Tuesday, August 20, 2019

LYNAS - Temerloh people do not want the PDF? Do your district want it? A REFERENDUM - people not political appointees or 'experts' decide?

Temerloh does not want the Lynas Permanent Deposit Facility(PDF) in our district. We certainly do not want this RISK near us...and it is a long term risk to our environment and health...

Should the PDF be in Langkawi, Port Dickson, Johor, Perak, Selangor or near Parliament? 

"Lynas Malaysia's PDF Planning Framework and Site Selection Plan have previously been approved by the AELB. In addition, the Pahang state government has given written approval to locate a PDF in the state of Pahang," Lynas said in a statement on Friday (Aug 16).

Wan Rosdy was replying a supplementary question from Lee Chean Chung (PH-Semambu) who asked on a news report that five probable locations in Pahang had been identified for the PDF, namely Lepar, Luit, Padang Tengku, Bukit Ibam and Chini.
Where will the PDF be? Will another community of people be affected? The PDF may be safe and .meet all the standards...but there is certainly a RISK...and contamination of environment may happen maybe in 10 years, 50 years, etc ... Do we want to live in a community with such a RISK? 

Lynas - No more send back waste to Australia - now OK if PERMANENT disposal facility? Earthquake, Sabotage, Wear and Tear?



Pakatan Harapan government, who initially gave the impression to some that if they win and form the government, then Lynas will be shut down... 

Then, there was a shift - No licence/permit renewal unless all the waste is taken away from Malaysia... Australia smartly refused to accept the waste back. In fact, why is Lynas not processed in Australia considering the ore is mined in Australia...

Then now, even that 'possibly dangerous'  waste can remain in Malaysia as long as a Permanent Deposit Facility is build... 

Now, WHERE WILL IT BE BUILT? Will the people of the area and surrounding areas have a say in the matter?  

Or will it be just the decision of the State government and the Federal Government? 

Will the people be consulted - will there be a REFERENDUM where people in that District and State can vote whether they accept the Lynas PDF in their town, district or State? 

In the past, during the Barisan Nasional era, the government may say that 'various stakeholders' were consulted ...but who exactly are they? Did they even agree...or just merely consulted - meaning that even if they said 'NO', the government can still decide 'YES'. That is consultation?

APPROVAL OF POLITICAL APPOINTEES IS  NOT APPROVAL OF THE SURROUNDING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY?

In my past experience, when it was asked whether the people in the area was consulted...the government says, "YES" - but who did they consult? Well, the consulted the JKK and the ketua kampungs; but wait, these are people who are not chosen by the people > they are POLITICAL APPOINTEES.

Pahanag government agreed - Well, is the Menteri Besar going to have the PDF in their own constituency?  

Federal Pakatan Harapan-led government can get rid of Lynas...

The Barisan Nasional Pahang State government can get rid of Lynas - If the state government says 'GO' - then Lynas will have to go maybe to some other state. After all, when Lynas came to Malaysia, Trengganu said "NO"...but then Pahang said 'YES'

While Trengganu said 'No' - Pahang agreed to allow a dangerous rare earth plant in Najib's home state


The Local Council(Local Government) can say 'No' - but then they are POLITICAL APPOINTEES of the State government - not democratically elected by the people...

China is the biggest producer of processed rare earth ...so is the 'trade battle' between US-China having an impact on government decision?

The MP said that Lynas's customers are Japan ...and since Malaysia do not want to 'cause problem' to Japanese companies ...because of Samurai bonds or something???

Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh says Malaysia is in a jam over the Lynas issue as the main beneficiary of the processed rare earths is Japan, which has provided financing for the government in the form of Samurai Bonds....

In an open letter on the Lynas issue, Fuziah, a vocal critic of the plant in Gebeng, Kuantan, blamed the previous government’ for the borrowing from Japan, and for running up too many debts.

“I would like to state that Japan is the sole beneficiary of rare earth elements from Lynas. Would investors in Japan remain quiet if Lynas is unable to supply them?”

She said, such a situation would cripple Japanese downstream industries which depended on rare earth elements....- FMT, 4/8/2019
- Anwar - What does he say about Lynas? Kit Siang and other MPs? No viewpoints or position?


BUT THE PRIORITY MUST BE THE HEALTH OF MALAYSIANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ...a contamination may also affect livelihood of other people - their farms, the fishing income, etc ..Radiation is not the only concern - it is also other forms of chemical 'poisoning' - as happen in Pasir Gudang...

What is most important is that all the people around Lynas or the PDF should vote on this matter...and the government/s should listen...Safe or not safe is not the issue - Let the people decide...have a REFERENDUM ..





