Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas!

Lynas Loses Off-Pahang Supports

2012-02-23T07:14:00.000-08:00

Determined Residents Going Bald Against Lynas Rare Earth Plant in Malaysia

2012-02-19T18:39:00.000-08:00

Determined Residents Going Bald to Protest Against the Lynas Rare Earth Refinery Project in Malaysia

Seventeen residents young and old, braved the morning shower to have their hair shaven off in public by a team of professional air stylists this morning. The ritual is part of a series of public actions organised by Himpunan Hijau 2.0 leading up to the major national rally on 26^th February against Australia’s Lynas rare earth refinery plant and to call for a greener future for Malaysia.

Winson Ooi who spearheaded the ritual remarked “As a father and a citizen who cares about the future, I initiated this ritual to show others that we need to sacrifice a part of us in order to fight the toxic Lynas rare earth project.”

“In our tradition, shaving all of our hair off is a highly symbolic and serious act to show one’s strong feeling and sacrifice to mark one’s determination for a worthy cause. I have to do this for my family!” Added Winson.

[click here to watch the full album]

Winson was accompanied by his young son Li Yan in the ritual. When asked, Li Yan said shyly and quietly, “I want the rare earth plant to leave and to get out!”

Amongst the sixteen are parents, grandparents, vegetable farmer, office workers and businessmen of all walks of life. The atmosphere was sombre.

Bystanders and public supporters were upset by the Malaysian Government’s granting of the conditional temporary operating licence to Lynas Corporate, raising fear that the polluting rare earth processing may soon begin.

“So many of the village folks who live along the river and fish from the South China Sea will be affected if Lynas starts to operate. Young children who play in the river and seaside will be exposed to the contaminated water from the Lynas plant.” Explained Nasrun Amir, a resident with extensive links with the Malay fisher communities near the Lynas plant.

“I cannot stand by to watch this happens to village people who feel powerless and helpless to stop the project. As my hair was falling, I felt a deep sense of injustice, anger and disappointment with the authorities for their failure to do their job to protect the people and their livelihoods.” Lamented Nasrun.

Following today’s ritual, the various religious groups – Muslims, Christian and Buddhist - will be staging their respective group prayer sessions for peace, sustainability and harmony with nature.

Next Sunday on 26^th February from 9.30 to 11.00am, thousands of people from all over Kuantan will be joined by their interstates and country supporters at a big rally to be held in the middle of the town. Bus loads of supporters are expected from around the country including those coming from as far as the Eastern Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak to take part. All around the country, local actions will be held in various states including a solidarity action by the people who fought a hard battle to force the closure of Malaysia’s first rare earth processing plant near the town of Ipoh in the neighbouring state of Perak.

The professional hair stylists who supported the event

Residents to Appeal Against Lynas' Licence

2012-02-14T05:27:00.000-08:00

Related Media Releases :
1) Malaysian Bar Council : Hasty issuance of TOL to Lynas without proper consideration of public feedback smacks of recklessness

From left : Tuan Haji Ismail, Mr. Tan Bun Teet, Madam Abujavalli

Kuantan Residents to Appeal the Lynas Temporary Operating Licence

Press statement of Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL)

February 14, 2012

A notice to appeal against the Lynas temporary operating licence was sent to Dato Seri Maximus Ongkili, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. The notice which was sent on 7^thFebruary was signed by SMSL Chairperson Mr Tan Bun Teet, Vice Chairperson Tuan Haji Ismail Abu Bakar and a number of other concerned citizens of Kuantan.

Mr Tan explained to the media,

“As a responsible law abiding citizen, a caring parent and grandparent, I have to take action for the sake of my country and the future of my family”

“Was there ever a project which had attracted 1,123 public submissions in Malaysia’s history? The Government’s hasty decision has made a mockery of democracy and broken the trust of the people on the Government. We are seeking legal action as a last resort.”

The Temporary Operating License (TOL) was granted to Lynas Malaysia by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) less than 3 working days after the public review period for Lynas’ application ended. The decision has sparked strong public outcry.

Last year, the Government accepted all of the 11 recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following its review of the Lynas project. Yet the AELB has shortchanged that commitment by prematurely issuing the licence even though Lynas has no idea how to safely manage its massive amount of waste or where to store it.

“Apart from the solid waste problem, many coastal communities will be affected, especially those involved in fishery and tourism.” Said Haji Ismail.

“These are my own people who will be left to bear the full impact of Lynas’ water and air pollution. How can I not take any action to stop the project?” concluded Haji Ismail.

The Lynas refinery plant will be dumping 500 tonnes of contaminated water into the Balok River and the South China Sea; and 1,000 cubic metres of gas into the air. Both streams of discharge will be contaminated with radioactive particles and possibly other hazardous substances harmful to the environment and human health.

Pn. Abujavalli A/P V Raman, a concern resident of Kuantan who joined SMSL in its appeal added,

“I have worked hard for my family and for my retirement in Kuantan. This is a peaceful and safe town. This is not a Chinese or Malay issue but an issue for all Malaysians who want a clean and safe future. I will not sit back to let others fight my battle”

“Our right to life, livelihood and enjoyment of our properties and the environment we live in and that of the public at large which were guaranteed by the Federal Constitution will be jeopardised should Lynas be allowed to operate with so many unresolved issues on hand.“ concluded Mr Tan.

SMSL urged the Minister to exercise his power entrusted to him to suspend the licence, pending the hearing of the appeal to uphold the system of democracy and good governance.

Today is St Valentine’s Day.

This day is not the sole prerogative of lovers but everyone who loves life and freedom. We love Malaysia. It is precisely because of our love for our beautiful country that we urge the Minister to demonstrate his love and duty of care for Malaysia as a Federal Minister to put on hold the Temporary Operation Licence to Lynas until the court has reached its decision on the appeal !

The Reflection of 1211

2012-02-13T06:26:00.000-08:00

On Dec 11, 2012, morning 6.30am to 10am, downpour,
(after The Reflection of 1311)

Please click here to view the gallery

Malaysians Protest Against Australian Rare Earths Plant

2012-02-13T05:52:00.000-08:00

Lynas Green Light Sparks Fresh Protest in Kuantan

Lee Long Hui • Feb 5, 12 12:10PM

Some 2,000 residents from around Kuantan yesterday descended on Teluk Cempedak beach in a protest against the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) and mining company Lynas.

The protest comes three days after the AELB granted a temporary operations licence (TOL) for the RM700 million Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) in Gebeng, Kuantan.

Starting as early as 5pm, the protestors, clad in their black and yellow anti-Lynas T-shirts, brought some 1,000 balloons in the same trademark colour as their T-shirts.

They were asked to scribble their wishes on pieces of paper before attaching them on the balloons.

Some of the messages read: "Stop Lynas!, Lynas radiation? No thanks!" while one was even attached a long banner reading: "Ridding of poison will make our nation happy and healthy," in Chinese calligraphy.

The protestors later tied the balloons to the ground for as a public display, before taking them down and handing them to visitors to the area in an effort to create awareness.

‘No police intervention'
Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) chairperson Tan Bun Teet, when contacted last night, said AELB's decision to ignore local sentiments by issuing a TOL to Lynas provoked a strong turnout at the protest.

"Tonight, there is a very large crowd, the whole beach is crowded with people," he said.

He adds that there were not enough balloons due to the higher than expected turnout.

The protest, Tan said, proceeded without incident and without the presence of any police or Kuantan City Council enforcement officers.

In past, in a similar protest, city council enforcement officers had dismantled the organisers' tents at the eleventh hour while police had demanded them to disperse.

‘Withdraw, or see you in court'

Tan said his group will on Wednesday, send a letter to the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Maximus Johnity Ongkili, demanding the AELB, which falls under its purview, withdraw the licence.

"We will give him seven days to reply, if there is not reply within this period, we will then file for a judicial review with the court," he said.

He added that the government had ignored the large number of criticisms during the public review period of Lynas' documents.

"Even though the TOL has been approved, there are still so many people are standing up against it.

"I hope the government can study and understand what the people are so upset about," he said.

Malaysians protest against Australian rare earths plant

A Change of Government is the ONLY Safe Solution for Malaysia!

2012-02-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

Related Media Releases :
1) Australia Greens MP : Grave Concerns remain after license granted to Lynas
2) Malaysia Citizen : Lynas Corp, Don't Pretend M'sian Interests Come First
3) Himpunan Hijau 2.0 the Green Rally Committee : Kelulusan Lesen Operasi Sementara Lynas Harus Ditolak!
4) Kuantan MP : AELB, Lynas Will Make 'Lab Rats' of Kuantan Residents

5) PAS : Why Did AkzoNobel Leave 'Ticking Time Bomb' Lynas Plant?

6) Pakatan Rakyat the Opposition Coalition's Press Statement

Press statement of the joint press conference Thursday, February 02, 2012

by Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL)

SMSL was outraged and appalled by the announcement of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) yesterday to issue a pre-operational licence to Australia’s Lynas Corporation for its controversial Gebeng rare earth refinery plant.

Mr Tan Bun Teet, Chairperson of SMSL commented:

“The approval given by the AELB totally ignored the concerns and comments provided by the public who took the trouble to wade through Lynas’ application. The public has submitted no less than a thousand comments and suggestions to AELB on the 26^th. Merely 3 office working days later AELB has decided to give Lynas a temporary licence.”

“Has the AELB really understood the risks and hazards of this project? The public review was a total charade, a sham and a false pretense in public consultation. It is just another public relation exercise for the Lynas project.” Added Mr Tan.

In the AELB media statement, it is clear that NONE of the suggestions and objections raised by the public and independent experts in the field was adequately addressed!

“The AELB has failed abysmally as a regulator.” Mr Tan said.

SMSL will not hold back any more but will take all possible actions to Stop Lynas.”

The Lynas rare earth project known as Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) is ten times bigger than the now closed Asian Rare Earth project in Bukit Merah.

Rare earth processing has long been linked to devastating environmental pollution. The LAMP will be discharging huge amount of pollution in all streams – air, water and solid as disclosed in the two documents by Lynas. Each of the streams contains radioactive particles and a range of unknown hazardous substances yet to be declared by Lynas.

The plant is already posing problems as it is in a flood plain. Contaminated water will be certain to overflow into the surrounding area, into the Balok River and the sea which will affect the range of marine life.

Worst, it is located in an environmentally sensitive area next to an important mangrove area and the South China Sea. A significant proportion of Malaysian seafood is caught here. Tourism the other growing industry for Pahang is based on the pristine coastal ecosystem will be hit hard in the shadow of the world’s largest rare earth refinery.

In granting Lynas the licence, the AELB has totally ignored advice and recommendation made by Malaysia’s most qualified professionals - the Malaysian Medical Association and the Pahang Bar Association.

Dr Yu Siew Hong a local general practitioner and an active member of SMSL said,

“There is no safe dose of radiation. The health of our people will be put at risk. The AELB has not learned from its mistake at Bukit Merah. The people will be outraged and they will do whatever it takes to stop this toxic project.”

SMSL has been taking a series of civil and fair action. Of the various stop Lynas groups, SMSL by far has engaged most extensively with the relevant authorities. The AELB approval is the last straw for SMSL.

“The government has left us no choice but to take legal action and to embark on a nation-wide public campaign to vote the Government out in the next general election. We want a safe and clean Malaysia for all. We cannot afford to let a Government which does not know its duty of care to bring hazards to our country.” Concluded Mr Tan.

SMSL has organized a public event on Saturday 4^th of February from 5pm till 10 pm. WE call upon all concerned residents of Kuantan and the greater Kuantan to come to Teluk Cempedak beach to make a wish. We pledge with others to change the government to save our homeland. Kuantan is a beautiful town. We do not want to live in the shadow of the pollution of the world’s biggest rare earth refinery.

Let’s make a thousand wishes and each of us shall strive to work towards making our wishes come true!

SMSL volunteers will be present to guide you. Prepare your wishes and write them on a long strip of paper or cloth prior to coming to TC and they will help you attach it to the balloon. Let’s all work towards a better government that will adhere to the principles of democracy i.e. a government by the people; of the people and for the people !

Feedback on Lynas' Radioactive Waste Plan

2012-01-31T20:27:00.000-08:00

Related Submission/Media Release:
1) SMSL-SLC : Local Says Market Won't Buy Lynas' Recycled Waste
2) Epidemiologist & Chemical Engineer (Environment) : Fears Linger over Lynas Plant
3) Kuantan MP Written Submission to MOSTI/AELB
4) Consumer Assoc. of Penang(CAP) & Sahabat Alam Malaysia(SAM) Written Submission to MOSTI/AELB

Joint Submission dated January 26, 2012 to AELB & MOSTI

by Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) and Stop Lynas Coaltion (SLC) on

Lynas Malaysia rare earth refinery application documents for pre-operating licence

A photograph taken on Jan13, 2012 while Lynas rare earth plant which is of radioactive industry was flooded.

1.0 General Overview
Document 1 – Radioactive Waste Management Plan(RWMP) &
Document 2 – Safety Case for Radioactive Waste Disposal LAMP

1.1 Comments
Upon review of the two documents on displayed, many gaps
and problems have been identified as follows:

• The current RWMP (Doc 1) and the associated Safety Case
(Doc 2) have not presented an effective safe and reliable waste
management strategy for both radioactive and non-radioactive
waste.

• The absence of a detailed EIA to address crucial environmental
issues such as the LAMP’s impact on the various eco-system
services risks irreversible environmental damages, food
contamination, health hazards and loss of livelihoods and income
for local people.

• The absence of ANY social impact assessment greatly
disadvantaged communities and business owners who face
adverse consequences as a result of the LAMP.

• Lynas has not fully disclosed details of the contentof each of the
individual waste streams. These materials may be hazardous
and/or toxic with serious health and/or environmental hazards.
In the absence of complete data, it will be risky and impossible
forMOSTI and the AELB to assess the merits and credibility of
Lynas’ remedial procedures for its waste streams.

• Lynas by its own admission hasbased solely on laboratory tests
and theories or concepts to design and handle its complex
hazardous waste streams. These data cannot be relied on for
licensing approval.

• Lynas’ claimed low concentration of radioactive thorium and
uranium has not been verified by any independent experts. No
detailed data or sampling data has been made available for public
scrutiny. The radioactivity levels are all estimated with none
measured. This increase the project hazard risks greatly.

• Lynas being a speculative company with no other fixed assets
or financial reserves beyond the sole rare earth project is
financially risky. Lynas’ cash flow and financial viability are
highly dependent on the demand for its rare earth oxides and their
market value.

A safe rare earth refinery plant requires high engineering
standard and heavy capital investment. The LAMP was rushed
through with shonky construction and cheap building materials.
Inside information has shown:

• serious defects and faults even before the plant is operational. See
photos attached for some of the examples of the problems.

• Its flood prone location rendering the plant at risk of being flooded
potentially polluting the surrounding peat land, ground water and
waterways as well as the South China Sea – see photos of Lynas in
flood and its flooded waste water outlets.

• Attached letter showing a reputable international chemical company
AkzoNobel cancelling a contract and refunding Lynas. [please scroll down to the bottom to view the letter.]

1.2 Suggestions:
In the absence of a clear scientific consensus on the health impact
of low dose radiation exposure, the precautionary principle should
prevail. MOSTI and AELB must uphold its duty of care for the
citizens and to protect public health and safety by rejectingLynas’
current application for a pre-operational licence and seek its
re-submission to specifically address the following:

• To carry out a detailed environmental impact assessment
addressing aspects of the environment including the Balok River,
the mangrove communities, the South China Sea and the peat
land in the plant and surrounding area which have not been studied
to date.

• To carry out a social impact study in order to determine the
implication of the project for the local and wider community.

• To ensure that both the detailed EIA and the SIA will be easily
accessible to the public with sufficient time for comments and input

• Provision of financial surety or bond before any licence is issued
to ensure adequate funds are available to meet the costs of any
industrial accidents, unexpected contamination from Lynas’
waste streams.

• MOSTI through the MPK to carry out an independent engineering
audit to identify the range of construction defects and design fault
before considering any licensing application by Lynas for its LAMP

Before the plant allowed to start operation, the radioactive waste water treatment pond was already full of rainwater.

2.0 Specific issues from Document 1
Document 1 - Radioactive Waste Management Plan

2.1.1 Comments on Section 2.1 p. 12Malaysia’s regulatory requirement stipulates that two Ministries are
responsible for matters pertaining to the Radioactive Materials i.e.
MOSTI and the Ministry of Health (MOH) where medical aspects
come under the MOH. However, the MOH appear not to have been
consulted about the project to date even though there are many health
issues which should concern the MOH.

2.1.2 Suggestions on Section 2.1 p. 12
• The MOH should be actively engaged in the discussion around health
risks and hazards of the LAMP.

• MOH needs to play an active role in the decision making process about
the LAMP.

2.2.1 Comments on Section 3 p.33
Table 3 contain incomplete and inconsistent data. A detailed and
complete list of substances in each of the waste streams is not available,
raising questions as to Lynas’ commitment to transparency and
accountability. Examples:

• Hydrofluoric acid was used in the process but no data is shown on this
highly toxic substance.

• Lead is mentioned to be present but it is not in the list in Table 3

2.2.2 Suggestions on Section 3 p.33
Lynas should be made to produce a COMPLETE list of substances in
each of its waste streams including their estimated quantity. These data
are essential to facilitate an informed decision making process. In the
absence of these vital information, any decision made will be futile
and risky.

2.3.1 Comments on Section 3 p. 37
The graph is inconsistent with the discussion and Lynas’ proposed doubling
of production from year 2. The straight linear relation is based on the
lower Phase 1 capacity. It has not been adjusted for the doubling of
capacity in Phase 2

2.3.2 Suggestions on Section 3 p.37
Lynas must be required to produce consistent and accurate
data to facilitate informed decision making.

2.4.1 Comments on Section3.3.4
Information on p.38 indicated that Lynas has yet to find a permanent
solution to its radioactive waste (WLP). Its proposal to convert the waste
into commercial by product/s is puzzling and UNACCEPTABLE as the
discussion in Document 2 (p8 Exec Summary) indicated that only the lesser
radioactive contaminated FGD and NUF are to be turned into gypsum and
fertiliser enhancer.

