Lynas - political showdown?

From Malaysiakini:

DAP Youth wants cabinet to reveal each minister's stand on Lynas

DAP Youth has called on the cabinet to make public its minutes on the discussion regarding Lynas's license renewal as well as reveal where each minister stood on the issue.

Its deputy chief Chiong Yoke Kong said this was in line with the principles of transparency and accountability, following the reversal of the government's requirement that Lynas needed to ship its radioactive waste out of Malaysia.

"Since the Pakatan Harapan government is making a huge U-turn on the issue of Lynas, it has the responsibility to explain to the voters.

"'New Malaysia' should not be governed based on paternalism as before and the voters have the right to know the truth behind the decisions made," he said.

Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported sources as saying the cabinet meeting this week over Lynas' permit saw at least three ministers in favour of the permit renewal.

It was learnt that all ministers who were against Lynas's operations when they were in the opposition, remained consistent in their stand.

It was also learnt that although the cabinet arrived at a decision to scuttle Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin's condition for Lynas to ship its toxic waste out of the country, it was not unanimous.

A compromise on whether to renew Lynas' license was eventually reached by deferring the decision for six months, said a source.

"After six months, they will evaluate the situation again," said a source.

Yeo told reporters today that the cabinet's full decision will be made public no later than Aug 15.

She said the deal now is less than ideal but better than the status quo.

According to a statement from Lynas yesterday, the company was still in the process of hunting for a waste disposal site within Pahang where the plant is based.

Lynas's license renewal is a political hot potato because although it has economic as well as political benefits as the plant is the world's only major producer of rare earths outside China, there are the associated health risks of the mining.