Islamic State Of Iraq And Syria - ISIS

Last week I watched a very entertaining movie; "Guardians of The Galaxy". This week Tiger Mike Naser's heads up on ISIS. These people are in their own universe and with heads forever in the clouds in self-proclamation of Universal Protector of Islam! The Malay Mail even reported that our own PM is an ISIS admirer. Or has he again put his foot in his mouth?

Psy Wars...

Ajib Kor and gang just threw good money after bad. This time to Korea...duit masuk longkang.

Sparking A Shift?

Update; 27th January 2012:
This was in the Malaysian Insider - Kit Siang: More Malays will join DAP

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — Lim Kit Siang predicted that the Malay influx into DAP will continue, in spite of the party being branded “Chinese chauvinist” and anti-Malay.

Anticipating already the wrath of Barisan Nasional’s (BN) key leaders — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in particular — over his prognosis, the DAP veteran forewarned them today that “no force in the world” could stop Malays flocking to DAP.

“Let me inform the Umno leaders that this is the tide of the times and no force in the world can stop more Malays joining up with other Malaysians from other ethnicities in DAP to build a common destiny as Malaysian citizens for future generations of Malaysians,” he wrote in a statement here.

The Ipoh Timor MP then cited examples of DAP’s latest members — well-known Malay opinion leaders like former Utusan Malaysia journalist Hata Wahari and bloggers Mohd Arif Sabri and Aspan Alias, all of whom recently announced their loyalty to the largely Chinese-dominated party.

“Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin was sufficiently upset at Malays joining DAP as to even come out with a public statement,” Lim (picture) scoffed.

He stressed that since DAP’s formation more than four decades ago, the party had always been committed to its multiracial cause and had always been the forerunner of the 1 Malaysia policy, just recently mooted by Najib when he became prime minister in 2009.

DAP, added Lim, had never been anti-Malay, anti-Islam or anti-Malay Rulers and was merely labelled as such due to the “political insecurities of Umno leaders”.

“They (Umno) have subjected the DAP to an unrelenting assault with lies and falsehoods — as in the irresponsible exploitation of the 3R cards of race, religion and raja Melayu against the DAP by both Najib and Muhyiddin at the recent Umno general assembly,” he said.

To prove DAP’s multiracial stance, Lim pointed out that the party had never before been hauled in to face the Registrar of Societies for violating Section 2A (1) of the Societies Act 1966, which prohibits organisations from violating the Federal Constitution.

“DAP will be celebrating our 46th anniversary on March 18, and during the four-and-a-half decade of our struggle, DAP had never been once asked by the Registrar of Societies to show cause why we should not be deregistered for opposing or undermining the fundamental features of the  Constitution, whether with regard to Islam as the official religion or the system of constitutional monarchy,” he said.

********************************************
I have followed Dato' Ariff Sabri's blog Sakmongkol AK47 since its inception and I dare say his move to DAP was not unexpected. This guy is no pushover and can be considered a great coup for DAP. However, the more crucial question would be why did he not move to PKR instead? The answer to this is as relevant to the changing mindset of many intellectual Malays as it is to the nature of the PKR beast today. More non-PKR and non-PAS Malays who clamor for change should consider following Sakmongkol AK47's lead.

The DAP in turn should not go to town with this latest recruitment but just maintain its characteristic bland, no-nonsense approach to nation building. In any case, this article by Dato' Ariff is as good a write-up as any on the DAP.

Malays should not fear the DAP

I am not going to respond to the xenophobic responses around news that Aspan Alias and Sakmongkol are about to join DAP. No explanation will be able to change preconceived biases. So why bother? So we are about to join or have joined DAP.

The DAP is a democratic party committed to the rule of law, good governance and good government. It abhors corruption and abuse of political office. To me those are attractive propositions. UMNO on the other hand has turned its back on these. It harps only on one primal worry of Malays- when UMNO is threatened it shares the threat with Malays at large. So a threat to UMNO is translated mindlessly into a threat to Malays as a whole. Nothing can be farther from the truth. That is how UMNO has approached politics in Malaysia basically- make its fears public, make the gains private for selected Malays within UMNO.

