The Lynas issue has to be tackled with proof and a scientific approach, said Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Lynas chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
He said sentiments would not help the committee find out the truth.
“Science can be proven. Therefore, all scientific and technical questions have to be solved via science.
“The PSC will propose that the submissions collected during the public hearing be evaluated by scientific credibility. Efforts will also be made to get scientific experts to give their independent views on the issues raised,” Mohamed Khaled told reporters at the end of the public hearing here Friday.
The two-day hearing saw the participation of 13 individuals and six groups.
Mohamed Khaled said not all of them showed complete objection to the project as there were those who demanded “an extremely stringent enforcement measure to ensure compliance”.
Friday’s hearing saw the participation of the Pahang MCA delegation led by Teruntum assemblyman Chang Hong Seong.
He told the PSC that MCA’s stand on the issue was that the rare earth processing waste should be sent out of Malaysia.
Paya Besar MCA chief Datuk Ng Fook Heng also voiced his disappointment with the absence of Opposition members in the PSC, saying that they had failed in their duty in upholding the people’s interests.
Meanwhile, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers eastern branch chairman Datuk Mas’ut Awang Samah said his only concern was the waste management aspect of the project.
“This project has very high potential and as businessmen, we are looking forward to it. It is an opportunity,” he said, adding that he was not even aggrieved by the 12-years tax holiday granted to Lynas.
A notable submission was by Universiti Malaysia Pahang lecturer Prof Jose Rajan, who said he had personally handled rare earth minerals with his bare hands without being afflicted by health damaging effects.
“I have also seen with my own eyes the advanced technology that shields human beings from radiation that can kill a bull within four seconds,” he said.
The physics and materials science professor added that the public was not fully aware of the progress made in controlling hazardous radiation.
