Himpunan Hijau: Ongkili must cancel Lynas TOL!

Press statement of Himpunan Hijau
Ongkili must cancel the TOL
dated 28 September 2012

Today, Himpunan Hijau together with Stop Lynas Coalition (SLC) and Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) call upon the Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation, Maximus Ongkili to immediately withdraw the Temporary Operating Licence (TOL) that has been wrongly issued to Lynas.

The approval and issuance procedures of the TOL are full of irregularities. We suspect the decision by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) to issue the TOL is either due to pressure or has been induced by certain quarters. Ongkili must realize that it is his responsibility and duty to stop such improper practice. It is within his jurisdiction as a Minister to do so.

We know that at this juncture, SMSL and SLC are in the midst of legal process to stop the issuance of the TOL. By jumping the gun, AELB’s action is equivalent to contempt of court.

We have decided that we will file a complaint to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and we expect a thorough investigation to be carried out on this irregularity. We want an immediate and decisive action from MOSTI to cancel the TOL. Failing to do so, Himpunan Hijau will mobilize thousands to meet Ongkili at his MOSTI office. He must understand that he may be in position, but the actual power is with the people.

Himpunan Hijau also extend our strongest warning to Sojitz Corp and all Lynas’ investors that thousands of people have came forward to register in our BLOCKADE campaign. As we have promised to the world, they will witness the most massive civil disobedience ever in the history of this country.

As Lynas’ shares continue to suffer and spiral downwards, we strongly advise Sojitz Corp and all Lynas’ investors that the people of Malaysia are very determined to stop Lynas. We will carry out an all-out-war to ensure that the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) can never operate in our country.

“Sojitz Corp and all Lynas’ investors must clearly understand this sentiment and conviction of the people of Malaysia, pull out before your investments turn into ashes,” warned Wong Tack, chairperson of Himpunan Hijau national steering committee.

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Members of the Himpunan Hijau National Steering Committee :
Wong Tack (Chairperson), Andansura Rabu, Bang Seet Ping, Clement Chin Yee Kaing, Lee Chean Chung, Lee Chin Chen, Nasrun Amir, Ooi Boon Seng, Dr. Phua Kia Yaw and V.Arumugam.

Lynas defamation suit transferred to Kuantan High Court

Lynas detractors score another small win in battle to halt rare earth plant

By Hafidz Baharom

September 26, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — Australian miner Lynas Corporation lost its bid today to keep its defamation suit against detractors from being heard here after the High Court ruled to transfer the controversial case to Kuantan, Pahang.

The transfer is seen as a boost for the case of Kuantan-based local environmental group Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) in its ongoing campaign to snuff out the rare earth giant’s move to fire up its RM2.5 billion refinery in coastal Gebeng.

In ruling against Lynas, High Court judge Datuk Louis O’Hara said having the trial heard in Kuantan would be better than holding it here on the opposite side of the peninsula, as most of the defendants and witnesses were from the east coast city. - The Malaysian Insider

【Full Text at  http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/lynas-detractors-score-another-small-win-in-battle-to-halt-rare-earth-plant/】

 
Lynas defamation suit transferred to Kuantan High Court

Posted on 26 September 2012 - 07:57pm
Last updated on 26 September 2012 - 09:26pm

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 26, 2012): The High Court here allowed the transfer of the defamation suit filed by Lynas Corporation Limited and Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd against Anti-Lynas group 'Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas' (SMSL) to the Kuantan
High Court.

Justice Datuk John Louis O'Hara agreed with the defendants' counsel Datuk Bastian Pius Vendargon that it would be much more convenient for his five clients who currently resided in Kuantan to attend the trial there.

Justice O'Hara ruled that the court was guided by Section 23 of the Judicature Act 1964 with regards to the issue of jurisdiction and issue of most suitable forum and concluded that the Kuantan High Court had the jurisdiction to hear the suit. - BERNAMA

【Full Text at

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/500765?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter】

Kes saman fitnah Lynas dipindahkan ke Mahkamah Tinggi Kuantan
26 September 2012

KUALA LUMPUR - Mahkamah Tinggi membenarkan permohonan kumpulan Anti-Lynas 'Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas' (SMSL) untuk memindahkan saman fitnah yang difailkan oleh Lynas Corporation Limited dan Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd, ke Mahkamah Tinggi Kuantan.

