Malaysiakini - Lynas plant environmentally hazardous, claims NY Times

Jun 30, 11 1:45pm

It appears the controversy surrounding the Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) in Gebeng, Pahang has just escalated with new claims that it is a danger to the environment.

The New York Times recently cited internal memos allegedly issued by current and former engineers on the RM700 million project, claiming that the construction is "hazardous" and has design problems.

The article claimed that the memos pointed out serious flaws, with engineers detailing structural cracks, air pockets and leaks in many of the concrete shells for 70 containment tanks.

The tanks are intended to store a slightly radioactive slurry - created after the ore shipped from Western Australia is mixed with acids.

It was also claimed that the steel piping ordered for the plant is made of standard steel, unsuitable to manage the transfer of the slurry, and that the storage tanks are of conventional concrete instead of the polymer variety, which is less likely to crack.

Local unyielding under pressure

The article also cited memos claiming that Lynas and its construction management contractor, UGL Ltd from Australia, had pressured local contractor Cradotex to proceed to install watertight fibreglass liners designed for the containment tanks, claiming cracks and moisture in the concrete containment walls are not critical problems.

Cradotex apparently resisted, with its general manager Peter Wan allegedly saying that the issues could potentially cause the plant's critical failure in operation, based on a June 20 memo.

"More critically the toxic, corrosive and radioactive nature of the materials being leached in these tanks, should they leak, will most definitely create a contamination issue," the article went on, quoting Wan in the memo.

This spate of allegations is possibly the most damaging yet to hit the controversial project, which has sparked near-weekly protests and galvanised a sustained public movement to stop it from taking off.

Almost immediately after the new allegations went public, Lynas called for a 3pm press conference at a hotel here today, where they are expected to counter the claims.

Malaysiakini - IAEA panel gives green light to Lynas plant

IAEA panel gives green light to Lynas plant

Regina Lee
Jun 30, 11
1:26pm

It's almost all systems go for Lynas Corporation's massive rare earth plant project in Kuantan, with the international review panel giving the Australian-based mining company the green light.

The panel has found the RM700 million project in Gebeng, 25km from the Pahang state capital, to have complied with international radiation standards.

"The review team was not able to identify any non-compliance with international radiation safety standards," says a summary of findings and recommendations made by the panel.

The nine-member international review panel was mooted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) and set up by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) two months ago to carry out a conclusive study on the safety of the Lynas Advance Material Plant in Gebeng.

The panel was headed by Tero Varjoranta, a director in the United Nation's IAEA.

However, the review team made an 11-point "necessary recommendations" to the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) for monitoring the plant before the start of operations, seven of which are technical recommendations.

Out of the 11 recommendations, five are to be done by the AELB.

The recommendations include the need for Lynas to submit its long-term plans for waste management to the AELB, as well as its plans for managing the wastes upon decommissioning and dismantling the plant.

The panel also recommended that the AELB should enhance the understanding, transparency and visibility of its regulatory actions in the eyes of the public and to further engage with the stakeholders.

The panel was in Malaysia for six days in May, during which its members made site visits as well as held consultations with Lynas, the government, NGOs and political parties.

Most notably, angry demonstrations had accompanied the IAEA panel when they were in Kuantan for the consultation session, spooking an anti-Lynas NGO, 'Save Malaysia', from attending the session. It was revealed that the NGO also did not hand over a written submission to the expert panel.

However, the government has given its assurance that Lynas has still not been given the golden ticket to proceed with its plans, which include a September deadline for operations to commence.

"The recommendations are there and all requirements will have to be met with before any action is taken," Miti secretary-general Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria told a press conference at the ministry in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

"It is only when they have met all requirements will they get their trial run licence. We intend to follow the recommendations to the tee," Sta Maria (right) said.

With Lynas intending to stick to its time-line, Sta Maria said the plant may not even get the pre-operating licence if it was found not to have complied with the regulations.

In the five-phase licensing process, the plant has already got the site and construction licences. The other phases include the pre-operating, operating and decommissioning licences.

The Gebeng plant is now 40 percent complete, according to Sta Maria.

