“拯救大马委员会”（​SMSL）为配合倒数​“地球宪章”绿色盛会​: 反公害系列第五篇（萬​撓二）

“妇孺老幼挺身护家，万挠村民树立典范”

为了保卫家园而反对兴建高压电缆的万挠新村居民曾多次与国能交手，而当中最著名的交锋首推2010年3 月17日清晨7时许的“三月围村保卫战”。

居民当前后在这场抗争中，结合了将近1000人的力量，在“护村”时更是不分昼夜，自组守夜及巡逻队防止国能派人入村，并在事发当日由妇孺老幼以肉身及在入口罢放铲泥机阻止国能入村。

居民先聚集在三育华小旁，高举布条和高喊口号，在获得其他居民及增援的友族同胞支持与打气下成功逼使国能撤退，但居在同年10月7日展开的“护村”行动，却与超过100名国能辅警和职员发生肢体冲突，造成3人被捕及5人受伤。

居民在2008年7月就国能援引《1990年电供法》第13条款通知的决定向高庭申请司法审核（judicial review），他们也向吉隆坡高等法院申请庭令，阻止国能在法院栽决前进入万挠新村展开工程。

吉隆坡高庭驳回村民的申青之后，居民向上诉庭提出上诉，上诉庭于2009年1月21日三司会审时宣判村民胜诉，但联邦法院在同年11月20日宣判国能有权援引有关法令条款微用土地兴建高压电缆，令村民的抗争遭受挫折。

一心反争取高压电缆绕道及反逼迁的万挠居民自然不会就此罢休，他们在反公害事件上的坚持，却鼓舞了千千万万反公害的人们。
明天，他们的命运……



“拯救大马委员会”（SMSL）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第四篇。

“一甲子的安居不再──万挠”

 与面对山埃冶金问题困扰的劳勿一样，万挠新村原本也是个宁静平和的新村，拥有与劳勿新村相同的基本设施，村子里的民众大会堂、篮球场、羽球场、金英坛、拿督山庄和木瓜园等更是“吸睛”的地方。

可是，高压电缆事件爆发之后，不少居民开始惴惴不安，生活老被高压电缆的阴影笼罩，平静的日子也饱受冲击，大家都为一场“反对高压电缆”的抗争而沸腾。

事实上，距离吉隆坡28英哩、人口大约5000人的万挠新村，是因为国能计划在当地兴建新的275千瓦特高压电缆，以取代现有的33千瓦特高压电缆，造成51户村民受到影响而掀起波涛。

居民由2005年开始与国能进行抗争，并与当地国州议员，国能代表及州政府代表等会谈，并在无法取得成果之后将抗争平台扩至法庭。居民成立的“反对高压电五人小组”还在2007年6月23日解散，改由21人组成的“万挠新村争取高压电缆绕道、反逼迁工委会”继续行动。

虽然面对如山的压力，但居毫不畏惧，他们多次在抗争中以肉身阻挡国能神手，赤手空拳保卫自己的家园，事件也因此曝露在全国人民的眼中。

今天，万挠居民仍然没有放弃他们的希望，他们自然希望《地球宪章》带来的公义，能够还居民一甲子的安居，以及世世代代的安宁。

明天，还有万挠居民血泪交织的心酸史…… 

拯救大马委员会配合倒​数109绿色盛会：反​公害系列第三篇

勞勿居民相信她們身上的症狀與冶金活動有關。

“山埃，真有那麼可怕嗎？”

在勞勿進行反山埃冶金運動的人士，最常被人問起的其中一個問題，也許就是這句“山埃，真有那麼可怕嗎？”

問的人，有的對山埃認識不足，希望從委員會成員的口中知多一點點，有的借山埃向對方發難，不論提問者的動機是甚麼，山埃對空氣、水源及環境造成的傷害磬竹難書，對與大自然生共存的人類就更加不用說了。

勞勿武吉公滿反山埃採金委員會發佈的消息顯示，山埃泄漏影響事大，可以造成整條河流的魚類幾乎難逃死劫，以1992年美國卡洛拉多西南部發生的氰化鈉泄漏為例，Alamoso27公哩的魚類和其他河流的生物全部死亡，當局淨化河流的成本高達1億5000萬美元。

此外，山埃在酸性（Acidic）情況下可以形成氰化氫（Hydrogen cyanide），並通通過空氣擴散。人類透過呼吸空氣、飲水、吃食物或接觸含有氰化物的土壤，就會接觸到氰化物，而一旦接觸到這些有毒物質便會心跳加速，失去知覺，呼吸衰竭進而死亡，而小孩與孕婦將首當其衝。
一旦發生山埃泄漏，遭污染的河水流向雙溪冬后�向雙溪立卑，屆時不只勞勿3000 多居民的生命將受到威脅，立卑縣一帶的居民也難逃一劫。

《地球憲章 》的落實和執行，人民的意願受到尊重，可以令受到威脅的生命��逃過一劫！
明天，我們將帶你到另一個反公害社群，敬請期待。

“拯救大馬委員會”（SMSL）為配合“地球憲章”活動而推出的反公害系列之二

山埃冶金叫勞勿居民太沈重。

“傷心的故事”

2006年10月1日，金礦公司與武吉公滿村委會在一家餐館聚餐會面，席間公司負責人向與會者展示州政府發出的山埃冶金批准信，並宣稱山埃冶金法不會影響居民的健康，試圖要居民相信山埃冶金法是安全無害的。

