Semambu assemblyperson Lee Chean Chung (photo above) has urged Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to explain why the site for Lynas’ permanent disposal facility (PDF) was approved despite public health concerns.
The Lynas PDF is to be located in Bukit Ketam in Kuantan, Pahang.
Putrajaya previously instructed Lynas to build a PDF for water leach purification (WLP) residue by March 2021 or risk losing its operating licence. WLP is controversial due to its radioactive nature.
In a statement today, Lee highlighted the Pahang Department of Environment’s (DOE) written reply to his question to the Pahang State Assembly on the Lynas PDF project.
“Based on the Geographic Information System, the department found that Sungai Ara - which flows through this (Lynas PDF) project - will flow to Sungai Riau and then to Sungai Kuantan - a water source for the Semambu water treatment plant.
“The water treatment plant involves 781,000 user accounts and this project risks jeopardising the quality of the water source during earthworks, construction and operations.
“In that respect, the department is of the view that this issue needs to be taken into account when choosing a suitable site so that there will not be pollution issues or risks to public health and public welfare,” the department had said in its reply.
According to the DOE, these concerns were relayed to the Pahang government on May 4, 2020.
Khairy previously announced that the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) had on July 28, 2020, given conditional approval for the site of the Lynas PDF.
He also said that the Pahang government will be gazetting a 222.35ha site in Bukit Ketam for the site.
Living with a time bomb
Commenting on the DOE’s concerns, Lee questioned why they were not heeded.
“The note (from the DOE) simply confirms that millions of Kuantan citizens will have to live with a time bomb permanently planted at the upstream of Sungai Kuantan.
“Now, is it responsible of Khairy and Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail to bypass and neglect the red flag raised by another authorised, legitimate public agency?” he asked.
The PKR lawmaker urged both Khairy and Was Rosdy to review the decision and choose a more suitable site for the PDF project.
“If none (are found), the best solution is to ship the waste out of Malaysia as undertaken and promised by Lynas,” Lee added.
When Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh raised concerns about the PDF project in the Dewan Rakyat last year, Khairy had acknowledged that water near Bukit Ketam could indeed make its way into a water catchment area.
However, the minister said a “thorough and transparent” Environmental Impact Assessment would be conducted.
Malaysiakini has contacted Khairy, Wan Rosdy and Lynas Malaysia for comment.
Who pays for the road?
Meanwhile, Lee also questioned if the government will be using taxpayers' money to construct a road linking the Lynas PDF site to the main road.
He again pointed to the written reply, where the Pahang Public Works Department estimated that it would cost RM23 million to build a 1km-length, four-lane, dual carriage-way road.
However, the department said it had not received any applications for such a road in Bukit Ketam.
“I have also learnt that there is no standard road leading to Bukit Ketam.
“To connect the estimated 5km road, the government has to build - using people’s money - a road leading to the radioactive dumpsite...
“Unfortunately, apart from the health risks and fear, Malaysians need to fork out another RM115 million to build the infrastructure for Lynas and its generated waste,” Lee claimed.
These replies were communicated to Lee on Jan 7, 2021. - Mkini
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