I refer to the news report carried in Malaysiakini entitled "Lynas plant license application full of holes" and would like to observe that the temporary operating license sought by Lynas will most likely be granted by tomorrow (30th January 2012).

Soon after that and despite ongoing protests, a permanent operating license will also be granted as Lynas has fulfilled all requirements laid down by IAEA report, according to parties acting in charge of the licensing approval.

Whether the rakyat of Kuantan likes it or not, they have got to bear with the Lynas operating at full blast for 20 years and later be exposed to the so-called "not so radioactive" waste (water leach purification solids) for 300 long years.

Yes it is going to be a 300 year problem for Kuantan; by then almost all the Kuantan-Gebeng-Kemaman zone would have developed into major industrial and commercial zones even without Lynas.

However, because the way we believe what Lynas proposes to do for the so-called green and future technology, the people would have to live with probably the world largest radioactive permanent disposal facility (PDF) at the factory site.

To get things done for temporary operating license, AELB, Lynas and other parties acting in concert, have kept assuring the people that the exact location for the permanent disposal facility is neither crucial nor critical at this point of time.

According to these relevant parties acting in concert, the PDF would only becomes relevant after 24 months down the time-line.

Furthermore, Lynas in its papers for temporary license, keeps telling the local people that whatever waste generated during the refining process may be recycled and reprocessed into valuable commercial products later on.

As such, the problem of permanent residue or waste storage may not exist at all because Lynas is working on some sort of research breakthrough to attain the first ever zero-waste rare earth refinery operation.

Despite all claims and manifestations of research and further research, WLP waste will remain at the temporary disposal facility (TDF) within the factory compound during the initial stage of operation.

As the authorities and the local people quarrel over the suitability of PDF location, the picture would then become very much clear that no community within Pahang would be willing to accept a PDF.

At the same time,the Lynas plant would be getting closer to decommissioning prior to complete shutdown after 20 years.

By then, it would be already too late and too foolish to talk about relocating the temporary disposal facility at the factory site.

In the IAEA expert report (page 21), it was stated that "The review team was informed by Lynas that the RSF (reside storage facility) will be designed to meet stringent requirements, if necessary, it could become a permanent disposal facility " .

This is what the whole issue is all about. Lynas is not worried about the location of the PDF as it is not necessary to do so under the temporary-turn-permanent type of arrangement already incorporated in the IAEA expert reports.

It is only the people's concern as anything after 20 years or after 2041, it would have nothing to do with Lynas legally.