risk now gone with lyc, page-6

there is still a political risk....

Feb 1: PAS has lashed out at controversial Australian company Lynas's executive chairman Nicholas Curtis for hinting that the Islamic party was supportive of the company's heavily criticised rare-earth refinery in Gebeng near Kuantan and that its critics were only a minority.

Yesterday, Curtis directed his attack at Kuantan member of parliament Fuziah Salleh, who has been at the forefront of the opposition against Lynas.

"She is the only person who has come out and said that the opposition would potentially revoke (a licence). I do not consider the words of a known opponent to carry necessarily the PAS party position at all,” he said.

Pahang PAS commissioner Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (right) said Curtis's claim was to divert public attention from the real issue as well as to throw a spanner into the growing campaign against the company's operation.

"This fight against the construction and operation of the factory is joined by concerned citizens of all races and religions for the sake of preserving the environment and for the sake of the future generation," said Tuan Ibrahim, who is also the PAS information chief.

Tuan Ibrahim however lamented that the Malay community had been denied credible information surrounding the controversial plant, which has drawn strong protests from civil societies and residents fearing over hazards to public health and the environment.

According to Tuan Ibrahim, the Chinese community had more access to the truth behind the plant, and this explained why a large part of the campaign was being spearheaded by the community's activists.

The information fed to the Malay audience by the media, said Tuan Ibrahim, was often directed at discrediting those opposed to the Lynas plant.

PAS's pledge

"PAS is consistent and has never wavered from its early stance in opposing the project," stressed Tuan Ibrahim, pointing out that the party's annual assembly (muktamar) had adapted a resolution condemning the project.

Tuan Ibrahim also pointed out that PAS's Indera Mahkota division in the state had formed the Anti Rare Earth Refinery Action Front, or BADAR, to coordinate the anti-Lynas campaign under the auspices of the party's Environment bureau headed by Zulkefly Mohamad Omar.

He also reminded that top PAS leaders had also made clear their opposition against Lynas.

As such, Tuan Ibrahim said Curtis's assertion was not founded.

On Curtis's argument that any cancellation of the Lynas plant as a result of the opposition campaign could negatively affect foreign invesments, Tuan Ibrahim echoed the response given by Fuziah.

“On the other hand, as stated by Fuziah Salleh, which foreign investor would come to Kuantan once it becomes a high-risk area due to Lynas's radioactive wastes?" he asked.

Tuan Ibrahim said Curtis should instead provide answers to a spate of questions over the danger that Lynas's rare earth refinery would pose.

“If we were given the mandate to govern, we pledge to immediately terminate the plant's operation," he added.