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DAP’s Sungai Pelek assemblyman Ronnie Liu says his group will carry out protests if Lynas is allowed to carry on its operations. (Facebook pic)KUALA LUMPUR: A group opposed to Australian rare earths company Lynas Corp will not compromise on their stand and may resort to legal action if necessary, says DAP’s Ronnie Liu.
However, the Sungai Pelek assemblyman said the actions of the group, which he is part of, have nothing to do with DAP.
“We are thinking of all sorts of possibilities to stop Lynas, including legal action,” Liu told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of DAP leaders at their headquarters tonight, purportedly on Lynas.
He declined to reveal details of what was discussed at the meeting.
Lynas has been embroiled in controversy for several years, with environmentalists and Pakatan Harapan politicians protesting against the plant on health grounds and calling for its closure.
The plant’s operating licence is due for renewal next month and a decision is expected to be announced by Aug 15. The federal government has hinted that the licence will be renewed after Lynas makes suitable arrangements to dispose its waste.
“If Lynas is allowed to continue, we will carry out all sorts of protests,” Liu said, declining to go into detail about the nature of these protests.
He also did not say which group he is a part of or reveal who else is involved.
Liu also criticised Lynas for ignoring his request to visit its plant in Gebeng, Kuantan, saying he would go immediately if he was invited.
Previously, Lynas said it had invited a number of its vocal critics to see its operations, including Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin, though this offer was not taken up.
Liu alleged that Lynas had contaminated the groundwater with heavy metals and failed to comply with undertakings to remove their waste from the country.
“There is no reason for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to allow them to stay. We will not compromise with Lynas. They must get out of Malaysia,” he said, adding that he will join an anti-Lynas protest scheduled for Aug 18.
