Four ministries were in discussion for a possible location to place waste materials from the Lynas Corporation rare earth plant in Gebeng, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said Monday.
He said the discussion, which took place recently, would be a win-win solution to settle the issue in a constructive manner.
Koh, however, did not release further details on the new move, which involved the ministries of science, technology and innovation; health; international trade and industry; and, natural resources and environment.
He said, although the government had explained the benefits of the Lynas project to the people, some ‘interested parties’ had created issues which were politically-motivated.
“I have also spoken up on this issue within the Cabinet, and my colleagues in the Cabinet have already made a statement to ask Lynas to move their waste material away,” he told reporters after launching the employment portal for Malaysians with disabilities, okujobs.com.my here Saturday.
He was speaking on the Lynas Corp’s rare earth plant, which sparked a nationwide anti-Lynas campaign led by the opposition that later organised the Himpunan Hijau 2.0 in several cities Sunday.
Koh said the media should highlight the new decision to relocate the waste material as the move was related to the Barisan Nasional’s role to protect the interest of the people, environment and the plant itself.
“Supporting is only a show, the show of support is not important but finding a solution is more important,” he said when asked by reporters about his stand on the Himpunan Hijau.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had said that scientific evidence showed the rare earth processing plant was harmless to the people living in the vicinity of the project site in Gebeng.