村委會向居民傳達聽說的“山埃不影響健康”的訊息時引起一陣熱議。一些居民上網搜尋資料，發現山埃是一種致命的化學物質，于是尋求環保組織大馬自然之友協助，發起反山埃運動。

武吉公滿住上400多戶人家，人口約有3000人，素來過著平靜生活的居民自然不願看到自己的家園與山埃為伍，也不願看到勞勿居民遭受山埃一旦泄漏或因人為疏忽或天然災變所造成的禍患。

所以他們通過行動“抗山埃，保家園”，進行不懈的抗反山埃抗爭，反山埃委員會成員更站在前線，領導居民齊聲向山埃說不。

聆聽，《地球憲章》的號角而今吹起，“尊重和關心生命共同體” 已不再是掛在口角上的浮誇之詞，直叫勞勿居民太沈重的山埃，也不應再在今天成為居民申訴的議題了。

作為生命共體，我們是不是該共同對公害省思，為一個美好的明天而努力？

明天，讓你知道多一些……

“拯救大馬委員會”（​SMSL）為配合“地​球憲章”绿色盛会宣传​之第一篇



“勞勿居民反山埃”


“地球憲章”開宗明義闡明“ 尊重和關心生命共同體”，可是，深受公害問題困擾的勞勿居民，卻至今仍然無法感受到條文保障下的“尊重和關心”，以致必須對武吉公滿的冶金計劃進行“抗山埃，保家園”運動。

為了對抗公害，勞勿民眾于2006年12月4日成立反對山埃委員會，提出10大理由反對山埃冶金，並通過各種管道進行不懈的抗爭。

雖然10大理由合情合理，包含專家論據與可靠的數據，但沒有因此逼使當局正視公害問題，金礦公司也不曾停下冶金腳步，居民最終必須訴諸法律行動。

事實上，在勞勿居民眼中，冶金廠與民宅缺乏緩衝區，兩者僅相隔一條馬路；過程中大量使用劇毒化學物質；公司未簽署《國際山埈管理法典》；不符合國際安全標準等等，一直都是他們心中的一根刺。

在《地球憲章》進入倒數，世人普遍覺醒，攜手進行反公害抗爭之際，勞勿居民心中的刺是否能儘早拔除，正是所有反公害人士、特別是勞勿人民關心的課題。

勞勿居民在反山埃冶金鬥史上走過不平坦的道路，間中還必須忍受外來的壓力，值得慶幸的是，負責人在摸索中不斷前行，步伐越走越堅定，進一步獲得各方的支持。

他們對山埃 說不的同時，也必須向行政及執法當局的草率定論和阻礙說不，而政治人物發表的“山埃無害健康”、“不要政治化”和“不要情緒化”言論，更如雪上加霜，令一心反公害的他們心寒。

今年4月24日，勞勿居民組團前來關丹，與關丹及巴洛的反稀土民眾一起反稀土和山埃，在在顯示反公害無你我之分，因為地球也已經無疆界了，大家有的只是公義與真理。

勞勿居民比關丹便早進行的反公害鬥爭，所訴諸的司法程序也暫告一個段落，可是事件並會就此落幕，在可以預見的將來，反山埃議題將會繼續延燒，促使世人更加愛惜地球，更加努力落實“地球憲章”的“ 尊重和關心生命共同體”，還受害者一個道。


“拯救大馬委員會”（SMSL）宣傳主任  方宗良。

Himpunan Hijau 109

Date : 27 Sept 2011

Leading to the Himpunan Hijau 109 on October 9th, Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas (SMSL) is collaborating with the Himpunan Hjau 109 Organizing Committee to release a series of articles relevant to the Earth Charter everyday linking the many issues of concern relevant to Malaysia to instil a greater understanding of some of the fundamental principles of the Charter whilst highlighting how a more sustainable and safer path could and should be pursued for Malaysia.

For your info,
Himpunan Hijau 109 Organising Committee will lead the civil society organisations and concern community members to introduce the Earth Charter to Malaysia to promote and encourage a more sustainable and safe development path for the country.

The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental ethical principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century. It seeks to inspire in all people a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the whole human family, the greater community of life, and future generations. It is a product of a decade-long, worldwide, cross cultural dialogue on common goals and shared values to protect our very essence of life and our natural habitat, planet earth.

A working group has been set up to prepare for a gathering of civil society groups, business communities, politicians, mums and dads and people of all walks of life and age groups on October 9th in Kuantan to jointly endorse the Earth Charter. The main influential human rights groups committee in Malaysia like BERSIH2.0, SUARAM and NGOs are attending to show support as well. Local and international media/press are welcome to this event. 

This will be a unifying ground breaking historical ceremony to mark a new dawn of hopes for Malaysia. We will be united in our stance to defend our
future and our shared living space on earth.

This ceremony will put Malaysia in the international stage joining hundreds of millions of others individuals, groups, businesses and governments who have
already signed on to the Earth Charter to demand for a cleaner and safer development pathway for now and for the future to protect our life source ,planet earth and to ensure social harmony and justice.

Malaysia is a beautiful country abounds with nature’s wonder and richness known the world over. Our natural assets have sustained human life since time immemorial. It has also provided immense opportunities for a wide range of development activities and many more potentials yet to be tried. With Malaysia’s immense natural assets and human resources, there are boundless possibilities for a clean, green and safe development pathway.

