Caucus shocked at Redzuan’s response
Minister’s statement that Lynas will continue its operation unexpected
KUANTAN: The Parliamentary Caucus on Monitoring Lynas has expressed surprise over Entrepreneur Development Minister Redzuan Md Yusof’s statement that the rare earth plant will be allowed to continue operations.
The caucus said the statement was especially shocking and contradicted the Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry’s (Mestecc) decision and the position of a large number of MPs.
In referring to promise 39 of the Pakatan Harapan manifesto, the caucus said any investment policy must take into account the welfare and safety of the people and the environment.
“We stand strong in supporting Mestecc’s position on the management of the two main residues; 451,564 tonnes of water leach purification (WLP) and 1.113 million tonnes of neutralisation underflow (NUF) that have accumulated at the Lynas plant since 2012,” the caucus said in a statement yesterday.
Redzuan caused a storm recently after he was quoted as saying that the Lynas rare earth refinery would not be shut down, sending a signal that foreign direct investment was welcomed in Malaysia.
On Monday in Parliament, Redzuan said the government’s decision on Lynas was clear – that it would be allowed to continue operating in Malaysia.
The caucus said Mestecc had issued two additional pre-conditions on Lynas’ operating licence renewal which would require the company to remove the WLP residue from Malaysia while an action plan must be submitted on the disposal of NUF.
“We regret that these two pre-conditions are not taken seriously and even then, Lynas chief executive officer Amanda Lacaze has been reported as admitting that Lynas is unable and has no intention of removing the WLP, which has naturally occurring radioactive materials, from Malaysia,” it said, adding that this ran counter to Lynas Corporation and Lynas Malaysia’s letter of undertaking that stated their commitment.
The caucus also said Lynas was not seen as giving any commitment in preparing a long-term comprehensive waste management until today.
“We would like to stress that we have never opposed foreign investment but as representatives chosen by the people, we must have the political will to ensure sustainable development that will not have a negative impact on the people’s health and safety as well as the environment.
“With this, we insist that Lynas’ operations cannot be continued as long as the waste management conditions are not complied with,” it said.
The caucus is chaired by Bentong MP Wong Tack and include Merbok MP Nor Azrina Surip, Hulu Langat MP Datuk Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus, Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi and Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah as its members.
Meanwhile, the Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas group is planning to hold a rally in front of Parliament on April 10 to call on the government to fulfil its promise on the Lynas issue.
At the Parliament lobby in Kuala Lumpur, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said Redzuan could comment on the Lynas issue because matters pertaining to investment falls under the purview of his ministry.
“We want investment and economic empowerment. However, on the other side, we are seeing pollution in our country. So, they must address the waste issue.”
Dr Wan Azizah’s remarks appeared to have contradicted that of Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, who told Redzuan on Monday to stop commenting on the Lynas issue because the matter does not fall under his ministry.
Fuziah said that matters in regards to investment falls under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).
She said the issue of Lynas’ waste management falls under the purview of Mestecc, which is headed by Yeo Bee Yin.