She also clarified her minister's remarks on the suspension of consideration for the pre-operating licence, saying that construction of the plant could still be carried out under the construction licence.

However, she refused to comment on a New York Times report today that quoted sources and internal memos claiming that the plant was riddled with design flaws and was an environmentally hazardous construction.

"Lynas is having its press conference at 3pm today. They will be the ones to address the issue," she said.

Lynas 'indicated' how waste management will be done

Also at the press conference, the AELB director-general Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan said Lynas has 'indicated' to the government how the waste management will be done, but offered no details, citing confidentiality of 'intellectual property'.

But he gave AELB's assurance that Lynas has sent a preliminary Radioactive Impact Assessment report, which he called a “living document”.

"On the radiological safety point of view, AELB will be on site 24/7, at least during and before the pre-operating. If there are any indication of leakages or non-compliance or failure, then we will be able to stop it immediately...

"We will take remedial mitigation procedures so that there are no failures. It is also in (Lynas') interest that their plant is well-constructed.

"As far as regulation is concerned, if the plant is built shoddily, it will affect operations later. So it is in the interest of the operator that the plant is built in highest standards possible. If not, the investment won't work," Raja Abdul Aziz (right) said.

Sta Maria added that one percent of the plant's gross sales will go to research and development, and half of that amount should go to a decommissioning fund.

The plant is supposed to process rare earth concentrate shipped in from the Lynas Corporation's Mount Weld site in Australia.

Though rare earth itself is not radioactive, it is commonly mixed with thorium, which is radioactive.

Rare earth is also crucial to modern-day electronic devices, such as smart phones, electric cars and wind turbines, something that the government has labelled as the first step towards green technology.

Fuziah maintains Lynas is hazardous

Meanwhile, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, from PKR, said she somewhat expected the decision by the IAEA, but maintains that the Lynas plant is hazardous.

She said the fact the New York Times had highlighted the non-safety of the plant despite the report showed that Lynas cannot be trusted.

She said that the non-safety as reported in the NYT showed that Malaysian administrators are not capable of monitoring the plant carefully as it may be built without the correct specifications.

“Lynas has a smaller facility in Mount Weld where it has a buffer zone of around 30km radius. There are no people living within a 30km radius of Mount Weld, Australia which enforces this strict requirement.

“With this Lynas facility, the nearest residential area is just 3km away and it may affect Indera Mahkota, Kuantan and Kemaman residents,” she pointed out.

The dangers are there, Fuziah said, and she herself had hired her own consultants to scrutinise the facility and make its findings.

“My consultants said it is dangerous and I will reveal their report in due time after the release of the IAEA report,” she said.

Here We Come Bersih 2.0!

Malaysiakini - Kuantan anti-Lynas walk draws 1,000

Joseph Sipalan & Lee Long Hui
Jun 26, 11
2:58pm

A sea of black greeted the dawn today, as nearly 1,000 locals from in and around Kuantan converged on Bukit Perlindung in yet another peaceful protest against the controversial Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) in nearby Gebeng, Pahang.

Parents, grandparents, children and youths gathered as early as 6am at the venue – located in an upscale housing area – wearing mostly black Save Malaysia T-shirts in support of the growing public outcry against the RM700 million rare earth project.

The event attracted a big turnout from the local Chinese community, and a strong presence from the Malays proudly wearing their protest tees.

Many of the participants willingly took on the 30-minute trek up the hill to chant slogans and cheer “Stop Lynas!” to show their unbridled opposition to the Australian mining giant's project.

The event is the latest in a string of protest gatherings organised by the Save Malaysia committee, following the success of their Mother's Day and Father's Day gatherings over the past two months.

The walk also attracted the requisite political attention, with Kuantan MP and PKR vice-president Fuziah Salleh, party colleague and Simpang Pulai state assemblyperson Chan Ming Kai and MCA Indera Mahkota youth chief David Choi leading a posse of party members to show their presence.

Fuziah (left) won the crowd's approval when she knelt on the ground to join the locals in putting down her signature on an anti-Lynas banner.