I have only one message to that- those salad days and that halcyon period are over.

UMNO is trapped by its own successes. Indeed its supporters and leaders assume ownership of the wrong things and end up digging in to support the wrong choices.

My answer is, if we do indeed change our political vehicle that is what we are actually doing. Don’t read our move as blasphemous or treasonable. The DAP is more relevant and functional in achieving a more democratic and abuse-free society. As a Muslim, we are changing wadah not aqidah.

So, I thought it would be more substantive to answer my critics by writing an article, why shouldn’t Malays embrace DAP politics? That’s the only way to dominate and conquer your fears.

How has DAP politics been inimical to the general political health of this country? Can any DAP Chinese leader be a PM when it’s contesting only at most 50-55 seats? Can any DAP non Malay leader harbor the dream of becoming a PM in a country dominated by Malays? Has the DAP threatened the institution of Malay rulers? DAP has never done that or will not be mad to countenance such rebellious idea, but UMNO on the other hand has insulted the Malay rulers way back in 1998 constitutional crisis. Can we reasonably accept the allegation that the DAP is instrumental in claims that Malays are being converted into Christians when most DAP members are not themselves Christians? We have to do better than that to take Malays as imbeciles. Only UMNO seems to do that.

But DAP is Chinese chauvinist party and anti-Malay. I will answer by examining the deeds rather than slogans. When I was an ADUN in the Pahang Legislative assembly ( 2004-2008) I have never heard the lone DAP member ever speak about anti Malay themes. He spoke about abuse of power, about mindless spending, he spoke about maladministration. The first book Lim Kit Siang writes that I read was Time Bombs in Malaysia. After that I read so many books written by Kit Siang that touched on the Maika Scandals, the BMF financial scandal and so on. If we are honest enough, we have to admit, the issues raised were never about one race dominating the other but were always about the abuses of those in power, corruption, and a continuous attack on policies that are ruinous to this country. So we are going to oppose Kit Siang on the basis of the fact that these things are spoken of by a Chinaman?

To the Chinese UMNO is also a chauvinist Malay party except, their leaders can be easily bought. The Malay will sell all to abandon their cause. Er…correction, the UMNO Malay, I mean.

I would also like to respond by saying- why Malays should consider joining DAP en masse. It’s a party committed to democratic principles and rule of law. I can only imagine, so many can prosper under a regime of freedom of speech within DAP. I can speak on the plight of the displaced and disowned Malays with more energy than allowed of in UMNO. The interest of Malays can be fought of on any political platform other than UMNO. That is what UMNO fears. Its monopoly is broken.

So the past week I have had many friends calling me asking whether it’s true I am joining DAP? Some folks in my hometown, Pekan refer to me now as Dato DAP. I find the responses somewhat amusing and comical.

There was a comment reminding me and Aspan as to who started May 13? The thrust of that reminder is to remind us; of his and others belief that DAP started the May 13 incident.

Ok, you want to play ball, we play ball too. Since you want to know, what if I say Tun Razak allowed it to happen because the ensuing troubles would give him an excuse to kick out Tengku Abdul Rahman? The point is, there was no single contributor to the May 13 incident. But I would place some blame on Tun Razak who as Home Minister allowed things to degenerate. He allowed it so that a proclamation of emergency can be made.

Finally, let me deal with certain responses from certain pro UMNO bloggers. The chief spokesman is of course that paid lackey and buffoon of a regurgitating machine. He does nothing but regurgitate material passed on to him by his paymasters. The material he writes and posts therefore emits the strong smell of vomit. The owner of the lard layered brain does what he does best- spewing personal attacks. And so he invites comments from likeminded mental gnomes to do what he has orchestrated.

