PETALING JAYA: MCA today hit out at Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim(Pic) for allegedly flip-flopping on the Lynas rare earth plant in Gebeng, Pahang.
“Pakatan Rakyat had clearly indicated that it will halt Lynas’ operations if it wins federal power, but Anwar is saying that the rare earth plant can continue to operate if it is safe.
“This is a clear violation of their own promise,” MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok said in a statement.
On March 7, Anwar told Australian media, The Sydney Morning Herald, that Lynas would be allowed to continue to operate in Malaysia if it is found to be safe.
The former deputy prime minister was reported as saying that if Pakatan wins the general election, it would hold a public inquiry on the rare earth plant to determine its safety.
Anwar’s statement appears to be in conflict with Pakatan’s new manifesto and also a remark he made during a Himpunan Hijau rally in Kuantan last year, where he assured his audience that Pakatan would dismantle the plant.
Loh accused Pakatan of trying to cover up for its mistakes, out of fear that any attempt to close down Lynas would trigger a multitude of legal issues.
He also said that Pakatan used the Lynas issue to arouse people’s anger against Lynas, despite many scientific evidence proving that the rare earth plant is safe.
“The opposition leaders even hijacked an environmental NGO [Himpunan Hijau], in order to create fear among the people just for the sake of gaining more votes,” claimed Loh.