However, these potentials have so far not been realised because our development path has been a mere extension of our colonial past which has been centred around resource exploitation and not on sustainability or for the well beings of the people. The situation has worsened in recent years when highly polluting projects detrimental to our natural environment and our health are approved for construction, posing serious threats to our future and our health.

All over the world, communities are hurting from destructive development projects that only bring about short term gains for a minority few. With increasing aware ness, people are now seeking a more sustainable and wholistic path that also take care of the well beings of the majority and the natural environment.

The Earth Charter is one such global instrument developed to steer our future to a more ecologically sustainable and socially just democratic path.

Facts about the Earth Charter
The Earth Charter is an instrument recognised and endorsed by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote the
transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared
ethical framework that includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological
integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy,
and a culture of peace.

The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental ethical principles for building
a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century. It seeks to inspire
in all people a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for
the well-being of the whole human family, the greater community of life, and future
generations. It is a product of a decade-long, worldwide, cross cultural dialogue on
common goals and shared values.

The mission of the Earth Charter Initiative is to promote the transition to sustainable
ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that
includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal
human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of
peace.

The mission of the Earth Charter Initiative is to promote the transition to sustainable
ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that
includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal
human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of
peace.

We envision individuals, organizations, businesses, governments, and multilateral
institutions throughout the world, including the United Nations General Assembly and
UN agencies, acknowledging the Earth Charter, embracing its values and principles,
and working collaboratively to build just, sustainable, and peaceful societies.

1. To raise awareness worldwide of the Earth Charter and to promote
understanding of its inclusive ethical vision.

2. To seek recognition and endorsement of the Earth Charter by individuals,
organizations, and the United Nations.

3. To promote the use of the Earth Charter as an ethical guide and the
implementation of its principles by civil society, business, and government.

4. To encourage and support the educational use of the Earth Charter in schools,

universities, religious communities, local communities, and many other
settings.

5. To promote recognition and use of the Earth Charter as a soft law document.

SMSL Press statement regarding recently formed STOP LYNAS COALITION' 27 Sept 2011

Re: Stop Lynas Coalition 

Date: 27 September, 2011.

Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) is honoured to be invited to join the organiser, Kuantan Concern Citizens to be part of their  Stop Lynas Coalition recently.

However, after much deliberations, our committee has unanimously declined the invitation to be part of the coalition because of the following reasons:

1. SMSL’s Australian campaigns  has to be followed up closely. We have to monitor the development from our networking with the Senators, Member of Parliaments, Workers Unions and NGOs established in July and September, 2011.

2. SMSL has lined up a series of local and national  campaigns for the coming months to create a critical mass in our support to ask our government to scrap the Lynas Advance Materials Plant (LAMP) project. These programs have  to be carried out accordingly. We have limited manpower and resources. We cannot afford to overstretch our limited resources.

As such, SMSL has decided to pool all its manpower and resources to follow up and follow through  its action plans locally and abroad.

Nevertheless,SMSL will support the Stop Lynas Coalition in their collective or individual efforts to stop Lynas  and we look forward to working with them closely and synergistically.

SMSL remains a residents’ movement formed with the sole aim of stopping the LAMP from operating in Gebeng or anywhare in Malaysia.

Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad blogging on the Lynas issue for whose interests?

Press Statement of Save Malaysia Stop Lynas

22 September 2011

What exactly was behind Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s motives when he challenged the Najib Government to push ahead the controversial Lynas rare earth refinery despite strong community protests?

He tried to summarize the tragic history and development of radiation health with his outdated knowledge of a doctor of yester years. The hazardous effects of x-ray was discovered by Dr Alice Stewart in her famous Oxford Twin leukaemia study in 1950s.  Since then X-ray machines have improved as health impacts of radiation and ionizing radiation became apparent, and radiological protection (sic!!) limits continued to revise downward. In 1990 the National Academy of Sciences of the USA pronounced that there is no safe dose of radiation, subsequently the crucial biological impacts of low-level ionizing radiation (BEIR V report  (1990)). We were fortunate to have the late Professor Edward Radford, who was the Chairman of the BEIR Committee,  to investigate the Papan dump and Asia Rare Earth plant during the peak of the peoples’ protests, he found the dump and plant were unsafe. 

The irony is Tun Dr Mahathir contradicted himself in the same page first referring to the lessons learnt by the medical profession in over exposing themselves to low-dose radiation by not evacuating to a safe distance whilst taking x-rays in the past.

Then he went on to say he is opposed to nuclear power plant because nuclear wastes keep on radiating harmful rays for a million years and that there is no really safe way to dispose of them.
Has he read the preliminary environmental impact assessment and IAEA panel expert report on Lynas before he voiced his opinion? Does Tun Dr M not realise that the Mt Weld ore contains both thorium and uranium which are radioactive?  Thorium especially is a hazardous substance with a half- life of 14 billion years, far, far longer than uranium.  It will continue to decay into radioactive lead, radon gas and alpha particles, which are cancer causing agent.  IAEA Panel experts also revealed that Lyans’ rotary kiln operating at 650^oC, for removing the powerful and hazardous ore-surfactant, will release radioactive lead and extremely poisonous polonium.
Apart from the radioactivity aspect, the shear volumes of the Lynas waste streams – solid waste of about a quarter million Tonnes per year, is enough to fill 126 Olympic size swimming pools every year; it also contains other toxic hazardous substances such as unrecovered rare earth minerals and toxic heavy metals such as lead and barium.  For rare earth processing of Lynas, yearly about 4 million Tonnes of clean water and millions cubic meters of clean air will be polluted, half a million Tonnes of sulphuric and huge quantities of alkali will be used, and astronomical amount of electricity consumed.
SMSL is appalled by Tun Dr M’s complacent stance on the Lynas plant despite his earlier opposition to Lyans, and his own government’s dismal track record in managing the Bukit Merah rare earth case.
How many lives need to be lost and how much of land and water need to be contaminated before we will ever learn to stop accepting highly polluting hazardous projects which Malaysia do not have a track record of managing safely?

