Many of you must be wondering what is LYNAS.
LYNAS is an Australian rare earth mining company. They have a mining and concentration plant in Mount Welde, Western Australian. Outside Australia, they are to build a refinery for rare earth extracted in Australia.
The Malaysian government has given the 'pioneer' status to LYNAS for the construction of this plant in Kuantan, Pahang. Also granted is a 12-year tax exemption. The plant in Kuantan is called Lynas Advanced Material Plant(LAMP). If completed, it would be the third biggest ore refinery in the world, and the biggest outside China. This plant would thereby meet 30% of the world's demand for the rare earth extracted.
Currently, China controls 95% of the worlds rare earth extraction. These rare earth extracts are used to make cellphone chips, computer motherboards and other electronic devices.
What's the fuss?
These ore extract involves the yielding of several thousand tonnes of waste known as gypsum which contains low concentration of thorium, a radioactive substance.
About 20 years ago, Mitsubishi Chemicals built a rare earth plant in Bukit Merah, West of Ipoh, Perak. Till now, the Malaysian government and Mitsubishi are paying the price of the aftermath- 300million used to clean the radioactive leftovers that caused 8 workers to die of leukemia.
In June 2011, New York Times reported that AkzoNobel, a Dutch Contractor and a key contractor in supplying resins to LYNAS pulled out of the project stating worries the way LYNAS is taking safety measurements.
Consequences?
Thorium causes leukemia if not properly dealt with. Not only that, Malaysians from all around the country will be affected by the content of thorium in the air. In 1986, radiation by the meltdown of the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant in Russia even reached Scotland! Look at Japan, radiations caused by the atomic bomb dropped in Hiroshima in 1946 is still taking it's toll with birth defects among newborns. In USA, the wastes are dumped and buried hundreds of feet below the deserts of Nevada. Where to find a desert in Malaysia?
The current government is seeking to approve the applications by all means. Why? This is a billion dollar project Najib can boost about. Besides that, LYNAS is also taking advantage of the Malaysian environmental laws, which are known worldwide to be not strict.
Although there's only proof that these radiation causes the death of a few lives and not thousands, the worst in Malaysia being the 8 that died in Bukit Merah, this is proof that the government are only interested in $$. Even if it's a few lives, would a caring government sacrifice a few lives for $$?
This is an apolitical issue, it doesn't concern whose government and whose opposition. A right mind would tell you it involves the health of millions, if not thousands.
Citizen's Voice
By : Adrian Lim
Actually the Health of Thousands if not millions should be the right words in the concluding section.. but well i have been in Malaysia for quite many years, and i must admit, you government has some mental problem.. they are always interested in money, which is why they lied to many foreigners to study here.. gave them admission and said they will employee them, am a victim and i still have a the letters with me, but reach here and the do the opposite..
ReplyDeleteAfter paying 30 to 80 thousand ringgit for school fees alone, these foreigners will be set-up on drug and rape charges, asked to pay extra 10 to 20 thousand for release and then sent back home...
IS all about the $$$ rit? well check-out the environment.. these foreigners are now angry, and they are ready to do anything to harm the image of your country.. compare statistics from 2007 to 2011.. how many drop in foreign students within just 3 years? You think they wont tell people outside Malaysia? ofcoz they will.. you simple interested in their money and not who they are..
Even this way, you government ended up importing a whole group of gangstars.. ofcoz they paid millions if not billions if you compare all foreign students in Malaysia to be here.. but look who is crying now? is same government developing new anti-crime units..
I guarantee you as long as your government keeps being a money head, this will keep affecting their decisions and yielding many consequences in future for sure.. so will LYNAS.. unfortunately, i can tell you LYNAS will be approved.. even though the tax is waved for 12 years, the government will make at least 20 percent, so giving them about 600 million ringgit for the 6 billion project.. i dare your government to decline.. wo hu.. !!!..
is complicated.. but money is not all.. well the government will never understand coz they not affected.. after drop from pm, he can migrate to Canada or US.. if you and me and the poor masses that will be affected..
LYNAS = done deal
But "NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR CAMPAIGN...."
Thanks for your support. I know its complicated but somehow we need to make some moves to tell them.
ReplyDeleteOh well. Just hoping things will be settle soon.
God Bless us.