She and some supporters also led protest chants for 10 minutes at the event's start point at the foot of the hill.

Around 30 police officers were spotted, mostly helping manage traffic flow at the junction leading into the venue, otherwise keeping a respectful distance.

Full day programme

The early morning walk, that the organisers believed had eventuallydrawn up to 4,000 participants, was however just the start of the day's proceedings. Around 30 people from various NGOs later visited the Lamp construction site in a bid to inspect the progress of the facility.

Their attempts to gain entry however were in vain, with the company security standing their ground despite 30 minutes of negotiations.

The group, led by Save Malaysia vice-chairperson Phua Kia Yaw, relented and moved on to Balok Makmur, a largely Malay area, to talk to residents about the project for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile Fuziah took her anti-Lynas message of the project's potential dangers to the open-air market at Stadium Darul Makmur in the heart of Kuantan, drawing a small but supportive crowd, many of whom also sported Save Malaysia T-shirts..

Her event attracted a larger police presence, with a blockade set up on the road in front of the stadium and at least three police trucks parked there and teams of officers dotting the perimeter.

They however did not interfere with the Kuantan MP's walkabout and left the venue close to 11am.

The Save Malaysia committee is at press time holding an afternoon public talk at a resort hotel near Gebeng.

The speakers include renowned environmentalist Gurmit Singh, who focussed on the environmental impact of rare earth processing plants, Wong Tack of the Sabah Environmental Protection Association (Sepa) and Lee Chee Hung, who spoke on rare earth processing.

The event is expected to end at 4.30pm, followed by a media conference.

VIDEO | 6.14 mins

当今大马 - 近千关丹居民登山晨运反莱纳斯 非政府组织勘察稀土厂吃闭门羹

李龙辉 2011年6月26日 下午 2点28分

反莱纳斯稀土厂运动越演越烈。由关丹人自组的“救大马”委员会，今早在关丹的柏灵冬山（Bukit Perlindung）举办一项登山晨运反莱纳斯的活动，吸引近千人参与。

虽然大约30名关丹警方闻风而至，惟他们只是在旁观察，并没阻止活动或逮捕任何人，甚至还帮忙主办单位维持交通秩序。

这群拒绝稀土厂的关丹人，今早7点便聚集在柏灵冬山脚。他们扶老携幼，汇集了我国三大族群，身穿黑色的“救大马”T恤来到现场，并没慑于驻守在现场的警员。

募捐经费签署反稀土厂信

此外，他们也在现场展示布条与大字报，表明反对莱纳斯稀土厂的立场。除了在现场募捐活动经费，该委员会也呼吁民众签署反对稀土厂的抗议信。这些信件将寄给彭亨州环境局。

多名政治人物也有来到现场，包括公正党关丹国会议员傅芝雅、公正党霹雳新邦波赖州议员曾敏凯、砂州峇都林当区州议员施志豪、英迪拉马哥打马青团长徐祥强、彭亨行动党组织秘书李政贤和公正党彭州州委李健聪等人。

此外，大马律师公会人权委员会主席邱进福，也有率领一群律师公会代表到场观察。

登山唱国歌喊终止莱纳斯

在“救大马”委员会主席陈文德的带领下，他们手持国旗走上山顶。人群抵达山顶后，即唱国歌及高喊“终止莱纳斯”等口号。

在陈文德发表简短演说，人群拍了大合照后，他们约在9点30分即下山和平解散，并无发生任何不愉快事件。在人群解散之际，工作人员也有在现场收拾垃圾与收回国旗。

陈文德：将会办更多活动

陈文德说，该委员会将会持续在关丹不同的观光景点，举办类似的活动，提升当地人对于稀土厂的醒觉意识。

他强调，这只是一个晨运活动，并无威胁到国家安全。

与警谈判半小时无功而返

在晨运活动结束后，多个非政府组织在“救大马”委员会副主席潘家耀的带领下，乘坐两辆巴士欲前往关丹以北25公里外的格宾工业区勘察稀土厂。

这些组织代表包括来自关丹华团、隆雪华堂、基督教青年会、澳洲自然保护基金会等。

不过，他们却被早已驻守在工厂出入口现场的警察阻止，惨吃一记闭门羹。尽管他们与警察谈判了近半小时，但情况依旧没改变，导致他们无功而返。

这让潘家耀非常不满，他在受访时坚称，当权者在决定任何发展项目前，应先咨询民意，及保持透明的做事态度，让人民可以得知相关讯息，而不是向这样完全不透明，不让外人进去勘察稀土厂。

