Malaysiakini - Hisham: I don't know what my brother's up to

Aidila Razak
Jun 6, 11
4:49pm

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today denied a report by Australian newspaper which claimed that his brother was paid to secure a government contract for an Australian company.

Speaking to reporters today, he claimed ignorance over his brother Haris Onn Hussein's (right) activities.

"Firstly, I don't even know what my brother is doing and secondly, I don't think an Australian (company) would do that," he said when met at the launching of the Dang Wangi district police station today.

Asked if he is denying all claims in the report, he said: "That was what I said. Yes."

According to Melbourne-based The Age, currency technology firm Securency hired Haris in 2009 to source for Malaysian contracts.

“Securency hired Haris Onn Hussein in the hope he would offer it access to, and influence over, Malaysia's top politicians,” said the report.

At the time, Hishammuddin was the Umno Youth chief and also the youth and sports minister.

Surency failed to win contract

Describing Haris as “well-connected”, the paper pointed out that he is not only Hishammuddin's brother but also first cousin to now Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

It further made note that Haris' father is former Prime Minister Hussein Onn, while his grandfather Onn Jaafar founded Umno. Najib and Hishammuddin are Umno president and vice-president respectively.

According to The Age, “it is common in parts of Asia for the relatives of politicians to be hired by foreign companies as agents”.

The Age posited that Securency had intended to benefit from Haris' connections as companies he owns shares in or serves as director seem to benefit from generous government concessions.

The acts of lobbying allegedly took place through Haris' company then known as Liberal Technology (now Lembah Sari Sdn Bhd). The firm failed to win any contracts.

Securency last won a major Malaysian contract in 2004, following a smaller job in 1998. Both contracts acquired via the services of another agent, businessman Abdul Kayum Syed Ahmad.

Company probed for bribery

However, The Age cautiously carried a disclaimer that it is not suggesting that either Najib or the home minister was involved in any of Securency's bids.

But the reports stressed that Haris owns shares in or sits on the board of several companies that have benefitted from government concessions for mandatory security labels for cigarette and alcohol manufacturers and toll highways.

Australian and British authorities have been investigating Securency, a world leading supplier of plastic banknotes, for allegedly bribing public officials in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Nigeria to win contracts, according to the reports.

They add that such practices are criminal under Australian law. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Securency's majority shareholder is the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Additional reporting by Hazlan Zakaria

星洲日報 - 李志雄：投入操作後‧萊納料隨時擴充生產線

星洲日報

國內

2011-06-05 18:48

• 

  李志雄在講座會上預測稀土廠操作後，將擴充生產線。（圖：星洲日報）

1 of 2

（彭亨‧關丹5日訊）腐蝕與防護博士李志雄預測萊納公司投入稀土生產操作後，隨時會擴充生產線。

他表示，這是因為萊納公司一早具備擴充生產線的條件，如政府所提供的12年免稅優惠、工廠範圍還有80%的土地可使用、若有需要可以用購買附近100公頃土地、稀士在國際的價格等。

他說，此外，工廠也已經做好接口設計，供擴充用途。

“然而，截至今日，稀土工廠還是沒有公佈處置和儲存廢料的技術細節，也沒有透過其儲存系統是如 何設計。對於廢料的疑問，現有的答案只是‘還在研究中’。“也是化學工程碩士的李氏是今日在關丹主講“萊納―關丹稀土廠計劃――你還需要瞭解些甚麼？” 時，向出席者這麼表示。講座會是由拯救大馬委員會所主辦。

廢料輻射可進入人體

李氏表示，輻射可分成外部及內部輻射，當局可以說低輻射對人體影響不大，若這些廢料的輻射進入體內呢？

他說，如果廢料處理不當，具輻射的廢料可以通過空氣及環境，進入人體，這才是民眾最大的擔憂。

他表強調，廢料處理不單是關丹民眾的問題，一旦處理不當，受影響的是整個環境及食物鏈。

Malaysiakini - 政府受促效仿德国槟州拒核电 停建稀土厂确保绿色永续发展

2011年6月5日 下午 1点54分

趁今天是世界环境日，民主行动党秘书长林冠英（右图）促请中央政府向德国和槟城学习，禁止高风险的核能发电厂以及稀土业。

“这不只是为了确保绿色与永续发展，也是为了孩子们的健康与安全着想。”

