Malaysiakini - Anti-Lynas Father's Day protest draws 2,000

Jun 19, 11 4:24pm

The anti-Lynas Fathers Day event today, organised by Save Malaysia NGOs, drew a multiracial crowd of 2,000, many of whom were parents with their kids, according to Save Msia NGO chairperson Tan Boon Teet.

The event ended peacefully at 11.30am without any interference from the police.

The organisers requested families and friends to gather at 8am at Taman Gelora , Kuantan, preferably wearing their Save Malaysia t-shirts and go for a jog/walk.

They were also asked to bring flags to tell the world that Kuantan people and other fellow Malaysians will not allow Malaysia to be recolonised and treated as dump site for foreign toxic waste.

The organisers emphasised it was not an anti-Australia protest but they were against the opening of the Lynas Rare Earth Plant in Gebeng near Kuantan.

The waste by-products of the plant, which contain the radioactive element thorium has stirred public protest.

The plant, which residents fear will produce highly toxic radioactive waste, is slated to begin its trial run in September.