Visit Lynas plant for first-hand info, PPBM's Wan Saiful tells fellow politicians

KUANTAN: Politicians should visit the Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Lynas Malaysia) plant in Gebeng here to gain first-hand information on its operations rather than making critical remarks about the rare earth plant.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia's supreme council member Wan Saiful Wan Jan said politicians are free to express their views on Lynas but it is best that they visit the facility before issuing statements that are not based on facts.

"It is best for them (politicians) to take up Lynas' offer to visit the plant which will allow them to gain genuine information before expressing their views. Under the 'New Malaysia', politicians should make judgements based on facts and genuine information.

"They should make an effort to travel down from Kuala Lumpur to see what is happening here.

"Politicians have their own opinions but the valid ones will be those supported by facts and figures," he told reporters after leading a group of PPBM supreme council members to visit the plant here today.

Wan Saiful said this when asked about PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's backing for a review on Lynas's licence renewal.

Yesterday, Anwar said he supported the move to seek negotiations with the government on the six-month licence renewal of the rare earth mining company here effective Sept 1.

Meanwhie, another PPBM supreme council member Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi said senior political party leaders including Anwar could plan a visit to Lynas alongside the experts who were part of Lynas executive review committee.

"The politicians can be accompanied by experts who are part of the review committee so that they can get an insight on the operations in Lynas. Generally Lynas is safe but maybe with the experts will be able to provide finer details," he said.

Meanwhile, Wan Saiful said PPBM delegation were satisfied with their half-day visit to the plant along with the explanations provided by the management on their operations and safety measures adopted at the facility.

"Lynas is a huge investment which adopts the latest technologies. It (rare earth) is an alternative industry for the country to move forward especially with the current trade war between United States and China which puts Malaysia in a good position," he said.

Although Lynas operating licence was renewed on Aug 15 for another six months with three conditions including identifying a site to construct a permanent deposit facility but certain quarters are continuing to protest against the plant.

Related Articles