GEORGE TOWN: A coalition of 57 civil society organisations has urged the government to scrutinise operations of Lynas Rare Earths Ltd, warning that its supply agreement with the United States could expose Malaysia to risks of complicity in alleged breaches of international law.
In an open letter dated yesterday to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the groups said the deal — reportedly worth about US$96 million over four years — links processing activities at Lynas' Gebeng plant in Pahang to foreign military supply chains.
They cautioned that rare earth oxides refined in Malaysia may be used in advanced weapons systems, raising "real and foreseeable" risks of association with military operations that have drawn allegations of violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL).
Framing the issue as one of principle, they said the arrangement could undermine Malaysia's longstanding non-aligned foreign policy stance.
"Permitting such an arrangement risks reducing Malaysia's credibility as an independent voice in multilateral forums and compromising its principled positions on conflicts in Palestine, Iran and elsewhere," they said in the letter.
The groups also raised concerns over national sovereignty, arguing that allowing Malaysian industrial infrastructure to support the military requirements of a foreign power could weaken regulatory independence and public accountability.
Environmental risks tied to Lynas' operations in Gebeng — long a point of public contention — were also highlighted, with the groups saying the link to military supply chains compounds the ethical burden on affected communities.
Citing the United Nations General Assembly's Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (ARSIWA), they stressed Malaysia's obligation not to aid or assist in acts that would constitute serious violations of international law.
They called on Putrajaya to require Lynas to demonstrate that its operations and supply chains do not contribute to such violations, including full transparency on the agreement's scope and end-use.
Among key demands were an independent human rights and IHL due diligence audit, as well as the introduction and enforcement of domestic laws to ensure companies operating in Malaysia are not complicit in international crimes.
The letter was submitted by Chee Yoke Ling on behalf of the signatories, which include environmental, human rights and community groups. - NST
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