The anti-Lynas rally this Sunday is set to culminate with the burning of the Pakatan Harapan manifesto to symbolise how the government had allegedly broken its promise towards sustainable development.
According to its lead campaigner Tan Boon Teet (photo, above), Harapan would have violated Promise 39, where it pledges to govern the country based on the principles of sustainability if it allowed Lynas Corp to continue operating in the country.
“If they allow Lynas to go on, is it going to be sustainable?
“[...] We want to burn the whole manifesto just to remind the government to say ‘look if your manifesto is not even worth its paper, what is the point of keeping it?
“(Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the manifesto was not carved in stone [...] that means they have no intention of implementing what they promised, and we all got cheated,” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini this evening.
Towards the end of the rally, participants will each be given a page from the manifesto to deposit into a receptacle of fire.
“The people’s hopes have been dashed, this is (a show) of their anger and disappointment,” Tan said.
The rally is to protest the "U-turn" by the government to drop a requirement for Lynas to ship its radioactive waste - generated as part of its rare earth processing operations - out of Malaysia.
Sources say that Putrajaya is set to extend the license of Lynas’ Gebeng, Kuantan plant when the present permit expires in Sept.
Critics are particularly concerned about the potential adverse health effects that the radioactive waste would have on local communities.
Aside from the “burning ceremony”, Tan said protestors will also be performing a stunt using a cardboard cutout of a vehicle making several “U-turns”.
Protestors “driving” the cardboard vehicle will represent Harapan component party leaders Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Bersatu), Anwar Ibrahim (PKR), Lim Kit Siang (DAP) and Mohamad Sabu (Amanah).
Thousands, govt reps expected
The rally, dubbed “818” after the date it will be held on, will take place at the Taman Gelora Park in Kuantan.
It is slated to begin at 7am and end by 10:30am.
Tan estimates the crowd this Sunday to be between 1,000 to 2,000 people, with a sizeable portion of them travelling from outside Kuantan.
Among the politicians he expects at the rally are PKR assemblypersons Lee Chean Chung (Semambu) and Sim Chon Siang (Teruntum).
DAP’s Bentong MP Wong Tack (photo, above), who has long been openly critical of Lynas, is also expected to be there.
However, deputy minister and PKR Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, another vocal critic, told Malaysiakini she will not be able to attend as she will be on a flight back to Malaysia on Sunday.
Tan said rally organisers have already obtained a permit from the police for the demonstration.
“We already have a permit from the police.
“We submitted the application 17 days before the event, we even had a meeting with the local district police chief,” he said.
Dissenting views
News of Lynas’ probable license renewal has rocked the Harapan administration in recent months.
Its ministers have engaged in public disagreements with each other, and its leaders have been criticised for once vehemently opposing the Australian-based company when they were in the Opposition.
Harapan component party DAP is holding a major meeting over the contentious issue tonight, ahead of a Cabinet discussion on Lynas tomorrow.
On two previous official trips to Japan, one in May and another earlier this month, Mahathir assured that Lynas would be allowed to continue operating in Malaysia. Japan is a major buyer of rare earth materials from Lynas.
The PM has also repeatedly highlighted the benefits Lynas would bring to the economy and investor confidence.
Meanwhile, Gerakan president Dominic Lau previously questioned if Mahathir’s consistent stance on Lynas was due to how two of his sons had interests with the rare earth giant.
Lynas denied this allegation.
Putrajaya’s final decision on Lynas is set to be announced by Aug 15. - Mkini
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