I have been pondering many of the posts since the release of the...

I have been pondering many of the posts since the release of the Committee report and the absurd Ministerial position.  They range from objective to emotive and I understand one and all.  What I don't really know is what will Amanda and her team do.  I have come to the conclusion that no single action may be enough to sway, overturn or influence the situation in the favor of LYC. What is required is multi lines of operation.  By themselves they may not work but together they may have the desired outcome. My thoughts are broad and far from refined and I think they are as follows:

International Trade. The action of the Malaysian government compromises and exposes the markets of Japan and the US to reliance of Chinese rare earths.  I believe Amanda should reach out to all the companies they do business with and point out the the implications if Lynas shuts down or their ability to produce rare earths is threatened.  Those companies in turn need to raise this with their government in Japan or the US in order that pressure is applied to the Malaysian government.  This could be expanded open considerably but I am sure you get the point.

Security.  Similar to above Lynas needs to engage with the Defence Ministers in Japan, the US and Australia and point out the strategic importance of keeping Lynas in play when China controls the rest of the market.  If the US Defence Secretary, Australian Minister of Defence, the Japanese equivalent start ringing up their Malaysian counterpart that may open the eyes of the Malaysians that Lynas is an important Defence strategic asset that they need to stop screwing with.  This situation needs to be considered in a different lens to just a conspiratorial anti-science, anti-development greens one.

Domestic.  Lynas needs to decide how hard it needs to fight this with the domestic Malaysian audience.  They do not want to get the population off side.  However they might consider spending cash on an advertising campaign pointing out the stupidity of this Ministerial position and the threat to jobs.  Show news clips of the idiotic things being said then pause it and say what the truth is, then show the next. Portray some of these local politicians for what they are anti industry, emotive, conspiratorial, pro-China, anti-Malaysian, Greens.

New locations.  Lynas needs to start very publicly looking for new locations.  Make the none to subtle point that Malaysia is not a country that international firms can do business in.  That at first opportunity LYC will consider leaving. Whether it does or not, Lynas does need a backup plan so be very visual about it. Leak it to the press they are meeting with State Premiers in Australia to look at options for moving. etc.  You get the drift.

Legal action.  They need to go hard on this.  The independence of the Malaysian judiciary may be questionable (I just don't know), but regardless if this was Australia this Ministerial position would be untenable if challenged in the courts.

China. Point out that the country benefiting out of this decision is China.  Publicly challenge why the Minister is making decisions that benefit China at the expense of the Malaysian people.  Is the Minister a representative of China or Malaysia.  This one needs to be careful because there has long been tensions between the Chinese Malaysian and Malay communities. No one wants to cause friction on that or inter community strife. 

Well a few thoughts I think may be worth considering.  I don't know what Amanda is next planning. I have information gaps on how much it may cost to remove all the residues etc.  The is important. In regards to the points above I doubt any one of these options is enough to sway this decision in itself but when combined they can make for a very toxic situation for the Malaysian government if they don't reverse the emotive, anti-investment, political decision it made.