Tun Dr M is well aware of the problem of nuclear waste to the point where he has made his opposing stance against nuclear power plants clear.  How then could he develop such a blind spot on the Lynas project?

Is Tun Dr M complacency truly based on his limited understanding of nuclear science and physics or is it a convenient position for him as a father of two sons in one way or another linked to the Lynas project?

Firstly it is common knowledge that Tun Dr M’s second son Datuk  Mukhriz Mahathir is the Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister the government body MITI which approved the construction of the Lynas plant.

Secondly, Tun Dr M’s eldest son Mokhzani is the Group CEO of Kencana Petroleum which has a nice stake in the Lynas rare earth refinery project. Kencana Torsco Sdn. Bhd. Is a subsidiary of Mokhzani’s Kencaca Petroleum.  It has won lucrative contracts from Lynas Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. for the design, fabrication, lining, supply, installation, and commissioning of carbon steel and stainless steel tanks worth MYR9.1 million.

http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=21989896

The Lynas contracts probably represented a windfall for Mokhzani since his return to the corporate world in 2007.  Back in the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis, he was written off.

http://sophiesworld-sophiesworld.blogspot.com/2007/11/corporate-comeback-of-mokhzani-mahathir.html

It is no co-incident that Tun Dr M decided to blog on Lynas’ when its share value took its steepest tumble yesterday (21^st September) in two years.   Perhaps daddy decided it was time to lend his weight to the deal to make sure Lynas is healthy enough in shareholders’ confidence to pay their bills.

What can concern residents - the majority of the mums and dad as well as youths do to keep Lynas inoperable so that they can have a peace of mind that their future will be clean and safe?

Given such entrenched vested self-interest at the elite level of politics, ordinary citizens should band together with like-minded people to claim their democratic right to reject a polluting hazardous project such as the Lynas rare earth refinery plant.

According to SMSL’s own research, one of the world’s leading banks, HSBC has recently sold millions of dollars worth of Lynas shares. SMSL has made two trips to Australia staging protest actions and engaging in public speaking tours in Lynas’ home turf of Sydney, Perth and Femantle respectively.  HSBC is a signatory to the Equator Principles (http://www.hsbc.com/1/2/sustainability/sustainable-finance/equator-principles) which bound the banking giant to a set of social and environmental standards.  It is hardly surprising that through the publicity generated in Malaysia and in Australia, HSBC’s own investigation found Lynas to be too much of a reputational risk to be linked to its corporate image.

The people of Kuatan have spoken loud and clear through the various peaceful public actions, the Stop Lynas campaign is a campaign run and supported by mums and dads and ordinary people who are simply worried about having a mammoth hazardous plant nearby.  They want the plant to be stopped and they know they have the support of ordinary people to reach their goal ultimately.

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=1224

Health Effects of Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation: BEIR V (1990)

Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas(SMSL) Press release on 15th September 2011

Press Statement

Save Malaysia Stop Lynas Media Brief on the Visit to Western Australia

Place: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

Date: Thursday 15th September 2011

Why Western Australia?

What have SMSL achieved in Western Australia?

The most significant achievement of the Western Australia visit is getting ­­­­­­­the commitment by the Mayor of Fremantle Mr Brad Pettite to work with other Fremantle Councillors, state and federal politicians to call for the Lynas rare earth refinery to be relocated back to Australia.

The rare earth concentrate will be transported from Mt Weld and shipped through the port of Fremantle.  There are growing concerns in Fremantle of the risks and hazards of this material being transported as non-hazardous material.  Lynas managed to convince the state and federal governments of Australia that its thorium concentration is low enough on average to meet the legal threshold of its definition of hazardous or radioactive materials.

The state Member of Parliament for Fremantle Ms Adele Carles raised alarm on the risk of transporting the rare earth concentrate as non-hazardous materials in the state’s highway traversing through populated suburbs of Perth and the city of Fremantle.  Previously, a similar mode of transportation of lead by a company by the name of Magellan has caused serious hazards for the community living near the Port of Esperance forcing the operation to cease.  The lead is now transported through Fremantle in sealed containers. 

The people of Fremantle are already jittery with the lead being transported through their port. They are now faced with the transportation of rare earth concentrate through their suburbs.    

Ms Carles, the State Member for Fremantle is committed to call for an inquiry into the risk and hazards of the transportation of the concentrate to delay the export of the raw materials to Malaysia.

SMSL has sought assistance from the Australian National Toxic Network to get their expertise and technical knowledge to provide an in-depth analysis of the range of risks and hazards of the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Gebeng.  This will provide a clearer picture of the wide range of hazards and their associated problems to be considered over and beyond the narrow and limited focus of the IAEA peer review carried out on the LAMP in June.

Other MPs and the Senator have committed to raising the issues in Parliament and to look at the policy implication of Lynas’ operation.  Senator Scott Ludlam is especially keen to examine the implication of carbon “leakage” by Lynas’ shifting its most polluting part of the rare earth operation to a developing country like Malaysia which is exempted from reducing its carbon footprint at this point in time.  The Green Party which now holds the balance of power in the House of Senate would be seeking legislative measure to put in place greater control of Australian corporations operating overseas to ensure they comply with Australian laws wherever they operate.

