Press Statement by DAP Secretary-General and MP for Bagan Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur on 23.6.2012.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak can only convince Malaysians that “scientific facts” have proven that the Lynas Corp rare earth refinery in Gebeng, Pahang will be safe if the waste residue are stored behind the prime minister’s residence. Can the Prime Minister explain to the residents of Bukit Merah in Perak who suffered from radioactive contamination from the rare earth plant, how scientific facts saved them?
The public has indeed made an informed decision regarding the safety of the rare earth refinery when they can see that Australian government refuses to take back the rare earth residue and that the Lynas facility is not sited in Putrajaya but amongst the ordinary rakyat in Gebeng. How can the Prime Minister be so insensitive as to describe genuine concerns of health and public safety as “imaginary fears”, when he or his wife and children do not have to face the risks should anything go wrong?
If Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin dared not fulfill his promise to live next to the Lynas plant, how can Najib then declare that there are no scientific facts that can raise doubts as to the safety of the public or the environment? By giving Lynas a 12-year tax holiday, Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak is committed to allowing Lynas to operate as BN values profits more than people’s health.
Gerakan that had opposed Lynas is now dumb and mute after been exposed as a party without principles by blindly supporting UMNO’s agenda. MCA continues to try to hide its support for Lynas with linguistic acrobatics. So desperate is MCA leaders justifying their support for Lynas, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai had claimed that there is nothing to stop Lynas from operating since Lynas has written in black and white that rare earth waste residue will not be stored in Malaysia. Liow Tiong Lai is just as confused on this issue as he is on whether he appled for free or paid for the WWW 15 vehicle registration number.
As a responsible Health Minister, Liow must demand Lynas to state where will the waste residue be stored or disposed off. Failure by Lynas to do so may endanger the environment as since no country will accept the waste residue, then will they be dumped into the sea? Transferring waste residues from one country to another that is not the source country could also be contrary to international rules.
By failing to listen to the concerns of the people, BN highlights the contrasting environmental approaches between PR that wants the Lamp closed down. Najib has still not explained why Lynas has to travel thousands of miles away to transport rare earth ore that is mined in Western Australia to Kuantan, when it is cheaper to build one in Australia? Najib should learn from the Australian government that places the welfare, health and environment of their citizens as more important than profits.
—–BM Version—–
Kenyataan Akhbar oleh Setiausaha Agung DAP dan Ahli Parlimen Bagan Lim Guan Eng di Kuala Lumpur pada 23.6.2012
Dato’ Sri Najib Razak Hanya Dapat Meyakinkan Rakyat Malaysia Bahawa “Fakta Saintifik” Telah Membuktikan Loji Pemprosesan Nadir Bumi Lynas Corporation Di Gebeng, Pahang Adalah Selamat Sekiranya Sisa Disimpan Di Belakang Kediaman Perdana Menteri.
Perdana Menteri Dato’ Sri Najib Razak hanya dapat meyakinkan rakyat Malaysia bahawa “fakta saintifik” telah membuktikan loji pemprosesan nadir bumi Lynas Corp di Gebeng, Pahang adalah selamat sekiranya sisa disimpan di belakang kediaman perdana menteri. Rakyat sudah pun membuat keputusan mengenai keselamatan loji pemprosesan nadir bumi apabila mereka boleh lihat dengan jelas bahawa kerajaan Australia enggan mengambil kembali sisa nadir bumi dan juga apabila loji Lynas itu tidak ditempatkan di Putrajaya tetapi di kalangan rakyat biasa di Gebeng.
Lihat betapa kurang sensitifnya Perdana Menteri apabila beliau mengungkapkan kebimbangan mengenai kesihatan dan keselamatan awam sebagai “kebimbangan rekaan”, apabila beliau, isteri serta anak-anaknya tidak perlu menghadapi risiko sekiranya apa-apa berlaku. Jika Menteri Pengajian Tinggi Mohamed Khaled Nordin tidak berani menunaikan janji untuk tinggal di sebelah loji Lynas, bagaimanakah Najib boleh menyatakan bahawa tidak ada fakta-fakta saintifik yang dapat menimbulkan keraguan mengenai keselamatan awam atau persekitaraan?
Perdana Menteri Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak ingin membenarkan Lamp untuk beroperasi kerana BN lebih mementingkan keuntungan daripada kesihatan rakyat. Kegagalan untuk mendengar kebimbangan rakyat ini menonjolkan perbezaan antara BN dan PR dalam pendirian persekitaraan di mana PR ingin menutup Lamp.
Najib belum menjelaskan kenapa Lynas perlu berkunjung beribu-ribu batu untuk mengangkut bijih nadir bumi yang dilombong di Australia Barat ke Kuantan, sedangkan kos untuk membinanya di Australia adalah lagi murah? Najib harus belajar daripada kerajaan Australia yang mementingkan kebajikan, kesihatan dan persekitaraan rakyat daripada keuntungan.
—— Mandarin Version—–
民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英于2012年6月23日在吉隆坡发表声明：
拿督斯里纳吉唯有把莱纳斯稀土厂的废料埋在自己首相官邸后院， 才能说服国人有关“科学证明” 彭亨州稀土厂是安全的事实。
拿督斯里纳吉唯有把莱纳斯稀土厂的废料埋在自己首相官邸后院， 才能说服国人有关“科学证明” 彭亨州稀土厂是安全的事实。首相能不能向霹雳红坭山受稀土厂辐射影响的人民，“科学证据”如何救了他们？
当公众看到澳洲政府拒绝收回稀土厂废料，而莱纳斯稀土厂不是建在布城，而是格宾时，公众已经针对莱纳斯的安全问题心里有数。首相怎会如此不敏感，把公众对健康及公共安全的实际关心，形容为“想像的恐惧”？当他和他的妻子、孩子可以不必面对可能发生的风险？
如果高等教育部长莫哈末卡立诺丁不敢兑现诺言，搬到莱纳斯厂隔邻居住，首相纳吉怎么可以宣布，没有科学证据显示莱纳斯稀土厂会威胁公共安全及环境？莱纳斯获得12年免税优惠，可见首相拿督斯里纳吉允许莱纳斯动作，证明国阵重利益、轻公益。
民政党曾经反对莱纳斯，被证明他们盲目支持巫统的议程过后，如今沉寂下来。马华继续使用花言巧语，偷偷地支持莱纳斯。马华领袖如此不顾一切地表达他们对莱纳斯的支持，卫生部长廖中莱也说，没有办法阻止莱纳斯投入运作，因为莱纳斯已经白纸黑字保证他们不会把稀土废料埋在马来西亚。廖中莱在这项课题的立场，和他是否要免费获得、付款竞标WWW15车牌一样混乱。
做为一个负责任的卫生部长，廖中莱必须要求莱纳斯说明，废料将会被弃置在哪里？如果莱纳斯处理不当，有关废料可以危害环境，因为至今没有其它国家愿意接受它们的废料 ，他们会不会倒入大海？况且，把废料运往非出处，也是有违国际公约的做法。
国阵不听民意，再度显示他们在环境课题上，与民联要关闭稀土厂的做法不同。纳吉还没有解释，为什么莱纳斯必须千里迢迢把西澳开采的稀土运来关丹提炼？在澳洲兴建提炼厂不是更便宜吗？纳吉已经学习澳洲政府，以公众的福利、健康、环境为先，而不是利益。
林冠英