Why the paranoia? If we are not good, failed ADUN, bankrupt politicians, it will be cinch for any winnable UMNO candidates to beat us. So, it’s no cause of concern or a sleep depriver. But please remember to stop telling lies about us so that we can promise not to tell the truth about you.

I see a sense of hopelessness. They cannot attack our nationalist credentials because we are as Malay as they are too ( to some we are , in fact more Malay in appearance and in thinking) – so they do what they do best. Attack me on the personal side. No big deal. My advice to these UMNO bloggers is simple. Please stop telling lies about me, and I promise not to tell the truth about you people. And telling the truth about you people includes telling the truth about top UMNO leaders including the PM who is Pekan UMNO division head.

If we are so easily beatable, then why all the fuss? We can’t do damage to invincible UMNO. We on the other hand, see UMNO as the party before, presently and forever stealing, pillaging and ruining the country.

Dato' Dr. Ambiga Sreenevasan: Rule of law, rule by law

Barely a week after Najib went to London to see the Queen who was so elegantly dressed in yellow, and after he said British PM, David Cameron was briefed by him about the true intentions of Bersih, Dato' Ambiga becomes Dato' Dr Ambiga in Exeter, UK. What are our former colonial masters thinking?

Bernama, quoting Najib reported that: Cameron was also briefed that Bersih’s real aim was not to press for electoral reform as professed but rather to portray the Malaysian government in an autocratic light in order to wrest power from an elected entity.

The prime minister ended by saying that he had stressed the Malaysian government always upholds the principles of democracy and has never cheated in a general election because those held in Malaysia are free from fraudulent practices.

This is one of eight recipients of the US Secretary of State “International Women of Courage” Award in 2009. This is the woman whom Anwar WILL TELL to cancel the Bersih 2.0 rally on 9th July. This is the woman who has shown more gumption, courage and leadership than Najib and any PM wannabes today. Najib doesn't seem to have much luck with women does he? Imagine if Dr Ambiga is ISAed or EOed for being Bersih. 

The following was the acceptance speech delivered by Datuk Dr Ambiga Sreenevasan upon her conferment with the Honorary Doctorate Of Laws, University of Exeter. Read it and know:

Rule of law, rule by law

By Ambiga Sreenevasan

I urge you to use this arsenal of knowledge and your passion for justice to fight for those who are downtrodden.

You have already heard of the events of July 9th in Malaysia. Whilst it brought out the worst in some, it brought out the best in others and this is where our hope lies.

JULY 23 — Good Morning! Chancellor, vice chancellor and graduating students.

It is so good to be back!

I am deeply moved by the conferment of this honour upon me. That it comes from my alma mater is especially significant for me. That it comes at this time is almost providential, for it allows me and all lawyers to reflect on our roles in the societies we live in.

For this honour and this moment of reflection, I extend my grateful thanks to the Council and Senate of the University of Exeter.

Tired of injustice and oppression, people the world over are crying out for truth, goodness, justice and universal love and understanding.

The events in Malaysia over the past six weeks culminating in the rally for free and fair elections on the 9th of July, has taught me so much more than I could have ever learned in the last 30 years as a practising lawyer.

My team and I faced first-hand the full force of the unleashed power of the state, and I realised then the importance of the independence of the Institutions of government, particularly the judiciary, to check such abuses of power.

I also realised how real and present the absence of the Rule of Law can be.

In countries where the Rule of Law reigns strong and true one probably does not even talk about it. But in countries that veer towards Rule by Law, talking about getting back to the basics is crucial.

In many countries, Rule by Law is reflected in the existence of repressive laws that violate the fundamental rights of its citizens. One example of this is preventive detention laws that lock people away without affording them the basic right to a trial. There are many examples of such oppressive laws worldwide and they are not confined to underdeveloped or developing countries.

As lawyers, we are in a unique position. Our years of legal study and practice teach us to see and appreciate the fundamental role that the Rule of Law plays in guaranteeing that the state governs its citizens in a just and democratic manner.

