Driving out Lynas would put off other foreign investors, says PM

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 8 Aug 2019 11:05PM · 4 Comments

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says expert studies have shown that the radioactive waste found in Lynas' rare earth minierals is at a very low level. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 8, 2019.

THE government cannot force Lynas Corp to leave Malaysia after having invited the Australian rare earth minerals mining company to invest in the country, just because some people do not want to accept the expert studies, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The prime minister said Lynas had invested more than RM1 billion on its operations in Malaysia but the processing of the rare earth minerals is said to produce radioactive waste.

He said expert studies indicate that it is “a very low-level” radioactive waste and not hazardous to health, adding that he believes there is a way to further reduce the low-level radioactivity.

“We invite them (to invest) and then we kick them out. Others will say the country made a promise, but when there is a problem, we kick them out… We cannot do that,” he told Malaysian reporters when concluding his two-day visit to Fukuoka today.

Dr Mahathir said foreign investors were watching the government’s action on Lynas.

“If we chase out Lynas, the others (foreign investors) will not come (to Malaysia). Because there are some (investors) whom we do not like… We ask them (investors) to leave. Who (investors) would want to come, they must have certainty,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said if the radioactive waste was dangerous, the workers in Lynas Malaysia, made up of about 600 local engineers, would have fallen sick.

“The report was made by experts but there are quarters who do not accept the experts’ decision. This poses a problem if we ask the experts to make the study, but we reject it. What is the purpose of asking the experts to make the study?”

In addition to losing the investment, 600 local workers would also lose their jobs if Lynas were to be closed, he said.

“The 600 workers there are our people, they are not afraid, they ask (the operations) to be continued,” he said. – Bernama, August 8, 2019.

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Comments

  • Malaysia does not need polluting industries or investors trying to place potentially dangerous processes outside their own countries because their own environment would suffer.

    Posted 6 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply

  • ... the country made a promise...

    Now, now, you of all people know about promises not being kept, right ...

    And btw, foreign investors didnt help u win the last GE; it was the Msian ppl who trusted you and your PH Geng out of the promise you guys made to kick out Lynas.

    Posted 6 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • Some of the reasons why Pakatan is in power is because we were so fed up with the shenanigans of the previous BN government. Nowadays we see the same amount of bullshit coming from Pakatan. Issues like unilateral conversions laws, forcing the useless khat down our throats and the flip flop on Lynas are just some of the issues which the rakyat will remember.

    We do not need Lynas in Malaysia and we don't care if they build their plant in Australia. Is there a reason why despite all the backlash, that they are so adamant to stay in Malaysia? I mean if the raw material comes from Australia, it only makes sense to process it there especially if they are an Australian company. Is the reason why they are so adamant to stay is because we allow to them radioactively pollute our country at their own profit?

    Posted 6 years ago by Anonymous 1234 · Reply

  • Dap and Pkr objected to Lynas
    Mahatir find it easy to dissociate as they will not around at that time
    Since the politicians do not have a common stand, the resudents around Lynas should come out to obeject. Otherwise let it be since they and tbe workers are happy with the pollution

    Posted 6 years ago by S L · Reply