MARCH 3 – We read with sadness a story of a Chinese lady who worked at the former Bukit Merah rare earth refinery in Perak. A single mother, she not only had to slog to raise her seven children but also to care for her disabled son of 29 years old. She attributes his mental capabilities of two to three years old to her former job at the rare earth refinery and fears that once she is gone, there will be no one to care for him.

Currently, the Malaysian Government has approved the operations of Lynas near Kuantan, citing its operational safety and how science has shown it to be safe. Pursuant to this, it has granted a temporary operational licence to Lynas for a period of two years. It has cited “breaking China’s monopoly on rare earth production”, job creation and economic stimulation as justifications for its decision.

Nevertheless, however enticing the decision economically, this decision flies in the face of the country’s vision of a high-income, knowledge based economy which is environmentally friendly. It also negates all the efforts put into developing a green economy. The risks are high and outweigh the benefits should any untoward developments take place.

Japan, once known for its ‘super-safe’ nuclear power plants, has since made an aim to go nuclear free since the tsunami on March 11, 2011 caused the Fukushima nuclear plant to leak radiation. The previous experience with the Bukit Merah rare earth refinery has also taught us lessons that should never be repeated again.

In fact, executive councilor Hamidah Osman in Perak has stated that Perak will not allow a second rare earth plant to be built in the state, citing its goal of a green state and that the building of a second rare earth plant runs contradictory to its aim of a green state.

Even if the plant has been scientifically proven to be safe, experience has told us time and again that risks can happen. As exemplified by the previous rare earth plant, which was given the green light for safety as well, the government has proven its inability to ensure that the standards set are adhered to and that there will be no contamination of the surroundings.

At this critical juncture, where many are calling for the scrapping of Lynas’s rare earth plant project in Pahang, it is not too late for the government to realize the risks of its decision and pull the plug on the Lynas rare earth plant. Surely the compensation to be paid to the Australian developer is a worthwhile price to pay for a radiation-free environment, the health of the surrounding inhabitants and the future environment of Malaysia. Stop Lynas, and let us support a radiation-free Malaysia for the future generations to come.

* Jonathan Muk Chen Yeen & Yeo Gek Min read The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.