About 1,500 people protested against the Australian mining giant some 5km from where the plant is located.
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PETALING JAYA: About 1,500 anti-Lynas protesters gathered peacefully at Gebeng Industrial Park, Kuantan this morning to oppose the siting of the Lynas rare earth plant there.
The protest, organised by Himpunan Hijau, saw the protesters sending a strong message against the Australian mining company.
Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tack had previously told FMT that the grouping was fed up with the government’s approval of the Pahang-based rare earth plant.
“We will voice our serious concerns. We want to send a message to Lynas so that they would not set foot on Malaysian soil.”
“We will fight so hard that this is only the first warning. Their operation will not be smooth and easy,” he told FMT.
Earlier in the morning, the police had set up road-blocks to stop people from converging at the Gebeng Industrial Park despite the rally being given a police nod.
There was also presence of police and Federal Reserve Unit personnel at the industrial park.
This however did not stop the protesters from entering the industrial park. The Lynas plant was located about 5km from where the protest took place.
The plant was ‘guarded’ by about 100 police personnel, according to eye-witness.
Among the political leaders who were present at the protest included Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson A Samad Said, activist Hishamudin Rais, PAS leader Mohamad Sabu and DAP’s Leong Ngah Ngah.
The weekend rally against Lynas started yesterday with some 300 people gathering at the Balok beach in Kuantan. The beach is about 8km away from the rare earth plant.
The majority of the protesters, wearing green, were from outstation and had gathered at Pelangi Balok Beach Resort at Pantai Balok.
Many had “relaxed and enjoyed themselves” awaiting for the night activities of their 24-hour encampment “Occupy Balok-Gebeng” rally, according to Wong Tack.
This morning these group of protesters were joined by others for the rally at Gebeng Industrial Park.
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