Malaysia Has Adequate Laws To Ensure Lynas' Activities Not Dangerous - Expert

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysian laws and standard control supervision are adequate to ensure the safety of activities at the rare earth processing factory, Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd in Gebeng, in Malaysia's east coast state of Pahang. Environment Radiology expert Prof Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Physic Department said placing Lynas under the enforcement of Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) proved that Malaysia practiced a higher standard of enforcement compared with those abroad. "The enforcement on plants producing waste like Lynas are placed only on local authorities in Europe, this means our standard is higher," he said. Dr Ahmad was one of nine experts of multi-disciplines who was present during the third session of the public hearing of the parliament select committee on the Lynas Advance Materials Plant Project at the Parliament on Monday. He said by fixing the permitted maximum radiation dose level of operation results like Lynas at one miliseivert/year (mSv) above the background dose, it showed the interest of the people was always protected. Dr Ahmad said the misconception of the public about Lynas must be verified quickly and any misleading facts explained or clarified. As for a proposal to send the samples of toxic waste from the plant overseas, Dr Ahmad said it was not a wise decision since thorium (waste from rare earth mining) has vast potential for development. "If we send the thorium abroad, we will become a laughing stock since the product is valuable and has a high potential to be developed compared with uranium. "This is the energy of the future...why must we send it overseas. It will not be a wise move," he said adding that Malaysia had the expertise and ability in terms of technology and enforcement to manage the Lynas factory. If thorium takes off as a nuclear fuel, rare earth mining companies would benefit greatly instead of looking for ways to safely dispose of the material. Meanwhile, Masterskill University College of Health Sciences Nuclear Reactor and Radiation Safety Expert Prof Dr Proom Promwichit said the negative perception of the enforcement body in the country was a perception without any supporting facts. "I am confident that in the case of Lynas, the enforcement bodies like AELB will be able to carry out their responsibilities diligently based on the guidelines and procedures," he said. During the session the committee also heard views from a Property Valuation expert, Mohd Fauzi Ibrahim who opined that the property market around Gebeng did not experience a drastic drop following Lynas' operation, as claimed by the opposition. On the other hand, property projects around the neighbouring areas in the last five years often experienced a demand which exceeded supply and sold higher than the market prices. "Based on my 13 years experience in the sector, there has been no drop in the valuation of property in and around Kuantan, including Gebeng, even after the tsunami and nuclear leakage at the Fukushima Nuclear factory in Japan," he said. At a press conference after the public hearing session, the committee chairman Mohamed Khaled Nordin said all expert views would be scrutinized and summarized for tabling at the Lower House of Parliament in the June session. The Committee, he said was scheduled to table their findings on June 14 and it would be debated on June 19. --BERNAMA