KUALA LUMPUR: Some 130 employees from Lynas Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Gebeng, Kuantan gathered at Parliament building today in protest following the government’s threat to cancel their permit if it fails to remove its radioactive waste from Malaysia.
The 130 employees of the plant consisting of supervisors, technicians and plant workers had gathered in front of parliament as early as 8.15am.
Workers are concerned that if the government shuts down their plant, they would all lose their jobs.
Jumaat Mansor, the facility’s senior human resources manager said that the company consists of mostly Malaysians.
“Only 3% of us (employees) are Australian; everyone else working at the facility are locals.
“We have been reviewed a total of eight times. All of the findings were positive, and our operations were found to be safe,” he added.
The facility’s licence to operate hinges on Yeo’s decision for Lynas to remove its water leach purification (WLP) waste from Malaysia.
“These recommendations were changed by Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin, who decided that the waste must be returned to Australia, bypassing the recommendation given to Lynas.
“If the licence is not renewed, we will not be able to operate and we will be jobless,” Jumaat, 59,
The group was also there to hand a memorandum to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin.
The memorandum states that if the licence is not renewed, the factory could see 1,000 direct and 4,000 indirect jobs being affected.
It was accepted by a member of the foreign affairs ministry.
Lynas was recently told by the energy, science, technology, environment and climate change ministry to remove its waste from the Kuantan plant or risk not having its operating permit renewed.
The ministry said LAMP would be allowed to continue operating as long as it removes and disposes of its water leach purification residue which contains radioactive material.
It also said Lynas must submit an action plan on the disposal of its non-radioactive neutralisation underflow residue scheduled waste.
