Anti-Lynas rally Sunday wants to burn PH manifesto - Organizer

Annabelle Lee | PublishedAugust 13, 2019, 5:07 pm | UpdatedAugust 13, 2019, 5:14 pm

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The anti-Lynas rally on Sunday is expected to end with the burning of the Pakatan Harapan manifesto to symbolize the government's failure to fulfill its promise of sustainable development.

According to protest organizer Tan Boon Teet, if Lynas was allowed to operate in the country then PH would have broken promise number 39 in its manifesto in which the coalition vowed to govern the country on the basis of sustainability principles.

"If they let Lynas continue operating, will it be sustainable?

"[...] We want to burn the whole manifesto just to remind the government by saying see if this manifesto is worthless, why else keep it?
"(Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the manifesto was not a scripture which meant that they (PH) did not intend to fulfill what they had promised and that we had been deceived," he said when contacted by Malaysiakini today.

According to Tan, at the end of this gathering, participants will be given a paper from the PH manifesto that will be thrown into the fire.

"The people's hopes are shattered, (this protest gimmick) (shows) their anger and frustration," Tan added.

The rally was aimed at protesting the government's decision to make a U-turn to abolish Lynas' condition that it send its radioactive waste - which is part of a rare earth processing operation - out of Malaysia.

Sources say Putrajaya is ready to expand its Lynas plant license in Gebeng, Kuantan when the existing permit expires in September.

Critics have voiced concern about the potential adverse effects of radioactive waste on the health of the local community.

The rally, dubbed "818" in conjunction with its due date, will be held at the Gelora National Park in Kuantan.

It is scheduled to start at 7am and end at 10:30 am.

Tan estimates the attendance of between 1,000 and 2,000 people, with most of them coming from outside Kuantan.

Among the politicians that Tan hoped to be present at the rally were PKR representatives Lee Chean Chung (Semambu) and Sim Chon Siang (Teruntum).

Bentong DAP MP Wong Tack, who has long been critical of Lynas, is also expected to attend.

However, Kuantan deputy minister and Member of Parliament Fuziah Salleh, another vocal critic of Lynas, told Malaysiakini that he would not be present as he would be returning from performing a pilgrimage in Makkah to Malaysia on Sunday.

Tan said the organizers of the rally had obtained a permit from the police for the demonstration.

During two official visits to Japan earlier, one in May and another earlier this month, Mahathir assured Lynas that Malaysia would continue operations in Malaysia.

Japan is the main buyer of rare earth ingredients from Lynas.

The PM has also repeatedly emphasized the benefits Lynas brings to the economy and investor confidence.

Meanwhile, Movement President Dominic Lau had previously questioned whether Mahathir's stand on Lynas was due to his two children having an interest in the matter.

Lynas has denied this charge.

Putrajaya will announce a final decision on Lynas on August 15.