KUALA LUMPUR: The controversial issue involving Lynas Rare Earths and Malaysia’s rare earth elements (REE) industry is expected to be brought before Parliament next month.
This follows pressure from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) urging the government to ensure that Lynas’ operations do not violate international law.
Confirming the matter, the chairman of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on International Relations and Trade, Wong Chen, said he would raise the issue in Parliament to push the government to ensure Lynas’ operations do not breach international law.
“I will bring this issue to Parliament during the June 22 parliamentary sitting,” he said recently.
Previously, Wong Chen, who is also the PKR Member of Parliament for Subang, said the government had taken a critical and vocal stance on the Palestine and Gaza issue, while adopting a more cautious approach in urging de-escalation and peace negotiations regarding the war involving Iran.
However, he said this position appeared inconsistent with the recent announcement that Lynas would supply rare earth elements to the Pentagon for weapons manufacturing.
“Although the government may not be able to control what Lynas produces and to whom it sells its products, going forward, it should become national policy that we should not encourage foreign direct investment (FDI) involved in the manufacturing of weapons and war equipment,” he said.
He added that the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on International Relations and International Trade would also resume its proceedings in June and examine the matter more thoroughly at that time.
Several civil society organisations, including Greenpeace Malaysia and Sahabat Alam Malaysia, had previously expressed concern that REE processed in Malaysia could potentially be used in military technologies linked to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and West Asia.
The matter sparked public debate over Malaysia’s possible indirect involvement in the global defence industry supply chain, particularly following reports regarding Lynas’ supply relationship with the United States Department of Defense (DOD).
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Coalition of Malaysians and Civil Society Supporters Against War and Humanitarian Violations (500 Anti-War), John Ooh, said a memorandum signed by 500 participants had been submitted to Members of Parliament, urging the government to conduct an independent investigation into Malaysia’s REE supply chain to ensure it is not indirectly involved in any violations of international law. – Utusan Malaysia
