One door is closed, others have opened up - More ways to Stop Lynas

Press statement of Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL)

One door is closed, others have opened up - More ways to Stop Lynas

Thursday June 21st, 2012

The green light given by the Parliament to issue Lynas with the temporary operating licence is the last straw on the camel’s back for SMSL in trying to engage constructively with the Government based on facts and science.  This follows from the tabling of the findings by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Tuesday 19^th June.

SMSL through our legal team and independent experts have presented hard facts and the latest scientific and engineering information through the ministerial appeal process and has offered the PSC the same. We got no-where with the Government despite our efforts.

Mr Tan Bun Teet, the spokesperson for SMSL lamented “We had given the Government the benefits of the doubt hoping that the Government will act in the interest of the people.  ”

“Our experts are some of the most outstanding and qualified professionals from the top universities in the United States of America, Unite Kingdom and Australia.  They have volunteered their expert opinions purely from their professional ethics and their concern of the impact of the Lynas rare earth project.”

“We now know that this Government has yet again failed in its duty of care to protect citizens and the country from a mere foreign profit-seeking interest.”

With the Ministerial appeal and the PSC outcome known, SMSL have moved onto the next course of actions to stop the Lynas rare earth plant.

“We share the anguish, the worries and the anger of Kuantan residents over the Government’s decision for we are affected locals ourselves.  The battle to Stop Lynas is far from over. The way is now clear for a different approach to stop this risky project.” Explained Mr Tan.

SMSL is currently preparing for a series of actions in respond to the Government’s poor decision on the Lynas rare earth refinery project:

The legal team is putting together a strong case for a judicial review through the court to appeal against the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) decision in the next week or so.

·         The legal team is continuing to build a strong case of defence against Lynas’ defamation suit against SMSL for the 19^thJuly hearing. This is an opportunity to highlight Lynas’ own weaknesses and limitation in handling the hazardous and complex rare earth refinery project to the world;

·         A family Day on the 8^th July to celebrate traditional seafood delicacies from the kampong at Teluk Cempedak to highlight what are at stake for our food culture and for the people in the kampong near the Lynas plant;

·         A National Day of Actions to Stop Lynas is scheduled for 14^th July

·         A National Conference on Environmental Challenges for Malaysia is scheduled for November

·         Lynas Annual General Meeting Action in Sydney in November.

Apart from local actions, SMSL has networked widely with civil society groups and Malaysian Diasporas in Australia, Europe and the USA to plan for other actions in their respective countries.

There will be legal actions in Western Australia and in Sydney in the near future.

Mr Tan said, “Our allies and supporters overseas are appalled by the latest news on the Lynas project in Malaysia.  They are looking at means and ways to publicise the issue to Lynas’ customers and investors that Lynas has no social licence, and will never get one, to operate in Malaysia.”

“And of course, we will step up our voters awareness and education campaign in Malaysia to use the Lynas problem to explain to voters their power to change government to secure a cleaner and safer future for their family and for Malaysia.”  Concluded Mr Tan