Nod for PSC on Lynas
Dewan approves formation, panel has three months to present report
AFTER a heated debate, the Dewan Rakyat approved the formation of a parliamentary select committee (psc) to look into controversies surrounding the Lynas rare earth plant in Pahang.
The Opposition, however, demanded that the Government halt the project until the committee submitted its findings.
The House endorsed the motion tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and the Opposition promptly staged a walkout.
In the lobby, they said that they would not take part in the PSC.
Fuziah Salleh (Pkr-kuantan) said Pakatan deemed the PSC to be powerless in stopping the plant in Pahang from carrying out its operations.
“We do not have any hope in the PSC. It is merely whitewash,” she said.
In the chamber, Nazri said the Cabinet had agreed to set up the committee to evaluate scientific and technical facts to be presented by experts, as well as to look at its health and safety standards.
He said it would have three months to present a report to the House.
“The fact that we proposed that a PSC be set up shows the government also wants to hear explanations from experts. With the setting up of the committee, interested parties, including the Opposition, can air their views and concerns to the committee rather than in Parliament where there are no experts to answer their queries,” he said.
The Cabinet last Friday had agreed to set up the parliamentary select committee (PSC).
The nine-member committee comprising four representatives from the Barisan Nasional, three from the Opposition and one independent member, will be chaired by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had said the committee would engage with the public to boost their confidence in the project and to look at any possible threat to the safety and health of the people.
During the debate, Khalid Samad (PAS-SHAH Alam) said the committee was an attempt to “whitewash” the controversial project even though “we highlighted problem after problem involving Lynas” and questioned the need for engagement when a temporary operating licence was already issued to the company.
Khairy Jamaluddin (Bn-rembau) criticised the Opposition for threatening to boycott the PSC and not wanting to engage, adding that they were prejudicial and refused to listen to expert views.
“The government has proven that it practises transparency. The committee will provide answers to all concerns of the rakyat,” he said.
Khairy supported a suggestion by Datuk Shahrir Samad (Bn-johor Baru) that the committee meetings be aired live on television so the people could follow its proceedings.