随后，他们去到距离格宾工业区区区2.5公里之遥的巴洛马末（Balok Makmur），拜访当地居民后，便回到所下榻的酒店，出席今午召开的全国非政府组织研讨会。

警大阵仗驻守关丹体育馆

另一方面，傅芝雅随后也率众巡视关丹体育馆外的跳蚤市场，也顺道告诉人们关于稀土厂的讯息，并在今早11点左右离开。

她在接受《当今大马》的访问时声称，本身找来多名身穿反稀土厂T恤的人士，一同巡视跳蚤市场。

不过，警方却“大阵仗”地出动多名警员驻守现场，出动3辆卡车，更体育馆外的道路设下路障，但没有发生任何逮捕或不愉快事件。

中国以外首间稀土提炼厂

莱纳斯是澳大利亚矿业巨头，它耗资2.3亿美元，在格宾工业区建筑世界最大稀土冶炼厂，主要冶炼采自澳洲沙漠深处的稀土。

稀土元素（Rare Earth），是一组包括17种元素的金属，它存在于比较稀少的矿物中，不溶于水，有“工业味精”之称，被公认为全球用途最广泛、最重要的金属元素。

由于制造高科技产品需要稀土作为原料，但是在提炼这种原料的过程中，据说将会产生有害的辐射废料。

目前，全球大约95%的稀土皆来自于中国。不过，由于最近北京限制稀土出口，引发全球稀土价格高涨，导致一些工业国急于寻找替代管道。

这也使到澳洲的莱纳斯公司赶建提炼厂，以满足大约三分之一的世界需求量。

关丹人民自组反对稀土厂

由于80年代的红泥山亚稀厂惨剧历历在目，关丹居民不得不成立“救大马”委员会自救。

迄今，该委员会已在关丹进行了多场抗议活动，向州政府表达反稀土厂的立场，之前更前往澳洲驻马来西亚最高专员署，提呈反对莱纳斯来马备忘录。

莱纳斯稀土厂将在9月开始试验操作。

(0)短评

Bloomberg Markets July 2011 – Focus Malaysia – Development And Dissent

As Prime Minister Najib Razak seeks $444 billion in private investment by 2020, he faces protesters who want block the world's largest rare-earth refinery.

By Yoolim Lee Photograph by Munshi Ahmed

Link to article in PDF file: http://fuziahsalleh.my/?p=901

当今大马 - 放话有办法阻止净选盟大游行 警方也警告勿参与反稀土集会

马新社 2011年6月24日 傍晚 7点49分

随着净选盟2.0大游行逼近，警方再度放话，自有办法阻止这个安排在7月9日的“民主之行”。

“至于我们的计划以及届时将采取的行动，只有警方知道。可以确定的是，我们会采取适当的行动禁止这场大集会进行。”

吉隆坡代总警长阿玛星今天在吉隆坡召开记者会，透露上述讯息。

指控大游行属非法集会

阿玛星也指出，目前，仍没有人向警方申请准证展开净选盟2.0大游行。

他补充说，有鉴于此，若非政府组织执意举行这场集会，则会抵触1967年警察法令第27（5）条文，违者将被控举行非法集会。

逾800单位反对大游行

阿玛星表示，警方目前已接获超过800个单位的投报，包括党团、商家、公众人士等反对净选盟2.0大游行。

“除了以净选盟2.0之名策动的上述集会之外，还有2个其他组织及团体也扬言会在同一天发动集会抗议净选盟。”

“鉴于这几个组织发动集会的理念各异，因此，我们担心届时它们会对人们的日常活动、商家及公共治安构成影响。”