Hakim Datuk John Louis O'Hara bersetuju dengan peguam defendan Datuk Bastian Pius Vendargon bahawa ia akan lebih memudahkan kelima-lima anak guamnya yang kini tinggal di Kuantan untuk menghadiri perbicaraan di sana.

Hakim O'Hara memutuskan bahawa mahkamah yang berpandukan Seksyen 23 Akta Kehakiman 1964 berhubung isu bidang kuasa dan isu forum paling sesuai dan membuat kesimpulan bahawa Mahkamah Tinggi Kuantan mempunyai bidang kuasa untuk mendengar saman fitnah.

- BERNAMA
【Berita penuh di http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/kes-saman-fitnah-lynas-dipindahkan-ke-mahkamah-tinggi-kuantan-1.88875】

Court granted interim suspension of the Lynas’ Temporary Operating Licence (TOL)

Press statement of Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL)

Court granted interim suspension of the Lynas’ Temporary Operating Licence (TOL)

September 25th, 2012

Earlier today at the Kuantan High Court, SMSL was granted an interim stay for its application to suspend the Lynas TOL. Essentially the TOL has now been temporarily suspended by Justice Mariana Yahya pending the court decision on 4^th October in ten days’ time.

Mr Tan Bun Teet, an applicant to revoke the TOL and a spokesperson for SMSL lamented, “This is a small step in the right direction.  We hope that the court will grant a longer stay on the suspension on 4^th October until our earlier judicial review applications are properly assesses and the appropriate judgement made later.”

On the 28th August the Kuantan High Court accepted the following two judicial applications from SMSL:

1. To revoke the temporary operating licence granted by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) on 30th January to the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) on the ground that no detailed environmental impact assessment (DEIA) was done and that a fresh radiological impact assessment (RIA) and a radioactive waste management plan (RWMP) should have been submitted to AELB for approval before the TOL was granted. This application was lodged on behalf of Kuantan residents Mr Tan Bun Teet, Encik Syed Talib Syed Sulaiman and Puan Hasimah Ramli by their lead counsel Bastian Vendargon.

2. To review the decision of the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) not to revoke the Lynas temporary operating licence following an appeal by a group of Kuantan residents who together with their legal representative and experts, appeared before the MOSTI panel with evidence of risks and harm of the project earlier this year on April 17th. This application was lodged on behalf of Kuantan residents Haji Ismail Abu Bakar and Tan Ah Meng by their lawyer R.S. Pani.

“Today’s interim suspension of the Lynas TOL by Justice Yahya is a welcome gesture.  Of course this is only a very temporary relief and a tiny win.  We have a long way to go yet to Stop Lynas.  Kuantan is a clean and peaceful place.  We do NOT want a polluting rare earth plant in our town.”  Commented Haji Ismail Abu Bakar.

Tomorrow 26^th September SMSL lawyers will return to the KL High Court to discuss the management of the Lynas defamation case against SMSL.  Lynas has earlier failed to get an injunction to gag SMSL.  SMSL maintains that the statement made in an open letter to the Prime Minister of Malaysia has been made in the interest of the public and Malaysia’s natural environmental as well as local health and livelihoods.  The statement is based on fair comments and advice from various experts.

“The public will be waiting anxiously because we do not wish to have a world-scale rare earth plant in our backyard.” Concluded Mr Tan

SMSL seeks suspension of the Temporary Operating Licence (TOL)

Press statement of Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL)

SMSL seeks suspension of the Temporary Operating Licence (TOL)

September 24th, 2012

 

Tomorrow on 25^th September, SMSL will return to the High Court of Kuantan to apply for the TOL to be suspended until hearings for the two judicial review cases are completed.

Mr Tan Bun Teet, an applicant to revoke the TOL and a spokesperson for SMSL said “A responsible Government would NEVER have issued the TOL knowing full well that the court has accepted SMSL’s two judicial review applications.”

“Furthermore, neither the AELB nor MOSTI has responded to SMSL’s legal letter requesting for the TOL to be suspended by the due date of September 10th”

On the 28th August Justice Mariana Yahya accepted the following two judicial applications from SMSL:

1. To revoke the temporary operating licence granted by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) on 30th January to the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) on the ground that no detailed environmental impact assessment (DEIA) was done and that a fresh radiological impact assessment (RIA) and a radioactive waste management plan (RWMP) should have been submitted to AELB for approval before the TOL was granted. This application was lodged on behalf of Kuantan residents Mr Tan Bun Teet, Encik Syed Talib Syed Sulaiman and Puan Hasimah Ramli by their lead counsel Bastian Vendargon.

