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Lynas, a betrayal of trust (by Dennis Ignatius)

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Publish date: Fri, 07 Jun 2019, 01:55 PM
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Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent announcement in Tokyo that “Lynas will be allowed to carry on” regardless of whether the Australian company removes its radioactive waste from Malaysia came as a shock and disappointment to many Malaysians. Instead of insisting that Lynas remove the more than 450,000 tonnes of dangerous waste it has accumulated thus far in Gebeng (in violation of local regulations), Mahathir generously gave the company a free pass by offering to “spread” the waste around Malaysia!

It is, by all counts, a stunning betrayal and a shameful capitulation to Australian pressure. It prioritises profits ahead of the health of ordinary Malaysians and recklessly endangers our environment. Furthermore, it makes a mockery of the sterling efforts of our environment minister to ensure that Malaysia does not become Australia’s garbage dump.

People before profit

Mahathir’s main argument is that Malaysia cannot afford to lose the huge investment that Lynas represents; the more critical issue, however, is whether Malaysia can afford the huge health and environmental risks that Lynas clearly poses.

 

Lynas should never have been allowed to set up shop in Malaysia in the first place. If it was such a great project, why didn’t Lynas build its plant in Australia itself where the rare earth ores are mined?

Is it mere coincidence that the company chose to locate their hazardous processing facility in a country with less onerous environmental regulations than their own, with less effective enforcement and with a political system that can be easily manipulated?

It is telling (as Wong Tack, the MP for Bentong, pointed out in his recent letter to the Australian high commissioner), that since setting up shop here, Lynas has violated a whole range of environmental regulations from storing radioactive waste in the open to storing more than the permissible amount of dangerous waste. And yet, our regulators and politicians continue to bend over backwards to appease them. No wonder they love it here!

Whichever way you look at it, the growing stockpile of radioactive waste is a ticking time bomb; the longer it remains in Malaysia, the greater the danger it poses. It is simply irresponsible to allow such massive quantities of dangerous material to accumulate without a clear and safe plan for its disposal.

Of course, Lynas likes to tout the potential commercialisation of its waste including its application to enhance crop productivity and in construction. Its claims are, however, premature at best; no one really knows the long-term impact of using recycled radioactive waste in agriculture. Again, if it is such a great breakthrough, Lynas should test it out in Australia itself instead of using the people of Malaysia as their guinea pigs.

Absurd and flippant

Given the enormous risks involved, Mahathir’s suggestion to “spread [the radioactive waste] around somewhere so as not to have concentrated radioactive material in one place” is flippant, outrageous and ill-conceived. Where does he plan to spread the waste anyway? In Langkawi? Or perhaps a site might be found in Putrajaya, leadership by example and all that.

And, by offering the Australians a way out ahead of scheduled negotiations on the issue, Mahathir has undercut the efforts of his own environment minister to persuade Australian authorities to accept the waste. Why would Australia, which has always been reluctant to accept back the waste, now want to do so when Mahathir has made it clear that the company’s licence will be renewed regardless? Indeed, Australian authorities are now saying that Minister Yeo Bee Yin would be “wasting her time” visiting Australia to discuss the matter.

Another toxic legacy?

In 1982, another foreign rare earth manufacturer (Mitsubishi Chemical Industries) came in with all the right assurances, telling us how safe and wonderful their operations would be and how great it would be for the economy, only to leave behind a mammoth radioactive mess we are still dealing with decades after the plant closed.

Our politicians and regulators then were taken in by all those assurances; the people of Bukit Merah ended up paying a high price for their folly with leukaemia and birth defects. We must not make the same mistake again. The Bukit Merah disaster took place under Mahathir’s first term as prime minister; he must not leave another toxic legacy behind for future generations.