阿玛星也提醒净选盟取消上述被警方定位为“非法集会”的游行。

星期天反稀土集会非法

另一方面，警方今日也提醒公众不要参与下星期天（26日）假关丹马慕体育馆举行的反稀土集会。

关丹副警区主任祖基菲说，警方至今都没有接到任何单位申请准证举办这项集会。

他说，任何人如果参与非法集会，警方将毫不犹豫采取行动对付他们。

援引警察法令阻止集会

“目前短讯正流传关于此项集会的消息。我们估计将有超过300人出席这个集会。据说它是由未经注册的‘拯救马来西亚’组织发起的。”

祖基菲对记者说，警方已接到2项针对该集会的投报，并已做好准备，应对任何可能发生的情况。

他说，警方将援引1957年警察法令第27（5）条文，阻止集会的进行。另外，相同法令下的第27（6）将赋予警方权力逮捕涉及者。

Malaysiakini - Take the radioactive waste back to Australia

Jun 24, 11 8:52am

'If the waste is not as radioactive as the Lynas boss says, why don't you ship it back to Australia and bury it in a big hole somewhere.'

We've made a big mistake, says Lynas boss

FellowMalaysian: In the first instance, why did the BN-led government allowed the Lynas plant to be set up without first engaging the public, especially after being forced to close the troubled Bukit Merah rare earth plant?

Lynas boss Nicholas Curtis is now trying to make amends. His explanations however doesn't hold water. The economics of shipping the heavy ore 5,000km away to Kuantan (or Kemaman, for that matter) will easily costs more than to maintain a team of workers working 800km in the Australian desert.

As the rare earth will not be shipped back for Australia's use, then wouldn't it make sense to process in a cheaper place where labour and transportation costs will be much cost effective? Why is Kuantan so judicious a place to Lynas?

The Fukushima incident has been identified by the Lynas boss as a perfect storm. I would say it's a heaven-sent wake-up call to the Malaysian people to take seriously the risks of radioactive exposure.

Otsuka Teruyo: The big white elephant in any discussion of rare earth processing is the radioactive waste produced.

Lynas plans to store the radioactive waste at the Gebeng site itself and is promising to "to reassure Malaysians that the radioactive waste storage facility, to be located in Gebeng, is safe. We believe that we have a residual storage facility designed to last 500 years, and it will not pose any hazard to anyone."

That's their solution for their radioactive waste. Do we accept it? A storage facility for 500 years when the half life of throium is 10 million years? You have a factory that last for 30 years and a waste disposal facility lasting 500 years, but the waste itself is lethal for thousands more years.

They pack up in 30 years but we are left with the waste for thousands of years.

Dr Spin: Admitting your mistake is a good first step, Mr Curtis. Your next step should be to stop assuming that you know more than the local community.

Your bias that the arguments against the plant are "emotional" while your own justification is based on "facts" is insulting and no basis for progress on the issue. May I assure you that there are competent people here, outside of government, who understand the "facts" and have good cause to oppose this plant.

I do not know if you have participated in public environmental safety planning inquiries before, but I and others here certainly have, and won our cases on merit.

Having made this first rather serious mistake, and taken so long to admit to it, how many more "mistakes" should we expect? It will take much more than mistakes and insults to earn our confidence.

Syam: The biggest issue here is the radioactive waste - where, how and how long are you going to store it.

In Finland, they are building the world's first permanent nuclear waste storage facility to last 100,000 years. You said that Lynas is going to store the waste for 500 years, are you going to be around to maintain it? Will Lynas last 500 years? Show me a building that has last 500 years in Australia? Are you going to build a pyramid in Gebeng?

If you say the waste is not as radioactive as others, why don't you ship it back to Australia and bury it in a big hole somewhere, instead of storing it in a facility that may not even last 100 years, and which is near where people live.

Vocal Malaysian: It still doesn't explain why Malaysia was chosen for this site, either in processing the ores or for storing the radioactive waste by-products.

They could have chosen sites closer to ore buyers if Curtis' argument was about market access. Or he could go to countries where labour cost is lower if he is concerned about labour costs.