也是峇眼区国会议员的林冠英在今天发表的献辞指出，尽管德国目前有23%的电供来自核能，但它早前仍做了一项历史性决定，即在2022年关闭所有核电站。

有高储电量却仍要建核电厂

“正当德国要关闭核电厂时， 马来西亚政府却要在2022年兴建两座核电厂。马来西亚已经享有全世界最高的电供储备量达52.6%，为什么要兴建核电厂来卖给国能？”

也是槟州首长的林冠英更说明，槟州政府决定禁止在该州展开任何的核电计划。

核电厂显然将建在国阵州属

他遗憾地指出，虽然能源的、绿色工艺及水源部长陈华贵已同意槟城不会被选为核电厂兴建地址，但后者却坚持，有必要在国内其它地方兴建核电厂。

“很明显地，核电厂将建在国阵州属，因为唯有国阵掌权的州属才会批准兴建核电厂。”

汲取日本福岛核电危机教训

林冠英提醒，马来西亚应该汲取拥有高科技专才的日本，却爆发福岛核电厂危机的惨痛经验。

“相反的，马来西亚没有处理核能的专家。没有人相信马来西亚政府可以安全地处理核电厂的兴建与管理，因为它连一座体育馆或巴士总站的屋顶都会坍塌。就连国会花了1亿令吉修复天花板还是会漏水。”

抨环境局仓促地批准稀土厂

林冠英继续指出，槟城也反对兴建任何像关丹莱纳斯公司那样的稀土厂。国阵政府已经显示它不是追求绿色与永续发展，而是为了利益愿意牺牲人民的健康。

“大马自然环境之友揭露，莱纳斯工程是彭亨州环境局加速批准的计划。州环境局在2008年1月21日收到初步环境评估报告，在二月上旬就批准了。这项工程涉及辐射公害、含混不清的废料管理、储存与废弃，为什么环境局要如此邪恶仓促地批准他们兴建如此复杂的工程？”

如此一来，他表明，行动党支持反对稀土厂和建议在2021年兴建两座核电厂的签名运动。

“我们也会在6月13日国会复会时，叫全体国会议员（包括国阵国会议员）签署，让展示他们打造更清洁、更绿意及更安全的马来西亚的决心。”

Malaysiakini - 专家小组承认辐射没安全水平 保证以大众健康标准评稀土厂

李龙辉 2011年6月2日 傍晚 7点05分

虽然澳洲公司莱纳斯一直强调，其关丹稀土厂一旦运作后所排放的辐射很低，不会伤害人体，但是国际专家评估小组却声称其实并没所谓的“安全水平”辐射。

该评估小组保证将依据大众健康标准，来评估稀土厂的运作。评估小组成员马纳斯（Magnus Vesterlind）指出，“我们代表关注辐射保护与安全的国际原子能总署，但（我）要提醒你们，我们在安全事宜上所采纳的标准，是基于大众健康。”

马纳斯今日是在评估小组于布城一家酒店展开咨询会期间，被记者询及时回答说，“安全标准将依据这个指标加以实施，以保障员工、大众与环境的健康和安全。”

组员由国际原子能署所挑选

负责评估莱纳斯稀土厂的专家小组，是在5月29日到6月3日之间来马。第一天，他们了解课题背景和最近的发展，然后在接下来的两天到彭亨关丹咨询公众意见，而今天则是在布城展开咨询会。