Who better to remind those in power of their responsibilities to their citizens than lawyers trained in understanding the difference between “Rule of Law” and “Rule by Law”?

Our role as lawyers must therefore extend far beyond traditional legal practice.

Here, I make no reference to rules, guidelines, documents, or declarations. My only reference point is our conscience. Can we as lawyers, ever sit back and watch the erosion of fundamental liberties of the people around us and do nothing? Clearly, silence in these circumstances, is not an option.

When I graduated from this university about 30 years ago, things were of course very different. Today the Internet and social media has empowered people with a continual flow of unfiltered and up-to-date information. No longer can the manipulation and control of information be effectively used by those in power to suppress either thought or action.

You are in a world where you know instantly of injustices taking place in any part of it. In this global village drawn together by so many factors, we are one. We can reach out to each other using these new means of communication and we owe it to each other to stand together for what is right.

You may say, “But I studied law to be a solicitor or barrister and to earn money for a decent standard of living”. There is nothing wrong with that, I assure you. I run a commercial litigation practice in a partnership of four where we also do public interest litigation. The two can co-exist quite comfortably.

The point I make is this.

You are graduating from one of the best universities in the country if not on the planet! You are special. And you are now a proud member of an army of people that is equipped with all that is necessary to both practise law and to fight injustice.

I urge you to use this arsenal of knowledge and your passion for justice to fight for those who are downtrodden.

You have already heard of the events of July 9th in Malaysia. Whilst it brought out the worst in some, it brought out the best in others and this is where our hope lies.

There were some in government who opposed the methods used to shut us down. Even doctors left their comfort zones to speak up against injustices. And of course there were the lawyers and the independent media who stood on the side of truth and justice.

However, the real heroes of that day are our friend and supporter Allahyarham Baharuddin Ahmad who paid the ultimate price in fighting a noble cause, the six members of the Socialist Party of Malaysia who, as we speak, sit in solitary confinement under preventive detention laws and finally the brave people of Malaysia who overcame their fear of intimidation and harassment to uphold their fundamental rights.

With all my heart I dedicate this honour you have bestowed upon me to them.

Najib In Deep Shit! Site Gone Viral!

This Facebook Page "100,000 Request Najib Tun Razak Resignation" has gone viral and the "Likes" rate of increase has gone crazy!!! Look at the screenshots I captured over 15 minutes. My first screenshot was at 11.12 pm and the figure was 146,610. By 11.20 (8 minutes later) it was 147,078. Look at the 15 minute mark (11.27 pm) - it was 147,558!!!  948 "Likes" in 15 minutes!

Can't resist another screenshot coming up at 11.50 pm (38 minutes mark). Wow!!! 148,750! 2,140 in 38 minutes. Najib, it is obvious nobody is fooled by your two-faced character and bold-faced lies.

If this is not writing on the wall, then what is? Click on the images to enlarge.

Anyway, watch these two video clips. In the first Najib refers to Anwar and I must say I tend to agree with him. The second video shows Najib in typical UMNO fashion. I wonder why his colleagues behind him don't seem all that convinced this time.

Chip Off That Old Block

If only the other chips off that old block are more like this one. This was in Malaysiakini in true Marina Mahathir form. Please read:

Marina Mahathir: Attacks on Ambiga in bad taste

Social activist Marina Mahathir today took a swipe at Bersih 2.0 chief S Ambiga's detractors, saying that personal attacks against the latter only show their immaturity.

Marina (right), the daughter of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said the many attacks against Ambiga were shocking as it appeared as if Bersih 2.0's opponents are incapable of holding a proper debate.

“I am very concerned and upset over the personal attacks on Ambiga. It speaks of those who are against Bersih, (and) how shallow their arguments (are).

“This reflects badly on how they're brought up,” she said at a press conference today.

