Lynas TOL on hold until hearing

Minister to hear residents’ appeal on April 17

PETALING JAYA: Lynas (M) Sdn Bhd will not be issued a temporary operating licence (TOL) until the hearing of an appeal by a group of residents to the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister on April 17.

Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) director-general Raja Datuk Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan told The Star yesterday that the board had decided during a meeting on March 22 to withhold the issuance of the TOL granted to Lynas in January.

“The licence won’t be given until it (the hearing) is settled. The appeal hearing is on April 17,” he added.

Raja Abdul Aziz said the postponement was also made under Section 16(5) of the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984.

The hearing of the appeal is scheduled to be at the Malaysian Nuclear Agency in Bangi, where Science, Technology and innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili will hear submissions from Save Malaysia Stop Lynas chairman Tan Bun Teet and three others.

Tan confirmed he would meet the minister.

“We will make a submission to the minister,” he added.

The appeal was made under Section 32 of the Atomic Energy Licensing Act, which allows dissatisfied persons to appeal decisions made by the ministry.

The section further states that the final decision of the minister “shall not be subject to any appeal or review in court”.

The Lynas rare earth plant situated in Gebeng, Kuantan, is 97% complete but rare earth ore cannot be brought into Malaysia without the TOL.

Critics of the plant have opposed it due to radioactive fears but the Australian mining corporation maintains that waste from the plant will not be hazardous.

On March 20, Parliament approved a nine-man select committee to discuss Lynas.