Lynas says confident of identifying site for PDF within six months

Nation Friday, 16 Aug 2019 10:04 AM MYT
By ONG HAN SEAN



  • A general view of the Lynas plant in Gebeng, Pahang


    KUANTAN: Lynas Malaysia is confident of obtaining consent for the location of a permanent deposit facility (PDF) for its water leach purification (WLP) residue within six months.

    The rare earth materials producer said it would also accelerate planning and construction of the PDF following the Cabinet decision to renew Lynas' licence for another six months effective Sept 3.

    This was announced Thursday (Aug 15) by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board's (AELB) with stricter conditions imposed on Lynas, whose operating licence was originally due to expire on Sept 2.

    "This is consistent with the recommendation of the Pakatan Harapan government's executive review committee in December 2018. Alternatively, Lynas can obtain consent from another country to receive the material.

    "Lynas Malaysia's PDF Planning Framework and Site Selection Plan have previously been approved by the AELB. In addition, the Pahang state government has given written approval to locate a PDF in the state of Pahang," Lynas said in a statement on Friday (Aug 16).

    The company said that under the new licence, Lynas would no longer be required to spend 0.5% of annual gross sales on research and development.

    However, this same percentage is to be contributed to the government as an additional security until the "cracking and leaching" facility overseas commences.

    "The relevant portion of these security amount is expected to be available for the PDF construction project. Further information will be provided on costs and timetable as this project progresses," said Lynas.

    Among the other conditions attached to Lynas' six-month extension was the relocation of the company's cracking and leaching process out of Malaysia.

    The Lynas plant is in Gebeng, some 25km from Kuantan town centre.

    Lynas also has to end all research and development activities related to the use of the WLP as a soil conditioner for agriculture use.

    Lynas Corporation CEO and managing director Amanda Lacaze also thanked the government for its decision, which she said was based on the scientific recommendations of its executive review committee.

    "We reaffirm the company's commitment to our people, 97% of whom are Malaysian, and to further developing Malaysia's position as a global rare earths centre of excellence.

    "Lynas will continue to make a positive contribution to the Malaysian economy and to international businesses to invest in downstream manufacturing in Malaysia," said Lacaze.

    She added that Lynas had created over 1,000 direct jobs, 90% of which were skilled or semi-skilled, and spent over RM600mil in the local economy each year.

    "We are optimistic that this decision will bring an end to the politicisation of Lynas over the past year. We look forward to continuing to be an active member of our communities and we will work closely with community members to ensure that they have up to date and accurate information about our operations," said Lacaze.- Star, 16/8/2019


    No decision on location of Lynas' waste disposal facility, says MB

    Wan Rosdy was replying a supplementary question from Lee Chean Chung (PH-Semambu) who asked on a news report that five probable locations in Pahang had been identified for the PDF, namely Lepar, Luit, Padang Tengku, Bukit Ibam and Chini. - NSTP/ZULKEPLI OSMAN
     
    KUANTAN: The rare earth processing company Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Lynas) has yet to submit a formal application on the specific location of the Permanent Disposal Facility for its Water Leached Purification (WLP) residue in the state.

    Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said so far, the state government never discussed with Lynas the details of the PDF, which is one of the conditions set following the Cabinet's decision to renew Lynas’ licence for another six months effective Sept 3.

    “If there is a discussion or application, the priority of the state government will be the people’s safety. That part we are very clear.

    “..at the same time, this also involves the investment aspect as Lynas has invested up to billions in the country. We will look into all aspects of this issue. We want to hear experts opinions. If experts say Lynas is safe, then we will focus.

    “If not the experts, who else do we want to listen to? We are not experts in this area. It is certain that the state government will not do anything that is harmful to the people,” he said at the Pahang State Assembly sitting here today.

    Wan Rosdy was replying a supplementary question from Lee Chean Chung (PH-Semambu) who asked on a news report that five probable locations in Pahang had been identified for the PDF, namely Lepar, Luit, Padang Tengku, Bukit Ibam and Chini.

    He also explained that Lynas owned by Australian miner Lynas Corp and now operates in the Gebeng industrial area was an investment brought in by the previous Federal government through the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).

    The statement was supported by state Tourism, Environment, Plantation and Biotechnology Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin, who said the Federal government had earlier proposed that Lynas operate in Pahang.

    “So, now we wait for the Federal government’s reply. If they say Lynas is safe, then it’s safe. The state government has no expertise like the Federal government who has various technical experts,” he said.

    Sharkar said the technical experts include the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) and Malaysian Nuclear Agency who are more trained in the field of Lynas operation and radiation. - BERNAMA - New Straits Times, 19/8/2019

    No comments: