YAB Datuk Seri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Office of The Prime Minister, Main Block, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 Putrajaya, MALAYSIA. Tel : 603-8888 8000 Fax : 603-8888 3444 Email: najib@1malaysia.com.my
(Date)
A LETTER FROM THE WORLD TO
Dear Prime Minister of Malaysia,
We are writing to you over concerns raised by the people of Malaysia, in particular those who live in Pahang state, over the construction of a rare earths processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan. We are also sending this letter as a sign of support/solidarity for groups that are working tirelessly to bring this issue to the mainstream of discussion, and rightfully so, given the magnitude of serious health and environmental impacts that radiation from processing rare earths is known for.
While we are aware that Malaysia has through various laws and policies set stringent standards for the industrial sector, we are not convinced that the decision to allow Lynas Corporation Ltd of Australia to set up a rare earths processing plant in Pahang was done in a transparent manner. Despite policies that recommend a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) for most large scale projects, Lynas Corporation was only required to conduct a Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment for what is slated to be the world’s largest rare earth refinery, and one that will meet one-sixth of global demand for material crucial for high technology products. A Radiological Impact Assessment (RIA) was done in a hasty manner only after construction for the refinery had started. Based on feedback we have received, the narrow scope and poor technical information in the two assessments have failed to address many crucial environmental and health risks associated with the refinery. We also note with deep concern points raised by the esteemed Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) that the open-air waste storage model for the plant would allow radioactive particles to “dust the environment,” increasing the chance of nearby communities inhaling it. The MMA stated that the RIA does not include assessment on internal radiation which is crucial as radioactive waste products are mainly alpha emitters, adding that alpha particles can cause cellular damage and increase the likelihood of cancer if inhaled or digested. An estimated 700,000 people live within a 30km radius of the plant, with the closest settlement just two kilometres away, and the South China Sea, an important fisheries source, is a mere five kilometres away. Their lives are surely more precious and invaluable than a rare earths refinery. It is also very disheartening that while Lynas gets a 12-year tax holiday, the local fishing community will lose their livelihoods.
We would like to bring to your attention that the plant will produce 22,000 tonnes of rare earth oxides yearly, producing enough heavy metal and toxic substance waste including 106 tonnes of radioactive thorium, to fill 126 Olympic sized swimming pools annually. The plant will draw water from the Balok River, and every hour, 500 tonnes of waste water will be discharged back to the same river which flows to the South China Sea. We cannot stress enough that radioactive materials have the ability to contaminate air, water and the food chain unnecessarily creating risk of cancer and birth defects.
Further, we are shocked that Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, part of the same conglomerate of companies which owned the Asian Rare Earth (ARE) plant in Bukit Merah in another Malaysian state called Perak, has taken a RM1 billion stake in Lynas Corporation, as reported in July by the Dow Jones Newswire. Mitsubishi Chemicals, which is part of the Mitsubishi Group, was forced to shut the ARE plant in Perak in 1992 following public protests over radiation pollution. Today, almost 20 years on, the company is still involved in a USD100 million clean-up as radiation is still being linked to diseases such as leukaemia, which has killed seven people in the area in the last five years. Malaysia has already had the misfortune of dealing with one environmental and health disaster, and it is the responsibility of the Government to not put its people through another potentially dangerous project. Yes, development is important, especially for Malaysia’s growing and increasingly vibrant economy, but it is also the country’s moral obligation to draw the line on foreign investment which has failed to be transparent from day one. We ask you YAB Prime Minister, to please put the health and interests of your citizens first. Groups in Malaysia have reached out to us because they feel that despite their best efforts to voice their grievances, their message has not reached you.
Let us assure you that we are aware the Malaysian Government had after public outcry approached the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to conduct an independent expert review of radiation safety aspects at the said plant. Subsequently, the IAEA came up with 11 recommendations that Lynas should adhere to before obtaining operational approval. Of these, three including for a long-term waste management plan have to be met before a pre-operational license can be issued. Unfortunately, it had gone unreported to the public that Lynas submitted its long-term waste management and decommissioning plans to the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation on 18th July 2011. As of the end of July, neither AELB nor Lynas have disclosed these plans to the public, and sadly, they did not engage local communities in formulating them. This is in clear contradiction of the IAEA’s recommendation that “the AELB should enhance the understanding, transparency and visibility of its regulatory actions in the eyes of the public.” It is also critical to highlight that Lynas seems confident the refinery will start operations soon, based on its announcement on 13th July 2011 that it has awarded construction of phase two of the plant to Toyo-Thai Corporation for a sum of USD180 to 210 million. This was done before their plans were submitted to the AELB.
We would also like to bring to your attention that there are groups in Australia, including the influential Green Party, that have expressed concern over the shipment of material that contains radioactive thorium through the Perth suburb of Kwinana for processing in Kuantan. Mr Robin Chapple, a Green Party Member of Parliament for the vast Mining and Pastoral Region of Western Australia, said the Premier for Western Australia, Mr Colin Barnett has repeatedly stated he does not wish to see uranium exported from ports in his state, and by that token, Mr Chapple hopes the Barnett Government will not want to be “complicit in the dumping of radioactive waste in another country.” Senator Scott Lulam of Western Australia has also spoken out against the plant, including by writing a letter to Mr Nick Curtis, the CEO of Lynas.
Mr Prime Minister, the facts are clear and we believe you will make the right decision for Malaysians, especially those who live in Pahang. We hope you will reconsider allowing a rare earths plant to operate in your country. While we understand that the plant will add to Malaysia’s revenue, Malaysia is mature enough to look for other sources of income, and to strengthen existing sectors including tourism and fisheries which can provide more jobs and sustain livelihoods. You are in a privileged position to decide wisely in the matter we have brought up.
Yours sincerely,
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