Marina avoided naming individuals in her scathing rebuke, though among the most recent attacks on Ambiga's character came from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Election Commission deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.

Najib last weekend accused Ambiga of plotting to sabotage the BN-led government's efforts to peacefully build the nation and its economy, saying she aims “to ruin all this”.

Wan Ahmad meanwhile called Ambiga a Pakatan Rakyat stooge who is merely being used to further the opposition coalition's ambitions of power.

Marina stressed that instead of demonising and calling people names, it would be more productive to focus on the facts and issues surrounding Bersih 2.0 and its demands.

'What's to be afraid of T-shirts?'

Marina also slammed the on-going crackdown on supporters of the movement calling for free and fair elections, saying it is an act done out of fear.

“Only people who are afraid will arrest people wearing T-shirts. Ask the people, if they see Bersih on a shirt, will it make them want to riot?

“There have been worse words written on T-shirts, but none of it has made us smoke ganja or do all sorts of things... If we are really afraid of words, then we are really third world or less,” she said.

Marina questioned why the authorities insist on benchmarking the country's civil society movement with third world countries, when Malaysia brands itself as being closer to the level of developed countries.

“Our standards should be higher... We should have more faith in ourselves, in our people,” she said.

She however refused to compare the ongoing crackdown with the controversial Ops Lalang launched during her father's tenure as premier, when nearly 200 dissenters were arrested under the draconian internal security act (ISA).

She insisted that it is unfair to draw parallels between the two, briefly pointing out that the circumstances are different.

“Were people arrested for T-shirts (during Ops Lalang)? No? There you have it,” she said, declining to speak further on the issue.

 

Oops!!!

This article is in the Malaysian Insider today. It looks like there will be some red faces. For those who are not familiar or worse still, apathetic about Lynas, watch the Mat Salleh in the You Tube below and read the blog post "Kenapa Malaysia Memerlukan Kilang Memproses Nadir Bumi Lynas @NajibRazak?" in ariffshah.com which pretty much sums it up.

********************************************************
Design problems, hazardous construction plague Lynas plant, reports NYT

June 30, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — The controversial Lynas rare earths refinery in Kuantan is plagued by environmentally hazardous construction and design problems, the New York Times has reported, citing internal memos and current and former engineers on the project.

The report published today said the issues, including moisture in humid Malaysia, could potentially affect the RM700 million Lynas Corp plant being built to challenge China’s stranglehold in the key rare earths industry.

Malaysia is due to announce today the results of an independent international review of the plant that is scheduled to open this September. The listed Lynas Corp has asked for a halt in its share trading in Australia today pending the report.

Signboard showing the site of the Lynas plant under construction in Gebeng, Kuantan. — File pic

In a report headlined “The Fear of a Toxic Rerun” by Keith Bradsher, the New York Times reported that Lynas officials contend that the refinery being built here is safe and up to industry standards, and say that they are working with its contractors to resolve their concerns.

“All parties are in agreement that it is normal course of business in any construction project for technical construction queries to be raised and then resolved to relevant international standards during the course of project construction,” wrote Matthew James, an executive vice-president of Lynas, in an e-mail last night.

But the construction and design may have serious flaws, the engineers told New York Times, and provided proof through memos, e-mail messages and photos from Lynas and its contractors. The engineers said they felt a professional duty to voice their safety concerns, but insisted on anonymity to avoid the risk of becoming industry outcasts.

“The problems they detail include structural cracks, air pockets and leaks in many of the concrete shells for 70 containment tanks, some of which are larger than double-decker buses,” the paper said.

Lynas is mining rare earths ore deep in the Australian desert and shipping to Malaysia to be mixed with powerful acids to make a slightly radioactive slurry that would be pumped through the tanks, with operating temperatures of about 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

The engineers say that almost all of the steel piping ordered for the plant is made from standard steel, which they describe as not suited for the corrosive, abrasive slurry. Rare earths refineries in other countries make heavy use of costlier stainless steel or steel piping with ceramic or rubber liners, the paper said.

