Ex-MP questions DAP silence over Lynas

A former DAP MP who strongly opposed Lynas' rare earth activities in the past has expressed disappointment with the decision by the coalition government led by Anwar Ibrahim to grant the company an extension to fulfil the conditions of its operating licence in the country.  

Environmental activist Wong Tack, a former MP for Bentong, also questioned the position of DAP representatives on the issue, particularly those who had previously spoken out against the company's operations.

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he said the development indirectly proved that the party's struggle in this regard was only a strategy to win votes. 

"It is very disappointing because, during Dr Mahathir Mohamad's administration, we had eight ministers from the rocket (DAP)," he said.

"At that time, the minister with power was from DAP, Yeo Bee Yin. But everyone only blamed Mahathir."

Anwar confirmed on May 8 that the government had given Lynas Malaysia a six-month extension, subject to strict conditions. 

Lawmakers from PKR and DAP had opposed Lynas' activities since 2012, claiming that the company's operations disturbed the peace of the local residents and affected the environment.

Wong had then organised the anti-Lynas green campaign, marching 300km from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur for 12 days with about 200 participants to express their objections and urge the government to shut down the factory in the capital of Pahang.

Commenting further, Wong said he had brought up the issue with Anwar, who was then the MP for Port Dickson and had no position in the government.

Since Anwar did not have the power to make decisions, Wong was asked to be patient and told that the issue would be resolved when the PKR president became the prime minister.

"That was his promise. I waited. All the ministers with me at that time were anti-Lynas and championed the people's issues.

"After that, they forgot. It was nothing more than a gimmick. They did nothing.

"Just as long as they win (the election). It wasn't for the people. It's not that they can't sleep at night because the people are suffering – they only care about the votes," he said.

Meanwhile, Wong said he had been asked to continue fighting the cause, but that he was increasingly reluctant to do so as he had tried various ways to highlight the problem to no avail.

"I've done what I can," he said.

"I've raised this issue many times, including when I was the MP for Bentong.

"What else can I do?"

MalaysiaNow has contacted Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman for comment but has yet to receive a response.