‘See you in Rio, prime minister’

(Harakah Daily) — One of the many groups opposed to the controversial Lynas rare earth plant in Gebeng has threatened to bring the issue to the world stage by confronting prime minister Najib Razak at this year’s Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“We will confront Najib in Rio de Janeiro if the issue (over Lynas) is not solved by June 20,” said Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, chairman of Green Clean World.

The Earth Summit will be held from June 20 to 22 this year, and over the years has become a venue for environmentalists and activists from around the world to voice out their displeasure over anti-people policies by governments represented by leaders gathered there.

Zulkefly, who also heads PAS’s Environment bureau, said if elections were called before June 20, the Lynas factory would be shut down before the summit in the event of a Pakatan Rakyat victory.

“But if elections were not held by then, and Lynas still continues operation, we will meet the PM there,” he added.

Zulkefly also announced that a follow-up gathering to the massive rally organised by Green Solidarity, which brings together groups opposed to Lynas, will be held in Shah Alam on April 13.

The gathering will commence after Friday prayers at the state mosque.

He said details will be announced at the High Court complex in Jalan Duta on April 4, when the court hears the suit by 10 residents against the Atomic Energy Licensing Board which awarded a temporary operating license to Lynas despite uncertainty over its radioactive waste management.