Protest group leader fears for safety following attack during Lynas public hearing

By Roslina Mohamad, The Star

KUANTAN: Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas vice-chairman Tan Bun Teet has decided not to attend the public hearing before the foreign experts panel on the proposed rare earth processing facility after several people were attacked yesterday.

“The crowd was unruly and what happened was unacceptable.

“It also shows the kind of security measures taken by the police.

“They could not even provide the minimum security for participants who attended the public hearing,” he said yesterday.

Tan said he had called up the International Trade and Industry Ministry, which coordinated the event, to inform it of the cancellation due to security reasons.

Tan, who was scheduled to meet the panel at 3pm, said he would not mind missing the meeting with the foreign experts because there were other channels that could be utilised.

Meanwhile, three people, including two female reporters from a Chinese daily, were attacked by a crowd of people in front of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where the second day of public submissions on the plant was taking place here yesterday.

They were unhurt but shaken by the incident.

Semambu assemblyman Datuk Pang Tsu Ming said the MCA wanted no harm to come to the people and the environment.

“We want to know what they are going to do with the (processed) waste,” he added.

Teruntum assemblyman Chang Hong Seong said they had raised questions about the standards and enforcement level of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board.

The foreign experts panel is expected to visit the Lynas construction site in Gebeng and the facilities in Kuantan Port today.