这次的评估小组人数9人，皆由联合国的国际原子能总署（IAEA）所挑选。他们昨天已经亲临位于彭亨关丹以北25公里外的格宾工业区，勘察备受争议的稀土厂。

评估小组将在本月杪，将针对稀土厂的评估报告呈予大马政府。

领导这个小组的是来自芬兰的特洛瓦佐然塔（Tero Varjoranta），他是国际原子能总署核能部底下，核能燃料循环和废料科技局的总裁。

包含三内部和五外部的专家

而小组其他8名成员则包括3名（国际原子能总署）内部专家，以及5名外部专家。

内 部专家包括瑞典的马纳斯、巴西的孟根（Monken Fernandes）、芬兰的汉纳（Hanna Kajander）。而外部专家则是荷兰的占司丁（Jan van der Steen）、加拿大的里欧（Leo M. Lowe）、印度的巴拉哥巴拉（P. M. Balagopala Pillai）、英国的丹尼斯（Dennis Wymer）和芬兰的尤里（Ulric Schwela）。

国际原子能总署的希罗科（Hiroko Raticliffe）则受委为小组的行政助理。

小组成员都是各有所长的专家，对辐射防护、安全评估、废料处理、运输以及清理和补救行动等议题有研究。

辐射没安全水平是小组共识

无论如何，槟城消费人协会副主席莫希丁（Mohideen Abdul Kader）指出，评估小组认同其论据，即辐射并没所谓的“安全水平”。

他与毒理学家再也巴南出席咨询会后告诉记者说，“辐射没有安全水平，他们皆达成共识。”

莫希丁引述一份美国国家科学学术团在2005年所发表的一份报告说，“离子化辐射并没有安全或顶限安全水平，就算是曝露在背景辐射（background radiation）下也会致癌，越曝露（在辐射）风险就越高。”

“再者，如果曝露在合法的职场辐射下，5名员工中会有1名，即20%的机率罹患癌症。”

“所有你不能争论说，因为那个地方有辐射，我可以来这里做一些事情来增加该地的辐射。”

须咨询民意与研究成本效益

莫希丁说，他们敦促评估小组建议大马政府，在原子能执照局发出建厂执照予莱纳斯前，必须先咨询民意及进行稀土厂所带来的成本效益研究，而小组也同意在最终报告中这么做。

“如果你谈制造2、300个就业机会，我们不需要（这些）工作，因为我们有大约200万名外国人在我国工作，所以失业并不是我国的问题。”

他也说，评估小组也同意建议政府，将这份建议报告公诸于众。

“他们全都同意了，他们认为在有任何决定前，应该考虑以上种种，但他们的权力有限，只能作出辐射安全方面的建议，就这样。”

没保证将如何处理辐射废料

较早前，也有出席咨询会的大马消费人联合会政策研究执行员潘永年在受询时说，评估小组并没向他保证，如何处理工厂在提炼稀土过程中，所产生的含放射性物质钍（Thorium）辐射废料。

“他们说将研究此事，并肯定会对此（在最终报告中）加以置评。”

他透露，小组告诉他，将重新研究稀土厂的辐射影响评估报告，并找出储藏辐射废料的最佳方案。

“只要没有更好的方案，而只是将这些废料丢在这里，那我们肯定反对此事。”

他引述辐射影响评估报告的数据说，“在未来的1500年，辐射的暴露程度可达每年6毫希，所以我非常关心我们的未来。”

“他们无权断定（稀土厂）是否安全，他们只会将数据写在报告内，政府过后才决定。”

“当然，报告是决定工厂是否安全的关键因素。”

潘永年说，评估小组并没透露，昨日勘察稀土厂的发现或发表任何意见。

The Malaysian Insider - Pro-Lynas group bullies protestors as IAEA panel meets

By Shannon Teoh

May 31, 2011

Protestors forcing the Beserah group to leave. — Pictures by Shannon Teoh

KUANTAN, May 31 — For the second day in a row, demonstrators supporting the controversial rare earth plant forced anti-Lynas protestors to leave the Hyatt Regency here.

