Anti-Lynas lobby seeks ballot-box solution

 movement opposing the Lynas Advance Materials Plant has urged Pahang citizens to register themselves as voters and voice their disapproval over the plant, which processes potentially hazardous radioactive materials. 

The Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) lobby group, in a statement to coincide with the Merdeka Day celebrations, said that the spirit of Independence day should not be limited to expulsion of colonial rulers. 

“But more importantly, people are the masters of their own destiny and the boss of the government. Merdeka will be meaningless if the people's destiny is dictated not by themselves, but by some foreign companies,” said movement's leader Tan Boon Teet.

Tan said that the residents of Great Kuantan, Kemaman in particular, must have the final say over the Lynas plant.

'Government doesn't know best'

As such, Tan urged those eligible to sign up as voters in order to voice their “aspirations to live in a healthy and hazard free environment”. 

“(The government) can consider the position and recommendations of various experts, but these experts, who do not stay around the Lynas plant, cannot decide for locals who have been staying there for generations. 

“Similarly, the politicians and bureaucrats who live far away cannot decide for the locals. As PM Najib said at the beginning of his term, the era of the 'government knows best' mentality is over,” said Tan.

The federal government had quietly approved for the construction of the RM700 million plant and had eagerly granted the company a 12-year tax exemption. 

After this was extensively reported by the New York Times, it sparked widespread opposition in the Kuantan area over the clandestine nature of the deal and lack of public consultation.

Legal recourse

In an attempt to silence critics, the federal government brought in a panel from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which predictably gave the Lynas plant the greenlight. 

However, the federal government said they would withhold granting Lynas an operating licence until the company fulfills 11 conditions set by the IAEA.

Despite recent setbacks, Tan said the SMSL will still pursue its campaign in Pahang and beyond, including a sending a delegation to Perth tomorrow, where Lynas is based. 

Additionally, Tan said the movement's panel of experts will also seek legal recourse locally and abroad, based on possible adverse environmental, economic and health effects from the Lynas plant. 

Tan said that the federal government must also disclose all agreements with the state government and Lynas. 

“The public deserves to know how much the Malaysian authorities may have to compensate the Lynas company if the project is cancelled,” he said. - Malaysiakini