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09 September 2012

Vote out BN to shut Lynas plant

The only way to boot Lynas Corporation back to Australia and shut down its controversial rare earth refinery in Kuantan is by voting out Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming polls.

The recent granting of a two-year temporary occupational licence (TOL) to the Australian miner was a clear sign that should BN win again in the next general election, the firm would be allowed to operate fully without any restrictions.

That the BN government has no hesitation to issue the TOL to Lynas even before the general election showed its commitment towards Lynas and profits over the people’s health.

The two-year TOL leaves Malaysians no choice but to choose health and public safety over profits and two nuclear reactors by replacing the BN with a PR (Pakatan Rakyat) government..

Unsettled fears over where Lynas would ship its waste materials generated from the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Gebeng, Kuantan, despite the firm’s verbal commitment that it would be transported outside the country.

Despite the commitment, Lynas has since refused to state where or which country the residues, known as water leach purification (WLP) residue, would be sent to.

Further, such removal of toxic or radioactive residue contravenes international covenants of its removal from one country to another, such as the Basel Convention, unless it is returned to its source.

Returning to its source is impossible when Australia has declared that it would not accept back the rare earth residue mined from Western Australia.

Where then would Lynas find a country willing to accept millions of tonnes of its waste unless of course it is the backyard of the homes of BN ministers?..

Regulator Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) said yesterday that Lynas’ commitment to ship out radioactive wastes from its Gebeng plant was not binding as it was not a condition for the TOL issued earlier this week. The TOL came into force from September 3.

In a briefing to the media, AELB director-general Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan said the agency only relied on Lynas’ unilateral commitment without putting it in “black and white”.

“It was never a condition of the licence. When they (Lynas) made the commitment, we took note of the commitment and the board decided to issue the licence,” he was quoted .

He, however, said if Lynas broke its commitment to ship the waste overseas, AELB would consider its options against Lynas.

“I’m sure they will take it out. The board decided it (and) took into account they will take it out.

“Should that not happen, there are various steps and considerations that the board can take,” he was quoted as saying.

On Thursday, the Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) movement said Lynas and the authorities should reveal details of the waste removal because it had been established that Australia would not allow Lynas to return the waste there.

Environmentalists have also pointed out that trans-boundary transportation of hazardous waste was controlled by the Basel Convention, and it would be nearly impossible for Lynas to find a country willing to accept millions of tonnes of its waste.

The TOL has paved the way for Lynas to fire up its controversial rare earth plant.

Lynas had said in April that delays in obtaining the licence for its facility, which was initially approved in January, may have “very serious consequences” for the RM80 billion worth of rare earth orders already received as it is “sold out for the next 10 years.”

Unprecedented public anger against the Lynas plant has been fertilising Malaysia’s green movement and could affect voter sentiment ahead of key national polls that must be called soon.

Earlier this year, thousands of people gathered for a peaceful demonstration in Kuantan calling on the government to stop the plant from being fired up.

The company said that the issuance of the TOL would enable Lynas to commence the transport of rare earth concentrate and to complete all necessary steps to prepare for first feed to kiln, which is expected in October.

Last week, five Kuantan residents made headway in their last-ditch bid to stop Lynas Corp from firing up its plant after they got the High Court’s nod to challenge the science, technology and innovation minister’s decision to award a TOL to the Australian miner.

 

 

comments

 

 

Lynas residents shd all move to Pekan n vote Pekan MP out. Vote out all corrupt UMNO and abusive BN leaders.

This granting of a licence for two years to Lynas and they having not given a written undertaking of shipping out the residue shows that BN has no care for the people. It will ride rough shoed over us, even now bf GE13. So I ask what more after GE13 and they win.

Their treatment of the teenagers at Najib's photo incidence, Mistreatment of Bersih paricipants and seizing of pwer in Perak, giving away our hard earned tax money to cowagate & the Port Kelang eposide are but a few of of their transagressions that we have seen

Looks like we as Malaysians and mindful of our children & grandchildrens' future have to vote them out. If we don't vote them OUT we are moving closer to a failed state. So friends lets think of our future generations. BN has had 53 years and they had their show. Now lets go for a NEW MALAYSIA

Stay united to support corrupted and inefficient government uhhhh....Rais the minister rapist: Malays must stay united to be strong

 

The Malays need to be grateful for the progress brought by the government and leaders of yesteryears, and stay united to maintain their political power, said Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

He said, for instance, the people benefited from good infrastructure in Selangor, which was built over the years by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

“This is the essence of the BN struggle, we are not going to take them back...but remember our efforts as they were not the opposition’s fruit of labour,” he said at the 1 Malaysia Community hari raya open house in Kampung Medan, Teluk Panglima Garang here today.

Rais (picture) said although the Malays had progressed, they must not be arrogant and forget the struggle of their forefathers, their origin and their direction.

“Why can’t we relate the good deeds done by our forefathers? Let us remind ourselves that each country was built slowly, one step at a time as the people struggled for a cause,” he said.

Rais said the Malays should unite to ensure that they do not lose their power to govern the country.

“But, if we are not aware of this, the power will slip from our hands. And we need the power to translate it into a big dream,” he said, adding that the Malays must stay united to be strong.

He said although the country’s administration was helmed by the Malays, the government championed all races, including non-Malays.

 

 

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Stay united to support corrupted and inefficient government for that you UMNO/BN can profit as if you are the Emperor.

As a minister Rais Yatim draws his salary from money paid to government from all races. He now talks about unity among Malays as it other races are natural enemies of Malays.

All Malaysians must stay united as well as united through the ballot box to kick out the corrupt govt. Malaysian= 1 soul =1 voice = 1 race = 1 unity

Is MCA not part of the ruling party? How come Dr Chua does not say the Chinese should unite to ensure that they do not lose their power to govern the country? Says a lot about where MCA really stands in BN, doesn't it?

And what happened to 1Malaysia? Isn't Malaysian Unity more important than the unity of any one race?

Malay nexer lost power, only umno lost power.
Malay is not umno; umno is only small part of Malay.
Malay have better care taker like PAS and PKR.

So, pls don't continue cheat the Malay in order to stay in Power.
More infrastructure = more toll. All main benefiters are BN cronies not Malay.

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