Andrwo: This is extremely patronising. Yes, you can build the plant in the west coast of Australia, since you are trucking the raw earth to Fremantle port before loading it in the containers and shipping it to Kuantan.

What is the relevance about not selling it in Australia? Are you selling it in Malaysia too? You are shipping tons of raw earth to Malaysia for processing at huge cost. Doesn't it make much more sense to process the raw material before shipping the precious resultant metals.

So stop talking about facts when you are distorting facts to achieve what you want.

MySecret: Curtis, your mistake is similar to almost 50 percent of the Malaysians who voted for this government. We were taken for fools, led up the garden path and ended up with a mess of a country at the moment.

Like you, we are trying to fix the problem. I would advise you to cut your losses and make a graceful exit.

Kgen: Another Lynas mistake was to make use of thugs to intimidate the Save Malaysia NGO from making representation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) panel. Umno was responsible for the thugs, but who paid Umno? They would never act on their own without financial motivation.

Frankly, if I were a Kuantan resident I would move away as soon as the plant starts operating. Safety regulations are only as good as their enforcement and the Department of Environment (DOE) is very corrupt and lax, so there will be practically no enforcement.

Oscar Kilo: Nicholas Curtis was quoted as saying, "Kemaman is too isolated. Gebeng is a much more correct place."

But isn't an isolated place a better place to build a rare earth plant that generates radioactive wastes, no matter how low level the radioactivity is? The more isolated, the better. They should be thinking of buffer zones in the tens of kilometres. Perhaps they should build the plant in the middle of an oil palm estate in Pekan.

Curtis is obviously not telling us the whole story. It is very hard to dialogue sincerely when we're being told only half the story. He may not be lying outright, but telling half truths is just as bad.

Perhaps Curtis could start the ball rolling in this "dialogue" by revealing to us the deal between Lynas and Umno politicians. Yes, we want to know the facts. Give us all the numbers and figures. Then we can decide if the risk is worth it.

We, the people, should not pay the external costs for Umno and Lynas to profit from the plant.

Pemerhati: The Malaysiakini report says, "Curtis dismissed suggestions that the plant was not built in Australia, where the rare earth mine is located, because of public protest."

In that case, the whole problem can be easily solved. All Lynas has to do is take all the radioactive waste back to Australia and store it in some isolated area. Everyone will be happy.

Wira: The reason why they don't allow you to build that plant in Australia is because when you refine the ore, you also concentrate the radioactivity in the wastes and there is no way Australia will allow you to store that kind of wastes in your home country.

You are wishful that Malaysians may be more gullible because politicians here can be convinced by money and contracts.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

Malaysiakini - We've made a big mistake, says Lynas boss

Jun 23, 11 10:43am

ynas boss Nicholas Curtis has conceded that his company made the mistake of failing to adequately engage the community in Kuantan over their fears of radioactive waste from its controversial rare earth plant.

"We made a mistake, and it was a big mistake, of thinking that because we have met the (Malaysian) standards (of safety), that it was enough. It was not enough. Our obligation is to continue to engage the community in Kuantan."

The Lynas chief's mea culpa came after the emergence of stringent opposition to the plant, which is being built in Gebeng Industrial Estate, about 50km from Kuantan. The RM700 million plant will be completed by the end of September.

"I respect that emotions have got very high, but these are emotions, not facts," said Curtis. According to him, the detractors of the project are "pushing emotional stories for political gains".

It may be a bit late, but the Lynas boss is determined to reach out to the Kuantan residents who are sceptical of the plant.

"The only way we can dampen the emotions is to correct the mistake of not engaging sufficiently. I'm asking for an engaged conversation about their concerns, and for them to have a dialogue with us."

Curtis was in Kuala Lumpur this week for a one-day charm offensive, where he met with a number of editors from both the mainstream and alternative media, including Malaysiakini.

He will be meeting with Kuantan parliamentarian Fuziah Salleh, one of the key protagonists against the plant, on July 1.

