Former DAP leader Wong Tack condemned the government for renewing Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd's operating licence and called on Malaysians to punish Putrajaya at the ballot box in the next general election.
He said the licence renewal shows how the government disregards the safety of Malaysians, as it allows the country to be treated like a radioactive dumping ground while its people are made to become "lab rats".
"Malaysians must not tolerate this continuous irresponsibility and betrayal.
"Those who broke their promises and failed the people must be held accountable at the next election," the former Bentong MP said in a statement today.
In 2012, at least 13 leaders from Pakatan Rakyat had signed a pledge to shut down Lynas' rare earth refinery when they were part of the opposition.
They include Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, and Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.
Rare earth elements refer to a group of 17 metals and their oxides used in a range of high-tech applications, and are of strategic importance in the ongoing trade war between the US and China.
Lynas is the largest refiner of such minerals outside of China, and the facility in Gebeng is reportedly the only commercial producer of separated heavy rare earths in the world.
Extensions granted despite opposition
Commenting further, Wong condemned Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang for renewing the licence, saying that the minister and his predecessor, Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin, have granted the rare earth processing company 16 years in extensions.
This occurred despite the duo's claims that they opposed the dumping of radioactive waste in Malaysia, he added.
He said that there are no solutions for the issue of Lynas' radioactive waste.
"I believe Chang himself knows this. He said that a research and development (R&D) project completed in 2025 showed 'very promising results' in thorium extraction - at laboratory scale.
"The key words are: R&D, promising, laboratory scale. In plain language: unproven, untested, and nowhere near industrial reality.
"After more than a decade, why is Malaysia still at the experimental stage when it comes to a solution for Lynas waste?" he asked.
He stressed that, given the circumstances, the extensions granted to Lynas rely on unproven technology as an irresponsible political shield.
He further pointed to previous events, saying he identified a pattern of the government imposing strict conditions on Lynas that were later dropped.
"In 2018, the condition was: ship the waste out or get out. In 2019, that condition was dropped and replaced with a new 'stringent' one: move cracking and leaching activities out of Malaysia or get out.
"In 2023, that condition was dropped again and replaced with another: neutralise the radioactive waste or get out. In 2026, the condition repeats - neutralise the radioactive waste or get out.
"The pattern is clear: 'stringent' conditions imposed, 'stringent' conditions dropped, Lynas stays, waste stays," he said.
Stricter terms
On March 2, the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry said Lynas' licence renewal comes with stricter terms and a review every five years.
It said no new permanent disposal facilities will be built for the disposal of water leach purification residue that exceeds limits under the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984.
After the first five years, the production of radioactive residue must cease completely, while any waste produced in the interim must be neutralised to reduce its radioactivity level.
It added that the licensing conditions also require Lynas to apply its successful R&D work at an industrial and commercial scale, collaborate with local research institutions and industry, and contribute one percent of its annual gross sales revenue to R&D.
Last month, Chang revealed that the government will eventually require Lynas to apply its thorium extraction technology to import “thorium-free” rare earth ore.
“Moving forward, we will require (Lynas) to complete the thorium extraction process in Australia before shipping it over,” he said.
Chang also said that his ministry operates Environmental Radiation Monitoring Systems inside the Lynas rare earth plant and at its permanent disposal facilities. - Mkini
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