PRIME Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has allowed Lynas to operate, with the condition that the firm removes its radioactive waste from the country.
He said Lynas must reduce the radioactivity of raw materials before bringing them to Malaysia.
This has granted the government the upper hand in dealing with the situation.
However, the government’s decision has also drawn criticism from Netizens and environmentalists.
The struggles of Energy, Green Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bin Yin and Bentong member of parliament
Wong Tack to disallow Lynas from operating have been in vain.
The Lynas
issue has been a tug of war between Lynas stakeholders and the government.
Regardless of the scientific proof and arguments by Lynas representatives, the radioactive waste’s toxicity is a reason why the rare-earth processing plant was not built in Australia or other First World countries.
It is time for Lynas to comply with regulations set by the government and find a solution.
Lynas may have to shift its operations to another country if negotiations fail.
The livelihood of more than 600 local employees, along with RM1.2 billion worth of investment, is at stake due to the decisions made by the previous government.
If First World nations are adamant about not having
Lynas operate in their country, it may not be suitable for Malaysia either.
The Sungai Kim Kim toxic pollution crisis serves as an example of the dangerous effect of improper waste disposal on people and the environment.
Dr B. Harin, Johor Baru, Johor