Every Malaysian who cares about our environment and the health and well-being of future generations must strenuously oppose this inane and insane decision by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to allow Lynas to continue operating in Malaysia regardless of whether it removes its radioactive waste. The removal of every last ounce of Lynas’ toxic waste from our country as well as full and immediate compliance with all our environmental and health regulations should be non-negotiable. If PH cannot defend our rights, they no longer deserve our support.

 
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2019/06/07/lynas-a-betrayal-of-trust/
 
 

 

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Discussions
Be the first to like this. Showing 36 of 36 comments

Negan

Lynas is at Najib's backyard, Kuantan! Let it be! Anyway, Pakatan broke another promise! Promise they made for raykat!

2019-06-07 16:39

moneypedia

haiyahhh ifff u all politicians, if u look at the money encouraging to proceed it (lynas), just the same..or maybe worse lahhh..dont worry xmen is here..wolverine, cyclops,what else beast,magneto,fuhh good defence yooo ur mat ahabu can have a good team. nobita no need money to buy warcraft and weapon. storm fuh powerful weapon to trigger the lightning str8ke hehehehe ( kidding for the day)

2019-06-07 21:42

qqq3

at issue are the wastes..........it is an emotional issue or a scientific issue............?


what's wrong to just bury it under concrete?

2019-06-07 22:04

qqq3

so what is wrong to just bury with concrete under Najib family 's house?

2019-06-07 22:18

moneypedia

aiyo halflife laa radioactive concrete or not can bocor lahh haiyahh..no problem profesor x is here...haiyahh lah leh lah lehh..neverkind PH supporters can be incredible hulk hogan lahh

2019-06-07 22:18

qqq3

which is more radio active? plutonium or rare earth waste?

2019-06-07 22:20

qqq3

plutonium also they can do it under concrete.

2019-06-07 22:21

moneypedia

if coz plutonium lahh..but need to understand loh here developing country...talk louder than action..normal waste also dump in river, till the whole town suffer....so, if they want to cut coss they will try laa.dump anywhere as long as no authority know it...we just in the begining to develop anti corruption authority...so think urselves

2019-06-07 22:30

qqq3

some more got new MACC chief.....


It was rumoured that Shukri cleared Apandi, allowing Apandi to get back his passport and left for London. Old man was pissed.

..from a retired Special Branch Officer, thro' his group of retired Police Officers, Shukri was asked to leave as, of late, he is also known to hv coverd up some important cases.. after this Hari Raya, cases involving Zahid, Hishamudin and Sharizat will be dealt with, to be followed by those on others, politicians especially. It is the aim of the present Govt to complete its round of charges before the next General Election..

2019-06-07 22:32

moneypedia

and you think it is cheap kah want to bury under concrete that can sustain hundreds of years ...haiyahh...but can try laa to develop incredible hulk later on

2019-06-07 22:39

qqq3

dig a hole, pour some concrete............very difficult meh?

2019-06-07 22:42

qqq3

even grade 5 bumi contractor also can do..........


dig a hole, pour some concrete............very difficult meh?

2019-06-07 22:43

moneypedia

yeah true, investigate all...possiblity why LKS suddently tag team championship with all man. receive RM2B money? His son Nobita magic tunnel,etc. so all zero corruption .peace for all yooo

2019-06-07 22:50

qqq3

Posted by unpredictable > Jun 7, 2019 10:46 PM | Report Abuse

put all waste to old fox n his children n his cronies n 3q's house n buried under ground, build a big fence around with 10 Kg diameter.
==========

the intention is .........
put all waste under Najib family house n buried under ground, build a big fence around with according to international standards.

2019-06-07 22:50

moneypedia

yeah easy..so, easy target for also (if any)...use gps, target it and can create xmen easily...

2019-06-07 22:52

moneypedia

easy target for war

2019-06-07 22:53

qqq3

what war? mahathir says if super powers want to invade Malaysia, we let them walk in lah...no point resisting......
we are too small to resist.

