Malaysiakini
KUALA LUMPUR | Dec 9, 2012
Four cabinet ministers directly involved in allowing Australia’s Lynas Corporation to operate in Gebeng should resign because the company had snubbed their demand to export its waste, said DAP.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said in a statement that Lynas’ admission that the waste material from its rare earth refinery cannot be exported, showed BN’s insincerity and lack of commitment towards public health and safety.
mca youth agm 201012 liow tiong lai pc 02Lim was referring to a joint statement issued on Feb 22 by International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed, Science and Technology Minister Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Douglas Unggah Embas and Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai.
Paragraph 3 of the statement had stated: “Prior to the issuance of the Temporary Operating Licence (TOL), Lynas shall submit a letter of undertaking that it will accept a return of any residue generated by its factory in Gebeng to its original source.”
Since the refinery had begun operation, Lynas Malaysia managing director Mashal Ahmad has recently clarified that waste products cannot be exported due to international laws.
Golden opportunity
However, Lim said that the situation presented a golden opportunity for the federal government to revoke Lynas’ temporary operating licence until the company presents its permanent disposal facility plans.
NONE”If BN refuses to defend the interest of the people… but prefers the profits of cronies… then Pakatan Rakyat will do so when we take over Putrajaya,” he said.
Previously, the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) had stated that it would hold Lynas to its pledge to export any waste that was produced, as stipulated in the licence issued on Sept 5, 2012.
“It is legally binding and AELB will enforce it,” said AELB director-general Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan.
It was later pointed out by an Australian lawmaker that the country’s laws will not allow the waste products to be brought into their country, where the rare earth ore was mined.