Patrick Lee | March 20, 2012
Free Malaysia Today
A PSC investigating Lynas’ purported radiation will have no effect, with Pakatan MPs scoffing at its advent.
KUALA LUMPUR: A Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) investigating the Lynas rare earth plant near Kuantan will come to naught, opposition lawmakers said.
Pakatan Rakyat politicians said the government had no intention to scrap the controversial plant, hence it was pointless to form a PSC to study the plant’s safety standards.
They said this after opposition MPs marched out of the Dewan Rakyat, moments after a motion tabling the PSC was approved.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, Kuantan MP (PKR) Fuziah Salleh said: “It is my wish that the PSC is fair. I wish it was a platform to hear the concerns of the people in Kuantan, that it is able to understand the issue of safety.”
“…I wish the PSC was a channel (for Kuantan people) to come out with their anguish and concerns… But after we heard the winding-up by the minister (in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz), I have come to the conclusion that we cannot put our hope in the PSC,” she said.
Fuziah was also accompanied by a host of Pakatan MPs, including Kuala Selangor MP (PAS) Dzulkefly Ahmad, Batu MP (PKR) Tian Chua and Klang MP (DAP) Charles Santiago.
Earlier today, Nazri tabled a motion that would form a PSC to investigate public concerns on the controversial rare earth plant.
Chaired by Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin, the committee would study the plant’s safety standards, which was currently on-site at Gebeng, near Kuantan.
It would have three months to fulfil its objectives. Five BN, three Pakatan and one Independent MPs would sit in the committee.
However, during today’s debate on the matter, Pakatan MPs were unhappy with the PSC, which they claimed was flawed before it was even formed.
In one example, Kuala Krai MP (PAS) Hatta Ramli told the Dewan Rakyat that the PSC chairman previously hoped to “change the negative, baseless perception on Lynas and LAMP”.
Many BN MPs were also convinced that the plant was safe, and accused the opposition of politicking.
Nazri would later wind up the speech, before the motion was passed by an oral vote. Frustrated at supposedly being ignored, Pakatan lawmakers then walked out en masse.
They would later claim that the minister had no intention of answering their concerns.
General election looming
One of the issues they raised was that the PSC would not have the final say over Lynas.
According to a recent Bernama report, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said that the PSC would not decide on the fate of the project.
This irked Fuziah, who said: “At the end of the day, the PM can say whatever he wants, decide whatever he wants… It seems that they are determined to push it through.”
Chiming in, Santiago said that it did not make sense to form a PSC when 90% of the plant had already been constructed.
He also asked where the “radioactive material” would be disposed in Malaysia, after it was refined by the plant.
Another concern was the looming general election, speculated for a June date.
“The chances of Parliament to be dissolved by the end of May for June are very high… It cannot do justice, even if it (the PSC) comes out with report, (it will have no) mandate,” said Santiago.
Asked what Pakatan would do next, Dzulkfely said: “We will go against (Lynas)… with the power of the people to decide.”
Additionally, both PAS and PKR MPs present did not appear confident about sitting on the committee.
Previously, DAP boycotted the PSC, adding that the panel was a “sham”.
Lynas spokespersons claimed that the plant – and its operations – would not be harmful to the local Kuantan population; a claim shared by government MPs.