2019-06-07 22:55

moneypedia

war it just an example if occur..the rest is go back to the implementation..go back to 1st point of authority...aiyoo licking to much laa...i suggest we stop just concentrate on crops..create our own foods..dont import anymore...rare earth is not suitable to sich a small country like Malaysia...

2019-06-07 23:07

qqq3

sted by Negan > Jun 7, 2019 11:06 PM | Report Abuse

Answer : And Mat Sabu just announce to the whole world that Malaysia has a very low IQ defence minister!
=====

I think it is very smart to put comedian as Defence Minister.........never tried by others before but brilliant for us.

2019-06-07 23:10

qqq3

Negan > Jun 7, 2019 11:15 PM | Report Abuse


Answer : Yeah! Only in Bolehland!
=========

told u before, boleh land nice place.

2019-06-07 23:33

qqq3

unpredictable > Jun 8, 2019 9:14 PM | Report Abuse

where are they going to send to?
=========

send to kampong Najib.

2019-06-08 22:44

sensonic

yeah , if good why australia do it here?

2019-06-08 23:59

soojinhou

Dig a hole so easy meh? First you need to ensure the base of the hole is lined with impermeable sheet, otherwise the ground water will be contaminated. Second, the hole needs to be huge, big enough to accommodate a mini mountain, that's years of wastes accumulated. Probably gonna cost hundreds of millions, who's gonna pay? If Lynas is not paying, Malaysian tax payers are.

2019-06-09 06:59

Sslee

Hahahaha,
Qqq3 got great talent in harassing and piss off people. He should join me in attending AGM harassing greedy and conman CEO and watch them run with their tail in between their leg.

2019-06-09 08:29

moneypedia

dreamland...dig a hole and bury? uncertainties, earthquake, tsunami, liquification, flood, war (you cannot accept this ok) etc. u dont want to dream kah. if Malaysia have desert far away maybe can lahh...if finger licking good cannot say much lahhh

2019-06-09 10:16

qqq3

should be based on science, not politics, not emotions....

2019-06-09 10:43

moneypedia

uncertainties is a part of scienctific calculation or not?, finger licking good x2 x3 base on politics or not? aiyoyoyo

2019-06-09 11:03

qqq3

what I mean is....are u chaps a scientist?

2019-06-09 11:04

qqq3

by Heavenly PUNTER UBS Shanghai Future Analyst > Jun 9, 2019 11:14 AM | Report Abuse

our scientist still can pakai meh? all the good ones all migrate already hahahaha, that's a fact
--------

u should have studied nuclear science and then give a proper opinion on this issue.........that is what they wanted u to do.

2019-06-09 11:17

qqq3

Australia is a democracy...........being a democracy, it is about public opinions, not based on science.

2019-06-09 11:54

qqq3

rare earth radiation...........

let me tell u about plutonium.......if u Google or you tube .....u will find scientists routinely handle plutonium/uranium with their bare hands.............

2019-06-09 12:16

chinaman

MY, thru Lynas will become world's largest rare earth processor to replace China since china's intension to curb the export to US. Gomen no $$$$, in desperate move now to make as much $$$$ from this US-Sino trade war. Lest, 1.6million gaji buta civil servants makan rumput. wakaka

2019-06-09 12:17

qqq3

worse come to worse, bury in kampong Najib....no big deal.

2019-06-09 12:21

qqq3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44u_GE-KRC4

fast forward a few years, whole of China on 5G...........USA stuck at 4G with rural America going back to 3 G.

2019-06-09 12:27

moneypedia

okokwe should invite dwellers from Kuantan in this tread for futhur discussion then. possibilty of existence of cyclops, wolverine,magneto,beast,and prof. xavier scool of the gifted.. twhn

2019-06-09 23:17

moneypedia

i foresee we goin too much of industrial..we should and educate people more on planting crops..multiple benefits from it.. trees not and crops not just can be eaten, but also some have the mechanisme of absorbing pullition etc...

2019-06-09 23:20

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