

4. It will come in containers and be carted away immediately from the ship to the factory once it reaches the port after it has received custom clearance.

The above clarifies how the REO will be shipped into Kuantan Port. To this date, AELB has yet to come out and openly admit that the required permit has been obtained by Lynas Malaysia. Therefore the claim by parties that REO will be here by end of this month can only be confirmed by AELB as they are instrumental in allowing the REO to be imported.

We hereby call upon AELB and MITI to reaffirm their claim that they have NOT given any licenses including the pre operating license to Lynas. Any preemptive moves by Lynas or covert attempts by AELB or MITI in this matter will be construed as a grave betrayal of the trust of the people. The whole of Gebeng , Balok, Kemaman and Kuantan residents shall hold the AELB and MITI wholly responsible!

MITI and AELB have openly admitted that they have received the submissions by Lynas on the RIA, decommissioning and long term waste management plans in July and they have openly claimed to have rejected these documents as inadequate or unsatisfactory as we were told when we met MITI and AELB on the 7th Oct 2011. If MITI and AELB were to make themselves more credible to the people here they will have to be more open, more transparent and willing to answer questions by the affected residents and provide all information on whatever matters that are related to the Lynas plant. The port authority briefing concerning the impending import of REO is merely a standard port operating procedure but without more detail info from the relevant authorities like AELB and MITI, the whole of Kuantan, Gabeng, Balok and Kemaman have been put on the jitters. This is totally unacceptable. We hereby strongly urge the AELB and MITI to come out and openly declare that non of the licenses as required to import the REO and the pre-operation of the plant have been granted or issued to Lynas Malaysia!

The Lynas issue has advanced to the stage where people are beginning to lose faith on the ability and intent of the government and regulating authorities to safeguard their interests. SMSL has taken the initiative to study the option of bringing the case to court and we have our legal experts currently studying the best option available before we act. We urge all residents to be patient as any legal recourse has to be taken in
full accordance to the country’s judicial system. Rest assured that when the time comes we shall act.

SMSL has come a long way since its inception in March. During the course of this short journey, we have in our main focus to stop the operation of Lynas Advance Materials organized activities that helped to bring awareness to the people here. In the midst of our enthusiasm to advance this cause, some of our
committee members or supporters might have inadvertently or without any malice offended parties and
individuals in our interactions with them. We hereby sincerely apologize to these parties and individuals for our mistakes and we hope such incidents will serve to keep us on guard at all times to be more circumspect of proper demeanors and protocols. We believe apologizing does not mean that we are totally wrong and others are totally right, it just means that we value our relationship more than our ego!

Tan Bun Teet

Himpunan Hijau 109

Himpunan Hijau 109 / Green Solidarity 109 / 109 绿色盛会



The moment has come ...the time is now! The people has spoken. Awaiting to be listened. Our future lies in the hands of the decision makers. After months of protest, Kuantan, a peaceful town in the east coast of Malaysia woke up to yet another limelight. The Earth Charter, a non profit organisation initiated a Himpunan Hijau 109’ . This is a platform for all citizen groups to come together and voice out their concerns.

Among the groups that took part were SMSL, BADAR, TNB High Tension Cables Protesters from Rawang, Bukit Koman Cyanide Protestors, Orang Asli Group and Cameron Highlands Group.





The crowd started to build up as early as 6.00am. Despite the morning drizzle and police road blocks, the people of Kuantan came in droves. Most of them wearing anti-Lynas t-shirts, caps, badges or whatever they can find with anti-Lynas message. Some even printed mini anti-Lynas’ flags. The atmosphere was incredible! People of all races and ages converged to Taman Gelora with one objective in mind. VIPs arrived as early as 6.15am. Notable ones include Datuk Ambiga Sreevanesan, Mr. Wong Tuck, Maria Chin Abdullah, Dr. Kua Kia Soong and Prof Tan Kah Keng .




