The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) will strongly oppose the issuing of an operating licence to the Lynas rare earth refinery project if the company cannot guarantee the waste is taken out of the country.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said that, after much deliberation during the MCA presidential council meeting, the top party leaders had decided that they would convey the decision to the Cabinet and the National Economic Council.
“As long as they (Lynas) cannot fulfil this condition, MCA will object to Lynas getting its operating licence,” he said after the meeting on Tuesday.
Dr Chua said that earlier, MCA had said that it would not support the Lynas project if there was scientific evidence to show that it would be harmful to the people and the environment.
“But like all other issues in this country, it has been hijacked by DAP and Pakatan Rakyat. It has been politicised to such an extent that everyone in Pahang and the nation think that this project should be condemned,” he said.
Dr Chua was also disappointed that DAP had back-peddled on its decision to have the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to hear the issue.
On February 26, DAP Kepong MP Tan Seng Giaw had openly said that the Parliament should set up a PSC to hear the case on Lynas but DAP Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng had said that DAP would not participate in the hearing.
Dr Chua said that he was briefed by experts that the radioactive material in rare earth was minute and even PAS Hulu Langat MP Dr Che Rosli Che Mat had said that the plant was not dangerous.
In Kuantan, Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Mashal Ahmad said the rare earth refinery was 97 per cent complete; and ready to begin operations in three weeks’ time.
The only hiccup was the temporary operating license by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB).
“The licence has been approved but we have yet to receive it. Lynas has already fulfilled all the conditions stipulated for the licence to be issued.
“We hope it can be issued very soon because we need to start operations,” Mashal told reporters at the plant in Gebeng here on Tuesday.
He added that it would take one month just to import the rare earth raw material and it could not be brought into Malaysia without the licence.
On the PSC to look into the issues surrounding the plant, Mashal said it was welcomed.
“We are looking forward to be called up to give our explanations. The faster, the better,” he said.
