KUALA LUMPUR: Two separate High Courts today have allowed Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Lynas Malaysia) to initiate judicial review against the government over its operating licence conditions recently.
Judges Datuk Amarjeet Singh and Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh today allowed the Australian rare-earths producer company's application to challenge the government's directive that prohibits the import and processing of lanthanide concentrate after Jan 1 next year.
Senior Federal Counsels Ahmad Hanir Hambaly and Shamsul Bolhassan appeared for the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) while counsel Tan Sri Cecil Abraham represented the company.
Abraham said Lynas Malaysia will request for both judicial reviews to be heard together before Wan Ahmad Farid.
The court is expected to fix a hearing date for both parties to present their argument soon.
The company said the application followed previous legal proceedings on Feb 16 and Feb 24 this year.
On Feb 16, Lynas filed an appeal to drop certain conditions of its operating licence, and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) had said on Feb 24 that it was considering the appeal.
However, the ministry, on May 8 rejected the appeal under the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 and said Lynas would no longer be allowed to import raw materials containing natural radioactive materials into Malaysia starting Jan 1 next year.