KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — The proposed meeting between Lynas Corp and Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh over the Australian miner’s controversial rare earths plant appears to be dead in the water.
The PKR vice-president, who has led the charge against the RM700 million plant being built in the Gebeng industrial zone, has refused to bow to Lynas executive chairman Nicholas Curtis’ request that they meet behind closed doors.
“I stand firm on my call for an open meeting and will not proceed unless the conditions are met. I’m consistent in my call for openness and transparency and I am not afraid to take responsibility towards my constituents for all my words as well for all my actions,” Fuziah (picture) said today.
Curtis sent a letter to Fuziah earlier today noting that the government review of its refinery has confirmed that “the plant is safe and in full compliance with international radiation standards.”
“It is now time to move forward to engage and bring clarity to all members of the community. However, I have grave concerns that initial engagement between us to build our relationship whilst the media is present would not allow us to understand the needs of the community,” he said.
At a press conference this afternoon, Curtis added that he would be willing to meet Fuziah and up to three representatives.
Although Fuziah still said she would keep her afternoon open tomorrow should Lynas agree to an open meeting, Curtis has said that “as a guest in Malaysia, I feel it inappropriate for me to engage in a public media debate with an elected official in your country.”
“This is our first engagement to build trust and it should not be in the public eye,” he said.
Lynas won today international approval for its plant after an expert panel said it posed no radioactive risks to the thousands who live and work there.
But the International Atomic Energy Agency-appointed (IAEA) panel recommended 11 improvements for Putrajaya to implement before awarding Lynas further licences, including the one the miner needs to start pre-operations.
The federal government has also pledged it will adopt all the suggestions.
Putrajaya, under pressure to show that the plant does not pose any radioactive risk, had called for experts from the IAEA to form an independent panel to review the health, environmental and safety aspects of Lynas’ rare earths plant in Pahang.