Banners and placards were everywhere. The carnival like atmosphere was indescribable! This is the largest protest gathering Kuantan has seen!





Besides all the VIPs, other notable figures seen at the gathering were the Teruntum ADUN YB Chang Hong Seong and Kuantan MP YB Fuziah Salleh.


The build up towards this Himpunan Hijau has been an evenful one. The authorities shockingly revoked the permit of this gathering which was issued a few days earlier at the eleventh hour. Nevertheless, the gathering went on smoothly without any disturbance or chaos.


At 7.00am sharp, the thunderous drums beating from various ethnic groups welcome the sunrise. Follow by the hand stamping on the Himpunan Hijau scroll banners by VIPs and all participants from throughout the countries. Three participants from Klang rode on their bicycle for 3 days before arriving at Kuantan for this event. The event was widely covered by several foreign broadcasting medias. By 9.15am. police moved in to disperse the crowd after all groups involved voiced out their concerns. The crowd mingled around and most of them dispersed orderly and peacefully by 10.30 am.






To all those present , this will be an event to be remembered for a long long time.

Saturday 8 October 2011

SMSL Press Release on Friday 7th Oct 2011

SMSL Press Release on Friday 7th Oct 2011

SMSL noted with grave concern the recent statements by Lynas lately in its report to
shareholders that it has submitted the long term waste management and decommissioning
plan to AELB and the government of Malaysia. It had also claimed that a new RIA report,
which is one of the requirements that Lynas has to fulfill as recommended by IAEA panel has
also been submitted to the relevant authorities of Malaysia.


We and all residents living within the 30km radius of LAMP hereby call upon the
Government of Malaysia to openly admit or refute the claims in the statements by Lynas
Australia in its report to its shareholders.


Should Lynas by making a false statements/declaration to its shareholders it would
constitute a very serious misrepresentation and deception and it should be held legally
accountable. A complaint can be made to the ASX on this matter.


We hereby strongly urge the relevant ministry/authorities concern to openly state whether
the documents have been submitted to them. If it has, then as promised by the MITI
Minister ie Dato’ Mustapha in one of his press conferences last month, the government
should allow the public to have full access to the documents forthwith!


The Government should be thoroughly transparent in a matter that affects the lives of
700,000s of people and it is the sacrosanct duty of the government to answer to people’s
request or else the people would lose confidence on the government. This mammoth project
of LAMP has cast a long shadow over the continued existence and the harmonious calm
and prosperity of the people living its vicinity. Failing to answer the call of the people on
an issue that has tremendous long term consequences, fallout and ill effects on the health,
safety, social and economic welfare of the people here will constitute the greatest act of
irresponsibility that can be committed by a government on its own people ! Governments
are elected to protect its own people and here we have doubts about whether we have a
government that is sworn to protect us!


We in SMSL hereby call upon all Malaysians especially those living within the 30km radius,
to come forth on the 9th Oct Sunday at 6 am in the morning to gather in SOLIDARITY at the
Taman Gelora, Kuantan to deliver a strong and unmistakable message to our government
That WE AND THE FUTURE GENERATIONS WANT TO LIVE IN A HAZARDS FREE HEALTHY
ENVIROMENT. The People have had enough of misinformation, closed door sessions and
empty promises! We have every right to demand the government of the day that we elect
to protect our environment! Failing which we shall exercise our right to vote to execute a
CHANGE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF A BETTER AND SAFER MALAYSIA!


COME ONE COME ALL FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR A BETTER TOMORROW! REMEMBER
THE CHOICE IS OURS!