Despite having to compete with hundreds of other media stories, the visit of SMSL has attracted several leading articles in the front page of the financial section of the major newspapers including the West Australian.  Several media interviews were carried out and were broadcasted in local radio stations.  The campaign of SMSL in Fremantle has especially got front page coverage in the Fremantle Gazette which is widely read by the people of the city.

People will lie on the road to stop the rare earth concentrate from being transported

SMSL ended the WA campaign with a theatrical protest action outside Lynas’ Perth office.  The low profile of the Lynas Perth office, hidden away in a quiet residential estate in East Perth epitomises once again the secrecy in which Lynas seemed to enjoy.  SMSL’s action exposed the true identity of Lynas and many people in the neighbourhood stood out to watch and asked about the reason for the protest action.  They showed their support upon hearing the truth.

SMSL was supported by concerned people in Perth including Fremantle Councillor Mr Sam Wainwright who acted as the driver of the Lynas evil van.  Veteran peace campaigner and a former Senator Ms Jo Valentine was also at the action to lend her support.  The protest action showed Lynas clear and loud that the people of Kuantan and towns near Gebeng will lie on the road to stop Lynas from transporting its raw material to the LAMP.

SMSL won praise in Western Australia

Ms Valentine in one of the public forums earlier in the week congratulated SMSL for staging such a strong and effective campaign to date.

“What you have done is what would take us at least 3 years to achieve.  Keep up the good work.  We are disgusted by our company doing this to you and we will do what we can here to make sure your voices are heard.”, said Ms Valentine. 

In summary, SMSL met with 7 politicians, 3 trade union organisations and/or their union representative including their peak body Unions WA.  SMSL also met and discussed the issue with Doctors for Environment, the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of WA and the peak body of the environmental groups in the state, the Conservation Council of Western Australia as well as the principal solicitor of the Environmental Defenders Office.  In many of the public events, Malaysians living or studying in Perth attended and showed their support for SMSL.  All of the individuals and organisations met have undertaken to take the issues up within their capacity and in accordance with their respective roles and responsibility to delay and/or stop the project.

The campaign tour has resulted in many positive outcomes. Almost all of the people met have little knowledge of the Lynas’ plant in Malaysia and many were appalled by the modus operandi of this mining corporation and have vowed to do something in support of the Stop Lynas campaign.

SMSL returned to Malaysia in good spirit albeit the hectic and exhausting week-long campaign sleeping in bunk beds in a basic backpacker hostel at one stage and eating instant noodles on a rush in some occasions.

 

SMSL and MCA

SMSL’s experience in WA is in stark contrast to the action taken by MCA despite its earlier promise to raise concerns with the Government through the National Economic Council. SMSL is appalled by MCA’s latest move to engage with Hua Tuan in its attempt to weaken their support for SMSL.  This is a clear indication of the lack of trust and the dishonesty on the part of MCA.  SMSL has earlier risked its supporters’ criticism by engaging with MCA giving this supposedly Chinese representing body the benefit of the doubt to do something about the Lynas issue.

So far, SMSL has not received any response from MCA despite repeated requests for an update on its promise.  MCA’s lack of action on the Lynas issues beyond paying lip services and concocting impotent proposals is a slap in the face of all the people who have sacrificed much to rally against the toxic project of Lynas.  MCA is clearly out of touch with the Chinese community including owners of many of the small to medium-size businesses who will be affected by the Lynas plant.  It is despicable that a foreign corporation’s vested interests have been prioritised over local concerns and future of Kuantan and our precious environment.

  

Future Direction and Actions

SMSL is hopeful and will embark on the next phase of the campaign to continue to expand its movement and to engage experts to provide more substances to its campaign. One of the immediate actions is to engage award winning short film director Ms Tan Chui Mui to make several short films to help publicise the campaign through social media and other media avenues.

SMSL will also lend support to other community actions to Stop Lynas such as the upcoming events over the weekend organised by BADAR.  Further SMSL will be actively involved in the launching of the Earth Charter in October 9^th.

The campaign to Stop Lynas has now spread abroad to Australia.  SMSL will focus on strengthening the campaign in Malaysia while linking regularly with the Australian side of the campaign.

SMSL call on the people all over Malaysia to join the campaign to Stop Lynas.  If Lynas is allowed to go ahead despite the strong public opposition displayed so far, Malaysia will be at risk of other even more dangerous and hazardous projects such as nuclear reactors and heavily polluting industry from more advanced nations trying to escape stronger laws and more stringent regulation.

