| Wednesday, 20 June 2012Kristie Batten A PARLIAMENTARY committee set up to debate Lynas Corporation’s advanced materials plant in Malaysia has backed the issue of a temporary operating licence and confirmed that the company has complied with health and safety standards. .jpg) | | | Lynas' plant in Malaysia |
Malaysian Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili last week approved the issue of a temporary operating licence for the plant, with two additional conditions.
The Parliamentary Select Committee tabled its report yesterday, backing the minister’s decision.
The committee said it had taken community concern into consideration but found that Lynas had complied with the standards and laws in Malaysia.
Lynas executive chairman Nicholas Curtis welcomed the report and said the company had already lodged plans to satisfy the additional conditions.
“Throughout our time in Malaysia, we have worked to be completely transparent, and to provide full and comprehensive details about every aspect of our operation to satisfy government and community concerns,” he said.
Protest group Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas accused the government of allowing a foreign company to use Malaysia’s citizens as “guinea pigs” in an experiment.
“It is nothing more than hogwash by the Barisan government desperately trying to justify the controversial project in a last ditch half-hearted effort to put on a show pretending to take on board citizens’ concerns,” SMSL chairman Tan Bun Teet said.
“Each and every decision made by the government or the minister justified only by bias science and spin will only add to the fear, anxiety and anger of the community.”
The group said the committee did not address its concerns over waste, which it claimed will pollute waterways and plants and “taint Malaysia”.
Tan said the only avenue left for the group was court action.
“SMSL have already started working with expert witnesses and the legal team on this front,” he said.
“As soon as we have our cases together, we will lodge it with the court. We have planned for cases in Malaysia and in Australia.” Click here to read the rest of today's news stories. |