Kemaman was a mistake too

Curtis dismissed suggestions that the plant was not built in Australia, where the rare earth mine is located, because of public protest.

"Do you have evidence of that? It's a good emotional catch, but it's not true. We are a global business.

"We have a mine (Mount Weld in Western Australia). But the ore deposit is 800km from anywhere. We can hardly build a big chemical plant in the middle of the desert. We have to fly people in and out, and our average employee cost is very high.

"We can build it on the west coast of Australia. But is that the best way to actually process the material? The answer is no. I don't sell one gram of our material in Australia. Everything we sell is either to Japan, United States or Europe."

Curtis admitted that he was taken by surprise by the ferocity of the opposition to the plant, which emerged early this year.

According to him, this was sparked by a "perfect storm" of the radiation leaks in the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan coupled with Malaysia's bitter experience with a troubled rare earth plant in Bukit Merah 20 years ago.

There is another unmentioned factor - the acute political climate ahead of a snap general election. The plant is, after all, located in Prime Minister Najib Razak's home state.

Curtis also conceded making another mistake - Lynas had originally planned to build the rare earth processing plant in Kemaman, Terengganu.

"Kemaman is too isolated. Gebeng is a much more correct place. This is a 30-year plant. It would take us one year longer if we move it. We chose to take the pain then, and we have to redo the environmental impact assessment."

Not a question of stay or get out

For Lynas, it is not a question of "stay or get out". "It's about how to manage the process in a way which is absolutely safe for the community," said Curtis.

But he hopes that "the emotion of politics" could be taken out of the controversy.

"We welcome an open debate. We have nothing to hide. I don't agree with the view that we should not have any level of radiation. That's nonsense, that's not true. Radiation exists everywhere. The question is what is the standard of radiation that does not pose any health risk to the community.

"In the Bukit Merah case, it was 70,000 ppm (parts per million) of radioactive material to 50,000 ppm of rare earth. In our case, it is 500 ppm of radioactive material to 180,000 ppm of rare earth. The proportionality is very different."

Curtis also seeks to reassure Malaysians that the radioactive waste storage facility, to be located in Gebeng, is safe.

"We believe that we have a residual storage facility designed to last 500 years, and it will not pose any hazard to anyone."

However, Curtis said that he was still open to suggestions of improvement.

The Lynas founder is nevertheless unfazed by plan by protest group Save Malaysia to go to Australia to lobby against the plant.

"It is a Malaysian issue, not an Australian issue. I'd love people to come to Australia, but I'm not sure what they hope to achieve."

All eyes on IAEA report

The Lynas plant is expected to go online in three months.

In the bid to overcome growing opposition, the government has set up an independent panel appointed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to conduct a review on the radiation safety at the proposed plant.

The 10-member IAEA team is set to submit its findings to the Malaysian government by June 30 after spending a week early this month holding public consultation sessions and visiting the plant site.

Curtis is placing hope on the IAEA report as a basis of a "serious conversation" on what is to be done.

"We will certainly cooperate with the outcome of the report. If we are, in any way, asked to do things about the plant to make it safe for the community, we will do it. We are not here to harm the community. We are here to benefit the community."

When told that the government will come under tremendous pressure to delay the commissioning of the plant due to the upcoming elections, Curtis said:

"I would hope that the government is strong enough to deal with the facts. I'm not going to pre-empt the IAEA study. But I do hope that the debate is based on facts, not emotions."

Kandungan SMS Ugutan dan Racist yang diterima Ahli Parlimen Kuantan dan Naib Presiden PKR mengenai Perhimpunan Bersih 2.0

------ SMS ------
From: +601119732179
Received: Jun 23, 2011 12:29 AM
Subject: Korg ni buta hati ke??