 

陈文德：阻止稀土提炼厂作业 拯救大马委会今访澳

拯救大马委员会代表团在主席陈文德的率领下，将于明日（2日）起至10日二度访澳，展开为期9天的行程，主要议程是为阻止稀土原料通过柏斯费里特码头出口至彭州格宾。
陈文德表示，该会在来届大选前寻觅永久解决方案，阻止莱纳斯稀土提炼厂于格宾作业。
经费由售T-恤所得
他说，此行程的经费由销售反稀土T-恤及公众募款所筹得。“此行并无所谓胜算，一切尽人事，尽力而为。”
在此，他呼吁符合资格的人民，务必登记为选民，为了未来可以生活在健康及零辐射环境下，不要忽略身为公民具有的权利，在大选时发挥人民力量，向莱纳斯说“不”。
他出发至西澳前，在记者会上如是表示。
“如果人民的命运取决于外国几间公司的话，那么，独立就失去原来的意义。”
另外，他指出，以人民的利益为出发点，不排除和其他团体组成联盟，或共同诉求的管道的可能性，毕竟，团结力量会比单独组织来得有效。
“目前，还没有正式接洽或建议任何计划；只要关切民生课题，任何组织，都可以和我们组成协同作用，一同争取。”
政治人物随时改变立场
陈文德不能解读马华关丹区会主席拿督郑联科对稀土厂的立场，他认为，政治人物的立场随时改变。
有关独立专家小组的进展，陈文德说，现阶段在物色专家当中，以及设定其研究领域范围，目前还未限制期限，重要是依序完成。
另外，他也指出稀土提炼厂作业后，将会严重影响关丹至甘马挽一带的经济脉搏及产业投资，如旅游、燕窝业、渔业，以及下游的饮食业等。
他表示，该组织会通过司法途径，停止莱纳斯操作。

Save Malaysia Committee delegation, led by the Chairman, will embark on  a 9-day tour, starting tommorrow, to Perth Australia with the main agenda  to prevent the rare-earth materials from exporting via Fremantle port to Gebeng, Kuantan.

According to SMSL Chairman, Tan Bun Teet, a permanent solution must be found  before the next election, to prevent Lynas rare earths refinery from operating in Gebeng.

Funded by the proceeds of sale of t-shirts and public donation, Tan explained, although he cannot promise a definite victory from this trip, he and his team will try their utmost best to present the case in Australia. He also urged all eligible citizens to register as voters. “Do not ignore a citizen’s rights. People’s power will  play a crucial part in saying NO to Lynas when the next General Election come “

" If the fate of the people is being dictated by  several foreign companies, then, independence loses its original significance.”

In addition, he pointed out that, in the interests of the people, alliances with other groups are not excluded. A  joint appeal would also be possible. After all, working in solidarity will be more effective than working individually.

"At present, there are no formal engagement or any plan. We are prepared to work with any organisation that has an issue with the livelihood of people in the area.”

 Tan also commented, he cannot interpret Malaysian Chinese Association Kuantan District Chairman Dato Ti Lian Ker’s position on this rare earth refinery factory. In his view, politician can change their stand at any time.

On the independent expert panel set up progress, Tan revealed it is at the stage of identifying the experts  and set the scope of its research . There is no date line set on it. The most important thing is to complete the process. In addition, he also noted that investment and the economy such as tourism, bird's nest industry, fisheries, and the lower reaches of the catering industry would be greatly affected by the rare earth refinery plant.

He said the Organization will stop Lynas through judicial means.

Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas(SMSL) Press release on 1st September 2011

Resolve the Lynas Issue before the Next Election.

1. SMSL wishes the "Merdeka" spirit will be a guide to our nation in resolving the Lynas issue. "Merdeka" means not only the formal expulsion of colonial rulers, but more importantly, that people are the master of their own destiny and the boss of the government. "Merdeka" will be meaningless if the people's destiny is dictated not by themselves, but by some foreign companies.

2. SMSL reiterates that the public - the residents of Greater Kuantan - Kemaman area in particular - must have the final say in the decision on LAMP. They can consider the position and recommendations of various experts, but these experts, who do not stay around the Lynas plant, cannot make decision for the locals who have been staying there for generations. Similarly, the politicians and bureaucrats who live far away cannot decide for the locals. As PM Najib said at the beginning of his term, the era of the ‘government knows best’ mentality is over.

3. SMSL believes that across ethnic, religious and economic lines, a consensus has emerged in the Greater Kuantan-Kemaman area. They want the Lynas plant to be stopped unconditionally. The presence of the Lynas plant has already damaged the property market. Its operation will surely kill tourism, bird nest, fishing, hotel, downstream cottage food industries and future investments in Kuantan and Kemaman. No amount of expert assurance can reverse this negative economic repercussions on Kuantan's economy..

4. SMSL calls for a permanent solution for the Lynas plant before the next election. It also calls upon all eligible citizens in Pahang to register themselves as voters so that their aspiration to live in a healthy and hazard free environment will not be ignored. While the SMSL  WA delegation will bring the cause to the Australian soil in Perth and Fremantle from 2nd -10th Sept 2011, other supporters of SMSL will continue their outreach work to other parts of Pahang and elsewhere.

5. SMSL demands for the disclosure of all agreements, formal or informal, between the Federal Government, the State Government and the Lynas on the LAMP project. The public deserves to know how much the Malaysian authorities may have to compensate the Lynas company if the project is cancelled.

6. SMSL will pursue its legal recourse locally and abroad to seek court actions to Stop Lynas. As such, the expert panel will be set up to justify our legal actions based on adverse environmental, economic, health and long terms effects from LAMP ‘s  toxic and radioactive pollution.

