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!
Friday, 28 October 2011
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
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.
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.
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!
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"
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。
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。
《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"
"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109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？
Friday, 30 September 2011
“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……
明天，他们的命运……
Thursday, 29 September 2011
“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……
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
“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.
Monday, 26 September 2011
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad blogging on the Lynas issue for whose interests?
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 650oC, 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.
It is no co-incident that Tun Dr M decided to blog on Lynas’ when its share value took its steepest tumble yesterday (21st 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.
Thursday, 15 September 2011
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 9th.
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.
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