The group of about 100 men confronted a group of residents from Beserah, where the plant is located, just as they finished their meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency-led (IAEA) team that is here to meet local stakeholders.

After a scuffle, the Beserah group led by their assemblyman Syed Mohammad Lonnik and community leader Andansura Rabu had to be escorted by police light strike force officers to their car.

Earlier in the morning, protestors wearing “Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas” T-shirts were also chased away from the beach in front of the hotel by the pro-Lynas group.

Many of the pro-Lynas group were those here yesterday holding up banners supporting the IAEA and also Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.

Two reporters from Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau were also confronted by men who demanded they stop taking pictures.

The two reporters who were confronted by pro-Lynas demonstrators.

One of the reporters said a man threatened to punch her if she did not stop.

“You want to report good or bad, think properly first. The government has already brought in a panel of experts.

“I am from Balok. We are more concerned than these people who come from Ipoh, Seremban and KL. Why do we want to chase away investors?” said members of the group to reporters later.

The nine-man review panel is here on a four-day visit to hear concerns from local residents and lobby groups before compiling a report by the end of June.

The government had bowed to public pressure last month and put the project by Australian miner Lynas Corp on ice pending the review by the team of international experts.

Despite the government review, Lynas expects no delay to its plans to begin operations in September as it maintains the plant is safe.

It is anticipating a windfall of RM8 billion a year from 2013 onwards from the rare earth metals that are crucial to the manufacture of high-technology products such as smartphones, hybrid cars and bombs.

Malaysian Insider - Anti-Lynas group insists Gebeng plant risks outstrip gains

By Debra Chong
June 01, 2011

The Lynas facility is scheduled to come online in September. — file pic
KUANTAN, June 1 — Despite an international review board’s assurance that Lynas Corp’s radioactive rare earths plant in Gebeng met global standards, the People’s Green Coalition wants the Australian miner’s refinery to be barred from operating.

The umbrella body comprising non-governmental organisations and the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact insists the risks outweigh the gains, pointing out Lynas will enjoy a 12-year tax break.

In their six-point memorandum handed over yesterday to the nine-man review team from Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the anti-Lynas lobbyists repeated their arguments that the project will cause irreversible harm to the state and the country’s population and ecology due to toxic chemicals released during the manufacturing process and the radioactive waste products.

“A severely damaged ecology will affect fishing, agricultural and animal husbandry industries whose [sic] products will be contaminated and, hence, will be rejected by both the local and international markets,” said the group comprising grassroots movement Save Malaysia, Kuantan Environmental Watch Group, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Sisters-In-Islam, Suaram and the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall among others.

“Once contaminated, the palm oil exports will not be accepted by the international communities with the dire consequences of causing a possible collapse of the palm oil industries in Malaysia resulting in irrevocable damage to the national economy,” it added.

The group noted property prices in and around Kuantan have already plunged due to widespread fear of chemical and radioactive contamination.

It said the tourism sector will likewise suffer a decline as tourists will avoid visiting a contaminated area.

The coastal Gebeng industrial zone, where the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) is still being built, is within a 30km drive of popular seaside hotels including the world renowned Club Med in Cherating.

The Green Coalition said any job opportunities at the plant would be rendered superficial when compared to the health and safety risks faced by the workers.

It said it will be submitting a more detailed report to the IAEA in due course after studying the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Radiological Impact Assessment (RIA), which it noted had been displayed to the public only a day before their last-minute meeting.

Malaysiakini - Pro-Lynas thugs too have police 'protection'

Jun 1, 11 8:50am

your say'Only in Malaysia can violent gatecrashers forcibly end a peaceful protest even under the watchful eyes of the police.'

Uninvited guests crash anti-Lynas protest

Swipenter: "We are from Kuantan, this is the Malay land!" said a man who identified himself as Azman Attar.