Korg ni buta hati ke?? buat apa sokong ambiga keling paria haramjadah tu? dia ni kapir laknat. korang tau tak dia ni jadi alat anjing2 politik untuk musnahkan keutuhan melayu. dia kata je nak BERSIH kan SPR. bersih kepala bapak dia. puak2 PAS n PKR pun buta tuli n pekak badak.. kalau SPR tak bersih, boleh ke diorang menang kat Sgor, Kedah, Penang, Kelantan n perak dulu? DAP cina sial tu pulak lagi haram jahanam. dia tengok je melayu bertekak. hujung2 dia perintah negara ni dan kristiankan kita semua. aku nak kasi amaran kat korang semua. kalau perhimpunan ni jadi, aku dan org2 aku akan bunuh ambiga dan korang2 keliling dia satu persatu, termasuklah orang2 politik bangang yg bersekongkol ngan kafir laknat tu.. ini amaran aku. Korang tengklah nanti.

MEMBER Of MALAYSIAN PARLIAMENT FOR KUANTAN, PAHANG

• Secondary Education: Methodist Girls’ School Kuantan
• Graduated in Counselling Psychology from University of Reading, United Kingdom and later continued to pursue her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Wales, United Kingdom

Fuziah until recently is a corporate trainer and training consultant for multinationals, corporate institutions in the area of human resource development as well as activist in NGOs and women empowerment

Married to Dr. Russly Abdul Rahman and has 6 children plus 5 grandchildren.

PARTY POSITION & RESPONSIBILITIES

• PKR Vice President (since November 2010 till now)
• PKR Supreme Council Member
• PKR National Election Director (Feb 2010 till December 2010)
• PKR National Training Director (April 2008 till January 2010)
• PKR Deputy National Election Director (Jun 2007 till May 2009)
• PKR National Women Chief (2000-2007)
• PKR Kuantan Division Chief (since 2002 till now)
• Started in 1999 when party was formed as Deputy National Women Chief (KEADILAN)

PARLIAMENTARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Committee Member of IPU (Inter Parliament Union) Malaysia (March 2008-June 2010)
• Committee Member of AIPA (ASEAN Inter Parliament Assembly) Malaysia
• Committee Member of Gender Caucus Malaysian Parliament Member of Malaysian Parliamentary Friendship Group (Asia Pacific Group)
• Member of AIPMC (ASEAN Inter Parliament Myanmar Caucus) Shadow Parliamentary Committee for Pakatan Rakyat (Prime Minister’s Department)

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

Earlier days of her involvement in the community, she was actively involved in NGOs. In the UK, where she headed a youth organisation The Young Muslims UK, (1988-1992) whose members are British born Muslim youths from different nationalities in UK.

On returning to Malaysia, she channelled her contributions in an NGO, Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) as head of women’s wing (1993-1999). Her critical views on women issues was often sought by the media at that time. Fuziah was also member of the Supreme Council NCWO in the year 1995-1997. Member of WAC (Women Agenda for Change) & involved in the Formulation of Women’s Agenda For Change -1999. Supreme Council Member NCWO – National Council of Women’s Organization 1995-1997

Experienced in Counselling various interest groups ranging from youth, students, married couples, and women involved in Domestic Violence both in UK as well as in Malaysia, Fuziah was attached to a state government institution as a counsellor in the mid 90’s and was also responsible for the setting up of a voluntary counselling Unit, which is named Unit Kaunseling Islah JIM (1993) where she later became advisor and trainer for the volunteers there. Her vast experience in counselling has also been proven very valuable in helping members of society.

Among her contributions is to initiate work on a shelter home for young girls, Raudhatus Sakinah, which until today has operated into its thirtienth year.

Founder member for WIRDA (Women’s Institute For Research Development and Advancement)

REPRESENTING MALAYSIAN PARLIAMENT

• Member of Delegation of the Malaysian Parliament for the AIPA meeting in Singapore 13-18th August 2008
• Member of Delegation of the Malaysian Parliament to the IPU Assembly in Geneva, 11-16th October 2009
• Debated in the Forum Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Renewable Energies, during the assembly
• Represented the Malaysian Parliament to the IPU Regional Seminar in Cambodia April 2009
• Member of Delegation of the Malaysian Parliament for the AIPA meeting in Pattaya, Thailand 2nd-8th August 2009
• Delegation from Malaysia to the 8th Workshop of the IPU Forum on Security Sector Governance in South East Asia (IPF-SSG), Jakarta