Pakatan Rakyat will table an emergency motion during the next parliamentary sitting which will start on March 12, urging the government to cancel Lynas Corporation’s rare earth processing plant project.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared that Pakatan Rakyat will scrap the project if it is voted into power come next general election.
“I have a very big announcement to make, if Pakatan win in the (next) general election, we will cancel the project!” he said to loud cheers from more than 5,000 supporters gathered at the Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) field.
“The Australian government must take heed and show concern over the expressions of the Malaysian people. We do not want to sacrifice our future,” he added.
Thousands of people comprising politicians, civil society members, concerned citizens and students painted the town green - singing and chanting cries againts the Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) located 25 km away in Gebeng.
Rally organiser, a coalition of NGOs which came together under the banner Himpunan Hijau 2.0 has given the government an ultimatum to close down Lamp or risk facing “a huge problem”.
Himpunan Hijau 2.0 steering committee chairman Wong Teck claimed that a failure to address the issue will result in the people turning their back from supporting the government in the next general election.
“We give the government 24 hours to shut down the plant, or else we will hold an even bigger demonstration,”
“Bring down Lynas, or we will bring down the government, you make the decision!” Wong declared.
The Himpunan Hijau 2.0 also brought up three resolutions, namely: >> To scrap the Lynas rare earth refinery project; >> To scrap or review all projects which is detrimental to Malaysians; >> And to ensure that all development projects are in line with the Earth Charter.
A Kuantan resident Shamsiah Ismail said the residents are angry because their concerns had been ignored by the authority.
“We are not stupid, the rare earth plant had been rejected in China, why should they bring it here,” she said.
Ismail Leh, an orang asli representative also said that 200 of them came from all over Pahang to support the Himpunan Hijau cause.
“We are also here to oppose the destruction of nature in Batu Besi, Tasik Chini and Tasik Kenyir in Pahang,” said Ismail who is clad in his traditional headdress and sash.
Despite the festive mood of the rally, not everyone present was happy with the way it went.
Kuantan district police chief Mohd Jasmani Yusof expressed disappointment over the breach of conditions which he claimed has been agreed upon by the organisers.
These infractions includes holding processions and the presence of children at the rally.
Processions and participation of children in such rallies are banned under the newly passed Peaceful Assembly Act 2011.
Being the first gathering of its kinds since the Act was passed last year, the rally had prompted mixed reactions from supporters and detractors of the cause.
For those gathered on site, even the crowd estimate varies significantly, depending on who was asked.
The police had capped the number at 3,000, while organisers claimed they had garnered support from some 15,000 participants.
