KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to revoke the operating license of Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Lynas), which produces rare earth materials through its plant located in Kuantan, Pahang, if there is strong evidence showing that the United States (US) is using Lynas’ rare earth elements (REE) for military purposes against Palestine.
The State Political Council of the Malaysian Islamic Students Coalition (GAMIS) Kedah, Mohamad Aiman Lutfi bin Mohamad Taufik, said that Malaysia is being treated as the backbone of the US by providing a place to process and supply REE to them.
“Therefore, I stress that the Malaysian Government must revoke Lynas’ operating license if it truly supports the Palestinian people, as has been widely proclaimed before,” he said.
According to him, everyone can see what is happening in West Asia now.
He said that although the war appears to be between Palestine and Israel, the real backbone of Israel’s military strength is the US itself.
“The Malaysian Government should never support Israel’s cruelty against Palestine,” he said.
Recently, a coalition of 57 organizations urged the Malaysian government to ensure that operations by Lynas Rare Earths Ltd do not violate international law, following the company’s agreement to supply rare earth oxides to the United States Department of War.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the coalition stated that the agreement—worth approximately US$96 million over four years—links processing activities in Malaysia to foreign military supply chains.
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd, the largest rare earth refiner outside China, has signed a binding letter of intent with the United States Department of Defense to finalize a four-year agreement to supply rare earth minerals to the US defense sector, ensuring that the US defense industrial base continues to have access to critical light and heavy rare earth oxides needed for modern manufacturing.
Under this arrangement, the Department of Defense will allocate approximately US$96 million (RM377.62 million) to purchase rare earth oxides from Lynas. – Utusan Malaysia
Original source: Utusan Malaysia