拯救大马委员会筹款晚宴

2011年08月26日

拯救大马委员会筹款晚宴，众人高唱国歌后，拉开序幕！

拯救大马委员会不屈不挠，拉大队砸重金二度访澳。

为了继续与莱纳斯稀土厂战斗到底，该委员会一行人拟下月2日访西澳，展开为期9天的珀斯费里曼特港口之行，与市长及港口码头代表会面，意图阻止莱纳斯稀土厂通过该港口输出
稀土原料。此外，他们也会不停散播负面消息，冀破坏莱纳斯形象，借此打击其股价。
访澳经费由卖T-shirt所得，主要目的为打这场战，增加胜算。

该委员会主席陈文德透露，西澳已出现另一间稀土提炼厂，因此，他会不断张罗，让对稀土厂股有兴趣的投资者多一项选择，冀望动摇莱纳斯稀土厂的股价。“加上我们千里迢迢到澳
洲和平请愿，不断做一些负面宣传，相信会造成莱纳斯的股价下滑，这是我们打击该稀土厂的策略之一。”

“次轮澳洲行动将会注焦于费里曼特港口（Fremantle），与港口管理层及当地市长会面，冀达成共识，图阻稀土原料从该码头输到关丹码头。”

该委员会在此行中也会结合道地力量，特别是当地非政府组织的影响力，阻止澳洲莱纳斯公司（Lynas）在关丹格宾工业区设稀土提炼厂计划操作。
同时，在澳洲求学及旅居的大马人已受知会，到时也会群策群力，在珀斯展开两场反稀土和平请愿活动。

该组织也将采取“拖字诀”策略，打赢反稀土之战。
逼莱纳斯自动撤退

主席陈文德说，短期内该组织将通过司法程序，“拖延”莱纳斯稀土厂的投入运作，借此打击该公司在我国设厂的信心。

“如果莱纳斯稀土提炼厂无法如期运作，就如同无法兑现给予投资者的承诺，在种种不明朗及担忧的因素下，继而将带起如股价下跌的连锁反应等，自动从关丹撤退的念头。”
他表示，通过司法途径、全国巡回讲解会及西澳探访使命等策略，主要是牵制政府及莱纳斯无法如期运作，以达至预期结果，打赢这场苦战。

“如果股价遭受打击及严重下跌，莱纳斯或将考虑如何善后，如自动撤退或停止运作等。”
他昨晚在拯救大马委员会筹款晚宴上，致词时如是表示。
与会民众“喊打”官司

在晚宴上，陈文德也分析通过司法途径策略的利害关系，有可能要面对“荷包破洞”的可能性，因此在会上公开“征询”出席者的意见要“打或不打”，是否仍然坚持打这场仗，大家一致
说“打！”，并鼓掌高喊着，士气相当高昂，久久不散。

“如果司法公正，加上有专业的律师团助阵，我们有信心打赢这场战。”
他说，目前，彭亨州及大马律师公会将义务及全力以赴打这场官司。
凝聚各族力量

他强调，该筹款晚宴主要供打官司、上法庭及聘请专家等庞大开销。
除此之外，该组织将于全国系列巡回讲解会，实则招兵买马，希望唤起大马各族对于稀土废料的危害意识，全民醒觉及凝聚人民力量，继而引起政府的高度关注。

“当政府意识不仅是单一种族在反稀土，必然会产生某一定程度的关注。”

A fundraising dinner was organized by Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas on the 26/8/2011

The night  started off with the singing of the National Anthem , Negaraku.

In his speech to the audience, SMSL Chairman, Mr Tan Boon Teet disclosed that as part of their effort  to Stop Lynas, the committee will embark on  a 9 days trip to Fremantle, Western Australia.  The main purpose of this trip is to stop Lynas from its place of origin. SMSL will meet up with the Town Mayor , Port Authority as well as Union representative in the hope of stopping Lynas from exporting the rare earth ore from the Fremantle port.  SMSL is exploiting all possible angles in its fight against Lynas to increase its odd of success.

SMSL will also be getting support from local NGOs in this trip. Local Malaysian students as well as Malaysian in Australia has also been approached to help out in 2 planned peaceful demonstration scheduled to be held in Perth

Funding for this trip will be from sales of SMSL T shirt .

According to Mr Tan Boon Teet, the Freemantle trip, together with the legal avenue SMSL will embark on, as well as the National level forum planned for the subsequent months are  all geared towards delaying  Lynas from starting its operation.

“If Lynas refinery can not operate as scheduled, they will be unable to fulfill its commitments to their investors. The uncertainty and concern, as well as having an alternative investment opportunity in a new rare earth plant being built in Western Australia now may cause a fall in their stock prices and trigger automatic withdrawal of Lynas from Kuantan .”

At the dinner, Tan mentioned, all proceeding from the night collection will be used solely on the legal cost. Tan also analyzed the strategy through legal channels at will not come cheap. The general respond from the audience was to fight the case at whatever cost.

"fight!" , clapping, shouting with high morale was the respond from the audience.

"If justice, coupled with professional lawyers to help out, we are confident to win this war," Tan assures.

He said that currently, Pahang and the Malaysian Bar Association have oblidged to help out in filling the law suite.

