GREEN SUPPORTERS: Over 100 people turn up at the Malaysia-China Friendship Park despite a downpour.
KUCHING: More than 100 people from all walks of life supported Himpunan Hijau 2.0 at the Malaysia-China Friendship Park here yesterday despite a heavy downpour.
The effort was meant to show support for the people of Kuantan who are rejecting Lynas Corporation’s rare earth processing plant in Gebeng.
Assemblymen See Chee How (Batu Lintang), Baru Bian (Ba Kelalan) and Ali Biju (Krian) were said to have flown to Kuantan to help rally support for the people there.
Initiator of the gathering here, PKR Sarawak, had to conclude the gathering, which was scheduled to be held from 8.15am to 9.30am, 30 minutes earlier due to the bad weather.
Despite the heavy downpour, which started around 8.15am, the supporters stood their grounds with umbrellas to show their determination to help stop the rare earth processing plant from materialising.
Also there were Batu Kawah assemblywoman Christina Chiew and Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen’s special assistant Dr Tang Sie Hing — both from the DAP.
Several enforcement officers, including Rela personnel, were present to monitor the ‘green rally’, which also had the backing of DAP Sarawak.
As it continued to rain cats and dogs, PKR members and a couple of supporters later moved to a nearby coffeeshop and continued on with the rally to raise public awareness about the negative impact of the Lynas plant.
Green flyers bearing images and words such as ‘Why we must stop Lynas Corporation Ltd …’ and ‘Say ‘No’ to Lynas …’ were distributed at the coffeeshop.
A few patrons there even volunteered to hold up posters which read ‘Stop Lynas’, ‘Save Malaysia’ and ‘We are Sarawakians, and we reject rare earth’ to demonstrate their solidarity.
DAP Kuching later issued a media statement urging the federal government to withdraw the temporary operating licence for the RM700 million Lynas Advanced Material Plant in Gebeng.
“We urge the government of Malaysia to put the interest and safety of people in Kuantan and Malaysia first.”
According to the NGO Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL), the Lynas rare earth processing plant is expected to discharge tonnes of waste into the rivers and South China Sea.
It has claimed that rare earth processing is a polluting industry that would deter investment from clean technology and ethical companies, stressing: “Letting Lynas operate is not an option.”