“为配合10月9日在关丹举行的“地球宪章”活动而推出的反公害系列。之十一(完结篇)




“109是关丹人的大日子,也是世界的大日子”

明天,哥罗乐公园将会聚满确认《地球宪章》的人,绿色的明天将是所有希望生命共体受到尊重与关心,期待美好生活环境,没有山埃,没有高压电缆,没有稀土,没有垃圾焚化炉及没有任何不公义行为人士的盛会。

明天,哥罗乐公园将会流着绿色的空气,飘着绿色的风,绿色的鸟儿会为你浅吟轻唱,绿色的树叶更会披上一身鲜艳的颜色来迎接你的到来。

明天,是向下一代交待,向环境说爱,对公害说不的大日子,也是劳勿人,万挠人,关丹人,巴洛人,金马仑人,马来西亚人,所有人的大日子。

这么一个意义深重的日子,你可以错过吗?

明天,让我们在绿色的哥罗乐公园见,不见不散!

“为配合10月9日在关丹举行的“地球宪章”活动而推出的反公害系列之十





“地球宪章──可持续发展与社会公义”

关心绿色世界的人,这几天老在平面,电子及网络媒体上看到《地球宪章》,可持续发展与社会公义等字眼,虽然大家或许对宪章所包含的内容了解不深,但从字义上可以知道这是人类与环境共生共存的章法。

《地球宪章》尊重和关心生命共同体,坚信所有人生来就有的尊严以及人类的知识、艺术、道德和精神潜力。人类有权拥有、管理和使用自然资源,亦有责任防止环境破坏和保护人们的权利。
事实上,《地球宪章》强调的可持续性来自人类对环境的尊重,确保地球生态系统完整,让所有的生命共体赖以生存的因素得以保存下去。

可是反观今日浮现的各种公害问题,如劳勿武吉公满山埃冶金、万挠新村高压电缆、关丹格滨工业区行将操作的稀土提炼厂、怡保红泥山亚洲稀土厂、金马仑高原垃圾焚化炉计划等等、及对森林资源的滥伐和对土地的滥用,对持续性发展却是一大讽刺。
无可否认,发展是人类社会向前推进的动力,可是发展绝对不能牺牲人类和环境的平衡,也不能剥夺人类与生俱来的生存权利,不幸的是,国内的诸多公害问题,正是政府不尊重及忽略生命共同的表现,委实令人感到遗憾。

《地球宪章》的可持续发展在国际上公认的定义是:“既满足当代人的需要,又不对后代人满足其需要的能力构成危害的发展”,而防止对环境的任何部分的污染,不使放射性物质、有毒物质或其他危险物质累积更是满足当代和后代需求的要素。

《地球宪章》是经由各地不同文化背景的成百上千的个人和团体,针对共同的目标与共有的价值,经数十年、在全球各地、跨文化讨论的成果。在起草的过程中,许多不同领域的专家在过去一些国际宣言的基础上作出整理报告,以作为参考,当中最主要的意见还是世界各地的个人或民间社会组织所贡献的,最终的内容与条文于2000 年定稿。

当我们的想法和生活方式都须要作出重大的转变时,《地球宪章》向我们发出挑战,审视自己的价值观,并指引我们选择更好的生活方式。

《地球宪章》指出:让我们这个时代成为被后人铭记的时代,因为这个时代唤醒了对生命的重新尊敬,采取了坚定的行动去实现可持续性,加速了争取正义与和平的斗争,并且能够欢庆生命。
基于此,让我们的基本权利获得保障,让我们齐声向公害说不。
明天,你准备好了吗?

Tuesday 4 October 2011

"拯救大马委员会"(SMSL)为配合地球宪章109绿色盛会:反公害系列第九篇 - 關丹三




"纽约时报带来的震撼"

正当关丹及巴洛的居民,火热地开展反稀土自救运动,希望能将Lynas逐出关丹及马来西亚之际,纽约时报于6月29日刊登的报导,却如灾难影片情节"前门救火,后院失火"般叫人心惊胆跳。
原来,报导引述关丹Lynas稀土提炼厂计划的内部通告(internal memos)以及工程师的谈话,揭露这项耗资2亿3000万澳元的稀土厂,在建筑和设计方面存在严重危害环境问题,包括70个储存容罐的混泥土薄壳多处,出现建筑结构裂缝(structural cracks)、气陷(air pockets)、湿气(moisture)以及外溢(Leak)问题。

