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Political and public opposition to Lynas’ rare earths plant for Malaysia

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said his alliance would seek an emergency motion in Parliament to urge the government to cancel the project. He also pledged the opposition would scrap the plant if it wins national polls expected by June.

Malaysia’s last rare earth refinery by Japan’s Mitsubishi group, in northern Perak state, was closed in 1992 following protests and claims that it caused birth defects and leukemia among residents. It is one of Asia’s largest radioactive waste cleanup sites.

3,000 Malaysians rally against Australian-built rare earth plant amid radiation fears Washington Post, By Associated Press,  February 25 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Some 3,000 Malaysians staged a protest Sunday against a rare earth refinery being built by Australian miner Lynas over fears of radioactive contamination.

It marked the largest rally against the $230 million plant in eastern Malaysia, and could pose a headache to the government ahead of national elections widely expected this year. Authorities recently granted Lynas a license to operate the first rare earths plant outside China in years. The plant in Pahang state has been the subject of heated protests over health and environmental risks posed by potential leaks of radioactive waste…..
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said his alliance would seek an emergency motion in Parliament to urge the government to cancel the project. He also pledged the opposition would scrap the plant if it wins national polls expected by June.

“We don’t want (this project) to sacrifice our culture and the safety
of the children,” he told the crowd……
Malaysian activists and Pahang residents have sought a court order to
halt the Lynas plant.

An International Atomic Energy Agency team, which assessed the Lynas
project last year, found it lacked a comprehensive long-term waste
management program and a plan to dismantle the plant once it is no
longer operating.

Malaysia’s last rare earth refinery by Japan’s Mitsubishi group, in
northern Perak state, was closed in 1992 following protests and claims
that it caused birth defects and leukemia among residents. It is one
of Asia’s largest radioactive waste cleanup sites.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/3000-malaysians-rally-against-australian-built-rare-earth-plant-amid-radiation-fears/2012/02/26/gIQAg2Y5aR_story.html

February 27, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Malaysia, politics, Reference