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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Miti: Keep a cool head over Lynas


Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, meanwhile, rubbishes Lynas' claim that she is the only one in Pakatan who opposes the plant
PETALING JAYA: The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) urged all quarters to keep a “cool head” over the latest bout of sparring between Lynas Corp and Kuantan MP, Fuziah Salleh.
The Australian mining giant yesterday warned the opposition coalition against shutting down its RM2.5 billion rare earth plant in Gebeng, saying that such a move would deter other foreign investments in the country.
Lynas’ executive chairman, Nicholas Curtis, was responding to an earlier statement by Fuziah that Pakatan Rakyat would stop the plant if it won the 13th general election.
“We should keep a cool head on things,”said Miti’s secretary-general, Rebecca Sta Maria, in an email to FMT.
“The government will not be drawn into this exchange and we will not be pressured by any party. We must allow the application process for the licence to take its course.”
Lynas is currently awaiting a decision by the Atomic Energy Licencing Board (AELB) on the issuance of its temporary operating licence which is expected to be announced soon.
Fuziah, Lynas’ most vocal detractor, noted that Curtis was good at the strategy of “divide and rule” and pointed out that it was the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) that would cost Malaysia its foreign investors.
She also laughed off Curtis’ claim that she is the lone voice in Pakatan to oppose the plant and that Lynas has PAS’ support.
“During the anti-Lynas fundraising dinner (PAS spiritual leader), Nik Aziz (Nik Mat) told the crowd that if they wanted to close down Lynas then they should vote for Pakatan.
“And when someone like Nik Aziz says this it means something,” said Fuziah
“Even (Pakatan leader) Anwar Ibrahim has voiced his opposition to the plant. And remember that I’m not just an MP but also the PKR vice-president and a member of the Pakatan leadership council.”

PAS members affected
When asked why Curtis was under the impression that PAS supported LAMP, Fuziah explained that it was because a handful of employees in the Gebeng plant were PAS members.
According to her, they were uneasy about working in the plant but were also concerned over losing their jobs if the plant closed down.
“But PAS leaders have told them that the party cannot put the interests of a few people over the wellbeing of the nation and they understand this,” said Fuziah.
Lynas last week announced that it has raised US$225 million (RM700 million) in bonds to complete Phase One of the plant and will be delaying operations to the second quarter of the year.

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