No proposal from Anwar on Lynas’ licence renewal, says Gobind

(FMT) – No formal proposal or suggestion has been received from those who oppose the decision to renew the licence of the Lynas plant in Kuantan, including PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

“The decision, therefore, remains unchanged,” Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said when asked about Anwar’s support for calls to review the stand taken by the government.

“We have not received proposals or suggestions yet (from Anwar),” he told reporters at a function at Berangan in Hulu Langat district today.

Anwar had said he supported the move for negotiations with the government on the six-month licence renewal for the rare earths mining company, effective Sept 1, with certain conditions.

The government’s decision has also received brickbats from the public, environmentalists and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh.

They have cited health concerns surrounding the plant’s radioactive waste.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has dismissed their criticism, saying that the processing plant “is not Chernobyl” and Lynas is not dangerous.

Yesterday, he also said Lynas cannot be asked to leave Malaysia “like a pariah” as this would jeopardise future investments in the country.