The proposal to use any of Lynas waste stream for commercial purpose
is highly unsafe and risky therefore unacceptable. It will literary scatter
Lynas’ radioactive substances into households, offices and food production
areas. This will expose more people to long-term contact to lose dose
radiation and increase the risk of ingestion of radioactive particles.
Further, Lynas’ radioactive waste will become more unstable and
hazardous as the radioactive thorium and uranium are subject to
a series of chemical reactions in the rare earth processing and the
subsequent decaying process through time. Information presented
in document 1 and 2 are based primarily on their inert properties and
behaviour. Their decaying state and their daughters include highly
dangerous substances such as the carcinogenic radon www.icrp.org/docs/ICRP_Statement_on_Radon(November_2009).pdf and a number of other
hazardous ‘daughters’.

A permanent site for its radioactive waste remained unspecific. In the
highly likely event that Lynas’ proposal to convert the radioactive waste
into commercial by-product/s cannot be approved or accepted, a safe
solution to store its radioactive waste remain unavailable posing serious
ecological, health and economic risks and hazards for the community and
Malaysia as a whole in the long run

2.4.2 Suggestions on Section3.3.4
MOSTI and AELB should not issue any pre-operating licence UNLESS
and UNTIL Lynas can realistically demonstrate a safe permanent solution
to its massive amount of radioactive waste. The AELB should not approve
of any attempt by Lynas to commercialise its waste – be they lowly
contaminated FGD and NUF or radioactive WLP. Commercialisation of
any of Lynas’ waste streams will essentially increase and spread the risk of
radiation exposure (no matter how low) and ingestion of radioactive particles.

3.0 Specific issues from Document 2
Document 2 - Safety Case for Radioactive Waste Disposal LAMP

3.1.1 Comments on Exec Summary para 3 p. 8
Lynas is attempting to jump the gun by naming the FGD & NUF waste
asresidueswhen its plan to recycle as a feedstock to production of
synthetic gypsum or as a fertiliser enhancer is merely likelihood and
had not been subject to commercial feasibility study or consumers
acceptability of these by-products contaminated with radioactive
particles and other toxic heavy metals including lead as well as hazardous
substances such as phosphorous.

Phosphorus contaminated gypsum boards are now linked with radiation
exposure and is a subject of a safety campaign:

http://www.zerowasteamerica.org/Phospho-Gypsum.htm -
“The use of phospho-gypsum plaster-board and plaster cement in buildings
as a substitute for natural gypsum may constitute an additional source of
radiation exposure to both workers and members of the public, both from
inhalation of radon progeny produced from radon which is exhaled from the
plaster-board and from beta and gamma radiation produced by radioactive
decay in the plaster-board.”

Gypsum made from Lynas’ WLP will be classified as phosphor-gypsum.
Further issues that need addressing are:

1. Will there be a market for the synthetic gypsum which is likely to be
contaminated with radioactive particles (no matter how little) and
other hazardous substances? The American Gypsum Association do
NOT accept gypsum made with contaminated materials.

2. Similarly, will farmers and crop growers risk the food safety standard by
using fertiliser enhancer made from Lynas’ waste?

3. Contaminated gypsum in the USA has resulted in a class action against
the supplier and the importers see http://www.drywalllegalhelp.com/.

4. Even if the market accept the contaminated gypsum, can it fully absorb
the colossal amount produced given that the LAMP will be producing at
least 300,000 tonnes of contaminated waste every year?

3.1.2 Suggestions on Exec Summary para 3 p. 8
The commercial viability of such by-products needs to be assessed before
making any assumption that this recycling proposal is viable in reality.

MOSTI and AELB should seriously consider the dire consequences of
commercialising by-products made from Lynas’ contaminated waste.
Until and UNLESS a complete list of contaminants and its quantity is
clearly established, no commercialisation should EVER be considered as
a precautionary measure.

3.2.1 Comments on Section 2.15 Scheduled (Hazardous) Waste
Management
Many of the substances in Lynas’ waste streams are toxic and hazardous.
Until and unless a complete list and their quantity is made known, decision
making based on the incomplete list will be futile.

3.2.2 Suggestions on Section 2.15 Scheduled (Hazardous) Waste
Management
A complete list of substances which will be found in
Lynas’ waste streams should be made available to MOSTI
AELB and the public for closer scrutiny. Non-radioactive
substances have their own risk and hazards which should
be fully understood and dealt with.

3.3.1 Comments on Section 7.3 p. 50
Lynas has admitted to the strong relationship between Th02 and pH value,
which means that the thorium compound Th02becomes increasingly
soluble in more acidic environment. This is a serious concern since Lynas’
waste water will be discharged into the Balok River unlike other rare earth
plant such as Molycorp in the USA and newer projects being considered in
Australia with zero waste water discharge – despite their siting in arid and
semi-arid land in contrast with Gebeng’s wet tropical peatland!
Considering the Balok flood plain and the coastal region being such an
important seafood area and tourism hot spots, allowing Lynas to discharge
its waste water as proposed by Lynas will be futile and dangerous.

3.3.2 Suggestions on Section 7.3 p. 50
Lynas should NEVER be allowed to discharge its waste
water into the Balok River, the South China Sea via the
Balok River or in any other forms of channel. MOSTI and
AELB must insist on a zero discharge strategy upon Lynas
to safeguard the vital seafood and tourism industry of
the east coast of Malaysia. Failure to do so will result in
irreversible and expensive ecological and health problems
for generations to come.

3.4.1 Comments on Executive Summary p. 9
Given the strong relationship between Th02 and pH value, it is confusing
for Lynas to then claim the “ Low solubility of Thorium” as an important
property that contribute to its safe management in the Executive

Summary.
The playing down of the low radioactivity of Lynas waste (notably WLP)
by Lynas in Document 2 which is meant to present a strong safety case
for its radioactive waste management is a real concern. A well designed
Safety Case should premise on the precautionary principle :
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001395/139578e.pdf
Instead Lynas has adopted a least cost and lowest common denominator
scenario in its proposal.
Lynas’ attempt to deceive the Malaysian authorities to play down the risks
and hazards of its radioactive waste can result in poor decision making
resulting in dangerous and hazardous pollution for the country.

3.4.2 Suggestions on Executive Summary p. 9
MOSTI and AELB to warn Lynas against giving deceptive and inconsistent
information to confuse the problem and to play down the complexity of
managing thorium and uranium as well as other hazardous substances in
the waste streams.

MOSTI and AELB must insist that Lynas adopt the precautionary principle
for its Safety Case and demand Lynas to re-do the entire case based on
this premise before considering any licence application.

Android HQ Has Revised the #Stop Lynas Apps to Upgraded Version! Feel Free to Use it. TQ for All the Support!

2012-01-31T04:55:00.000-08:00

Please kindly write your feedback to us at SaveMalaysia2011@gmail.com

Please feel free to scan the QR code above to use it or Click here to download it.

You Can Now Follow Closely the Lynas Issue via Your Android Gadget too !

2012-01-29T20:32:00.000-08:00

Focus : stop Lynas

This apps is developed by volunteers & sponsored by Android as for corporate social responsibility

Lynas' Weak Licence Application Full of Loopholes

2012-01-29T20:09:00.000-08:00

Press statement of the joint press conference January 26, 2012

by Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) and Stop Lynas Coaltion(SLC) on

Lynas Malaysia rare earth refinery application for pre-operating licence

Today marked the final day for public comments on Lynas’ application for the pre-operating licence for its Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Gebeng.

Together with concerned citizens including representatives from the Pahang Bar Council and the Malaysian Medical Association who converged at the Pahang Secretariat Office, SMSL and SLC delivered a joint submission to MOSTI and the AELB urging the two authorities to reject Lynas’ application until a safer plan is produced.

Mr Tan Bun Teet, the Chairperson of SMSL lamented,

“We are disappointed but not surprised by the very weak application presented by Lynas. Most worrying of all is that Lynas’ proposed waste management plan is full of holes and is totally unsafe. Under no circumstance should the Malaysian Government issues the licence.”

Lynas proposed to turn its waste into commercial gypsum and fertiliser enhancer. If accepted, this plan will result in hazardous and radioactive substances being scattered into residential houses, offices, farms and plantations.

“The Government must enforce its own law to make sure Lynas carry out a detailed environmental impact assessment. Given the high population density, a social impact assessment should also be carried out before considering any further application for licence by Lynas for the LAMP. Both of these documents when done should be easily accessible to the public with adequate time to comment and scrutinise.” Said Andansura Rabu the spokesperson and chairperson of the Stop Lynas Coalition and a resident of Balok, the town closest to the LAMP.

The towns and villages along the coast from Kuantan to Kemaman consist mainly of traditional fishing communities. Hundreds of families rely on the fishing industry for their livelihoods. Contaminated water from the Lynas plant will be discharged into the Balok River which drains into the South China Sea risking serious pollution of these important fishing grounds and tourism hotspots.

Tourism is a growing industry along the east coast. The prestigious world-class Club Med resort is only about 15km north of the LAMP.

“If the Government issues the licence without a proper detailed EIA and a social impact study, the local economy and the health of citizens will be severely affected. Besides, who will want to holiday near a massive toxic plant and swim in the sea contaminated with rare earth pollution?” Added Mr Tan.

SMSL and SLC reiterated their stance to the Government that both groups will do everything possible to ensure there is a safe and clean future for Malaysia.

SMSL and SLC have raise funds from the public to explore legal avenues so that legal actions can be taken if Lynas is allowed to operate despite its unsafe waste management strategy.

“We hope the Government will seriously consider the comments and suggestions presented through the submissions. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to take the matter to the court.” Concluded Mr Tan and Mr Rabu.

Lynas Wants to Dump Radioactive Wastes on Island of Malaysia

2012-01-28T16:20:00.000-08:00

A photograph taken by volunteers underwater of an island off Pahang for the publicity use for Himpunan Hijau 109 (the previous Green Rally on Oct 9, 2011) which had attracted at least 5,000 people to reach Kuantan nationwide against Lynas rare earth refinery being built on Malaysia such a wet land.

Fresh protests against Pahang rare earth plant

Lester Kong, Malaysia Correspondent
The Straits Times Singapore
January 28, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: A plan to dump radioactive waste from a controversial rare earth plant onto an island off Pahang has revived protests against it, just as the Malaysian government is expected to make a decision on the issue as early as next week.

Residents and a coalition of environmental groups are threatening to hold a rally near the site next month, ramping up demands to close down the plant built by Australian company Lynas Corp.

The outcry came after Lynas released waste management plans that showed a proposal to dump radioactive waste from the plant on an uninhabited island off Pahang. It also proposed building a permanent disposal facility on under-utilised or undeveloped land, or disused mining land. The plans were put on public display until this week.

The plant had sparked a huge controversy after it came to public attention last year, and could well become an election issue. Located in the seaside town of Gebeng, the RM2.5 billion (S$1.03 billion) refinery was aimed at capitalising on rising worldwide demand for rare earths, essential materials in many consumer electronics, including laptops and MP3 players.

The company had planned to start production at the refinery, which is 95 per cent completed, in September last year, but this was delayed by public protests. It has repeatedly maintained that the plant is safe.

Lynas has yet to secure an operating licence. International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed has said the Cabinet will decide by the end of this month whether to allow Lynas to start refining rare earths on a small scale, while continuing to undertake research on its potential impact on the environment.

Such a pre-operating licence, which would be valid for two years, would limit production while making the company prove that its waste material meets safety standards.

Atomic Energy Licensing Board director-general Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan declined to confirm when it will make a recommendation for this licence, but stressed that Lynas' waste disposal plans have yet to be approved, and no sites have been identified yet.

'The most important thing is that everything should be done according to national and international standards and best practices. We will not compromise on this,' he said.

Plans for the Lynas plant had evoked memories of Malaysia's last rare earth refinery in Perak in the 1980s, whose radioactive waste was believed to have caused several cases of birth defects and leukaemia, necessitating a major environmental clean-up. It was closed in 1992.

Yesterday, the Green Rally 2.0, a coalition of environmental groups, said it will organise another protest after a rally last year was 'blatantly ignored' by the government.

Resident Jade Lee said her family was considering moving out of Pahang if Lynas goes ahead with its waste disposal plans for the island near the state.

'I know several families here who have relocated and have sold everything they own here,' said the statistician. 'We wanted to live here permanently, but this would dash our plans for the future.'

The Straits Times Singapore

Something is really wrong with Lynas !

2012-01-25T20:51:00.000-08:00

About 300 people flooded the Pahang Secretariat office this morning to support the final submission.

Anti-Lynas protest against licence issuance

Stephanie Sta Maria | January 26, 2012

Stay Tune for more info !

Media Alert : Jan26, a Festive Day to Submit Lynas' Block

2012-01-23T03:18:00.000-08:00

Dedicated for the New Year

2012-01-21T14:49:00.000-08:00

CNY 2012 - Nasi lauk you never taste before !

The Open Letter to Malaysia Government on Lynas Pre-Opt License Application

2012-01-14T04:14:00.000-08:00

Related Media Releases
1) Kuantan MP : Lynas Speaks As If They Are in Cohort with the Malaysian Authorities
2) Consumer Assoc. of Penang(CAP) & Sahabat Alam Malaysia(SAM) : Malaysia Not Adhering to IAEA Recommendations on Lynas
3) Australian Greens MP call on Lynas to come clean about the Controversial Refinary

      Tan Bun Teet, Chairperson, Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL)
      Andansuara Rabu, Chairperson, Stop Lynas Coalition (SLC)
      No. 1, LORONG GALING 12,
      JALAN HAJI AHMAD,
      25300 KUANTAN,
      PAHANG DARUL MAKMUR                                                              13 JANUARY 2012

      To:

1. Y.B. Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI)
2. Y.B. Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad, Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI)

3. Y.M. Raja Datuk Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan, Director General, Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB)

4. YH. Dato' Haji Zulkifli Bin Haji Yaacob, Yang DiPertua, Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK)

CC:

1.       Mr Yukiya Amano, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
2.       Y.B. Dato' Sri Douglas Uggah Emabas, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment
3.       Y.B. Dato' Seri Haji Noh Bin Omar, Minister of Agriculture And Agro-Based Industry
4.       Y.B. Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commoditie
5.       Y.B. Dato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Minister of Tourism

Re: PUBLIC REVIEW OF THE PRE-OPERATING LICENCE APPLICATION FOR THE LYNAS ADVANCED MATERIAL PLANT

We refer to the radioactive waste management plan (“RWMP”) on display for public viewing in response to an application by Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd for a class A license for milling for the LAMP in Gebeng, Pahang. In view of the complexity of the issues, the risks involved for Malaysia and in the public interest, we hereby request and would appreciate that:

- that a copy of the document is made available to the public to ensure transparency and accountability

- that an extension of time for the review period to be extended for another 4 weeks rather than the existing brief 14 days to review a plant widely considered to be the world’s largest rare earth refinery.

We would like to draw the attention of your good offices that our Most Honourable Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak has stated time and again that the safety and health and welfare of the people is of the utmost priority of the people – “Rakyat di dahulukan”.

Government’s commitment to the IAEA Recommendations

We specifically note the Government’s stand in accepting in total the recommendations of the IAEA panel’s report dated 30^th. June, 2011 entitled “Radiation Safety Aspects of a Proposed Rare Earths Processing Facility (the Lynas Project)” (“IAEA report”) which includes inter alia that Lynas must submit a long term treatment and storage of its waste products. AELB went further by demanding a demonstration of funding of such remedial work before it starts its operations.

The IAEA report recommended that AELB should also “intensify its activities regarding public information and public involvement. In particular, it should:

· Develop and make available easily understandable information on radiation safety and on the various steps in the licensing and decision making processes;

· Inform and involve interested and affected parties of the regulatory requirements…

· Make available, on a routine basis, all information related to the radiation safety of the proposed rare earths processing facility…and ensure that the public knows how to gain access to this information.”

The Government’s adoption of the IAEA recommendations has been widely reported in the media both in Malaysia and internationally. It has especially been cited by Lynas Corporation in Australia. Lynas has made many public statements admitting to its failure in community consultation previously and has promised to improve on this aspect of the project as per the IAEA recommendation.

However, we are gravely concerned that the Government has imposed very strict conditions to limit public access to the RWMP. The public and various stakeholders are not allowed to make copies of the RWMP on display nor is the RWMP available in soft or hardcopy for a more thorough and in-depth review by relevant independent experts in the national interests.

The review process is far from being accessible and the review period is too brief for the public to make sense of the detail of the application by Lynas. We have been informed by officials on duty at the various display centres that the RWMP is only to be made available under strict conditions as required and specified by the Lynas Corporation.

Lynas undermining of Malaysia’s Sovereignty and Internal Affairs

As citizens, we are puzzled, shocked and worried at the same time over the power and influence Lynas Corporation exerts on the Malaysian Government to the extend where a foreign corporation is apparently dictating terms on how Malaysia should conduct its business and govern the nation. As a nation, we have sovereign rights and power to make sound informed decision in the national interest and in the interest of citizens.

Government’s Duty of Care to Exercise Prudence

The Government has a duty of care to exercise prudence to ensure Malaysia’s reputation and standing is upheld. In the eye of the IAEA and citizens as well as the international community, the Government must NOT compromise our standards and safeguards for the sake of the overzealous commercial interest of a foreign corporation.

The Lynas Advance Materials Plant (LAMP) is a of a scale Malaysia has never dealt with before and Lynas has not operated any rare earth treatment plant previously. The US Molycorp project has a zero discharge policy and it is piloting the plant in small stages despite its location in a remote and isolated desert area. There are many serious concerns with the LAMP design, the shonky construction and its location in an environmentally sensitive area.

If a pre-operating licence is issued, it risks jeopardizing our fishery, agriculture (especially oil palm and bird nest) and tourism industries. None of those sectors has been considered in Lynas’ preliminary impact assessment. Any further licensing approval for Lynas in the absence of a clear understanding of its impact will be made at the expense of jeopardizing Malaysia’s own Gross Domestic Products as a large majority of the people in Pahang we are directly and indirectly depending on these sectors of the economy for their survival.

The shonky construction of the LAMP as reported in the New York Times in June 2011 has yet to be assessed and rectified through an independent engineering audit. Building approval of the plant under this circumstance will risk workers, the surrounding factories, our environment and waterways subject to the hazards of the many highly toxic and corrosive as well as radioactive substances which will be used in the plant. Of utmost concern is the Kuala Balok community who is at the front line of any water pollution and seafood contamination including the dreaded radioactive substances which are likely to be found in the waste water of Lynas and any leakages from the plant which will be washed into the Balok River and the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is a shared water with our ASEAN neighbours. It will be very embarrassing for Malaysia and the diplomatic implication is grave if any contamination is detected by our regional neighbours or any major spills occurred due to our own weak governance and mismanagement of the project.

