Print
    20 April 2012| last updated at 02:41PM

    Lynas starts defamation proceedings



    0 comments

    Kuala Lumpur: Lynas Corporation Limited has begun defamation proceedings in the High Court here against online Malaysian news service 'Free Malaysia Today', relating to what it claimed to be false and misleading statements published in its recent article.

    In a statement today, the company said it had also commenced defamation proceedings against a group known as 'Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas', its directors and some of its committee members.

    The proceedings relate to alleged false and misleading statements made in a recent open letter which was published on the 'Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas' blogsite.

    "Lynas has, and will engage legal representation to take action against people who publish defamatory statements or misinformation about Lynas or its operations," said its executive chairman, Nicholas Curtis.

    Lynas Corporation's rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Pahang has been in the limelight over safety concerns.

    The Parliamentary Select Committee on the Lynas project is scheduled to visit the Gebeng site on May 10 and 11, and conduct its first public hearing there. Another public hearing would be held in Kuala Lumpur on May 21.

    In the statement, Curtis said: "Lynas' operations will be safe and comply with the environmental, health and safety standards stipulated by the laws of Malaysia and audited by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    "These laws reflect or exceed international standards." He said that Lynas was now engaging in a conversation with the Malaysian community that would continue for the life of the plant.

    "But we're concerned that defamatory statements instil misplaced fear and anxiety among the general public about our operations," he added. -- Bernama

    Leave Your Comment


    Leave Your Comment:

    New Straits Times reserves the right not to publish offensive or abusive comments and those of hate speech, harassment, commercial promos and invasion of privacy. Your IP will be logged and may be used to prevent further submission.The views expressed here are that of the members of the public and unless specifically stated are not those of NST.