How stupid can these 'uninvited guests' be. Even protesting against the deadly effects of radiation, the issue of race has to come into the picture. Maybe these 'uninvited guests' think that the radiation from the Lynas plant has the intelligence to discriminate who can suffer or not to suffer from the effects of radiation from its radioactive waste.

These are definitely not 'uninvited guests' but invited guests of some interested party trying to stir things up. The clue lies in when they uttered "this is Malay land", and that it is the usual modus operandi of the one political party and/or its outsourced organisation that likes to play race game.

FellowMalaysian: This is where things fall out of line. It was a peaceful protest and a sensible way displaying public outrage over a matter of grave concern to citizens.

Why must racial runts and slur be engaged by this unprovoked group of cohorts? And why are the police keeping their eyes closed?

And where's Kuantan MCA chief Ti Lian Ker when we need him as this kind of situation is where he can contribute something positive and make a name for himself as the champion of Lynas issue.

Dood: Only in Malaysia can violent gatecrashers forcibly end a peaceful protest even under the watchful eyes of the police. Instead of arresting the gatecrashers who were getting violent and protecting the harmless protesters, the police let the abuse continue and even told the protesters to disperse.

One also wonders who these so-called 'Kuantan locals' are really working for.

Quigonbond: Reading to the end of the article gives me the impression the police did another 'Bar Council' job on the protestors - letting them fend off a violent crash party. Does this signify a change in Home Ministry tactics? We will not stop you from protesting, but we won't stop someone else from beating you up either.

It's just as good as using FRU against the protestors, and is in fact morally far worse because you are aiding and abetting in criminal violence, which is quite a different class of offence altogether from not having a police permit to hold an assembly.

EugeneT: May I suggest that these arrogant and ignorant pro-Lynas supporters, who at best can only reply with silly retorts such as "This is Malay land!" and brute force, be moved near to the rare-earth plant. Let's see if they are still supportive of it in time.

Kenneth_2585: It is so easy to get emotional once you turn it into racial issue. I pity the people who fight for their future generation's future and yet being harassed.

If you are not being appreciated, why not just move out of the state or better still out of the country? It is sad but the most practical thing to do if you are not of the right colour in this country.

Ghkok: We all have a duty to fight gangsters like these. They are a threat to our country. They are threat to all Malaysians - Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans and Kadazans.

They are willing to allow rare earth factory to pollute the surroundings and the land, and threaten the health of residents of that area - whether Malay, Chinese or Indians. Put simply, they are the enemy of the rakyat.

MySecret: It is obvious these type of modus operandi is so similar to many other gate crashers when the ultra privilege of the existing ruling elites are threatened by the rakyat, be it from toll concessionaires right up to the state assemblies.

Is it any wonder we have thugs in the Dewan Rakyat and MPs who act like its their serfdom to lord over?

Sulaiman: This is an Umno group for sure. What has this country turned into? We now have 'terrorists' to come in every time a group protests a government project.

Are we being ruled by 'errorists'? I think we need urgent international help. Till today the damage done in Bukit Merah has not been acknowledged. People have died as a result of it.

Ong Guan Sin: We start to see a new trend. It used to be 'illegal assembly' - through the Police Act - utilised to crush dissent.

And now that it's proven too tedious to fight in court and courage cannot be dampened, we see gangsters, most probably hired by whoever that is, to stop dissent. Is it authoritarianism for hire? What has Malaysia become?

AnakBangsaMalaysia: These thugs are obviously Umno/Perkasa thugs planted there to intimidate the peaceful anti-Lynas demonstrators.

Their Umno/Perkasa memberships give them automatic immunity against arrest from the police despite uttering threats and attempting to physically assault the protestors and journalists. How pathetic the police have become.

Azman Attar and his thugs should undergo an immediate medical checkup. It sounds as though their brains have already been subjected to a massive dose of radiation.

Mikey: Those of you who are for this Lynas plant, just ask yourself why the Australians won't build it on their own land. The last time I checked, Australia has a lot more land than Malaysia.

After all, it is safe, right?

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