As citizens and as leaders of citizen groups advocating for the community, we would like to know why has the Government been so prepared to forego its own duty of care and compromise Malaysia’s sovereignty simply to rush through an essential public consultation to facilitate a speedy approval for an application from a foreign company.

Surely Malaysia should be demonstrating strong leadership to comply with our commitment to the IAEA to protect its citizens and the country from the risks and hazards of a foreign venture!

Is the Government not concern that the world is watching Malaysia, and that it is essential to show them that we are a responsible modern state with good governance that prioritises our own national interests – our environment and the vital ecosystem services such as clean water, healthy soil and other natural resources which sustain our economy and our citizens?

Each and every ministry and head of agency addressed in this letter is mandated with responsibilities and duty to protect the country and her citizens. This duty of care has been entrusted by the people who elected this Government. Failure to carry out these duty and responsibilities will certainly result in serious electoral back clash in the next election.

Lynas has no capacity to compensate beyond its mine life

In the context of the mining industry in Australia, Lynas Corporation is merely a single-project high risk-taking corporation developed based on rare earth speculation utilizing a strong public relation (PR) machinery to boost its stock to attract investment. It has neither capacity nor asset beyond the mine life of its Mt Weld operations and the market worth of its rare earth oxides to compensate Malaysia for any eventual contamination and health problems like Mitsubishi did for the fallout from its Asian Rare Earth plant.

Lynas Not Walking the Talk

Lynas Corporation Limited (Lynas) has recently step up its PR exercise publicizing and advertising in our media and especially in our local daily newspapers which statements such as:

“Lynas is proud of its health and safety standards…We share a strong set of values at Lynas around open and honest operations, respecting and contributing to the communities in which we live and work. Lynas would like to ensure the community’s concerns are addressed and their questions answered.”

Being a publicly listed Australian, Lynas is well aware that in Australia, it will have to make its waste management plan and licensing application public and accessible by the authorities there. We can access all of Lynac’ licensing application and the Australian authorities’ approval documents for its Mt Weld operations online.

The Australian Government went further to fund non-government organisations such as the Conservation Councils and the Environmental Defender Office to provide independent support to the local communities to obtain the services of experts to analyse vital and important technical documents.

How is it possible that Lynas comes out so openly to say that Malaysia’s requirements are more stringent than Australia when they at the same time imposing such restrictive access to such a vital and important document like the RWMP, especially when this document is a long-time coming and have not been routinely made available to the public as recommended by the IAEA and agreed to by both the Malaysian Government and Lynas?

Our Stance and requests

We have attended and viewed the RWMP. We found many crucial areas of the document that warrant greater scrutiny by independent experts in the public and national interests. We implore your good offices to uphold the commitment made to the IAEA and to the public to release this document to the public and to make it accessible.

Given the complexity and the many areas of disagreements on the Lynas’ proposed waste disposal method, we hereby request for an extension of time for the public review so that the IAEA recommendation on public consultation can be implemented and complied with by your good offices.

Further, we would like an opportunity to be able to present and discuss specific technical concerns arising from our review and analysis of the application BEFORE the AELB Board make its recommendation to Putrajaya for approval for the pre-operating licence.

We would like to take this opportunity to clarify to the Government that as responsible and concern citizens, we are compelled to and will do everything possible to stop a repeat of the problems and tragedy of Bukit Merah in Gebeng. All we are seeking is a safe and clean future for Malaysia and for our family. We trust that as fellow citizens and as parents, you will appreciate our concerns and will act accordingly to protect our interests and not that of a foreign firm.

Thanking you in anticipation

Yours sincerely,

Tan Bun Teet

Chairperson, Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL)

Andansura Rabu
Chairperson, Stop Lynas Coalition (SLC)

Lynas Undermining Malaysia's Sovereignty !

2012-01-14T04:11:00.000-08:00

Press statement of the joint press conference January 13, 2012

by Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) and Stop Lynas Coaltion(SLC) on

Lynas Malaysia rare earth refinery application for pre-operation licence

Earlier today, SMSL and SLC alerted the relevant Ministers responsible for MITI, MOSTI and the Head of AELB and MPK in writing of the serious implications of fast tracking the approval process for the LAMP.

“We are totally shocked by the utter impotency and defensive nature of the Government of Malaysia in accepting Lynas’ Radioactive Waste Management Plan (RWMP) under such poor conditions and with such restricted public review process.” Said Mr Tan Bun Teet, Chairperson of SMSL.

If the government issues the pre-operating licence for the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant under its current proposal as set out in the licence application, Malaysia will not be in compliance with the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Mr Tan added, “Malaysia will be embarrassed internationally for pushing ahead with such a shonky project against our national interest and the advice of the IAEA.”

SMSL and SLC has requested the Government to:

- release the RWMP document for the purpose of more in-depth analysis and review in the public interest in light of the serious implication of the project.

- extend the time period of the review for another 4 weeks rather than the existing brief 14 days to review a plant widely considered to be the world’s largest rare earth refinery outside China.

Mr Andansura Rabu, Chariperson of SLC questioned Lynas’ arrogance and dishonesty,

“How can a foreign corporation so blatantly undermined Malaysia’s sovereignty by dictating to our Government to restrict public access to the RWMP?”

“In Australia, Lynas would be required by law to make its licensing application available for public scrutiny and working to a timeline set by the Government.”

Lynas has widely publicised its commitment to improve on its performance in this very important but overlooked aspect of the project especially to its shareholders and investors as well as customers. It has also heavily advertised and publicized its commitment to safety and health issues.

“Clearly, Lynas is not walking the talk in Malaysia.” Added Mr Rabu.

SMSL and SLC reiterated their stance to the Government that as responsible and concern citizens, both groups are compelled to and will do everything possible to stop a repeat of the problems and tragedy of Bukit Merah in Gebeng.

SMSL and SLC appeal to the respective Ministers and Heads of agencies to protect and prioritise Malaysian interest above Lynas’ ambition and to make decision as leaders entrusted by citizens to act with responsibility and professionalism as fellow citizens and as parents.

“SMSL and SLC further added that all that both groups are seeking is a safe and clean future for Malaysia and for our family.”Concuded Mr Tan and Mr Andansura Rabu.

A copy of the letter is attached for media reference.
http://savemalaysia-stoplynas.blogspot.com/2012/01/open-letter-to-malaysia-government-on.html

Anti-Lynas Groups Marathon-Hand-Copied Lynas Documuents in 56 Hours

2012-01-08T17:36:00.000-08:00

SinChew Daily (National Page) dated Jan 09, 2012

China Press (National Page) dated Jan 09, 2012

Groups Demanded Lynas a 14-Day-Extent for Such Review

2012-01-06T15:57:00.000-08:00

Related Media Releases dated 5th Jan 2012 :
1) Kuantan MP : Lynas Speaks As If They Are in Cohort with the Malaysian Authorities
2) Consumer Assoc. of Penang(CAP) & Sahabat Alam Malaysia(SAM) : Lynas TOL Public Feedback Session a Joke
3) Australian Greens MP call on Lynas to come clean about the Controversial Refinary

Press statement of the joint press conference 6^th Jan 2012

by Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) and Stop Lynas Coaltion(SLC) on

Lynas Malaysia rare earth refinery application for pre-operating licence

Money spent by Lynas Corp for weeks mass advertisement on facebook, twitter, blogs and local mainstream papers rather than going for the real, sincere and clean public consultation

Stop Lynas campaign groups sought greater transparency and vowed to seek a judicial review on the latest claimed public engagement of Lynas Malaysia. The groups are appalled by the difficulties in gaining access to the Lynas’ pre-operating licence application documents and the ongoing lack of public consultation on the project.

Mr Tan Bun Teet, Chairperson of Safe Malaysia Stop Lynas said,

“The many restrictions and difficulties experienced by the public to gain access to the documents are unacceptable. It is a total farce especially when Lynas Corporation claimed in its media statement in West Australian on the 3^rd Jan 2012 that its application is now undergoing public consultation.”

Better public consultation is one of the eleven recommendations by the International Atomic Energy Agency which was agreed to by the Malaysian Government which sought its advice on the Lynas project. Specifically, the AELB is to make information readily available to the public and more effectively involved the public in the licensing process.

However, the practice by the AELB and Lynas has proven otherwise. Lynas’ application was written in highly technical English out of reach of most Malaysians especially those who will be most directly affected in the Gebang and Balok areas as well as the rural communities living along the coast nearby.

If Lynas is sincere in consulting the public on the matter concerning the management of disposal of its radioactive waste, the documents should have been presented in Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese. They should also be made readily available to the public be it in hard and soft copies.

The public viewing period for the hardcopy of the application is only for an hour per person for each viewing session for two weeks from 3^rd to 17 of January. This process lacks transparency and has not done anything to improve on the project’s community consultation and involvement.

Mr Andansura Rabu, the Chairperson of the Stop Lynas Coalition and a spokesperson for the local community-based Stoop Lynas group BADAR asked the Government to respect the rights of the community to make informed decision,

“MOSTI should extend the review duration to another 2 weeks at least since we are dealing with the world’s largest rare earth plant here., It is crucial for more people to review such an important application which will have an impact on their life and future.”

“By limiting the number of copies available and to keep the review time so short to understand such complex and bulking documents has already insulted concerned citizens of the greater Kuantan municipality. I urge the Government not to ridicule the people this way“ added Mr Rabu.

SMSL and SLC hereby call upon Lynas Malaysia to show some respect to the people instead of lavishing its investors’ money in media advertising to promote Lynas rather than really engaging and consulting with community. The most basic thing Lynas could have done was to make the contents of its application in the public domain in accessible languages so that the public can gain access to it more readily.

Should Lynas Malaysia fail to put up the FULL content of these documents in the public domain for easy access, SMSL and SLC shall have no hesitation to file for a judicial review to force it to do so. We believe the management team of Lynas Malaysia will exercise their wisdom to promote goodwill and trust with the local population and be sensitive to the wishes of the stakeholders and to heed the IAEA recommendations!

(From left) Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, SMSL Chairman Tan bun Teet, SLC Chairman Andansura Rabu

Background

Since the 3^rd of Jan 2012, AELB has started to display to the public the two documents which Lynas has submitted to them in conjunction with their application for the pre-operations license . This was done with the expressed consent of Lynas Malaysia.

The public are invited to review; read; criticize ;comment and give suggestions on what was contained in a 250-300- pages thick file ( about 4 inches thick ) from the 3^rd Jan to the 17^th Jan.2012.between 9am to 4pm excluding Saturdays and Sundays. The documents can only be reviewed at any one time by only one person and he or she is allowed into the room to read the documents for 1 hour.

On the first day, only one copy of the documents was made available for review to the public. When the anti-Lynas groups protested on this unreasonable arrangement, 3 copies of the documents were made available at the SUK Pahang starting the following day ; thus increasing the number of people who can review the document to 3 at any one time.

Being concerned citizens and the stakeholders in this controversial issue of LAMP ,we have voluntarily and actively participated in this exercise. We were most disappointed that there is such wanton and glaring lack of care and consideration for the stakeholders in Kuantan!

From the letter by Lynas to AELB, it was revealed that Lynas has provided the latter with 20 copies of the documents . Lynas has also imposed various conditions on the public reviewing the documents like handphones/laptops are prohibited from being carried into the room; persons reviewing cannot make any copies; AELB officer on duty to set a maximum time of review for each person etc…..

Kuantan has a population of 400,000 and they are all stakeholders in this issue. By imposing such restrictions on the public it will severely curtail and limit the number of people who can get a chance to review the documents. Imagine that in a single day going by most optimistic calculations, a maximum of 3 persons (at any one time) X 7 ( from 9 am to 4pm) can gain access to the documents. Multiply that by 10 days ( from the 3^rd to 17^ththere are 4 weekends ) only a total of 210 people can get to review the documents.

Divide that by the total population in Kuantan only 0.06% of the local population ever get the chance to be “CONSULTED”. May we ask is Lynas Malaysia serious in its effort to consult the public here or is it just meant to be an exercise for a convenient spin to fool their investors in Australia?

Lynas Speaks As If They Are in Cohort With The Malaysian Authorities

2012-01-05T03:18:00.000-08:00

Press Release
MP for Kuantan
5th Jan 2012.

In a statement dated 5th Jan 2012, Lynas announced that the Malaysian authorities will meet to decide on the issuance of Lynas's temporary pre-operating license by the 30th of January.

Lynas stated that MITI had indicated: AELB will meet on the 30th January for a decision on the approval for the pre-operating License. Lynas also stated that the decision by AELB is expected to be tabled to a full session of the Malaysian Cabinet for approval.

I can't help but wonder since when was Lynas appointed the spokesperson for the Malaysian authorities. (MITI and MOSTI has thus so far not made any comments on the date when they will decide on the approval of the pre operating license)

Lynas had only just displayed the documents for a mere three days and the public are still having difficulty accessing and going through the whole document which up till now is not available online as well as no hard copies has been made available, not even for sale. Lynas also had strictly prohibited the documents to be photographed, either using a camera or other device, giving the excuse of protecting trade secret.

I remember not so long ago when it was the Malaysian authorities happily parroting everything that Lynas has said. MITI reproduced input data from Lynas in official MITI documents without first scrutinising and behaving as spokesperson for Lynas.

Now it's the other way round. Now Lynas is making statements on behalf of MITI and the Malaysian government agencies in a situation when the agencies concerned have been silent.

Considering that Lynas's shares has spiralled down, thus Lynas is desperate to indicate to their shareholders that everything is going smoothly re: the licensing procedures. Lynas is only concerned about their profits, without giving any concern to the safety and health of the people in this country. Lynas also does not have a care about what happens to the Malaysian environment, as Lynas will be able to pack and leave after making their profits at the expense of Malaysia.

I would like to remind Lynas, that the stakeholders and the greater public in Kuantan and Malaysia are the ones who will have a very important say in the approval of the license. And it's time Lynas respects that and behave.

Fuziah Salleh
MP for Kuantan, Malaysia.

Lynas "Closes Door" for Public Consultation

2012-01-03T18:11:00.000-08:00

Anti-Lynas group claims ‘too many restrictions’ to study permit papers

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

January 03, 2012
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/anti-lynas-group-claims-too-many-restrictions-to-study-permit-papers/

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 — An anti-Lynas group today accused Putrajaya of imposing “too many restrictions” in the public viewing of the rare earth producer’s application permit, saying it was impossible to study the documents under such circumstances.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) recently announced that Lynas had applied for a temporary operational licence for its controversial refinery in Pahang, with director-general Datuk Madinah Mohamad saying the government will display the Australian mining giant’s local company application documents for public feedback before reaching its decision.

Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) chairman Tan Bun Teet however charged that it was impossible for the public to view the pre-operating licence in Kuantan as it turned out to be a limited closed-door session.

He told The Malaysian Insider that only one person was allowed to view the 300-400-page-long document for a maximum of one hour, and that there were other hard or soft copies available for people to “scrutinise.”

“There are too many restrictions for stakeholders. We can view it for 14 days starting January 3, only one person per hour, each day the office is open for seven hours.

“Which means that on average only 98 people will be able to look at the document... how do you go through a 300-page document in one hour? And not be allowed a soft copy for our perusal?” Tan said.

He said MOSTI should provide the public with more than just one copy of the document if it was “sincere” in public consultation over the matter.

“Can MOSTI tell us which one of their officers can study a document that thick within one hour?” he added.

The documents will be on display daily from January 3-17 at the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) headquarters in Dengkil, Selangor.

They can also be viewed at the Pahang State Secretariat in Kuantan and at the AELB temporary office at the Lynas (M) Sdn Bhd project site in Gebeng as well as at the AELB east coast branch office in Kemaman, Terengganu.

Lynas Corp has already resorted to placing full-page advertisements in mainstream newspapers to defend itself from criticisms over its nearly-completed rare earth refinery.

Through the advertisements, the Australian mining firm addressed several frequent allegations against its operations, including offering its promise that it complies with all Australian, international and Malaysian standards.

The controversial RM1.5 billion plant being built in the prime minister’s home state of Pahang is now said to be more than 85 per cent complete and is expected to power up by early next year.

The rare earth refinery, touted to be the biggest in the world, aims to break China’s near-complete stranglehold of the minerals required to manufacture high-technology products like hybrid cars, smartphones to bombs.

But public protests by local residents and environmental groups over the possible radioactive hazard posed by the plant this year put the brakes on Lynas’ plans.

The outcry prompted a review by a nine-man panel of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who instructed the Sydney-based company to provide a better long-term waste management plan.

Putrajaya, which imposed tighter environmental safety standards on the proposed plant in June following the high-profile protests, has yet to issue a pre-operating licence for the plant.

The Australian government’s Department of Mines and Petroleum issued a statement on December 16 stating that Lynas Corp’s operations were safe and that it abided by international safety conventions.

Lynas Down

2012-01-03T18:07:00.000-08:00

A Reflection of 1311

2011-12-29T07:06:00.000-08:00

The first light of dawn had just broken through the horizon. The day was Sunday, November 13^th 2011. Most of Kuantan were still asleep. After all, it was very early on a Sunday. Like most Sunday mornings, the city was peaceful, quiet and tranquil - waiting for the day of rest to start.

This day, Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) had planned a family-friendly “Whack a Piñata” action. Piñata is most commonly linked to a Mexican, Latin and South American ritual. Wikipedia has a lot of information about the piñata if you are keen to learn more about it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi%C3%B1ata

For SMSL, the ritual was to give residents and their children the opportunity to symbolically whack the evil of the Lynas rare earth project into total ruins in return for some goodies for those who did it. It was also aimed at getting the media attention, to raise public awareness and to send a message to the government to stop the controversial Lynas rare earth refinery project from Australia.

At the crack of dawn, SMSL members and supporters – generally making up of peace-loving respectable citizens consisting of mums and dads, grand parents, children, students, youths people of all backgrounds – got up and gathered their gear and props to head towards Taman Gelora. They put on the striking black, yellow and red “Save Malaysia Stop Lynas” t-shirt. Urged or dressed their children or grandchildren the same. They then made their way to Taman Gelora, the popular seaside exercise park in town which has been used for a series of very colourful and creative Stop Lynas activities.

The day was a success despite the heavy police presence – they set up road blocks at every single entry point into the park. They warned people against joining the action, took down some people’s identity card details and harassed many others. Most people felt so strongly about the issue they ignored the police warnings to join the action. Many were angry that the government has wasted tax payers’ money to protect a toxic project of a foreign company.

Irene, a staunch young supporter of SMSL was rightly asking,

“Why was the Polis Di Raja Malaysia becoming the Polis Di Lynas?”

The Piñata action has drawn many thoughts and emotions from everyone. Here we have gathered some to share with you.

YC Kwok

Firstly, the making of the piñatas would not have been possible without the generous support and contribution of Mr YC Kwok. He is a man of few words with a heart of gold. He has made tremendous contributions to SMSL and the Stop Lynas campaign even though he would be moving his family to Kuala Lumpur in late December.

The 1311 event took up many hours of Mr Kwok’s time. On top of that he also made his air-conditioned factory available day and night for at least two weeks for the making of the 26 amazingly stunning and colourful piñatas.

Yet Mr Kwok is ever so humble. He said:

“I'm not what you called so ‘generous’. When SMSL decided to have the 1311 event with the hitting of the piñatas, the Committee was looking out for a suitable place. At first an office was offered but I felt that it would be too small and unsuitable for this. I offered my factory to SMSL since the factory is not in production at the moment. I felt that I should contribute as much as I could to Stop Lynas. Many experienced and highly trained technical people I know also said that the plant is not safe. Like me, they would like to kick the LAMP out. So I hoped by offering my factory for the piñata project it would be a small part of a campaign to Stop the Lynas project.”

Yu Siew Hong

Dr Yu, a local GP and a committed Stop Lynas campaigner. She was the brainchild behind the piñata idea, with the help of her children as she explained:

“Why the piñata? I was very much a fence sitter before, undecided as to which side and which of the groups to link up with. I met SMSL Chairman Mr Tan once at Dr Carmen Chew’s place. I am however out of the loop due to my busy life. Then I was approached by Grace to give some ideas for the family day event 1311, which I promised I would.

Armed with very little knowledge about rare earth, I sounded my 3 kids out. They, particularly my number 2 suggested for us to use a piñata for the action. After some research, I thought it would be a good idea to gauge the public reaction and to encourage them to participate in whacking the piñatas as a symbolic gesture of whacking the many evils of the Lynas project. I was very impressed by the enthusiastic response of so many people. The scene of the day was most invigorating - a picture speaks a thousand words indeed!”

Haji Ismail Abu Bakar

Haji Ismail has been with SMSL since the beginning, through thick and thin. He hopes that more Malays will take part in the Stop Lynas campaign especially when most of them will be directly affected negatively by the Lynas project. He is worried about the families living in the various kampungs near Kuala Balok and Gebeng close to the Lynas plant.

The Kuala Balok fisher folks will be worst hit because they live near the Balok River where Lynas’ waste water likely to be contaminated with radioactive particles and other hazardous substances will be dumped. Many of them eke out a living from artisan fishing – catching fish and other seafood near shore in small boats. Shellfish such as crabs, prawns and cockles bred and spawned in the mangrove swamp of the Balok River are bottom-feeders easily contaminated by any pollutant including the radioactive thorium and uranium which are heavier and will sink to and accumulate in the bottom of the mangove.

Haji is sad that many of the kampong folks lack understanding and are easily manipulated to the point where it has been difficult for the better educated informed people to reach out to them.

Haji hopes that by being in the forefront of Stop Lynas activities, he can help in some way to encourage those who will be most negatively impacted to pay attention to the issue and to join the Stop Lynas campaign. Despite his age, he has never shied away from the Stop Lynas activities. He has this to say:

"I have kept my commitment to Stop Lynas and have been actively involved with SMSL. I participated in most SMSL activities including the weekly meetings, public seminars, press conferences and the first trip to Australia which was freezing cold. I took part in most of the SMSL public events including 109, 1311 and 1211. These activities were very well organised and fruitful. They showed that we worked in solidarity with each other and that we are seriously concern about the issue. At the same time we continue to create awareness amongst local residents especially those living in Kuantan.

Regarding the 1311 event, it was heartening and encouraging to see so many people bravely stood up to demonstrate peacefully wearing the SMSL T-Shirt to show those in power that we the people will decide what is best for our country.

My wife and I were involved in the planning discussion of the event including the piñata idea. I appreciate the good effort of my fellow committee members and the volunteers who helped out. On the day of 1311, I was very embarrassed and disappointed to see so many armed personnel giving us a hard time even though it was just a peaceful event.

Taman Gelora is a public area. No permit is needed from the authority for the kind of activity SMSL has organised. .After all, it was a family gathering with no subversive element loitering around to cause any trouble to anyone or to damage any property. Anyhow, the armed personnel and heavy police presence did not deter the thousands of residents from coming forward to participate.

1311 was not a demonstration but a gathering of people who want their living environment safe and clean. We do not want a toxic radioactive plant nearby to contaminate our food, water and air. Deep in our minds we uttered:

'I Don't Wanna Leave my loving home and place'. After all, why should we forgo our homes just because of a foreign company called LYNAS and its greed and toxic plant??!!”

Wen Tan

Wen Tan, our amazingly creative and passionate graphic designer and a concern mother has the following heart-felt reflection to share:

“旧报纸，热糨糊，焦急心，慌忙手。。。午夜了，多希望完成的就是最后一粒 “皮納塔（Piñata）。。。”

Old newspaper, hot starch, anxious heart, worried and busy hands, ….. it’s already midnight - how we wished that this is the very last piñata to be made….

为配合拯救大马委员会”（SMSL）11月13日在关丹哥罗乐公园举行的《一心一意护家园》家庭日活动，关丹的志工爸爸，妈妈都百忙里抽空日夜趕製“皮納塔” （Piñata）紙球，這些皮納塔的外型製作成惡魔等造型，象徵萊納等惡勢力，當遊戲進行時，大家合力打破這些皮納塔紙球，也象徵大家合力打倒萊納（Lynas）。

To support the SMSL November 13^th Family Day of Action <<One Heart, One Determination to Protect Our Homeland>> at Taman Gelora, concern fathers and mothers in Kuantan took time out from their hectic schedule racing day and night to make enough piñatas for the event. We deliberately made these piñatas to appear evil and nasty to symbolise the evil power of Lynas Corporation. We then get everybody to whack these piñatas collectively to symbolise our united stance and effort to topple Lynas.

11月13日清晨七时，一家大小开车前往公园时，路经苏丹王宫却被警方阻止拦截抄下身份證號碼並勸告勿參加。接近公园的2个路口也有多位警员把守，在通往公园路上障碍重重，充满紧张气氛。

7am November 13^th our entire family of young and old travelling in a car to the park. As we were approaching the road outside the Sultan’s palace, we were stopped by a police road block. The police took down our IC number and warned us against taking part in the action. As we approached the park, many police were also heavily guarding two of the entry roads leading to the park. The atmosphere was very tense.

... 每次有反稀土活动，同一时间，同一个地点也一定会有洲政府搞的康乐活动，出动数辆巴士，帐篷霸占场地，警员在公园四週驻守，警方通过新闻，报纸聲稱活動屬於非法集会，並勸告民眾勿參加，在反稀土活动上百般刁难。

…every time we organised a Stop Lynas activity, there would be a parallel “recreational” activity organised by the state government to coincide with our event- deliberately staged at the same time in the same place. They would send a few buses of participants, erect some tents in key strategic locations to attempt to occupy the park and to drown out the impact of the Stop Lynas activities. The Police would send troop to stand guard everywhere. Through the mainstream news services and the press, they would declare our activity an illegal gathering close to the day without giving any legitimate reason. Their aim has been to warn the public and to intimidate them in an attempt to stop them from taking part - creating many obstacles and difficulties for the Stop Lynas movement.

坚持以民为本，维护公平正义时常都可以听到。。。但政府最想关掉的就是最真的声音。想到家园将成为放射性废料的倾销地，心在滴血。。。许多高科技的国家，都对提炼稀土却步，不敢在自己的本土设厂。为什么？因为它必需要人民付出健康和生命。賠上性命，還不算最可怕；最可怕的是，看不到苦難有結束的一天。。。水源污染。。。食物污染。。。为了能和家人平安生活在无污染的土地。。。不要灰心，不要怕，只要您肯站出来！“合群之草，才有力量” 集体沉默、熟视无睹，才是最可悲的！

Very often, we hear the many government slogans such as “citizens first (Rakyat di Dahulukan…); protecting justice, fairness and integrity, etc. .. However what the Government most wanted to shut off are the true and genuine voices of the people. When I think of my homeland becoming a radioactive waste dump, my heart bleeds….!

Many advanced industrialise nations have shied away from developing rare earth plant in populated areas. Why? Rare earth plant costs the people’s health and sometimes their life. If we have to pay with our life, isn’t it frightening enough?

The scariest part is that we will not see the end of the hardships – contamination of the water supply, contamination of our food and pollution of our air - are just some of the risks.

We have to fight this battle so that our family can live peacefully in an environment free from pollution. Do not feel defeated, do NOT be scared. As long as you are willing to stand up, just like a lone strain of grass when standing in unity with others will have the strength to withstand strong forces. If we as a group kept quiet, pretend not to see the reality, a tragedy will sure to befall us soon.

Steve Hang

Steve is no stranger to the many people actively engaged in the social media for the Stop Lynas campaign in facebook, twitter and the SMSL blog site. Steve is known for his regular posting of many positive and encouraging comments as well as reminders in the Pahang Don’t Need Hazardous Project facebook group.

He is a tireless young campaigner who is ever so willing to act and to work to Stop Lynas. Steve is instrumental in most of SMSL’s media liaison work and is the major domo of most of SMSL’s social media sites. Few if any of SMSL members can surplus the dedication of Steve. He is well liked by most if not all of SMSL members and supporters who know him. Steve is a young man of few words and a determination of steel in defeating the Lynas rare earth project. Steve’s recollection of 1311 is brief but precise:

“I was touched seeing mothers bringing their kids along to make piñatas. To make the 26 piñatas was not a fast or easy job. It was not a 1-day job but it took about 2 weeks of very long days and a lot of hard work by a team of very dedicated people.

On the day of the 1311 action, I was at first worried and frightened to see so many police blocking the roads in so many places. I decided to park my car further away from the road block and jogged in. The only thing in my mind was to get inside the park so that I could take part to make 1311 a successful event.”

Grace Lee

Grace is one of the longest serving SMSL Committee Members. She has been with the Stop Lynas campaign since the beginning. Below is her refection of the piñata making and the 1311 family day of action:

“I took part with one common cause to STOP LYNAS!

My participation in the piñata making and the family day of action stemmed from my role and responsibility as a SMSL member and a Kuantan resident. I am committed to campaigning to Stop Lynas through joining SMSL from day one!!

I am very touched by the hard works and efforts of some of our new volunteers', especially the pretty mamas who have spent many hours each day making the piñatas. We shared great memories of working together for two weeks from 8am till midnight every day. Although we were exhausted from the long hours of hard work, everyone was happily making the piñata with the hope that the action will be delivering a strong message to Stop Lynas so that we may have a better future for many generations to come.

We took 13 days to complete the 26 beautiful and colourful piñatas. Each of them symbolises a different evil of the Lynas project. It was a fantastic achievement. The whole process was enjoyable and meaningful...even though we could do with more volunteers and helpers. Those who turned up were truly dedicated. I am very impressed by some members turning up on the Hari Raya Haji public holiday. Some came in after office hour to play their part! I did not go to the office for two weeks. The passion, dedication and commitment of these SMSL Committee Members and supporters are truly admirable and commendable.

As Steve often said: “Unity, solidarity and peace!”

The 1311 event was a success. Nearly 2,000 people participated despite a major obstacle with police setting up road blocks at key roads leading to the Taman Gelora. It was heartening to see that people in Kuantan were aware of their rights. They were not afraid of the roadblocks and police intimidation.

Lastly, I would like to suggest that we make our opposition to the Lynas project public frequently, at least once a month. The more reactive actions from the government to try to create obstacles, the more the public will be made aware of the infringement of their human rights by the government, thus infuriating them to be more committed to supporting and participating in the Stop Lynas campaign!!

Yip Fong Kiew

Fong Kiew is one of the hardworking and dedicated young Stop Lynas campaigners. She is a silent mover and shaker running around to get things done without saying much. She is loyal to the cause and is determined to Stop Lynas. Fong Kiew worked so hard and put in so much energy into the piñata making that she was in tears at one stage. Here is what she said about her experience:

用尽我所有的力气，不分日夜除了上班之外，都在筹备着这活动。从派传单，贴海报，做出全马来西亚没人做过的pinata。。。我一心一意为反莱纳撕稀土厂，也为了唤醒更多的人民一起来关注这些公害课题的醒觉，不顾一切的搞好这活动！

I have exhausted all of my energy to dedicate my time and effort for the event - day and night, apart from attending to my work, I was planning and preparing for the 1311 event. I helped to give out flyers, put up posters, made piñatas - an activity I believe no one in the whole of Malaysia has ever done before…

I am in one heart and one mind to stop the Lynas rare earth refinery project. I hope to call out to many more people to rise up together with us to pay more attention to this kind of issues and to wake up to the harm it will bring to the public. That was why I put aside everything else to make the 1311 event a success.

当然，此活动非常成功！这是令我最感动的原因之一：看到大家用尽力气的打在pinata上，大声的喊上口号：stop lynas及喊出心中的不满!虽然打在pinata上，痛在我心上（因为真的付出很大的毅力在制造，过程中心中都默默念着：lynas, 我要打败你！），当你看到1311那场面，人民发泄出他的情绪，我觉得辛苦得来，一切都是值得的！希望人民对与抵抗公害的醒觉一直提高！人非草木，谁能无动于衷！一心一意护家园不是一个人的事，是一国家人的事！站起来抗战到底吧！

Of course, the event was very successful - which was one of the reasons why I was so moved. The pain was in my heart when I saw people putting their full force whacking the piñata while shouting “Stop Lynas” loudly to express their strong opposition and anger. We had put in so much effort into making the piñatas and they turned out so amazingly wonderful. In the midst of making the piñatas, knowing that these creations of ours would be whacked to destruction, I was thinking quietly to myself: “Lynas, I want to beat you into defeat!”

When you see the scenario and atmosphere of 1311 where the public explicitly showed their strong emotion and anger I felt that all the hardships and effort are worth the moment!

I hope the public consciousness against the Lynas’ threat and the opposition to this kind of public health issue will continue to grow. Humans are unlike plants and wood, who can remain totally unmoved and unaffected?

The 1311 <<One Heart, One Determination to Protect Our Homeland>> action should not be the concern of only one single person. It is a national concern which will affect everyone. Let us all stand up to fight till the end!!

Irene Ng

Irene is one of the enthusiastic young Stop Lynas supporters and active members. She is a regular facebook activist with a good network of similar allies throughout Malaysia. She belongs to a new generation of passionate young Malaysians who are outspoken and intolerant of bad political decision and behaviour.

1311 was one of her first actions which she got actively involved in. Her motivation is pure and simple:

“当时没有任何Stop Lynas 的概念，任何方法只要是对Lynas 不利的我都会去做。那段期间每个晚上至少两点才回到家。年迈婆婆和和几个稚龄妹妹是我的动力。我不想Lynas 干扰到我婆婆安享晚年，我更不想辐射毁了孩子的未来。”

At the time, I had no idea at all how best to Stop Lynas. I would do anything and run with any idea as long as it would disadvantage Lynas. In the period leading up to the 1311 action, I did not get home till at least 2am every day. My elderly grandmother who brought me up and my young sisters were my driving force. I do not wish to see Lynas destroy the peace and tranquillity of my grandmother’s golden age. And I do not wish radiation and the pollution of the Lynas plant ruin my sisters’ future.

This article was compiled and edited by Jade Lee at the request of Ng Chi Woei. Translation of the Chinese passages was done so that their heartfelt thoughts and reflection can be shared as widely as possible.

Completed 24^th December 2011

Lynas Waste Water Discharge Point in Flood

2011-12-22T17:50:00.000-08:00

LAMP waste water discharge point in flood

Before we welcome the festive seasons of Christmas and the New Year, SMSL wish to take this opportunity to thank all the people in Malaysia and overseas for their tireless effort to support our struggle to stop the hazardous Lynas rare earth project. It is through this concerted effort that today, we are temporarily relieved that the Lynas rare earth refinery has not got its operating license and that it has not commenced its production which was scheduled for September 2011.

Needless to say we will work harder in 2012 to make sure this dangerous project will never be open ever in Gebeng or anywhere in Malaysia. Today, we would like to re-capture reflect on what has happened and highlight some of our achievements and milestones reached since we initiated the movement in March of this year2011.

We have engaged made representations and handing of memos to with a diversity of independent experts, our elected political representatives, our Government the Parliament of Malaysia and the Government of Australian High Commission. Through our protests and demonstrations and the series of conferences and awareness programs the government was forced to set up the IAEA panel in June and it recommended 11 conditions to be fulfilled before LAMP is to be granted an pre-operating license.

We have consistently argued that the location of LAMP is totally unacceptable as it is located on a reclaimed swamp land. The phenomenal amount of hazardous waste in the various waste streams-water, gas and solid which will be produced by the Lynas’ plant is of great concern. The waste disposal method of Lynas is is full of risks and hazards – simply storing massive amount of waste contaminated with radioactive thorium and uranium in open ponds lined only with 1.6mm of plastic is UNACCEPTABLE anywhere by any decent responsible Governments, least of all in a swampy area so close to the Balok River and the South China Sea!

The Lynas project poses serious threats not only to our natural environment which many depends on for their survival but to our long-term health and our economic future. The dense local population, the Balok River and the sea are important seafood production areas. The waste water outlet of the Lynas plant are already badly flooded after only a couple of days of monsoon rain. Imagine the overflowing and the uncontrolled spreading of Lynas waste if and when it starts production.

This is the main drain for Lynas' waste water which flooded after 2 days of rain

See photographs taken 12th December at the waste water outlet point of the Lynas plant for evidence. will sooner or later through floods and industrial accidents spewed radioactive wastes into the nearby environment and destroy the local fishing and food industries.

Will our seafood be as 'laku' once Lynas starts to dump its waste?

What will happen to the fishermen and the small traders depending on this industry for their livelihoods?

what about our tourism industry? Who will want to pay to holiday near a toxic waste dump? This is a permanent problem for Kuantan because the radioactivity of thorium will last onger than the lifetime of
planet earth!

It will irreversibly ruin our economy and our health. The recent monsoon rains have proven the point and we have here photographs of the waste water discharge of the Lynas plant almost covered by flood water.

If this discharge point is so heavily flooded only after two days of heavy rain, what will happen to the plant if there is one week of sustained monsoon rain?

Recently, Lynas has given 25 reasons to justify the location of the rare earth refinery plant in Gebeng. The Menteri Besar has also given his and has continued to attack SMSL and others who are supportive of the Stop Lynas campaign for our strong stance. As far as SMSL and the better informed people of Malaysia are concerned, Lynas could have given 100 or 1000 reasons, it will still not be good enough. We are opposed to the project and will be here in force to stop the Lynas project in the new year.

Where is Lynas’ long- term waste storage strategy for its radioactive solid waste , commission and decommissioning plans as recommended by the IAEA?, may we ask?

Not only that its waste disposal method is problematic, the plant itself has many construction defects which are is risky and dangerous. We have suggested to the Government through MITI to stop the Lynas construction work and to carry out a full engineering audit of the plant for safe measure. The government has not acted on it.

We would like to ask why haven't there been any social and economic impact assessment studies done before the refinery plant was approved for construction?

Why wasn't there a detailed EIA (environmental impact assessment) done for a project believed to be the world's largest rare earth refinery?

We are especially concerned that our Government has not exercised prudence and has failed in its duty of care to manage the proposal using a more stringent precautionary approach. In the first place a project with radioactive waste and so much waste in each of the waste streams should NEVER have been allowed to be built in a swampy area so close to the sea which so many depended on for their livelihoods.

Despite all the covert smear campaigns against all anti-Lynas group in our mainstream media owned and controlled by the ruling parties, we in SMSL will continue to campaign for the total and full withdrawal of this toxic project! We are truly impressed by the support shown by the local residents and residents from other states as well as the good people of Australia. Our recent campaign trip up north has reassured us that people throughout Malaysia are against the project and they have strongly advocated a change of government be it state or federal to surely bring about the closure of this toxic plant! We shall together work towards this goal as the ruling parties be it MCA, UMNO had never shown any regards for the voice of the people.

In the last two weeks, SMSL was proud to have won the 2011 SUARAM Human Rights Award jointly with Bersih 2.0 and the KLSCAH Civil Society Award on the 8th and 12th respectively. We wish to thank this very important recognition and honour for SMSL. We especially want to thank our supporters for their courage and undying support for SMSL. These awards are a recognition of their invaluable support and we urge all Malaysians to emulate the organisations and individuals that
bestowed in us these honours to come forward and stand with us to be a part of people power to keep our beloved Malaysia safe and to rid of polluting industries and political scoundrels!

1211 For Our Future Generations !

2011-12-06T18:33:00.000-08:00

SMSL will be organizing an activity called 1211 with the theme ‘For our future generations” on the 11^th Dec 2011 (Sunday at the Taman Gelora).

This event comes in the wake of the government’s action on rushing through the Free Assembly Bill in our Parliament a week ago. Should the Bill becomes law, then all future activities will have to go through so many obstacles that we wonder if it is possible at all to organize any event to allow people of Gebeng, Kuantan, Kemaman and Balok to continue to voice out their concerns regarding this world-largest Rare Earth processing plant. Once it is in our statute then the basic right of free assembly as guaranteed by our constitution will be severely curtailed and democracy in this country will meaningless! We shall wait to see if government has the will to uphold the basic principles of democracy in the days to come and we urge all citizens to voice out their concerns on this issue while they still can before it is too late!

It is this wanton act of encroachment on our basic rights by our elected government that makes this event 1211 more meaningful.

Under Article 5 of our Constitution we are guaranteed the right to live in a reasonably healthy and pollution free environment. Our government is the custodian of this duty to all citizens! By allowing LAMP to be built and operate in the midst of a highly densely populated and in an ecologically highly sensitive area, our government has openly demonstrated through its actions that it has negated its duty to protect its own citizens!

SMSL is keenly aware of the potential risks and hazards that our future generations will face once this plant is allowed to operate. It will leave behind hundreds of thousands of tons of solid radioactive waste in our backyard. To date Lynas has not proposed a viable solution on how to handle this mammoth volume of solid waste that contain Thorium and Uranium! Future generations living in this vicinity will be saddled with the burden of contending and putting up with the potential risks posed by this radioactive wastes!

Our air will be peppered with micro radioactive dust with alpha particulates from its stacks while the Balok river in which our children swim everyday will be inundated with waste water from the plant! All these threats will spell inevitable long term disasters for our future generations who will continue to live here. Any ingestion of this radioactive particulates through respiratory function or food could and will eventually lead to health challenges 20 years down the road. By then who will pay for all the costs and sufferings that befall the victims?

Its is most regrettable that in the present sitting of our state assembly our Menteri Besar chose to twist this issue by turning it into a political issue and at the same time continue to mislead the public. He has never informed the public and perhaps the August state assembly and members of our state legislature that the LAMP is built on a reclaimed swamp land where the water table is 0.9 metres below the surface. He had made wrong comparisons by equating LAMP with that of ARE of Bukit Merah.! He has never informed the public that the LAMP is 10 times the capacity of ARE! Neither has he shown any attempt to listen to what the people in Gebeng, Balok and Kuantan have to say regarding this plant. He even refused to meet the delegation representing the people here to meet him. Neither has he bother to have a dialogue with the people here. His arrogance has so far found no parallel in the history of Pahang and perhaps the whole of Malaysia!

For an elected head of government to behave in this manner, part of the blame has to be on us for NOT delivering a strong enough message to him. Let us deliver a strong message to him that people have had enough of his twisted logics and his indiscriminate accusation leveled at parties opposing this project. His racist view that the Chinese in Malaysia are opposed to the project to help China maintain a stranglehold on the rare earth supply to the world has totally ignored the plain truth that Lynas Corporation is in fact partially owned by a large number of mainland Chinese investors..

We were flattered by the presence of a large contingent of policemen in our last gathering at Taman Gelora in our 1311 event last month. We felt safe because of their presence.. We were puzzled to be told that the gathering was illegal.

Let us be clear about what proper procedure one should follow should he or she be confronted with similar doubts. Please be reminded that when the police ask for your IC, under the law you have to produce it and show it to them. HOWEVER, they have no right to take away your IC .They cannot tell you to go back simply because you happen to wear the SMSL T shirt. Neither can they tell you that children below the age of 15 are not allowed to participate in the 1211 event because the Free Assembly Bill has NOT become law! If you are in doubt rest assured that our legal advisers will be stationed at every check point to help you!

It is time that all residents of Gebeng, Balok, Kuantan, Kemaman and Gambang take personal responsibility foryour health, social, economic and environmental concerns. We need to voice out and to take a stand.

On Sunday 11^th December, SMSL will provide you with a platform where you can safely bring your family members on a fun-filled morning outing and at the same time to show the government your stand on the toxic project in Gebeng. 1211 will be our final event for the 2011, miss this you may miss the last chance this year to tell the nation what you think of the project. We promise you that it will be more fun and joy than the 1311 event! We urge you to attend come rain or shine! We shall look forward to seeing you there!

Correspondence from Hon. Eric Ripper MLA Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia on Lynas issue dated 01Dec2011

2011-12-03T00:31:00.000-08:00

OPEN LETTER TO LYNAS SHAREHOLDERS

2011-12-03T00:25:00.000-08:00

DEAR SHAREHOLDERS,

There are many risks associated with the rare earth project in Malaysia which you have not been told. Lynas Corporation is not a typical mining company with fixed asset and a sound track record of practical experience in the mining sector. Nick Curtis is a merchant banker, not a miner. The company’s investment is only as flimsy as what his PR team have managed to spin, hoping that the truth on the ground will never surface because they are out of mind and therefore should be out of sight.

What are the risks associated with the Malaysian rare earth plant?
• Poor location – siting a highly polluting plant near a highly populated area is a big mistake. It has now become the target for Malaysia’s biggest environmental protest action.

• No informed consent from local people - the plant was constructed without any public consultation and least of all the informed consent of the local people.

• The project was badly managed by different contractors and sub-contractors with no experience in rare earth processing anywhere.

• Most people work for Lynas Corporation to cash in on the windfall of the surge in share values and not for the sustainability or the success of the project, causing massive cost over-run and shonky construction.

• The critical part of the plant – the concrete tanks in the processing area are defective due to the omission of the damp proofing membrane at the base of the tank and poor workmanship resulting in serious leakage and cracks. They are expensive and time consuming to fix if at all possible.

• Experienced industrial engineers projected that even if Lynas has summarily fixed the construction problem, it will take at least 3 months for all engineering work to be completed for operation, and another 3 or 4 months for production. The monsoon raining season has just started. No work will be possible in this period and Lynas will probably encounter other flood related problems soon stalling its project completion further. This contrasts with Lynas’ repeatedly unrealistic claim of a January production.

• The Malaysian Government mandated Lynas to provide a long-term waste management plan which Lynas will never be able to satisfactorily produced because there is no safe way to manage radioactive waste. So far, all of the waste management plans submitted by Lynas have been rejected by the Malaysian government.

• Cutting corners and doing it cheap in Malaysia – whilst Lynas managed to by-passed the more stringent Australian laws and procedure to fast track the rare earth plant in Malaysia, Lynas has overlooked that this has sparked outrage and anger amongst Malaysians to challenge their government.

• Ethically minded Australians will not support this project. Some will help the Malaysians to stop it in Australia. The campaign has only just started. You can still divest before it is too late.

• Even if the Malaysian Government decided against all odds to issue Lynas the pre-operating licence, there will be court actions. Cases are being prepared by the various groups both in Australia and in Malaysia potentially stalling the project indefinitely.

Sydney : Lynas Out Of Malaysia, Stop Exporting A Toxic Legacy !

2011-12-03T00:13:00.000-08:00

MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 30 November 2011

Lynas Out Of Malaysia: Stop Exporting A Toxic Legacy

SYDNEY. In this morning, a protest in solidarity with the Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas! Campaign took outside Australian rare earth mining company, Lynas' Annual General Meeting in Sydney.

The protest voices concerns about the potential toxic and hazardous impacts on the lives and livelihoods of local communities in Malaysia which would include a waste stream containing 106 tonnes of radioactive thorium and 5.6 tonnes of uranium and the fact that there has been no consent from the local communities surrounding the plant for the operation to go ahead.

Aimee Bull-McMahon, from Friends of the Earth Sydney said, “We are outside the Lynas shareholder meeting today to demand Lynas to get out of Malaysia.”

“Communities should have access to free, independent and accessible information before a decision is made about mining or any other developments that threaten their lives and livelihoods and also have the right and freedom to say yes or no.”

On 4th August 2011 Lynas opened their Mt Weld rare earth mine in the Northern Goldfields of Western Australia. Lynas wants to export the rare earth ore out of Fremantle to Kuantan, Malaysia. The controversial Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) is the target of the largest environmental justice action in the history of Malaysia with opposition from thousands of local community, environment groups, the Malaysian Medical Association and the Bar Council (the association of lawyers in Malaysia).

Wen Kheng Ooi, a Malaysian diaspora living in Australia with relatives in Kuantan who will be affected by the pollution from the Lynas' rare earth plant if the project goes ahead said, “I am protesting at the Lynas AGM because I do not want to see Malaysia being used as a toxic waste dump for Lynas. I have relatives living close to the plant. They will be directly affected by the radioactive waste from the Lynas plant if the project goes ahead."

"I owe it to my relatives in Kuantan to tell Lynas to get out of Malaysia. It is not right for Lynas send radioactive rare earth concentrate to Malaysia to be processed when Lynas should have stayed in Australia and stick to the stricter environmental requirements of Western Australia."

Jade Lee, spokesperson for the community organisation SMSL in Malaysia said, “We formed SMSL within weeks to provide a platform and avenues for residents to campaign against the plant. We were never consulted about the project. Malaysia does not have a good track record in managing pollution."

"We will fight till the end to stop the project. We are doing this for our family and the future generations. It is unacceptable for Lynas to simply dump it's toxic waste here in Malaysia to contaminate our land and our food chain"

"Lynas still have not produced a decent long term waste management plan, the plant will. We do not want radioactive waste in our backyard."

Ms Bull-McMahon, “Where is the exact site which has been chosen for the waste disposal? Why was this site chosen? How much storage capacity for radioactive waste does this site have and for how many years of waste has the site got room for? What other plans are in the pipeline for dealing with the waste?”

“It is not good enough to leave local residents in the dark about the long term implication of how this facility will deal with its radioactive thorium and caustic waste products.”

NTN summary of Lynas radioactive tailings seepage at Mt Weld

2011-11-28T22:38:00.000-08:00

Rare Earth Ores and Radiation Risks at

Lynas Corporation’s Mt Weld Operation

Lee Bell

November 2011

Summary
The National Toxics Network (NTN) has been investigating the potential of radioactive contamination arising from the Lynas’ rare earth concentrate plant at Mt Weld, near Laverton Western Australian. NTN is concerned a regulatory loophole is being utilised to improperly transport radioactive materials through WA suburbs to be shipped to Malaysia.

According to environmental and mining authorities in Western Australia, the waste slurry generated from the chemical processing and flotation of the rare earth ores at Lynas Corporation’s Mt Weld concentrator plant is radioactive. The radiation is primarily due to the thorium and uranium content of the ore.

The tailings from the ore concentrator have also been deemed radioactive by the state Department of Mining and Petroleum.

NTN is extremely concerned that the concentrate will soon be transported through residential suburbs as if it were not a radioactive substance, with no identifying signage, despite being subject to a radiation management plan that has not been released for public consultation. The public and workers have a right to know about the radiation risks to which they will be exposed.
For a number of year Lynas has mined and stored stockpiles of rare earth ores (REO) at the Mt Weld mine site and graded these stockpiles according to purity and other factors. The stockpiled ore is then shipped 1.5 km to the concentrator plant where impurities are removed through chemical and flotation processes. Two major streams of material then leave the concentrator plant.

Firstly, the product is a lanthanum oxide concentrate (which also contains a range of other rare earths) and a waste stream which is a slurry of water and process liquors contaminated with 15.8% solids including the uranium and thorium with a pH of 10.5-10.8. Secondly, the waste is then piped to large tailings ponds where the liquid fraction can evaporate over time. This has the effect of concentrating the solid fraction of radioactive materials within the tailings pond residues. This concentrating factor has not been assessed by authorities and could result in radioactivity levels many times higher than claimed in the proponent’s reports especially towards the end of the mine life. As the ponds dry out airborne dust containing radioactive particles will become a major management problem for decades to come.

Government documents have become available which indicate that Lynas Corporation failed to construct its tailings ponds according to the engineering conditions laid down in the environmental operating licence issued by the WA Department of Environment and Conservation.

As a result Lynas has been ordered by the DEC to rebuild a small section of their tailings pond and line it with High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) as an interim measure. If Lynas had received government approvals and used the initial tailings ponds they constructed, they would have leaked at an estimated 186, 000 litres per day or over 67 million litres per annum of radioactive leachate.

The DEC Environmental Assessment Report for the concentrator plant makes it clear that Lynas Corporation failed to meet the regulatory controls and conditions put in place to prevent environmental contamination from processing rare earth ore tailings production. It also raises considerable doubt about their ability to meet waste disposal regulations and environmental protection requirements in other jurisdictions such as Malaysia.

Radioactive tailings leakage – a licence to pollute.
The ‘tailings’ or waste material from the processing of rare earth ores at Mt Weld into a concentrate, contains 500ppm ThO₂ (Thorium Oxide) and 30ppm U₃O₈(Uranium Oxide). The calculated radiation specific activity from this combination is 1.80 Bq/g for the Thorium and 0.32 Bq/g for the Uranium which totals 2.12 Bq/g. This is more than twice the threshold radioactivity level set by the Department of Mining and Petroleum for classification as radioactive tailings (‘radioactive’ classification is in excess of 1.0 Bq/g). This regulatory criterion occurs under the Western Australian Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995.

The Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) is a 17.5 hectare paddock style impoundment constructed in two stages. The first stage was intended to take the first two years of waste followed by stage two which would see the banks raised to accommodate the future production waste.

A review of the integrity of the tailings ponds by Lynas engineering consultants Knight Piesold in 2009¹ found alarming evidence that the radioactive waste material would have been able to leak at the rate of 186,000 litres per day if the ponds had started to accept tailings. WA authorities ordered Lynas to fix their tailings facility after finding that the construction was grossly inadequate and a small tailings pond has now been lined with HDPE plastics to act as an interim waste storage pond. The remainder of the large tailing pond will now have to be re-engineered with HDPE over time.

However, even the new lined tailings facility is estimated to leak at the rate of up to 14,000 litres per day according to the Department of Environment and Conservation.²

Far from their claims of being a clean, green industry Lynas Corporation are prepared to allow the leakage of over 5 million litres of radioactive tailings every year at the site of their concentrator plant. The concentrator plant has been operating since May 2011 and 2.5 million litres of contaminated tailings have already leaked from the facility if the Department of Environment and Conservations predictions are correct. No monitoring data from the site has been released to the public as yet.

Contradictory regulations on Transport
Lynas confirm in their Radiation Management Plan that because their “ore, concentrate and tailings contain elevated concentrators of natural thorium and uranium personal annual radiation exposures at the Mt Weld operation were predicted to be above the annual public dose limit of 1mSv per year”.³

In spite of the clear admission by Lynas Corporation that their ore, tailings and concentrate are sufficiently radioactive to exceed the annual public dose limit, they failed to take measures to sufficiently engineer their tailings pond resulting in potentially massive leakage of the radioactive waste.

At this stage there are no clear indications as to how the concentrated tailings will be managed at the end of the ponds life or the mine’s decommissioning. Given that the ponds will be built in a hot, arid zone with little rainfall, the ponds can be expected to dry out and generate dust with radioactive particles and other heavy metals.

Notably, Malaysia also classifies waste or radioactive materials as ‘radioactive’ when the specific radioactivity level exceeds 1.0 Bq/g. This is the reason why Lynas Corporations ‘product’ or rare earth concentrate will be regulated as radioactive material for transportation purposes, from the moment it lands in Malaysia.

Lynas Corporation have relied on an exemption loophole in the Western Australian transport regulations to allow their concentrate to be shipped from Mt Weld to Fremantle Port (nearly 1000km) without it being classified as radioactive material. The loophole allows the concentrate to be transported without Dangerous Goods classification or ‘radioactive material’ classification due to an exemption clause in the Radiation Safety (Transport of Radioactive Substances) Regulations, WA, 2002 which allows up to 10 Bq/g of specific radioactivity if the product is not destined for production to extract the radioactive elements (uranium and thorium) or if the material is not subject to chemical processing.

This is despite the fact that the Thorium levels are much higher in the concentrate (approx 1700 ppm) giving it a specific radioactivity level between 3.5 and 8 Bq/g⁴. So even though the concentrate exceeds the level at which tailings are classified radioactive by up to eight times, and exceeds the Malaysian transport regulations by up to eight times it will not be classified ‘radioactive’ for transport purposes in Western Australia thereby disguising its true nature to the public

There will be no signage or placarding on the trucks carrying the concentrate denoting its radioactive nature. This is critical for emergency workers to make rapid decisions in the event of an accident or spill of the concentrate on public roads or at the port.

Lynas argue that the Radiation Safety (Transport of Radioactive Substances) Regulations, WA, 2002 and the ARPANSA Safe Transport of Radioactive Material Code of Practice (STRM, 2007) applies only to materials that are not chemically processed or intended for the extraction of the radionuclides. However, the processing of concentrate at Mt Weld involves the use of at least 5 chemicals which contradicts their claim that they are subject to an exemption from the transport regulations.

Indeed Lynas Corporation’s Environmental Impact Assessment⁵ documents for their rare earth processing plant in Malaysia state; “The Advanced Materials Project involves processing lanthanide concentrate from Mt Weld in Western Australia, at a processing site that uses chemical treatment processes.”

Further it can be argued that the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Malaysia will process the material to extract the radioactive elements uranium and thorium as well as other impurities. The impurities will then be dumped as part of the LAMP waste stream in Malaysia. As such the exemption from radioactive transport requirements in WA appears to be based on proponent assurances rather than sound science.
Contact : Lee Bell BA MA (ESD)

Australia National Toxic Network media release 28 November 2011

2011-11-28T22:33:00.000-08:00

Lynas Corporation granted ‘permit to pollute’ with radioactive waste

Controversial rare earth manufacturer Lynas Corporation has been granted a licence by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) that will allow the company to store radioactive slurry in ponds
that will leak over 5 million litres of radioactive waste per annum, the National Toxics Network said today.

“This ‘permit to pollute’ comes on the back of the discovery by the DEC that the original tailings ponds built by Lynas would leak an astonishing 186,000 litres per day or, 67 million litres of contaminated waste per annum” said Lee Bell, NTN spokesperson.

The ponds are situated at the Lynas Concentrator plant at Mt Weld near Laverton.

“Rare earth ores from the Mt Weld mine undergo chemical processing at the plant with radioactive waste slurry from the process being dumped in ponds. The DEC refused to allow Lynas to dump their waste until
they had constructed a smaller lined pond specifically for waste disposal” Mr Bell said.

“Lynas have admitted in their Radiation Management Plan that their ore, concentrate and waste are sufficiently radioactive to be above the annual public dose limit of 1mSv per year. Despite this the DEC
will let them use ponds that will leak up to 5 million litres per year of radioactive tailings waste” said Mr Bell.

“The Department of Mines and Petroleum have declared that the Lynas waste slurry must be managed as radioactive tailings due to its thorium and uranium content yet the concentrate, which has much higher
radioactivity will not be transported as radioactive material - despite earlier approvals requiring this higher level of regulation.

Malaysia will also require the Lynas concentrate to be transported as a radioactive material as soon as it lands” Mr Bell said.

“This is in stark contrast to public statements by Lynas that their product is so low in radiation that it does not need to be transported as a radioactive material when it is shipped through WA and Fremantle
Ports. The public are being hoodwinked and government agencies are supporting this deception,” said Mr Bell

NTN calls on the Western Australian government to stop the leakage at Mt Weld and ban any shipments of the Lynas concentrate until an independent assessment of the radiation risks of Lynas concentrate is
made public.

Lynas’ Leaky Project

2011-11-28T21:31:00.000-08:00

Lynas’ Mt Weld Plant Leaking Toxic Waste

Save Malaysia Stop Lynas Committee (SMSL) has been informed by the Australian watch group National Toxic Network that Lynas’s Western Australia’s (WA) Mt Weld tailing ponds would leak an astonishing 186,000 litres of radioactive waste per day or, 67 million litres of contaminated waste per annum.

The WA Department of Environment and Conservation DEC has refused to allow Lynas to dump their waste until they had constructed a lined pond specifically for waste disposal.

“It is indeed a shocking discovery that Lynas would dare to do this knowing full well it would not be acceptable in Australia.” Says Mr Tan Bun Teet, Chairman of SMSL.

However, even the new lined tailings facility is estimated to leak at the rate of up to 14,000 litres per day according to the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Government’s Duty of Care to Exercise Prudence
SMSL calls on the Government to suspend the construction of the Lynas Advanced Material Plant (LAMP) and institute a full-scale independent engineering audit.

Since expose in the New York Times in late June of the LAMP’s serious design flaws and shonky construction, there has not been any official investigation or independent audit to ensure that Lynas has properly rectify the problems to ensure plant safety and adequate environmental management measures are in place.

Lynas’ persistent recalcitrant behaviour is of great concern and a big risk to public health and safety. If the LAMP is allowed to operate in this condition, serious contamination problems will ensue risking the entire economy and well beings of the local people and Malaysia as a whole.
It is time the government exercise prudence in the interest of public safety, the sustainability of our important environmental resources and for the sake of our long-term economic health. We call on the Government to use its power to fully and thoroughly investigate the various issues which have surfaced to date.

To date, the public has not been consulted on the project and its long-term waste management plan is unclear although these are two of the key recommendations specified by the IAEA agreed to both by the Malaysian Government and Lynas as requirements to comply with before the pre-operating licence is issued.

MITI 30th November visit to the LAMP
SMSL had earlier requested a joint visit with independent experts and MITI to inspect the Lynas plant in Gebeng in December. Unfortunately, MITI insisted on a visit for the 30th November which will coincide with Lynas’ Annual General Meeting in Sydney.

SMSL is concern that Lynas will be using the plant visit for its badly needed public relation exercise to allay growing fear and concerns amongst its shareholders. Lynas’ survival is dependent on its shareholders’ confidence. It is clear that Lynas has largely invested in shareholder and investors relation than community relation and plant safety, least of all its waste management strategy.

“In the public interest and to restore public confidence in the Government to effectively manage the LAMP, we urge the Government to stop all construction activities until a full-scale independent investigation and audit are carried out and rectified.”

“This is the only way the public will have faith in the Government to act responsibly and with the appropriate sense of duty of care. It will go a long way to restore Malaysia’s image as a matured emerging economy.” Concludes Mr Tan

Lynas, A Recalcitrant Corporation

2011-11-23T19:40:00.000-08:00

How long is the Government prepared to tolerate Lynas Corporation’s recalcitrant behaviour?

Earlier this month, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed slammed Lynas Corporation for “jumping the gun” by repeatedly pre-empting the government approval through giving unrealistically early start dates for the controversial Lynas Advance Materials Plant (LAMP) near Kuantan.

Datuk Mustapa’s statement was clear. He said “They have no business to pre-empt the (Atomic Energy Licensing) board. No business at all to issue these kind of statements and we have reprimanded them,”

Not only that Lynas has not shown any remorse of restraint, it has once again spit on our Government’s face through its latest media stunt. In its attempt to boost its investors’ and shareholders’ confidence leading up to its Nov 30th AGM in Sydney, Lynas has YET again pre-empted the issuing of the pre-operating licence and projected an early production date for its LAMP.

“This is an affront the Malaysian Government.” Said Dr Phua, Vice Chairman for SMSL.

“Clearly, we have just witnessed how blatantly arrogant Lynas is. It has no respect for our government and the people of Malaysia. How can we risk our future with this company?” added Dr Phua.

SMSL has the following critical questions for the government:

“How can our government tolerate this kind of behaviour and disrespect?”
“If Lynas disregards our Government’s warning now, how can we trust that it will not be even more defiant and arrogant once the operating licence is issued?
“Is MB Adnan Yaakob trying to race the Pahang economy to be in par with the Greek financial crisis by agreeing to use state funds to purchase houses from residents worrying about the rare earth project?”

“By continuing to tolerate Lynas’ defiance, Malaysian is showing up our own weakness and compromising our sovereign rights to enforce law and order. The people of Malaysia have genuine concerns about the Lynas project. The government needs to act with prudence and exercise its duty of care for its citizens by going hard on Lynas, not to tolerate insults from a foreign company.”

“The government should show Lynas we mean business and that we have the means to determine if the plant is up to scratch to operate. The government must halt the construction of the LAMP whilst facilitate an independent team of engineers and experts with the relevant skills and experience to audit the LAMP. Only that will help us restore some confidence in our government.”

Last week, Lynas pressed the Government to issue a 2-year pre-operating licence despite not having presented a safe and effective long-term management plan acceptable to all. To date, the public has not been consulted even though this is one of the conditions Lynas need to fulfil to get its licence.

So far, Lynas has not come up with a satisfactory long-term waste management plan as recommended by the IAEA and agreed to by the Malaysian Government. Issuing a pre-operating licence now will mean the Government has turned its back on the IAEA, rendering the already weak safeguard ineffective in protecting the nation’s own future and safety.

Lynas by asking for a pre-operating licence when all it has built is 3 open ponds to store the radioactive hazardous waste is an insult to our intelligence and safety standard.

In Australia, Lynas would not have been allowed to build the plant without an approved waste management plan.

In Australia, the LAMP as it is would have been closed down and any approval issued previously withdrawn by the government for breaches of state and federal laws!

Is our life in Malaysian worth less than the Australians for Lynas to behave so badly and so arrogantly in Malaysia?

Shonky Construction of the LAMP

Further, the public has no way of knowing if the plant is safe since the revelation in the late June New York Times article that rushed deadline has resulted in shonky construction and serious structural defects.

“Given the corrosive substances involved in rare earth processing, any construction defect will lead to serious leaks and contamination problems.”

“The Government must carry out a full independent engineering audit of the plant before even attempting to consider the licensing issue.”

“We simply cannot trust Lynas to do the right thing.” Concluded Dr Phua.

The revelation and expose by Lynas’ own insiders to the New York Times are serious problems which would affect the reliability and safety of the LAMP.

Only a full independent engineering audit will be able to uncover all of the problems. We fear that Lynas would continue to flaunt basic engineering procedure and lower the safety standard in its race to produce rare earth oxides to capture its market share.

“What we have on our backyard is the world’s largest rare earth plant with a massive waste problem to tackle and pollution risks. This is not to be overlooked by either the authorities or the people.

Two of our country’s most esteemed professional bodies – the MMA and the Bar Council – have both publicly issued warnings to the Government on this project. They do not do this lightly as they have a duty of care for the people and for our country, just like us ordinary citizens who also have our duty of care for our country and our family and ourselves.”

Supporters of the Stop Lynas campaign will be staging a peaceful action at the Lynas AGM in Sydney on 30th November from 10.00am to noon.

We hope to use this platform to explain to shareholders of Lynas why we are so strongly opposed to this rare earth plant in our backyard.

We will urge shareholders of Lynas Corporation to re-assess their investment risks and divest from Lynas.

Press Statement - Kuantan 11th November 2011

2011-11-10T22:25:00.000-08:00

“1311 For Our Family - Whack a piñata" event, 13/11/11, 7.30am-9.30am at Taman Gelora

Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) to introduce a new interpretation of the piñata to mark residents’ strong opposition of the Lynas rare earth project.

On Sunday 13th November 2011 at Taman Gelora, a family day will be held with an early morning line dancing follow by the “Whack a piñata” action and the signing of a pledge to do what it takes to stop the Lynas project.

Why piñata ?

Traditionally, a piñata is a papier-mâché that is filled with goodies and then broken as part of a ceremony in Mexico and many Latin-American countries. On Sunday, 26 colourful and stunningly handmade piñatas will be hung up at various locations around the lake for this ritual. Participants will take turn to whack the piñata to symbolise their anger and frustration towards the Lynas rare earth project. Samples of thes piñatas will be shown at the press conference today.

“This Sunday is a family day for mums and dad, grandparents and kids to take part in healthy activities in the beautiful surrounding of Taman Gelora” says Mr Tan Bun Teet,Chairman of SMSL.

“The clean air and beautiful surrounding of Taman Gelora is a reminder of what a lovelyplace Kuantan is. We cannot afford to simply sit back to let a foreign company ruined our future and the good life we have work so hard for.”

It has been nearly eight months since residents learnt about the construction of the world’s largest rare earth plant at the Gebeng industrial site in March of this year from the New York Times. SMSL was formed soon after in response to the fear and the public outcry to provide a platform for ordinary citizens – mums and dads and local businesses as well as professionals - to campaign to protect our beloved homeland from being contaminated by dangerous toxic waste of the Lynas plant.

Since then, SMSL together with other groups have concertedly staged regular protest actions and engaged with the media, politicians and authorities both in Malaysia and in Australia. Tens of thousands of people have taken part to show their opposition to the project to date and the movement is growing in Pahang and around the country as well as in Peoples’ power has so far managed to force the Government to take a closer look into the hazards and risks of the plant and the issuing of the operating licence has been delayed as a result. Until people turned up in force and in numbers, the authorities were complacent.

Earlier this year, the director-general of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) Raja Datuk Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan had merely repeated Lynas’ public relation spin that the waste from the Lynas rare earth plant is so safe that it can be scattered everywhere. The AELB had once said the now closed Mitsubishi Asian Rare Earth plant in Bukit Merah, Perak was safe too, even with abnormally high number of fatal leukemia cases, birth defects and other health problems in the nearby towns.

Likewise the Menteri Besar of Pahang had said that the radiation from the rare earth ore was far weaker than that of mobile phones, completely ignoring the long term problem, health hazards and the risk pose by millions of tonnes of waste that would be left by the rare earth plant in all states – solid, liquid and gas. Each year, the amount of solid waste alone is enough to fill 126 standard Olympic size swimming pools! This waste will remain hazardous from the radioactive thorium and uranium as well as the range of by-products resulting from the use of highly concentrated acids and other corrosive substances in the processing of rare earth concentrate.

One wonders if the MB is aware that millions of tonnes of waste water will be discharged into our waters potentially polluting our riverine, mangrove and marine ecosystems contaminating our seafood and lovely coastline and the South China Sea. On top of that, the plant will be emitting huge amount of waste gas into our atmosphere, posing additional risks of acid rain with radioactive particles. The Malaysian regulators and authorities seemed to be ignorant of the scientific fact that radioactive particles from the various waste streams will enter the natural environment. Low radioactive particles tended to accumulate within organism in the ecosystem and they will find their way into the food chain and hence to the general population. This concern is real and urgent because thorium has a half-life of 14 billion years which means the radioactive particles will be hazardous and dangerous for as long as the human lifespan on earth!

At a time when coastal and marine tourism are beginning to gain some grounds in Pahang,the Lynas rare earth project has essentially halted any hope of further development in ecotourism and in the high-end tourism sector which are friendly to the natural environment whilst helping to boost small to medium scale local businesses and services vital to the livelihoods and income generation for the majority of the people.

Yet we find the Chairman of the Pahang Tourism, Arts, Heritage and Family Development Committee, Datuk Shafik Fauzan quoted in Sinar Harian in October 24th alleging that SMSL should focus on picking rubbish and not picking on the Lynas rare earth project! One wonders if Datuk Shafik truly understands the implication and impact of the Lynas project on tourism and family for him to make such a statement. He should be on SMSL’s side to fight for the integrity of the tourism industry. After all who will want to spend money to come to holiday near the world’s largest rare earth plant?

In consideration of the range of hazards and risks, the best solution to keep Kuantan and the surrounding towns and our environment as well as food clean and safe is to get rid of the plant. After all, it was constructed without our knowledge let alone our free prior informed Why should we the citizens shoulder the burden of proof and the risks when the entire project benefits primarily a foreign corporation? The granting of the 12-year tax break is most puzzling and worrying when the country needs all the revenue we can collect to progress. Why should the Lynas Corporation enjoy a pioneer status when we already had a
costly and nasty experience with the now shut-down Asian Rare Earth plant?

The recent revelation by the AELB that Lynas Corporation has failed to meet any of the conditions set out by the Government is a step in the right direction. It is a stark contrast to Raja Datuk Aziz’s earlier careless dismissal of public concern. Similarly, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister for International Trade and Industry (MITI) has very recently slammed Lynas Corporation for pre-empting the government by repeatedly project unrealistic early start dates in the media for its Gebeng rare earth plant.

Clearly, Lynas Corporation has proven itself to be a recalcitrant company that have consistently misled its shareholders and potential customers on the progress of its plant against advice by the Malaysian authorities and against the reality on the ground. Why then is our Government allowing the plant construction to be continued?

How can we trust such a corporation to operate a plant that will produce so much hazardous waste when it is already not facing up with its home truth? How can we trust our government to be vigilant when it has continued to tolerate Lynas’ risky modus operandi?

How can Lynas take us seriously when our Government has done nothing to show Lynas Corporation that we mean business by putting an immediate stop to its construction when it failed to meet government’s requirement?!

It is on these bases that SMSL has to continue to do our duty to keep the public informed and to keep creating democratic space for ordinary citizens, mums and dads to take part in legitimate activities to show their concerns.

SMSL fear this Sunday’s action may well be given the same treatment as the 109 Himpunan Hijau gathering with the government deploying large force of tax payers funded security forces to stop ordinary citizens and their family from taking part in a community event with a legitimate message to keep dangerous project out of our country.

Already we have been informed of empty tents being set up at Taman Gelora to take away public space and to create excuse for the authority to stop the 1311 event. We also heard that the police force has recalled all its personnel from their leave in preparation for the Sunday event.

Why are our hard earned taxes being used to safeguard a foreign corporation’s interest when in the end our taxes will be needed to clean up and manage any accident and dangerous pollution from the plant?

How can the state apparatus funded by our own taxes be used to safeguard Lynas’ interests in a supposedly democratic nation such as Malaysia?

SMSL cannot afford to do nothing. Doing nothing now will lead to the demise of the lovely city of Kuantan leaving a toxic legacy for the future generations and a costly burden for all Malaysians. If Lynas is allowed to proceed despite our strong opposition and show of strength, we will be sending a message to the dirty polluting industry the world over that Malaysia is a haven for toxic projects with lax environmental law enforcement. This is a dangerous message to be sending out when industrialised nations are forced to
drastically cut their greenhouse gas emissions and shelved their nuclear plans. They will not be any shortage of dirty polluting projects looking for a home to park tax-free under lax environmental conditions. We simply cannot allow Malaysia to become their haven!

“All of our active members and supporters love Kuantan dearly. They have toiled and work hard to build their homes here and they want a clean and safe future for their family and their children and grandchildren.”

“They will and have pledged to do everything possible to stop the Lynas rare earth project.” Concludes Mr Tan.

Thousands of local people have already signed a pledge to do whatever it takes to stop the Lynas project. Many thousands more will join with time.

SMSL will continue act as a voice of the people to tell the Government and Lynas Corporation that the rare earth plant has no place in Malaysia.

2011-11-10T20:58:00.000-08:00

“天快亮了，你醒来了吗？”组稿五，完结篇

不要毁灭了我们孩子的未来。发挥群众力量，只要1个家庭派出至少1位成员参与，谁也不能将我们赶走！

“拯救大马委员会”（SMSL）为配合11月13日上午7时30分在关丹哥罗乐公园举行的《一心一意护家园》活动而推出的《天快亮了，你醒来了吗？》系列文章，以文字摇撼你的心灵，与你一起醒着迎来天明！

“天亮了，起身吧！是时候让我成为争取我应得的权益一份子而不是总是让别人为我争取。”

明天晚上，也许你有很多事情要做，要出席亲戚朋友的婚宴，要开会，陪家人吃晚餐，要与另一半看电影，但请在办完事后记得在入睡前设定闹钟，可能的话请早些上床休息，因为后天你要早早起身，到哥罗乐公园参加你之前已在心里决定参加的“一心一意护家园”活动。

你的出席会令这项活动更具意义，因为，你用行动告诉自己，告诉世界：我来了，我来决定我自己的命运，我的家园我作主。

不论你是小贩、商家、教师、学生、记者、经理、书记、劳工、女佣、家庭主妇、退休人士、讲师、渔夫、农民、推销员、律师、医生、司机、胶工还是店员等等，只要你想在太阳底下活得堂堂正正、开开心心，你就得站出来争取你与生俱来的应得权益、没有人可以任意残踏和夺走的权益。

为了捍卫这些权益，天亮时，你与家人和朋友一起到哥罗乐公园，与热爱和平与绿色世界，不要公害和Lynas稀土厂的人士相聚，大家一起在公园呼吸新鲜空气，一起挥捧痛击现场的象征稀土恶魔的巨球，告诉世界你向公害说不，说No，说Tidak。

是你行动的时候了，因为稀土厂已经快要建好了，也快要操作了，你不能再等了，你也没有时间再等了，所以你必须勇敢地站出来表明心志，清清楚楚地说：请禁止Lynas稀土提炼厂，请尊重生命共同体，请让我们的明天依然美好！

你可以通过活动亲自向稀土厂说不，为何不这么做呢？你可以穿上标示反对稀土的黑黄色战衣出席，为何不这么做呢？你可以与大家一起保卫家园，让你的青春不留白，让你的生命更精彩，为何不这么做呢？

天快亮了，快起身吧！天亮时走出屋外，向太阳说哈啰，早安，向关丹说我爱你，向家人说我要亲自保护你，然后到哥罗乐公园，狠狠地挥棒痛击稀土恶魔：我不要你Lynas，滚蛋吧！
然后，告诉你自己：亲爱的关丹，亲爱的家人，我已尽了一份力量，将来我也会继续争取我的权益和保护你。

关丹人，这两个晚上，让我们一起好好想一想吧！

2011-11-10T20:52:00.000-08:00

“天快亮了，你醒来了吗？”组稿四

守株待兔还是挺身而出？他们选择了后者。

“拯救大马委员会”（SMSL）为配合11月13日上午7时30分在关丹哥罗乐公园举行的《一心一意护家园》活动而推出的《天快亮了，你醒来了吗？》系列文章，以文字摇撼你的心灵，与你一起醒着迎来天明！

“回顾我们努力争取禁止Lynas稀土厂操作的过程与成就”

天亮了，该是梦醒的时候了。三天后的哥罗乐公园，依然会有太阳升出海面，依然会有清风走过湖面，依然会有爱好和平和绿色生活的人们留下的痕迹。

爱好和平和绿色生活的人也是你啊！你也可以将你的足迹留在哥罗乐公园，因为痕迹也可以是历史，可以让你的生命散发光芒，让你的人生更加富盛啊！要让自己记载在历史之中，你必须也回顾一下历史……

Lynas稀土厂计划经纽约时报报导至今，已经迈入第8个月了。拯救大马委员会就在报导刊出不久成立，少了该会与其他组织及广大民众的反稀土决心和奋斗，Lynas可能已经投入运作了。

委员会从三月份开始每月举办醒觉活动，参与反稀土的自愿人士都是一些你可以在街头巷尾见到的普通人，他们和你一样拥有对自己与家人，甚至对周遭人具有的高度责任心。

5月8日他们在关丹直落尖不辣海演举办508母亲节活动，五月20日他们到吉隆波澳洲大使馆展开和平请愿，6月19日他们又在哥罗乐公园聚首庆祝父亲节，当时还与你一起表达反稀土的意愿。

6月26日，他们与你一起登上柏灵东山；7月24日他们结伴反稀土人土到关丹河畔品尝椰浆饭，并将活动称为Nasi Lemak Together；上月月9反稀土的他们又参加了维护地球宪章的绿色盛会。

这些活动，你参与了吗? 参与过多少次呢？也许都参加了，也许一次都没有，但没关系，只要你愿意，你随时可以在天亮时站出，在太阳底下告诉全世界：你来了。

有位朋友说过，每一次一定都要去参加反稀土活动啊！拍下一张照片留念，让孩子们长大后看看他们的父母是多么用心用力争取他们的美好明天！拯救大马委员会也举办成立与筹募法律行动基金晚宴，会员也两度远征澳洲悉尼和西澳寻求解决方案。

此外，委员会也推动黑黄彩带活动，将每个周六订为反稀土厂日，呼吁市民穿上黑色的反稀土战衣，表达坚决反对的意愿，另外开茶会分享鲜为人知的稀土祸害资讯，举办下乡醒觉活动，挨家挨户派发传单，邀请专家与稀土受害者讲解稀土的祸害与分享向公害说不的经验。
一位市民曾经说过，她在15岁那年，被外婆牵着手上街示威，来自霹雳州红坭山的的她为了停止当时已经带来悲剧的亚洲稀土厂运作被迫走上街头。

没想到若干年后，同样事件发生在关丹！ 30年后，她看到的是她的弟媳带着孩子参与反Lynas的反公害运动，这令她百感交集：执政者显然没有从红坭山悲剧中吸取任何教训及反省。

明天，让我们告诉自己：让我也成为争取我应得权益的一份子，我不要老让别人来为我争取。

2011-11-09T21:24:00.000-08:00

拯救大马委员会：天亮組稿三

图为志工们协力筹备活动，以行动抗争到底。

退休老伯不分昼夜都来赶工

11月6号下午，部分的 pinata 已经出炉

拯救大马委员会"（SMSL）为配合11月13日上午7时30分在关丹哥罗乐公园举行的《一心一意护家园》活动而推出的《天快亮了，你醒来了吗？》系列文章，以文字摇撼你的心灵，与你一起醒着迎来天明！

"天快亮了，你醒来了吗？"组稿三

不搬迁选择要付的代价

天亮了，不论外面是晴是雨是暖是冷，你都得睁开眼睛，在太阳底下生活下去。
是的，在太阳底下生活下去。太阳不会背弃你，打从你呱呱堕地，它就一直跟隋你度过生命的每一天，而我们期待天亮，就是要见到太阳在头顶运转，看到运转中流出的希望，有希望就会有明天，我们都希望有明天，美好的明天。

周国全之所以选择在情况最坏的时候离开关丹，就是要像追逐太阳的夸父那样追逐希望，他说他这一生没有多少个30年好过，要在30年后告别一个居住了30年的家园，他会心碎，换你也一样。
不搬迁行吗？行，当然行，因为选择在你，但你可得为这项决定付出代价，而代价又涵盖多个层面，从人文到经济，再从社会到健康，林林总总，不一而足。

有人或许会说，他的生活与Lynas公司到来之前没有什么不同，他也没有特别感受到灾难来临的气息，他看到的只是大家都在努力地反对稀土厂，让平静的关丹多了热闹的氛围，但他绝对知道，这是他能够保有的短暂平静与幸福。

一旦稀土厂投入运作，他就会看到他目前享有的平静与幸福迅速逆转，关丹、巴洛、甘马挽、甘孟、林明、文德甲、直凉及远在百哩外的地区都会受到影响，而关丹及巴洛一带的70万民众将会首当其冲。

届时，他的健康不只会在稀土生产过程和出现纰漏时受到威胁，也会在各种人为疏忽和天灾人祸中，因天然资源和空气受到污染而受到损害。更甚的是，他的财物也和生命一样会难逃一劫。

红泥山的血淋淋事实告诉我们：亚洲稀土厂操作后孕妇诞下畸形儿，居民染患癌症，农业及畜牧业受到影响，美满家庭一夜变色，家破人亡的悲剧不断上演......他能幸免吗？

还有，他甘心让自己花了大半辈子打拼累积下来的财富贬值吗？他的生意、工作和投资能够顺利吗？他与家人大半辈子拥有的天然美景还会有人来欣赏?

山川河流的水还安全吗？海产没问题吗？燕子都希望回到他提供的巢穴吗？

这一切，都要在我们醒着时候好好思考，天亮时，我们醒着走出屋外，到太阳底下站起来就对了，我们有绝对的权利站在自己的家园，站在太底下阳底下，只要我们在天亮时醒着。

明天，与你一起回顾拯救大马委员会努力争取禁止Lynas稀土厂的操作的过程与成就。

2011-11-09T21:18:00.000-08:00

拯救大马委员会 : 天亮組稿二

周国全早年的全家副。后右一为年轻的周国全。

拯救大马委员会"（SMSL）为配合11月13日上午7时30分在关丹哥罗乐公园举行的《一心一意护家园》活动而推出的《天快亮了，你醒来了吗？》系列文章，以文字摇撼你的心灵，与你一起醒着迎来天明！

"天快亮了，你醒来了吗？"组稿二

周国全一家为了躲避稀土辐射祸害而在30年前离开老家，纵使万般不舍，他还是必须挥泪与家乡的亲人道别，也必须将他的心从家乡搬到关丹，将它安顿到新的地方。

今天，周国全像许许多关丹人一样，每天都在为充实自己的生活而忙碌，你若在街上遇到他，不妨停下脚步与他喝杯咖啡，在茶室聆听他叙述那段令人心酸的过去。

若时间允许，你也可以与他针对搬迁问题交换意见，他是30年前稀土祸害的受害人，30年后的今天，他的命运也与你一样，即将成为另一场稀土祸害的受害者。

也许有人会认为，周国全一家在30年前所做选择，促成他今天与孩子会商后，决定在情况最坏时再度舍弃家园的念头，事实上，这是他与家人最无奈和最痛苦的选择。

可是，搬家能解决稀土祸害问题吗？也许，对30年前的周国全和家人来说，答案是肯定，但解决的部份只是家人的健康问题，解决不了的是他与家人对故乡的情感问题，还有与父母兄弟分散的问题。

他离开老家之后，亚洲稀土厂仍然继续操作，不断地威胁红坭山一带居民的健康，并为当地的社会和经济结构带来无法弥补的伤害，摧毁不少美满的家庭，夺走不少宝贵的性命。

周国全做梦也没有想到，他在30年前做出的选择，保住一家人的健康，但却无法继续保住他们享有的无公害环境，30年前的恶梦又在30年后纠缠着他，恶梦也同样纠缠着你。

即便你搬到新山、芙蓉、槟城、吉隆坡、哥打峇鲁或国内任何一个你想去的地方，只要公害问题继续受到忽略、生命共同体继续不受尊重的话，难保30年或3年后你的新家不会再度受到公害侵袭，你与家人及居地民众的健康也难保不会受到威胁。

你到时是否也像周国全一样，选择再度搬家呢？你到时是否能够告诉自己和家人，你在30年前或3年前做出错误的选择呢？你到底有错吗？倘若没有错，那到底是哪里出错而让你受到如此痛苦的惩罚？

明天，天一亮就告诉你不搬迁的选择要付出的代价，但愿你看了仍然可以像平时那样拥抱美梦入睡，并在天亮时醒过来。

醒来，是时候了！

2011-11-09T20:25:00.000-08:00

拯救大马委员会：天亮組稿一

拯救大马委员会"（SMSL）为配合11月13日上午7时30分在关丹哥罗乐公园举行的《一心一意护家园》活动而推出的《天快亮了，你醒来了吗？》系列文章，以文字摇撼你的心灵，与你一起醒着迎来天明！

"天快亮了，你醒来了吗？"组稿一

提起居住在阿亦布爹的周国全，相信关心稀土祸害的民众都不会对他感到陌生，因为他曾因反对稀土厂而与于今年5月声泪俱下呼吁：请收回让Lynas稀土厂运作的成命，不要让关丹变成死城！
周国全于30年前从霹雳州万里望搬来关丹，他当时离家的唯一理由是躲避亚洲稀土厂带来的幅射祸害，没想到30年后却在关丹面对相同的问题。

"我们一家被稀土逼散，父母留守老家，兄弟分别去了怡保、吉隆坡和新加坡，而我也与妻儿来到平静的关丹定居。"

离开老家时，稀土厂所在地红坭山的居民展开了壮烈的反稀土抗争，居民经过长达10年的奋斗，才在1994年逼使亚洲稀土厂关闭，但稀土的祸害却已夺走和损害不少生灵的性命。
周国全曾在抗争期间回到老家探望父亲，亲眼目睹稀土厂对居民的毒害。他记老家有人牧牛，牛只都因吃了稀土厂附近的草而死亡。

Lynas在格滨设厂提炼稀土令举家避祸的周国全面对另一场梦魇，也令他与家人面对重大和痛苦的抉择：重新弃家逃亡，即便人生没有多才个30年。

"我不要看到红坭山的历史在这里重演，我在30年前看到当地的孕妇不断诞下畸形孩子、小孩罹患心脏有孔症、村民罹患癌症或白血病，以及老人血管阻塞的案例。我不要家人和关丹民众遭受这些祸害。"

今天，周国全已经与孩子商议好，让孩子自行去留，而他与妻子也可能会在情况最坏时搬去槟城与女儿同住。

他说：有国才有家，有家才有国，要搬家不难，难就难在搬家之后心要住在哪里？他在关丹住了30 年，对关丹一草一木持有的深厚感情，将在搬家后对他的心灵进行无情的鞭笞。

周国全的故事在网络广传，也在关民众的心中发酵。他的痛苦，来自对环境、生态及人文的呵护。他问道：政府值得为了眼前利益，牺牲后代人的健康幸福吗？

作为关丹一份子，我们也在问着相同的问题，毕竟，人民的健康和利高高于一切。
明天，让我们来思考一个逻辑问题。

2011-10-28T01:40:00.000-07:00

SMSL press release on the press conference held on the 28th Oct 2011

SMSL has on the 7th of Oct 2011 met with MITI and ensuing from the meeting MITI has agreed to send a team of officials comprising of various relevant departments to come to Kuantan to conduct a dialogue with the stakeholders concerning the LAMP issue.

We have written to MITI and posted the letter to MITI by express post on the 14th Oct 2011. Till this day we have yet to receive a reply. We hereby urge the department concerned especially MITI to walk their talk and send a team of the officials as promised to come and have an open dialogue with the local stakeholders on the issue. We shall send them a reminder and we hope they will demonstrate their sincerity in carrying out their promise and come to Kuantan to engage in a civil and open dialogue with the residents living around this region.

We have also written to Lynas Malaysia at the local office in Gebeng to start a dialogue with them through an email on the 19th Oct 2011. We understand that Lynas Malaysia has claimed that they had engaged the local residents as required by the IAEA report published on the 30th June and since then they claimed to have engaged 3000 residents inclusive of SMSL representatives.

We wish to state categorically here that we had never been invited nor engaged by Lynas Malaysia since the publication of the IAEA report to have a dialogue with them. We have voluntarily called Lynas Malaysia at the local office here on the 14thOct 2011 to request for a meeting with them concerning the LAMP issue. We subsequently followed up with the email on the 19th Oct after the committee had deliberated and agreed to initiate the move to engage with them. We wholeheartedly believe in civil discourse with any party that has an interest in this issue. We are still waiting for Lynas Malaysia to make a reply.

“1311 FOR OUR FAMILIES” EVENT (13/11/2011 at Taman Gelora, 7.30am)

Meanwhile we believe that people’s wishes should be respected by all parties be it Lynas Malaysia as well as the Government of the day. In order to deliver a clearer message to these parties concerned, we are organizing an event with the theme ‘ For our families…” on the 13th Nov 2011. On this day we call upon all families in Kemaman, Gebeng, Balok , Kuantan and Gambang to come forth and gather at the Taman Gelora to demonstrate peacefully their stand on the LAMP issue!

We urge them to wear the SMSL T shirts to say NO to the LAMP! We urge all residents and individuals who love their home and family to come forward and tell our government that we don not want LAMP! We want to send the similar message to the Australian Government and Lynas Australia that we DO NOT WANT LYNAS TO BE AROUND OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD NOR ANYWHERE IN MALAYSIA! We want them to know even if our government has no will to stop the project we will endeavor all we can to stop it from operating! We call upon all supporters who share the same goal to stop Lynas to come forward to walk their talk and demonstrate to the authorities that we will do anything within our means to stop this toxic project that will leave behind millions of tons of solid wastes that are radioactive and full of heavy metals that will eventually seep into the waterway and end up on our dinner table through the food chain!

Welcome to SaveMalaysia.org Version 3.0!

2011-10-19T03:11:00.000-07:00

We are proud announce the launch of Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas!'s newly refurbished website. (Version 3.0). It has the same contents and layout albeit with a few cosmetic changes to cope with the ever-changing times. We now have larger text fonts, a fresh backdrop and a brand new header! Feel free to stay and browse. Get to know our issues up-close and learn why the people of Kuantan and the rest of Malaysia do not welcome Lynas Corporation and their rare earth plant in their beloved land. Let's Save the Future Generation of Malaysia together by Stopping Lynas!