2. To review the decision of the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) not to revoke the Lynas temporary operating licence following an appeal by a group of Kuantan residents who together with their legal representative and experts, appeared before the MOSTI panel with evidence of risks and harm of the project earlier this year on April 17th. This application was lodged on behalf of Kuantan residents Haji Ismail Abu Bakar and Tan Ah Meng by their lawyer R.S. Pani.

“Lynas has not found a solution for its waste.  We are concerned with the risks of air and water pollution on top of it.  Why should the TOL be issued under such uncertainties and risky situation?”  Asked Haji Ismail Abu Bakar

The application will be before the Kuantan High Court in Bandar Indera Mahkota Court Complex.  Stop Lynas supporters are urged to attend at 9a.m to show the Government that people do NOT want the Lynas rare earth plant.

“Tomorrow will be a good test of our judicial system in delivering justice.  We wait in hope that the truth shall prevail and that justice will be dealt.” Concluded Mr Tan

Sydney Stop Lynas Protest Action - People before corporate greed

Greens MP Jamie Parker addressing the concerned activists during the lunch protest

From around 10.30 to 11.30am today, activists and concerned Australians led by Friends of the Earth Australia staged a peaceful protest action outside the Lynas Corporations head office in support of the Stop Lynas campaign in Malaysia.

Between 30 to 40 people from all walks of life including several Malaysian diasporas gathered outside the Lynas office on 56 Pitt St in Sydney with loud speakers chanting "Shame Lynas Shame!  The protest action was high spirited, colourful.

The crowd intended to send a strong message to Mr Nick Curtis the Executive Chairman of Lynas Corporation that the people of Malaysia have said NO!

The protest action was joined by state member of parliament Greens MP Mr Jamie Parker who visited Malaysia several months ago and made a special trip to Kuantan to see the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant.  In his speech at the protest action, Mr Parker said "Lynas has not been transparent" especially referring to its waste being safe when it is contaminated with radioactive materials, hazardous heavy metals and chemicals.

 

Lynas has recently revealed that it has attempted to apply for the waste to be returned to Australia albeit a long-standing Australian policy of not accepting hazardous waste from another country.

Lynas: People before corporate greed, who will pay the TOL?

Friends of the Earth Australia

Media Release  

Lynas: People before corporate greed, who will pay the TOL?

Concerned Sydney activists in support of Malaysians are gathering at Lynas Corporations head office on Pitt St in Sydney's CBD at 12:30pm today, to express their dissent over the companies plan to export rare earths to Malaysia for processing.

Lynas Corporation has recently received a two year temporary operations license (TOL) from the Malaysian Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), as of the 5th of September.  This is an issue of significance to Australians, as the ore to be processed at the plant will come from Mount Weld rare earths deposit in Western Australia. The Lynas Applied Materials Plant (LAMP) hasn't even submitted an environmental impact assessment to begin operations of one of the worlds largest rare earth refineriery located on the east coast of Malaysia in the Pahang state at Gebeng, Kuantan.

Tully McIntyre from Friends of the Earth stated "Lynas plans to export 22,000 tonnes of ore annually to Malaysia for processing, which risks polluting important mangrove coastal ecosystem and major sources of livelihoods for local people in Malaysia. There are well over 700,000 people living in a 30 km radius of LAMP."

"These people were not consulted about the refinery, or a proper environmental impact statement carried out for LAMP."

The Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia stated last week Lynas had submitted an application to Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) to import waste back to Australia, if so Australians are wondering where it would be stored.

Miss McIntyre went on to say Australian activists are calling for more stringent research to be carried out in Australia and abroad before proceeding further, Malaysians do not want LAMP and an Australian company should not be forcing the project on an unwilling international community. The campaign against Lynas in Malaysia is the biggest environmental campaign in Malaysian history. Australian activists will remain to show strong support with the Malaysians to stop Lynas exporting this toxic legacy.

Greens MP Jamie Parker NSW will address the concerned activist at the lunch time protest.

TOL issued when Lynas is still scrambling to deal with its hazardous waste

Press statement of Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL)

TOL issued when Lynas is still scrambling to deal with its hazardous waste

September 18th, 2012

Last Friday, a diplomat from the Australian High Commission informed Malaysia Insider that Lynas has applied to the regulator, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) to return its radioactive waste from Malaysia.  According to the diplomat, Canberra has reiterated its policy of not accepting waste from another country.  This policy was also shared by the Western Australian Government.  Its Minister for Mining and Petroleum has several times rejected in the state Parliament the notion that Lynas can ship the waste back to WA – see relevant attached document for details

SMSL spokesperson Mr Tan Bun Teet responded.

“When the government approved of the TOL for Lynas in January, no safe or viable permanent solution was found for its waste. Today, the TOL has been issued and yet Lynas is still scrambling around trying to find a permanent solution to its waste.”

“Where is the Government’s duty of care to protect citizens and our country’s future? The government is making a fool of itself in the eyes of responsible governments the world over by issuing the TOL at the expense of tax paying rakyat and our precious environment.”  He added.

The story prompted WA State Greens MP Robin Chapple to criticise Lynas for trying to operate outside the law in Australia as it is operating in Malaysia where legal scrutiny on toxic waste is not as tight as in Australia – see details in http://robinchapple.com/lynas-left-holding-baby

Rare earth refinery produces huge amounts of waste in all streams – potentially polluting the air, the water and surrounding land.

“We are shamed of the BN Government for not exercising prudence when dealing with one of the world’s largest rare earth refinery project.” Lamented Haji Ismail Abu Bakar, a Kuantan resident and a SMSL spokesperson.

“It is even more embarrassing when the Government went so far as to give Lynas a 12-year tax holiday when ordinary Malaysian tax payers have toil and work hard to pay their taxes hoping to live in a clean and safe country in return!” He added.

Earlier this month, the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) claimed in its press statement on its decision to issue the TOL that Lynas has fulfilled all of the technical and additional conditions set by the Government and that Lynas will remove the radioactive waste.  However, no detail was provided as to how Lynas has fulfilled them for public scrutiny.

Please refer to the relevant attached document for details of the conditions - http://on.fb.me/Rmp0tG

Ram Pususamy another Kuantan resident retorted “show us exactly how Lynas will remove its radioactive waste from Malaysia! Show us how Lynas has fulfilled all of the seven additional conditions set by the AELB and MOSTI!”

When the Malaysian Government requested the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to review the pre-licensing stage of the Lynas project, the IAEA made eleven recommendations which both the Malaysian Government and Lynas have publicly pledged to adhere to - see relevant attached document for details of the recommendations - http://on.fb.me/PMBJtm

“The AELB and MOSTI think we are fools to accept their weak and hazardous proposition when we know for a fact that Lynas has NO way of shipping its radioactive waste OUT of Malaysia legally.” Continued Ram.

Apart from Australia’s refusal to take back Lynas’ hazardous waste, trans-boundary transportation of hazardous waste is controlled by the Basel Convention http://www.basel.int/.

Additionally, there remains pollution risks for the air and water as huge amount of discharges in these two streams are also expected from the Lynas plant.  In the USA at the Molycorp rare earth plant and in Lynas’ Australian licensing conditions, the company is bound to a zero-discharge condition to prevent contamination of ground water.  In both cases, strict air pollution control of hazardous gases is required whereas for the Malaysian plant, details of how such pollution will be minimised remain unclear.

Furthermore, the AELB’s track record in managing radioactive waste remains poor and unsatisfactory. It has failed to recover all of the radioactive waste from the previous rare earth plant in Bukit Merah as would be expected under international standards to ensure public safety.

“With the strong public support we will do whatever it takes here in Malaysia, in Australia and in every corner of the world where Lynas hopes to conduct its business.  We will pursue legal actions and a wide range of campaigning activities with the support of our allies until the rare earth plant is shut down.”  Concluded Mr Tan.

Kumpulan Anti-Lynas mahu tahu rancangan pembuangan sisa, bernazar untuk lawan

Kumpulan menentang loji nadir bumi Lynas berjanji akan berjuang sehingga ke titik akhir. — Gambar AFP

Kumpulan Anti-Lynas mahu tahu rancangan pembuangan sisa, bernazar untuk lawan

Oleh Ida Lim

September 17, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, 17 Sept — Kumpulan akar umbi pergerakan kekal tidak yakin dengan janji Lynas Corporation dan Putrajaya untuk menguruskan sisa dari loji nadir bumi kontroversi pelombong Australia di Kuantan, hari ini menuntut syarikat itu mendedahkan pelan terperinci atau “akan melawan hingga saat akhir”.

Dua minggu lalu, Lembaga Pelesenan Tenaga Atom Malaysia (AELB) mengeluarkan lesen operasi sementara (TOL) bagi Lynas Corp walaupun bantahan meluas, berhujah bahawa pelombong Australia itu terikat di sisi undang-undang untuk membuang sisa radioaktif dari kilang dan mengembalikan baki ke Australia.

Lynas Corp telah memohon ke Australia untuk “mengimport bahan” dari joji walaupun dasar Canberra adalah untuk menolak sisa radioaktif, kata seorang Diplomat Australia Jumaat lepas.

Pengerusi Himpunan Hijau, Wong Tack, memberi amaran tegas kepada Lynas dengan mengatakan bahawa: “Melainkan jika anda mempunyai rancangan yang sangat jelas, kita tidak akan membenarkan anda mempunyai apa-apa untuk masuk”

“Rakyat telah memutuskan kita tidak mahu industri ini di negara kita.”

“Pek dan pergi atau kita akan berjuang hingga akhir,” kata Wong, walaupun kumpulan anti-Lynas yang lain gagal untuk mendapatkan kebenaran Mahkamah Rayuan untuk semakan keputusan kehakiman tentang TOL.

Beliau juga berkata terdapat beberapa soalan yang tidak dapat diselesaikan: “Pelabuhan mana akan anda lalui? Bagaimana anda akan pek? Bagaimana anda akan mengangkut ia? Berapa lama mereka akan menyimpan sebelum kapal mereka kembali?“

Tan Bun Teet, pengerusi bersama Selamatkan Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL), berkata: “Adalah melucukan apabila kerajaan Malaysia mengeluarkan TOL untuk Lynas apabila kita tidak tahu bagaimana Lynas akan menguruskan sisa pepejal dan terdapat banyak isu-isu tertunggak.”

“Adalah sangat berisiko bagi Malaysia untuk membolehkan rancangan yang akan menghasilkan begitu banyak sisa di negara kita apabila kita tidak tahu bagaimana bagaimana Lynas akan berurusan dengan sisa dan dalam cara yang praktikal, “ kata Tan.

“SMSL ingin tahu setiap perincian kerana orang ramai mempunyai hak untuk tahu dan kami ingin meneliti setiap cadangan bahawa Lynas meletakkan keluar untuk memastikan mereka yang berdaya maju dan selamat.”

Tan berkata bahawa “SMSL akan mengambil segala tindakan yang mungkin untuk mencuba melalui mahkamah dan ingat TOL dan untuk mengenakan tekanan politik melalui pengundi bagi menghentikan projek ini.”

Pengerusi Gabungan Hentikan Lynas (SLC), Andansura Rabu berkongsi pandangan Wong dengan mengatakan bahawa: “Kami masih mahu belajar apa yang sebenar mereka rancangkan.”

“Kami mahu melihat rancangan terperinci apa yang mereka akan lakukan sebelum mereka dibenarkan untuk memproses dan mengendalikan.”

Beliau berkata bahawa gabungan itu “ragu-ragu pelaksanaan rancangan Lynas", sama ada ia akan melibatkan mengubah sisa ke dalam perdagangan produk atau menghantar sisa kembali ke Australia.

Walaupun SLC bersetuju kepada kedua-dua idea, Andansura berkata mereka kekal tidak yakin jaminan Lynas.

“Ia adalah satu jumlah yang besar sisa ... kotor untuk mengendalikan sisa dan eksport,” katanya.

Lynas menerima TOL minggu lepas daripada pihak berkuasa Malaysia, memberi laluan bagi loji nadir bumi untuk memulakan operasi walaupun bantahan awam yang meluas terhadap isu keselamatan dan alam sekitar.

Lynas berkata bahawa ia akan mula mengangkut dan melengkapkan semua langkah menyediakan memperkayakan bijih nadir bumi yang dilombong di Australia pada Oktober.

