Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah found himself in hot water after declaring the Lynas rare earth plant in Gebeng, Kuantan, to be "as safe as a ketchup (kicap) factory".
Abu Bakar's reply, which was viewed as a mockery by representatives of the anti-Lynas group and several opposition lawmakers, sparked off a heated argument between them and Abu Bakar, who was fumbling through his notes as he looked for answers.
In the midst of the argument, he made another revelation: "I have been in this job for only three months and I need to understand and read up on the chronology of the events on Lynas."
He found himself in more trouble after revealing that he had visited the plant only once and found the operations safe.
"How can you call this project safe after visiting it only once? We have been living with it for more than two years," Tan Bun Teet, chairman of activist group Safe Malaysia, Stop Lynas (SMSL) shouted.
Another resident then advised Abu Bakar to "do his homework" before talking like an expert on the plant.
He then offered to organise an all-expenses paid trip to the plant.
Fuziah Salleh (PKR-Kuantan), however, said it was more important to have a dialogue with the affected residents, adding, however, that "this has not happened, since the government has declared it safe".
* MORE TO COME
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