Save Malaysia Stop Lynas press conference on 18th Oct 2011

2011-10-18T21:00:00.001-07:00

*Save Malaysia Stop Lynas press conference on 18th Oct 2011*

Recently through facebook and press statements by our people’s representative YB Fuziah, questions were raised as to whether Lynas has begun their shipment of Rare Earth ores (REO) to the kuantan port . The relevant authorities and Lynas have come out with their own statements to deny the claim.

SMSL has also received calls by concerned citizens regarding the same. We did an investigation and we
wish to inform the public that

1. REO cannot be shipped into Kuantan port without a permit from AELB

2. It will be shipped from Freemantle in WA to Singapore for transshipment before it reaches Kuantan port.

3. It will be labeled as radioactive once it reaches Kuantan Port but will not be Considered as radioactive anywhere along the route.

4. It will come in containers and be carted away immediately from the ship to the factory once it reaches the port after it has received custom clearance.

The above clarifies how the REO will be shipped into Kuantan Port. To this date, AELB has yet to come out and openly admit that the required permit has been obtained by Lynas Malaysia. Therefore the claim by parties that REO will be here by end of this month can only be confirmed by AELB as they are instrumental in allowing the REO to be imported.

We hereby call upon AELB and MITI to reaffirm their claim that they have NOT given any licenses including the pre operating license to Lynas. Any preemptive moves by Lynas or covert attempts by AELB or MITI in this matter will be construed as a grave betrayal of the trust of the people. The whole of Gebeng , Balok, Kemaman and Kuantan residents shall hold the AELB and MITI wholly responsible!

MITI and AELB have openly admitted that they have received the submissions by Lynas on the RIA, decommissioning and long term waste management plans in July and they have openly claimed to have rejected these documents as inadequate or unsatisfactory as we were told when we met MITI and AELB on the 7th Oct 2011. If MITI and AELB were to make themselves more credible to the people here they will have to be more open, more transparent and willing to answer questions by the affected residents and provide all information on whatever matters that are related to the Lynas plant. The port authority briefing concerning the impending import of REO is merely a standard port operating procedure but without more detail info from the relevant authorities like AELB and MITI, the whole of Kuantan, Gabeng, Balok and Kemaman have been put on the jitters. This is totally unacceptable. We hereby strongly urge the AELB and MITI to come out and openly declare that non of the licenses as required to import the REO and the pre-operation of the plant have been granted or issued to Lynas Malaysia!

The Lynas issue has advanced to the stage where people are beginning to lose faith on the ability and intent of the government and regulating authorities to safeguard their interests. SMSL has taken the initiative to study the option of bringing the case to court and we have our legal experts currently studying the best option available before we act. We urge all residents to be patient as any legal recourse has to be taken in
full accordance to the country’s judicial system. Rest assured that when the time comes we shall act.

SMSL has come a long way since its inception in March. During the course of this short journey, we have in our main focus to stop the operation of Lynas Advance Materials organized activities that helped to bring awareness to the people here. In the midst of our enthusiasm to advance this cause, some of our
committee members or supporters might have inadvertently or without any malice offended parties and
individuals in our interactions with them. We hereby sincerely apologize to these parties and individuals for our mistakes and we hope such incidents will serve to keep us on guard at all times to be more circumspect of proper demeanors and protocols. We believe apologizing does not mean that we are totally wrong and others are totally right, it just means that we value our relationship more than our ego!

Tan Bun Teet

Himpunan Hijau 109

2011-10-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

Himpunan Hijau 109 / Green Solidarity 109 / 109 绿色盛会

The moment has come ...the time is now! The people has spoken. Awaiting to be listened. Our future lies in the hands of the decision makers. After months of protest, Kuantan, a peaceful town in the east coast of Malaysia woke up to yet another limelight. The Earth Charter, a non profit organisation initiated a Himpunan Hijau 109’ . This is a platform for all citizen groups to come together and voice out their concerns.

Among the groups that took part were SMSL, BADAR, TNB High Tension Cables Protesters from Rawang, Bukit Koman Cyanide Protestors, Orang Asli Group and Cameron Highlands Group.

The crowd started to build up as early as 6.00am. Despite the morning drizzle and police road blocks, the people of Kuantan came in droves. Most of them wearing anti-Lynas t-shirts, caps, badges or whatever they can find with anti-Lynas message. Some even printed mini anti-Lynas’ flags. The atmosphere was incredible! People of all races and ages converged to Taman Gelora with one objective in mind. VIPs arrived as early as 6.15am. Notable ones include Datuk Ambiga Sreevanesan, Mr. Wong Tuck, Maria Chin Abdullah, Dr. Kua Kia Soong and Prof Tan Kah Keng .

Banners and placards were everywhere. The carnival like atmosphere was indescribable! This is the largest protest gathering Kuantan has seen!

Besides all the VIPs, other notable figures seen at the gathering were the Teruntum ADUN YB Chang Hong Seong and Kuantan MP YB Fuziah Salleh.

The build up towards this Himpunan Hijau has been an evenful one. The authorities shockingly revoked the permit of this gathering which was issued a few days earlier at the eleventh hour. Nevertheless, the gathering went on smoothly without any disturbance or chaos.

At 7.00am sharp, the thunderous drums beating from various ethnic groups welcome the sunrise. Follow by the hand stamping on the Himpunan Hijau scroll banners by VIPs and all participants from throughout the countries. Three participants from Klang rode on their bicycle for 3 days before arriving at Kuantan for this event. The event was widely covered by several foreign broadcasting medias. By 9.15am. police moved in to disperse the crowd after all groups involved voiced out their concerns. The crowd mingled around and most of them dispersed orderly and peacefully by 10.30 am.

To all those present , this will be an event to be remembered for a long long time.

SMSL Press Release on Friday 7th Oct 2011

2011-10-08T01:49:00.001-07:00

SMSL Press Release on Friday 7th Oct 2011

SMSL noted with grave concern the recent statements by Lynas lately in its report to
shareholders that it has submitted the long term waste management and decommissioning
plan to AELB and the government of Malaysia. It had also claimed that a new RIA report,
which is one of the requirements that Lynas has to fulfill as recommended by IAEA panel has
also been submitted to the relevant authorities of Malaysia.

We and all residents living within the 30km radius of LAMP hereby call upon the
Government of Malaysia to openly admit or refute the claims in the statements by Lynas
Australia in its report to its shareholders.

Should Lynas by making a false statements/declaration to its shareholders it would
constitute a very serious misrepresentation and deception and it should be held legally
accountable. A complaint can be made to the ASX on this matter.

We hereby strongly urge the relevant ministry/authorities concern to openly state whether
the documents have been submitted to them. If it has, then as promised by the MITI
Minister ie Dato’ Mustapha in one of his press conferences last month, the government
should allow the public to have full access to the documents forthwith!

The Government should be thoroughly transparent in a matter that affects the lives of
700,000s of people and it is the sacrosanct duty of the government to answer to people’s
request or else the people would lose confidence on the government. This mammoth project
of LAMP has cast a long shadow over the continued existence and the harmonious calm
and prosperity of the people living its vicinity. Failing to answer the call of the people on
an issue that has tremendous long term consequences, fallout and ill effects on the health,
safety, social and economic welfare of the people here will constitute the greatest act of
irresponsibility that can be committed by a government on its own people ! Governments
are elected to protect its own people and here we have doubts about whether we have a
government that is sworn to protect us!

We in SMSL hereby call upon all Malaysians especially those living within the 30km radius,
to come forth on the 9th Oct Sunday at 6 am in the morning to gather in SOLIDARITY at the
Taman Gelora, Kuantan to deliver a strong and unmistakable message to our government
That WE AND THE FUTURE GENERATIONS WANT TO LIVE IN A HAZARDS FREE HEALTHY
ENVIROMENT. The People have had enough of misinformation, closed door sessions and
empty promises! We have every right to demand the government of the day that we elect
to protect our environment! Failing which we shall exercise our right to vote to execute a
CHANGE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF A BETTER AND SAFER MALAYSIA!

COME ONE COME ALL FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR A BETTER TOMORROW! REMEMBER
THE CHOICE IS OURS!

“为配合10月9日在关丹举行的“地球宪章”活动而推出的反公害系列。之十一（完结篇）

2011-10-08T01:48:00.000-07:00

“109是关丹人的大日子，也是世界的大日子”

明天，哥罗乐公园将会聚满确认《地球宪章》的人，绿色的明天将是所有希望生命共体受到尊重与关心，期待美好生活环境，没有山埃，没有高压电缆，没有稀土，没有垃圾焚化炉及没有任何不公义行为人士的盛会。

明天，哥罗乐公园将会流着绿色的空气，飘着绿色的风，绿色的鸟儿会为你浅吟轻唱，绿色的树叶更会披上一身鲜艳的颜色来迎接你的到来。

明天，是向下一代交待，向环境说爱，对公害说不的大日子，也是劳勿人，万挠人，关丹人，巴洛人，金马仑人，马来西亚人，所有人的大日子。

这么一个意义深重的日子，你可以错过吗？

明天，让我们在绿色的哥罗乐公园见，不见不散！

“为配合10月9日在关丹举行的“地球宪章”活动而推出的反公害系列之十

2011-10-08T01:45:00.000-07:00

“地球宪章──可持续发展与社会公义”

关心绿色世界的人，这几天老在平面，电子及网络媒体上看到《地球宪章》，可持续发展与社会公义等字眼，虽然大家或许对宪章所包含的内容了解不深，但从字义上可以知道这是人类与环境共生共存的章法。

《地球宪章》尊重和关心生命共同体，坚信所有人生来就有的尊严以及人类的知识、艺术、道德和精神潜力。人类有权拥有、管理和使用自然资源，亦有责任防止环境破坏和保护人们的权利。
事实上，《地球宪章》强调的可持续性来自人类对环境的尊重，确保地球生态系统完整，让所有的生命共体赖以生存的因素得以保存下去。

可是反观今日浮现的各种公害问题，如劳勿武吉公满山埃冶金、万挠新村高压电缆、关丹格滨工业区行将操作的稀土提炼厂、怡保红泥山亚洲稀土厂、金马仑高原垃圾焚化炉计划等等、及对森林资源的滥伐和对土地的滥用，对持续性发展却是一大讽刺。
无可否认，发展是人类社会向前推进的动力，可是发展绝对不能牺牲人类和环境的平衡，也不能剥夺人类与生俱来的生存权利，不幸的是，国内的诸多公害问题，正是政府不尊重及忽略生命共同的表现，委实令人感到遗憾。

《地球宪章》的可持续发展在国际上公认的定义是：“既满足当代人的需要，又不对后代人满足其需要的能力构成危害的发展”，而防止对环境的任何部分的污染，不使放射性物质、有毒物质或其他危险物质累积更是满足当代和后代需求的要素。

《地球宪章》是经由各地不同文化背景的成百上千的个人和团体，针对共同的目标与共有的价值，经数十年、在全球各地、跨文化讨论的成果。在起草的过程中，许多不同领域的专家在过去一些国际宣言的基础上作出整理报告，以作为参考，当中最主要的意见还是世界各地的个人或民间社会组织所贡献的，最终的内容与条文于2000 年定稿。

当我们的想法和生活方式都须要作出重大的转变时，《地球宪章》向我们发出挑战，审视自己的价值观，并指引我们选择更好的生活方式。

《地球宪章》指出：让我们这个时代成为被后人铭记的时代，因为这个时代唤醒了对生命的重新尊敬，采取了坚定的行动去实现可持续性，加速了争取正义与和平的斗争，并且能够欢庆生命。
基于此，让我们的基本权利获得保障，让我们齐声向公害说不。
明天，你准备好了吗？

"拯救大马委员会"（SMSL）为配合地球宪章109绿色盛会：反公害系列第九篇 - 關丹三

2011-10-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

"纽约时报带来的震撼"

正当关丹及巴洛的居民，火热地开展反稀土自救运动，希望能将Lynas逐出关丹及马来西亚之际，纽约时报于6月29日刊登的报导，却如灾难影片情节"前门救火，后院失火"般叫人心惊胆跳。
原来，报导引述关丹Lynas稀土提炼厂计划的内部通告（internal memos）以及工程师的谈话，揭露这项耗资2亿3000万澳元的稀土厂，在建筑和设计方面存在严重危害环境问题，包括70个储存容罐的混泥土薄壳多处，出现建筑结构裂缝（structural cracks）、气陷（air pockets）、湿气（moisture）以及外溢（Leak）问题。

此外，相关内部文件也显示，虽然Lynas稀土提炼厂蓝图要求加入塑胶防水措施，不过，Lynas与其建筑管理承包商──澳洲UGL Ltd为了节省成本，指示工程师忽略这一要求，没有在建筑地基增加塑胶层，导致建筑结构面对湿气上升问题。

《纽约时报》香港区总编辑基思*布雷沙（Keith Bradsher）更在亲自撰写的专题报导中，揭露这项全球最大的稀土提炼厂计划，在建筑和设计方面存在危害环境的问题。

布雷沙在该报导中指出，虽然Lynas稀土厂的官员们一再强调，兴建在关丹的稀土提炼厂非常安全，并符合国际标准，而且还与承包商密切合作，解决所有的疑虑。

不过，他从参与相关计划的工程师口述中，以及他们提供来自Lynas和承包商的内部通告、电邮信息，以及照片中却发现，Lynas稀土厂在建筑和设计方面，可能存在严重的环境危害问题。这些要求匿名的工程师表示，站在一个专业立场，他们觉得有必要表达他们对Lynas稀土厂安全性的担忧。

这篇报导揭发的事项所带来的震撼，丝毫不输给七级地震，反稀土人土于是相继到警局报案，要求警方对文中所指展开调查，并希望当局采取必要的行动。

虽然Lynas过后作了一番解说，力辨稀土提炼安全无碍健康，可是，关丹及巴洛居民早已从专家获得资讯，知道稀土在提炼过程会散发辐射性尘埃，提炼后的废料中也存留辐射，能通过空气和水进入人体，导致免疫系统疾病和癌症，同时也会对环境和水源带来灾难性的破坏。

《地球宪章》条文中的防止对环境的任何部分的污染，不使放射性物质、有毒物质或其他危险物质累积；坚持每个人都有权得到所有可能影响他们的或他们感兴趣的环境问题以及发展计划和活动的明确和及时的信息，不只有助于带来一个美好的生活空间，也是人类对大也的母亲──地球带来的恩泽。

"拯救大马委员会"（SMSL）为配合地球宪章109绿色盛会：反公害系列第八篇 - 關丹二

2011-10-04T22:38:00.000-07:00

"反稀土不寂寞，艺文界施援手"

反公害运动从来不是一场省力的运动，也不是依靠耍嘴皮就能取得成功，关丹及巴洛的反稀土运动印证了这个事实，也让大家上了宝贵的一课。

虽然如此，抗争的道路还是会有人愿意与你同行，艺文界的陈翠梅等人就是一个很好例子。在关丹附近的马来渔村双溪乌拉出生的陈翠梅是马来西亚新电影的推手之一，她在8月30日的面子书写道："我回来脸书了，回来反Lynas"。

她之前七、八个月没上书子书，但为了反稀土厂，她决定留在家园，"为关丹做点事情"。她也说："现在我家乡的稀土厂即将启动，到时会排出大量的辐射废料。时间不多，我要赶快做点事。" 陈翠梅和其他艺文界人士如刘城达等已经坐言起行，马不停蹄地拍摄了反稀土短片，其他如在北根港口出生，关丹长大的台湾国立中山大学教授张锦忠亦拔笔相助，加入及壮大了反稀土行列。

这些例子不过是冰山一角，曾在马来西亚工作一年半的澳洲男子莱恩奥贝力也自拍短片，以马来语发言呼吁马来西亚人民拒绝Lynas，他将名为《一个因深爱马来西亚而讨厌莱纳的老外》（Mamat Mat Salleh yang benci Lynas sebab dia sayang Malaysia）上载至面子书。这名澳洲男子通过短片"戳破"Lynas公司的措辞，例如Lynas声称在马设厂是因为大马有淡水、电力、相关专家和化学资源充裕，但他认为马来西亚人民并非愚蠢，对这一切理应心中有数，毕竟澳洲本身也强烈拒绝稀土厂在国内兴建。

"我很了解澳洲人民，即使是1000年后，澳洲人也不会赞同稀土厂在国内兴建的，但为什么要让在马来西亚设厂？为什么大马人要接受稀土厂？"

《地球宪章》活动举行在即，重温艺文界及澳洲男子支持公义的片段，让大家在热切的期待中增添一份温馨和感恩的心。

"拯救大马委员会"（SMSL）为配合地球宪章109绿色盛会：反公害系列第七篇 - STOP LYNAS !

2011-10-04T22:32:00.000-07:00

"Lynas稀土厂──关丹及巴洛民众的梦魇"

万挠居民从2005开始奋起反对公害，几经波折仍然不轻言放弃，事隔6年后的今天，居住在距离万挠大约280公哩外的70万关丹居民，如今也进行一场反对公害的抗争，高声向设在格滨工业区的Lynas稀土厂说不。

事实上，居民早在2009年7月23日，就已经在Lynas公司假圣多默学校礼堂与非政府组织举行的汇报会上，直接受向该公司的本地负责人表达他们的不满和疑虑，关丹国会议员傅芝雅亦在第一时间在国会提出质询，新闻还登报章上，但没有引起民间热烈的反应和后续跟进。

直到今年3月8日纽约时报一篇报导被本地报章转载，及日本于同月发生大地震引发海啸，进而带来举世担忧的核难之后，关丹及巴洛的居民才积极展开反Lynas稀土提炼厂抗争，主动组织了"拯救大马委员会"（SMSL）、巴洛反稀土行动组织（Badar）等。

民间反稀土组织除了通过讲座会，经由专家学者及前红泥山稀士抗争者讲述稀土祸害之外，也举办了多项户外活动，毫不含糊地向当局表达了意愿与心声。

两个民间组织亦分别采取行动，当中"拯救大马委员会"两度派人远赴澳洲，争取澳洲人民认同及揭发Lynas真相，巴洛反稀土行动组织也采取了其他相关行动。

今天，耗资7亿令吉、预计每年进账50亿令吉、为大马国内总生产提供1%助益的稀土厂竣工在即，居民担心的怡保红泥山亚洲稀土厂抗争历史会否动演，在本月9日（星期日）《地球宪章》活动倒数之际，益发受到世人的关注。