Press Release: Government must value health and environment as much as investment
Friday, 22 April 2011 06:20pm
The Malaysian Bar fully supports the resolution passed by the Pahang Bar, at its Extraordinary General Meeting held yesterday, in respect of the setting up of a rare earth processing plant in Kuantan by Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Residents in Pahang are gravely concerned over the operation of the plant, as the plant’s by-product of radioactive wastes will certainly have an adverse impact, directly or indirectly, on the environment and on human health.
The resolution mandates the Pahang Bar to immediately set up a special subcommittee to, inter alia, conduct an in-depth study into the plant, including its environmental impact and the disposal or storage of the resulting wastes. The subcommittee would also “provide legal representation in the event of any litigation in an appropriate case that may ensue and/or proposed against Lynas and/or any other necessary party thereof”.
Whilst the Malaysian Bar welcomes the Government’s decision to form an international panel of “independent experts”, the Bar calls upon the Government to ensure that only renowned and respected experts are appointed to this panel.
The panel should not rush to complete its responsibility within one month, if more time is required in order for it to carry out its duties scrupulously. Furthermore, it is crucial that the panel engages the residents of Pahang, to hear their concerns and obtain their views.
Finally, the Government must demonstrate that it has learnt from its past mistakes. In future, the Government must establish an independent panel far in advance, give it adequate time to conduct a detailed study and consult the people who will be affected, and then consider the panel’s report carefully before making a decision on whether to approve such projects.
Thanks for the press release, and chill lah written by Jason Kay Kit Leon,
Saturday, April 23 2011 05:17 pm
Dear President,
Thank you for taking the time to write this press release - http://goo.gl/NqwDr If not for it, I would not know of the efforts by our Pahang brothers and sisters for the Lynas-rare earth issue.
I note that you suggested that “the Bar calls upon the Government to ensure that only renowned and respected experts are appointed to this panel.” I urge you, in the interest of all, to forward the name(s) that you have in mind to the government as soon as possible. They may not have in mind, or even know of, experts that you/the Bar have in mind. Can’t hurt to err on the side of caution when an issue as important as this is at hand. Just saying.
And about the 1-month time limit, “The panel should not rush to complete its responsibility within one month, if more time is required in order for it to carry out its duties scrupulously,” I wouldn’t be too concerned about it. Even the Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission got an extension when it was deemed necessary - http://goo.gl/YiPyz
Again, thanks for the press release, and chill lah. I’m sure the government knows when to be extra cautious when it concerns public safety - http://goo.gl/xtLRs and http://goo.gl/vrcpF
Jason Kay Kit Leon Malacca J/370 23/4/2011
Taking ''extra caution'' to keep public in the dark? written by Chong Siew Ean,
Sunday, April 24 2011 01:18 pm
''...I’m sure the government knows when to be extra cautious when it concerns public safety.''
Well, Jason, if that's the case the govt. would not have offered Gebeng to Lynas before conducting a thorough study on the matter. What's even more disturbing is that we, Malaysians were only aware of such plant a few months ago after New York Times reported it when construction of the plant was then almost completed. Well, that's really taking ''extra caution''.
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News/Notices 
The Malaysian Bar fully supports the resolution passed by the Pahang Bar, at its Extraordinary General Meeting held yesterday, in respect of the setting up of a rare earth processing plant in Kuantan by Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Residents in Pahang are gravely concerned over the operation of the plant, as the plant’s by-product of radioactive wastes will certainly have an adverse impact, directly or indirectly, on the environment and on human health.
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Dear President,
Thank you for taking the time to write this press release - http://goo.gl/NqwDr If not for it, I would not know of the efforts by our Pahang brothers and sisters for the Lynas-rare earth issue.
I note that you suggested that “the Bar calls upon the Government to ensure that only renowned and respected experts are appointed to this panel.” I urge you, in the interest of all, to forward the name(s) that you have in mind to the government as soon as possible. They may not have in mind, or even know of, experts that you/the Bar have in mind. Can’t hurt to err on the side of caution when an issue as important as this is at hand. Just saying.
And about the 1-month time limit, “The panel should not rush to complete its responsibility within one month, if more time is required in order for it to carry out its duties scrupulously,” I wouldn’t be too concerned about it. Even the Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission got an extension when it was deemed necessary - http://goo.gl/YiPyz
Again, thanks for the press release, and chill lah. I’m sure the government knows when to be extra cautious when it concerns public safety - http://goo.gl/xtLRs and http://goo.gl/vrcpF
Jason Kay Kit Leon
Malacca
J/370
23/4/2011