Lynas and A.R.E - Mahathir's evil legacies

MM Online:

Closing Lynas not in manifesto? Redzuan ‘rubbing salt into wound’, Bentong MP says


BY ZURAIRI AR

Bentong MP Wong Tack has slammed Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof for saying that PH manifesto does not include closing down Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s plant. — Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 — Bentong MP Wong Tack has slammed Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof for saying that Pakatan Harapan (PH) manifesto does not include closing down Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s plant.

Wong said Redzuan’s dismissal of calls to close the rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Pahang reflects “moral bankruptcy and complete disrespect for the rule of law”.

“For almost a decade, many current PH elected representatives have gone to the streets with the people to stop Lynas,” Wong said in a statement.

“The commitment to stop Lynas has not only been made in public speeches and media statements, but also via the signing of Stop Lynas petitions conducted by the ‘rakyat’.

“The failure to fulfil our commitment to close down Lynas has already created serious trust deficit towards the PH government. But spinning the issue by saying it is not a promise in the PH manifesto is rubbing salt into sore wound,” he added.

The DAP insisted that Pledge 39 of PH’s 14th general election manifesto clearly promised to implementing strict rules to ensure Malaysia does not become a dumping ground for toxic waste from foreign firms.

“The previous government has committed many wrongdoings with regards to Lynas. We were given the mandate to right the wrongs. Let’s not betray the people,” Wong said.

Yesterday, Redzuan was reported telling PH MPs to “respect” the government’s decision to continue with the project, as closing down the plant was not part of the pact’s election manifesto.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Malaysia must tread carefully in deciding whether or not to allow Australian miner Lynas Corp to continue its rare earths refinery in Pahang as the wrong decision could have a devastating effect on investments into the country.

This came after Lynas Malaysia’s operating licence was renewed for six months subject to several conditions from the Atomic Energy Licensing Board in August.

The rare earth mining company has been slapped with four conditions as a prerequisite for its business here, including an order to build a “cracking and leaching” facility overseas, to transfer said process from its current base in Gebeng, Kuantan, out of Malaysia.

Last week, the Pahang state government confirmed that Lynas Malaysia had applied for a site to construct a permanent depository facility in the state.

As if kerbau-ing about non-existent MALAYSIAN flying car and borrowing the backside skin of a China-product to cover his face, Kipas Menteri wants to continue kerbau-ing, okay, just to bodek his Master, who we know is more interested in "investment" than the rakyat's health.

Some 30 years ago (1979), then-DPM Mahathir allowed Japan's Mitsubishi Chemicals to open a rare-earths refinery in the Malaysian village of Bukit Merah and Papan, whose residents were mainly Chinese Malaysians.

The facility (Asian Rare Earth - A.R.E) was warmly embraced by Mahathir's old government (and cronies) as an advanced foreign investment that would help create jobs in Perak. But of course the old cunning musang did not have that plant situated in his own constituency of Kubang Pasu despite his public confidence it was safe.

Although the A.R.E operations have gone, alas, today its toxic legacy persists. Yes, the plant has been abandoned, but the locals saw a rise in leukaemia, birth defects, infant deaths, congenital diseases, miscarriages and lead poisoning in the following years since it ceased operations.

We couldn't do much about the Mahathir government's approval of Asia Rare Earth (A.R.E), but shouldn't their (Bukit Merah and Papan's) ill fate serve as a warning to Malaysia to stop the Lynas rare-earths plant in Pahang from continuing?

Papan residents strolling past a row of pre-war shop houses that are now mainly abandoned  

In 1985, the residents of Bukit Merah obtained an injunction to stop A.R.E from operating until it met safety standards. But it wasn't until 1992 when A.R.E closed down the factory operations as a result of increasing public pressure that threatened to launch a global boycott on Mitsubishi products. Yes, it was Mitsubishi which closed the mine, not Mahathir.

And the PRIBUMI party minister, Redzuan, yes, he might appear stupid, insensitive and callous to support Lynas, no doubt due to his high sense of bodek-ness, but he certainly knows the attitude of Mahathir who, as we have known him for years before, cared sh*t for workers, labourers and the proletariat.

The consequences of Lynas will besmirch his name long after his eventual death, just as the consequences of A.R.E have - though few remember Mahathir's cruel decision and attitude towards Bukit Merah's and Papan's cancer-afflicted residents.