LETTER | We, the undersigned NGOs and concerned individuals call on the Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his cabinet, especially the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change (MESTECC) Yeo Bee Yin to:
• Suspend Lynas’ operating licence.
• Reject Lynas’ application to turn its current waste storage site into a prescribed premise for its massive amount of scheduled waste.
• Ensure that Lynas and/or its new owner take active steps to remove its toxic radioactive waste from Malaysia by the September deadline and thoroughly clean up its contaminated groundwater and soil.
• Never ever to allow any of Lynas’ toxic waste to remain in Malaysia to risk contamination.
• Ensure that the promised US$50 million deposit from Lynas is paid in full in cash and not in Lynas’ shares; and
• Hold the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) and Department of Environment (DoE) responsible to ensure that they perform their mandated roles and duty with a high degree of professionalism and integrity in the interest of Malaysia and the rakyat.
We recognise and acknowledge that Malaysia needs foreign investment. It is therefore even more pertinent that we present our beloved country as a conducive place to responsible corporations/companies to do business and operate in, based on good governance plus a high level of professionalism in our dealings and integrity in the way we conduct businesses.
Malaysia will be an attractive investment destination if our government upholds the law and restores order to create a fair and equal playing field for all. The Pakatan Harapan government has the power to make this happen.
The Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change's decision requiring Lynas to remove its radioactive waste is merely to hold Lynas accountable to its own undertaking made in 2012 to the then BN government.
By continuing to tolerate massive piles of wastes, we are sending the wrong signal that Malaysia is a Third World nation desperate for toxic trade and related industries.
In so doing, Malaysia has essentially undermined and disadvantaged many other responsible businesses that have taken pride in abiding by our environmental law and regulations through genuine actions to protect our environment and public health.
As civil society groups and individuals, we, too, have been particularly patient and tolerant, giving the benefit of the doubt to the Harapan government which we helped put into power last May. We have largely held in good faith that Harapan ministers and responsible MPs from all parties would concertedly tackle toxic waste problems to protect Malaysia and the rakyat from radioactive and toxic hazards.
Many of us have contributed and campaigned for Harapan to be elected. We wish to remind all ministers and members of Parliament of the Harapan manifesto which your respective parties have signed before GE14.
Janji/Promise 39 commits Harapan to "Balancing development with environmental protection". Therefore, development decisions from the Harapan cabinet must lead to the security and well-being of the people and our environment.
Lynas is from the Najib era and made possible only through generous loan packages from Japan. Malaysia should not be an easy target for Japan to wage its geopolitical technological war with China. Lynas has no place in Malaysia if Harapan is committed to pursuing a sustainable development for the future.
Sustainable development as promised in the Harapan manifesto is only possible if the government upholds our own law to restores order.
Tun, we supported your leadership because we trust that you will act in Malaysia’s interests and that you will uphold your word to undo past mistakes. Lynas is a major mistake committed by the Najib regime. We now count on all of you whom we have voted into power to right this wrong and pave the way for Malaysia to pursue a new clean, safe and sustainable pathway of development.
The above is endorsed by:
1. Save Malaysia Stop Lynas
2. Greenpeace Malaysia
3. Himpunan Hijau
4. Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam (Peka) Malaysia
5. Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa)
6. Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Malaysia (Grass Malaysia)
7. Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)
8. Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)
9. North-South Initiative
10. Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
11. SMSL Segamat
12. Stop Lynas Coalition
13. Gelombang Hijau
14. Aliran Kesedaran Negara
15. Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (Gerak)
16. Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility
17. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)
18. BaramKini
19. Mama Bersih
20. OHMSI
21. Citizens' Health Initiative
22. Persatuan Penggerak Hijau
23. Ban Cyanide Action Committee
24. Himpunan Hijau Johor
25. Persatuan Penunggang Basikal Jelajah Bumi Hijau
26. University of Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany)
27. Johor Yellow Flame (JYF)
28. Engage
29. Perak Green Pioneer
30. Women Development Organisation of Malaysia
31. The KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Women Section
32. Green Earth Society
33. KRYSS
34. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)
35. Beyond Borders
36. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
37. Sabah Environmental Protection Association (Sepa)
38. Malaysian Nature Society Pahang
39. Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group (Sawo)
40. Pusat Komas
41. To Earth With Love
42. Tanah Dahai
43. Centre for Independent Journalism Malaysia
44. Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)
45. Sustainable Development Network Malaysia (Susden Malaysia)
46. Foreign Spouses Support Group
47. Treat Every Environment Special (Trees)
48. Sahabat Rakyat
49. Health Equity Initiatives
50. Justice for Sisters
51. Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia
52. Tenaganita
53. Jaringan Orang Asal Semalaysia (Joas)
54. Monsoons Malaysia
55. Friends of Kota Damansara
56. MyPJ
57. Hakam
58.The Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham)
59. Student Unity Front
60. Bersih Gold Coast
61. Bersih Timor Leste
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.