Lynas Issue Must Be Handled In A Scientific Manner - PSC

KUANTAN (Pahang, Malaysia), May 12 (Bernama) -- The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) says the rare earth project needs to be handled in a scientific manner. Chairman Mohamed Khaled Nordin said this is necessary as questions raised by certain parties on the project's credibility and safety were scientific and technical in nature. "The PSC will recommend that all ideas presented will be evaluated in terms of its scientific credibility and efforts will be made to get scientific experts to give independent views," he told reporters after the PSC public hearing session at University of Malaysia, Pahang (UMP) campus here Friday. Mohamed Khaled said the Lynas issue requires transparency in every aspect including information supported by scientific proof as only then public confidence could be restored. "Lynas is a strategic project with big impact on future development of science and technology in Malaysia. "The responsibility of PSC is to ensure that all concerns, recommendations and public comments are given serious attention. "This is to ensure that the project will not be harmful to the health, public wellbeing and environmental sustainability." Mohamed Khaled said the public hearing session showed that not everyone were against the project as some even agreed that it be continued. "However, this requires extreemely stringent enforcement measures to ensure compliance," said the minister of higher education. The PSC will hold another hearing on May 21 in Kuala Lumpur and all findings on that date, the Lynas plant visit, and public hearing on Thursday and Friday will be presented to parliament during the June session. --BERNAMA