Taman Tas Anti-Lynas Talk 稀土講座民眾被趕

2011-08-21 

據記者現場觀察所得，主辦單位在9時許開始以茶點招待當地民眾，及在內堂做設置準備，人潮在9 時45分逐增之際，忽然被一名自稱為達士花園睦鄰計劃的成員沙利及有關禮堂負責人阿祖瓦雅哈亞以講座帶有政治課題，以及參與者身穿黑衣2大理由，關掉禮堂 內的電源總掣及窗戶，拒絕當局在該禮堂舉辦活動。

聲稱受州議員指示辦事
當眾人進一步追問他們是代表誰發言時，他們指說受州議員指示辦事。
身處現場約200名包括當地居民者，只好隨著主辦單位移步到鄰近的華人茶餐室，將講座臨時改為茶會。

覺之家負責人林繼昌說，他在8月16日與阿祖瓦雅哈亞接洽時，曾表明租借禮堂舉辦稀土講座，當時對方答允租出，並收取100令吉訂金及開出一張寫上他名字、地址、日期、及訂金數額的小字條作為收據。

“當時他答應出租，所以我們放棄原本在12英里租借的禮堂，集中在達士花園，現在對方卻以政治課題拒絕活動進行。”

他認為事件的結果是因受到上層（州議員）的壓力所致。
“我們與拯救大馬委員會討論過，下次也許會在酒樓舉辦。”
反悔出租禮堂，訂金也拿不回，但林繼昌表示不計較，只是感到遺憾，因為公民沒有得到發表言論的權利。

陳文德：小打擊不退縮
“講座是第3次被阻撓，我早有心理準備，這只是很小的打擊，我們不會退縮，反而再接再厲尋求大突破。”
“林明客家會館口頭答應我們借出地方，而海南會館則以白字黑字寫明，但最終因溝通問題而告取消。雖然白紙黑字承諾很重要，惟下次再租借地方，我們仍堅持講個‘信’字。”
黃慧兒（居民）：隨意趕人不禮貌
“我在霹靂州唸書1年多，近來搬回關丹並在達士花園定居。一直都在留意稀土課題，今日剛好經過，於是準備透過講座瞭解進展。”
“我覺得有關人士驅趕主辦單位非常不友善和禮貌。他們可以隨意趕走人們？這不是民眾禮堂嗎？”

扎哈里（公正黨巴耶勿剎區部主席）：居民有權使用禮堂
“禮堂是大眾的，社會課題當然在民眾禮堂進行，有關當局不應以政治課題理由強硬腰斬。”
“這是達士花園民眾禮堂，既然執政黨可以用來辦活動，居民也理應有使用權，尤其是達士的居民。”

李善清（居民）：難得參與活動卻被取消
“我很關注稀土課題，不時留意拯救大馬的動向，只是住在達士花園較難配合他們的活動，得知他們今日到來辦講座，於是來購買稀土T恤，給予支持。”
“難得地點和時間配合，但活動卻被取消，我真的很失望。”
蘇玉雲（居民）：講座取消很失望

“週日特地早起來過來聽聽稀土廠的進度，因為經常只是從報紙得知這個委員會的消息，未聽過他們的講座，豈料現在無法聽了，很失望。”
“民眾禮堂是一個全部人都可以用的公眾場所，有關人士不該這樣。"

A forum on Lynas rare earth refinary plant in Gebeng held in Taman Tas was stopped at the very last minute .

Abdul Wahab, claiming to be from Taman Tas Rukun Tertangga committee started turning off the power  main switch to the hall and also closed all windows just when the event was about to begin. The reason given was because the talk is political in nature and participants were wearing black T shirt. When pressed further by the organiser, he cited instruction was from the state legislator.

About  200 local residents then followed the organisers to a adjacent Chinese coffee shop to continue with the planned event in a less formal format.

Organiser 林繼昌 said he had met with Abdul Wahab on  August 16 on renting the hall for the rare earth talk.  A RM100 ringgit deposit was also been paid. A temporary receipt, with his name, address, date, and the small print of the deposit paid has also been given.

"At the time he agreed to rent, so we had to give up  on rented hall 12 miles away. Now they have denied the use of the hall on political issue ground”
He believes this is due to pressure from the state legislators. 
"We have discussed with the Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas commitee to have the next event held in a restaurant."

On the refusal to refund the hall rental,林繼昌 said he did not care. He just  feel sorry, because citizens do not get the freedom of speech.

陳文德:
"This is the third stoppage on our talk. I am mentally prepared, this is only a small blow, we will not back down, but persistent efforts to seek major breakthrough."
"Sungai Leambing Hakka Association verbally agreed to loan us their hall, while the Hainan Association has it stated in black and white. Both were  eventually canceled due to mis communication . We will still insist of writting for future renting of halls. "

黃慧兒(resident):
"I have studied for more than a year in Perak. Just moved back to Kuantan and settled in Taman Tas. Have been paying close attention to this rare earth subject. Today happens to be passing through . Was looking forward to the talk to gain further understanding.
"I think the person stopping the organisers has been very unfriendly and impolite. Isn’t this a public hall? How can they simply chase people away?” 

Johari（PKR）:
Residents have the right to use the hall
"Hall is for the public. Of course social issues are to be dicussed in  public hall . No reason to refuse entry using a political issue excuse”
"This is a public hall for Taman Tas residents.Since the ruling party can used it to organize activities, residents should have the right to use, especially Taman Tas’s residents."

李善清(resident):
"I am very concerned about the rare-earth issues. From time to time monitor the movement of save Malaysia. Living in Taman Tas makes it difficult to participate in their activities. On learning their arrival to Taman Tas today, I came to buy T shirt and give support."
"A rare occasion and timing, but the activity was canceled, I was really disappointed.” 

蘇玉雲（resident）
"Specially came for this talk to know more about the progress of the rare earth plants. Only read form the newspapers  the news of the committee, never heard them talk before. Really dissapointed."

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'It's a plane, no ...it's a bird, no ...wait! ...it's Twitter Bird!'

Come & follow the latest, up-to-the-minute developments of our latest campaigns against Lynas in our NEW official Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas! Twitter page. You will get to know about upcoming events, breaking news & other activities. Come & be part of the action today! 

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