TOL membolehkan Lynas untuk beroperasi bagi tempoh dua tahun mulai 3 September.

AELB telah menekankan bahawa Lynas mesti mematuhi semua keperluan dan syarat-syarat yang dikenakan oleh kementerian sains, teknologi dan inovasi melalui Akta Perlesenan Tenaga Atom.

Dua minggu lalu, lima penduduk Kuantan diberikan peluang oleh mahkamah tinggi Kuantan untuk mencabar keputusan menteri sains, teknologi dan inovasi untuk menganugerahkan TOL kepada pelombong Australia.

Minggu lepas, SLC telah gagal dalam usaha untuk mendapatkan kebenaran daripada mahkamah rayuan untuk ulasan berasingan keputusan kehakiman untuk AELB memberikan TOL kepada Lynas.

Anti-Lynas groups insist on seeing waste plans, vow to fight on

The groups protesting against the Lynas facility are not giving up the fight. — File pic

Anti-Lynas groups insist on seeing waste plans, vow to fight on

By Ida Lim

September 17, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 ― Local grassroots movements remain unconvinced by Lynas Corp and Putrajaya’s vow to manage waste from the Australian miner’s controversial rare earth plant in Kuantan, demanding today that the firm reveal a detailed disposal plan or face a “fight to the end”.

Two weeks ago, Malaysia’s Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) issued a temporary operating licence (TOL) to Lynas despite widespread protests, but added that the Australian miner was legally bound to remove radioactive waste from its plant and return the residue to Australia.

Lynas had applied to Australia to “import material” from the plant although Canberra’s policy is to reject radioactive waste, an Australian diplomat reportedly said last Friday.

Wong Tack, chairman of local environment group Himpunan Hijau, gave a stern warning to Lynas, saying that: “Unless you have very clear plans, we will not allow you to have anything coming in.”

“People have decided we don’t want this industry in our country.”

“Pack and go or we’ll fight to the end,” Wong said, despite another anti-Lynas group’s recent unsuccessful bid at the Court of Appeal for permission for a judicial review of the TOL decision.

He also said there were a number of unresolved questions over the proposed export of Lynas’s waste.

“Which port are you going through? How are you going to pack it? How are you going to transport it? How long are they going to store before they ship it back?”

Tan Bun Teet, the chairman of Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL), agreed. “It is ludicrous that government of Malaysia issued the TOL to Lynas when we don’t even know how Lynas is going to manage the solid waste and there are many outstanding issues.”

“It’s very risky for Malaysia to allow plans that will produce so much waste in our country when we don’t how Lynas is going to deal with them safely and in a practical way,” Tan said.

“SMSL would like to know every detail because the public has the right to know and we would like to scrutinise every proposal that Lynas is putting out to make sure they are viable and safe.”

Tan said that SMSL will take all possible legal actions to contest the TOL and to exert political pressure to stop this project.

Stop Lynas Coalition’s (SLC) chairman Andansura Rabu echoed Wong’s views, saying that it similarly wanted to learn of Lynas’s actual plans.

“We would like to see detailed plans of what they are going to do before they are allowed to process and operate,” Andansura said.

He said that the coalition is “sceptical” of Lynas’s “implementation” of its plans, whether it would involve turning waste into commercial products or sending waste back to Australia.

Although SLC is agreeable to both ideas, Andansura said they remain unconvinced of Lynas’s assurance.

“It’s a huge amount of waste... messy to handle the waste and export,” he pointed out.

The TOL Lynas received two weeks ago from Malaysian authorities has paved the way for its rare earth plant to begin operations despite widespread public protests over safety and environmental concerns.

Lynas said that it would begin transporting and completing all steps to prepare enriching the rare earth ore mined in Australia by October.

The TOL allows Lynas to operate for a period of two years beginning September 3.

The AELB had emphasised that Lynas must adhere to all requirements and conditions imposed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation through the Atomic Energy Licensing Act.

Two weeks ago, five Kuantan residents were given the Kuantan High Court’s nod to challenge the science, technology and innovation minister’s decision to award a TOL to the Australian miner.

Last week, SLC had failed in its bid to get leave from the Court of Appeal for a separate judicial review of AELB’s decision to grant a TOL to Lynas.