此外,相关内部文件也显示,虽然Lynas稀土提炼厂蓝图要求加入塑胶防水措施,不过,Lynas与其建筑管理承包商──澳洲UGL Ltd为了节省成本,指示工程师忽略这一要求,没有在建筑地基增加塑胶层,导致建筑结构面对湿气上升问题。

《纽约时报》香港区总编辑基思*布雷沙(Keith Bradsher)更在亲自撰写的专题报导中,揭露这项全球最大的稀土提炼厂计划,在建筑和设计方面存在危害环境的问题。
布雷沙在该报导中指出,虽然Lynas稀土厂的官员们一再强调,兴建在关丹的稀土提炼厂非常安全,并符合国际标准,而且还与承包商密切合作,解决所有的疑虑。

不过,他从参与相关计划的工程师口述中,以及他们提供来自Lynas和承包商的内部通告、电邮信息,以及照片中却发现,Lynas稀土厂在建筑和设计方面,可能存在严重的环境危害问题。这些要求匿名的工程师表示,站在一个专业立场,他们觉得有必要表达他们对Lynas稀土厂安全性的担忧。

这篇报导揭发的事项所带来的震撼,丝毫不输给七级地震,反稀土人土于是相继到警局报案,要求警方对文中所指展开调查,并希望当局采取必要的行动。

虽然Lynas过后作了一番解说,力辨稀土提炼安全无碍健康,可是,关丹及巴洛居民早已从专家获得资讯,知道稀土在提炼过程会散发辐射性尘埃,提炼后的废料中也存留辐射,能通过空气和水进入人体,导致免疫系统疾病和癌症,同时也会对环境和水源带来灾难性的破坏。

《地球宪章》条文中的防止对环境的任何部分的污染,不使放射性物质、有毒物质或其他危险物质累积;坚持每个人都有权得到所有可能影响他们的或他们感兴趣的环境问题以及发展计划和活动的明确和及时的信息,不只有助于带来一个美好的生活空间,也是人类对大也的母亲──地球带来的恩泽。


"拯救大马委员会"(SMSL)为配合地球宪章109绿色盛会:反公害系列第八篇 - 關丹二




"反稀土不寂寞,艺文界施援手"

反公害运动从来不是一场省力的运动,也不是依靠耍嘴皮就能取得成功,关丹及巴洛的反稀土运动印证了这个事实,也让大家上了宝贵的一课。

虽然如此,抗争的道路还是会有人愿意与你同行,艺文界的陈翠梅等人就是一个很好例子。在关丹附近的马来渔村双溪乌拉出生的陈翠梅是马来西亚新电影的推手之一,她在8月30日的面子书写道:"我回来脸书了,回来反Lynas"。

她之前七、八个月没上书子书,但为了反稀土厂,她决定留在家园,"为关丹做点事情"。她也说:"现在我家乡的稀土厂即将启动,到时会排出大量的辐射废料。时间不多,我要赶快做点事。" 陈翠梅和其他艺文界人士如刘城达等已经坐言起行,马不停蹄地拍摄了反稀土短片,其他如在北根港口出生,关丹长大的台湾国立中山大学教授张锦忠亦拔笔相助,加入及壮大了反稀土行列。

这些例子不过是冰山一角,曾在马来西亚工作一年半的澳洲男子莱恩奥贝力也自拍短片,以马来语发言呼吁马来西亚人民拒绝Lynas,他将名为《一个因深爱马来西亚而讨厌莱纳的老外》(Mamat Mat Salleh yang benci Lynas sebab dia sayang Malaysia)上载至面子书。这名澳洲男子通过短片"戳破"Lynas公司的措辞,例如Lynas声称在马设厂是因为大马有淡水、电力、相关专家和化学资源充裕,但他认为马来西亚人民并非愚蠢,对这一切理应心中有数,毕竟澳洲本身也强烈拒绝稀土厂在国内兴建。

"我很了解澳洲人民,即使是1000年后,澳洲人也不会赞同稀土厂在国内兴建的,但为什么要让在马来西亚设厂?为什么大马人要接受稀土厂?"

