Five for PSC on Lynas named

KUALA LUMPUR - Four Barisan Nasional MPs and an independent have been selected to sit in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant.

The four MPs from BN are Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahian (Kota Belud), Teng Boon Soon (Tebrau), Liang TeckMeng (Simpang Renggam) and Nancy Shulni (Batang Sadong) while the independent bloc is represented by Datuk Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim Bandar Bani).

The PSC, to be headed by Datuk Sen Khaled Nordin (Pasir Gudang), who is higher education minister, is to comprise nine MPs - five from BN, three opposition and an independent, but the opposition decided not to participate in the PSC which was approved by the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told The Sun that the members of the PSC were picked by the Select Committee of Parliament, chaired by the Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia at a meeting on Wednesday night.

Other members of the committee are Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting (BN-Kulai), opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur).

"However, Anwar and Kit Siang did not attend the meeting and Bernard was away overseas," said Nazri, adding that when the first meeting is to be held will be decided by the PSC chairman.

Nazri also rubbished comments by the opposition that the PSC is merely a "whitewash" and a "public relations" exercise by the government.

He said the terms of reference of the committee is clear and the motion, passed on Monday, was purely for the setting up of the PSC.

We were just discussing the setting up of the committee. The merits of the issue should be brought to the panel" he said.

He said the terms of reference for the PSC are to:
- review feedback on the project from the public
- get explanations from various groups including the relevant authorities and parties with interest in the issue, and
- recommend to Parliament steps to be taken on the matter.

Various quarters have objected to the controversial RM2.5 billion rare earth plant in Gebeng, Pahang.

Detractors of the project have questioned the methods of disposal of the residue which they fear will jeopardise health.

However, Lynas maintains that the waste from the plant - which will be the largest rare earth refinery in the world upon completion - will not be hazardous and can be recycled for commercial applications.

Sumber : The Sun - 23 Mac 2012