SUSDEN Malaysia Saturday, 30 April 2011 09:04 |
SUSDEN Malaysia expresses alarm over the Government's response to citizen’s opposition against the Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd's rare earth oxides plant in Gebeng, Kuantan. A one month review on health and safety aspects is to us a red herring and a means to tire down as well as side track the citizen’s protests.
We are deeply concerned that the said independent study only came about after the initiatives from the citizens' where only then an operating license will be approved. The question which comes to mind is how such investment was and construction application was approved without a rigorous examination. Indeed how the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was done and did it not trigger the authorities to investigate in details these concerns. Further, it shows despite the tragedy at Bukit Merah, Perak where many are still suffering the government remains indifference.
More alarming is that despite these protests and many international tragedies on nuclear energy, the Government has also announced that they will continue in their intention to build not one but two nuclear power plant in this nation. Nuclear energy plants have now proven not economical and remain an extremely high investment. To this end, we wonder if the demand is so great that we are unable to cope. Nor is there no other more sustainable form of harnessing energy like solar and wind.
Nevertheless, seeking not to blur the lines on the importance of issue of Lynas, SUSDEN calls for the following in the interest of our nation.
1. That the government begins by being accountable and transparent and provides complete disclosure on the issue of Bukit Merah and Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd so that citizen's are informed.
2. There is full disclosure on the Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd activities with respect to the environmental impact.
3. The independent commission is multi-stakeholder.
4. The independent commission findings tabled publicly at a citizens hearing.
5. The government synergizes its different departments wherein approval guidelines, monitoring standards, safe standards are reviewed, established and made transparent.
Importantly, SUSDEN Malaysia applaud and supports the community initiatives that oppose the Lynas plant which in the long run is detrimental to our health, the environment and our future. Despite the tragedies faced by others including our own at Bukit Merah which seems to be taken too lightly, we urge the government to be more socially responsible, accountable and transparent.
We condemn the government's indifference against nature and the well-being of Malaysians. The nation is ready to adopt a more sustainable path towards progress and requires a government that is able to facilitate such aspiration. Our economy and development is built on our greatest treasure our natural resources and our people. This failure to ensure a sustainable path is not development but a backlash.
MUHAMMAD SHA’ANI ABDULLAH is the President of Sustainable Development Network (SUSDEN) Malaysia
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