《地球宪章》活动举行在即,重温艺文界及澳洲男子支持公义的片段,让大家在热切的期待中增添一份温馨和感恩的心。

"拯救大马委员会"(SMSL)为配合地球宪章109绿色盛会:反公害系列第七篇 - STOP LYNAS !




"Lynas稀土厂──关丹及巴洛民众的梦魇"

万挠居民从2005开始奋起反对公害,几经波折仍然不轻言放弃,事隔6年后的今天,居住在距离万挠大约280公哩外的70万关丹居民,如今也进行一场反对公害的抗争,高声向设在格滨工业区的Lynas稀土厂说不。

事实上,居民早在2009年7月23日,就已经在Lynas公司假圣多默学校礼堂与非政府组织举行的汇报会上,直接受向该公司的本地负责人表达他们的不满和疑虑,关丹国会议员傅芝雅亦在第一时间在国会提出质询,新闻还登报章上,但没有引起民间热烈的反应和后续跟进。

直到今年3月8日纽约时报一篇报导被本地报章转载,及日本于同月发生大地震引发海啸,进而带来举世担忧的核难之后,关丹及巴洛的居民才积极展开反Lynas稀土提炼厂抗争,主动组织了"拯救大马委员会"(SMSL)、巴洛反稀土行动组织(Badar)等。

民间反稀土组织除了通过讲座会,经由专家学者及前红泥山稀士抗争者讲述稀土祸害之外,也举办了多项户外活动,毫不含糊地向当局表达了意愿与心声。

两个民间组织亦分别采取行动,当中"拯救大马委员会"两度派人远赴澳洲,争取澳洲人民认同及揭发Lynas真相,巴洛反稀土行动组织也采取了其他相关行动。

今天,耗资7亿令吉、预计每年进账50亿令吉、为大马国内总生产提供1%助益的稀土厂竣工在即,居民担心的怡保红泥山亚洲稀土厂抗争历史会否动演,在本月9日(星期日)《地球宪章》活动倒数之际,益发受到世人的关注。

“拯救大马委员会”(​SMSL)为配合10​9绿色盛会:反公害系​列第六篇(萬撓三)







"电磁幅射六大危害"

万挠新村居民要求高压电缆绕道而建,主要基于健康和民生考量,合乎《地球宪章》这份软法律文件的精神,也合乎地球及人类社会的整体需求。

雪华堂于20062月7日召开的董事会,确认了万挠居民诉求的合理性,华堂在文告中指高压电缆工程应该以万挠新村居民及电缆附近居民的建康与安全,作为最优先的考量因素,并提醒三育华小现处的位置与建议兴建的新电缆非常靠近。

华堂担心学生长期暴露在在电磁波的高幅射范围,健康会受到不良的影响,它也引述美国国家科学院在1996年公布的研究分析,指儿童若居住在架空电缆附近,其患上白血病的机率会更高(相对风险为1.5倍)。

资料也显示,居住在高压电缆塔直径1.6公里的生命体都会受到影响,儿童和孕妇的易受影响,而导致畸形儿的比例是4倍(比不在商压电下生活的比例),300米以内的影响最大,可导致癌症、白血病,幼儿白血病的患病率会增加几倍。

总括来说,电磁幅射对人体的危害是多方面的,当中包括诱发癌症并加速人体癌细胞增长、影响心血管系统、视觉系统、生殖系统、极可能造成儿病患上白血症及导致儿童智力残缺等等。

居民反对高压电缆,并不是反对发展,也不是在搞对抗,而是在争取一个合理及永续的良好生活空间,他们的要求非常简单。这样简单的要求,需要如此大费周章去争取吗?