Lynas Corporation Limited has begun defamation proceedings in the High Court here against news portal Free Malaysia Today, over what it alleged as false and misleading reports published in the portal.
In a statement today, the company said it had also commenced defamation proceedings against a group known as ‘Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas’, its directors and some of its committee members.
The proceedings relate to alleged false and misleading statements made in a recent open letter which was published on the ‘Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas’ blogsite.
“Lynas has, and will engage legal representation to take action against people who publish defamatory statements or misinformation about Lynas or its operations,” said executive chairman Nicholas Curtis.
Lynas’ rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Pahang has been in the limelight over safety concerns.
A Parliamentary Select Committee on the Lynas project is scheduled to visit the Gebeng site on May 10 and 11, and conduct its first public hearing there. Another public hearing would be held in Kuala Lumpur on May 21.
In the statement, Curtis said: “Lynas’ operations will be safe and comply with the environmental, health and safety standards stipulated by the laws of Malaysia and audited by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“These laws reflect or exceed international standards.”
He said that Lynas was now engaging in a conversation with the Malaysian community that would continue for the life of the plant.
“But we’re concerned that defamatory statements instil misplaced fear and anxiety among the general public about our operations,” he added.