“The engineers also say that the concrete tanks were built using conventional concrete, not the much costlier polymer concrete mixed with plastic that is widely used in refineries in the West to reduce the chance of cracks.

“Documents show that Lynas and its construction management contractor, UGL Ltd of Australia, have argued with their contractors that the cracks and moisture in the concrete containment walls are not a critical problem,” according to the report.

Memos also show that Lynas and UGL have pressed a Malaysian contractor, Cradotex, to proceed with the installation of watertight fibreglass liners designed for the containment tanks without fixing the moisture problem and with limited fixes to the walls. But Cradotex has resisted, the paper reported.

“These issues have the potential to cause the plants critical failure in operation,” Peter Wan, the general manager of Cradotex, said in a June 20 memo obtained by New York Times.

“More critically the toxic, corrosive and radioactive nature of the materials being leached in these tanks, should they leak, will most definitely create a contamination issue.”

Wan said in a telephone interview with the New York Times on Tuesday that he believed Lynas and UGL would be able to fix the moisture problem but that he did not know what method the companies might choose to accomplish this.

The fibreglass liners are made by AkzoNobel of Amsterdam, one of the world’s largest chemical companies. AkzoNobel says it, too, worries about the rising moisture.

“We will not certify or even consider the use of our coatings if this problem can’t be fixed,” Tim van der Zanden, AkzoNobel’s top spokesman in Amsterdam, wrote on Monday night in an e-mail reply to questions.

Memos show that the refinery’s concrete foundations were built without a thin layer of plastic that might prevent the concrete pilings from drawing moisture from the reclaimed swampland underneath. The site is located just inland from a coastal mangrove forest, and several miles up a river that flows out to the sea past an impoverished fishing village.

An engineer involved in the project said that the blueprints called for the plastic waterproofing but that he was ordered to omit it, to save money. The plastic costs US$1.60 (RM4.80) a square foot, he said.

Lynas disputes that the design ever called for using the plastic.

Nicholas Curtis, the executive chairman of Lynas, said in a telephone interview from Sydney on Monday that the project here met local environmental standards and that he believed those were consistent with international standards.

“I have complete confidence in the Malaysian environmental standards and our ability to meet the requirements,” he told the New York Times.

Engineers at the project said that Lynas officials had whisked the international inspectors through the factory in a single morning, partly because of security concerns about protesters outside the refinery gates. The team had little chance to examine the refinery’s structure, the engineers said.

********************************************************

Kenapa Malaysia Memerlukan Kilang Memproses Nadir Bumi Lynas @NajibRazak ?

by ARIFF on MAY 25, 2011 · 83 COMMENTS · in NATION

Kecoh tentang pembukaan kilang memproses nadir bumi di Gebeng, Pahang oleh syarikat Lynas Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. Aku tergerak untuk membuat sedikit kajian tentang isu ini selepas menonton video yang dirakam dalam bahasa Malaysia oleh seorang warganegara Australia sendiri berkaitan isu ini. Kalau dah sampai macam tu, nampak sangat perkara ini bukanlah perkara yang remeh.

Setelah membaca artikel berkaitan Rare Earth Elements di laman National Geographic, aku berpendapat Malaysia memerlukan kilang memproses nadir bumi ini. Kita kena ingat, ekonomi kita sangatlah bergantung kepada pengeluaran petroleum. Bila sampai masanya, pengeluaran produk hasil daripada petroleum akan berkurangan sekali gus mengurangkan pendapatan negara. Walaupun ada industri lain seperti minyak sawit, industri seperti ini tidaklah memberi impak yang besar pada ekonomi kerana permintaan dunia tidaklah tinggi.

Nadir bumi ini diperlukan untuk menghasilkan komponen peralatan elektronik. Hasil daripada penggunaan nadir bumi inilah kita dapat menikmati peralatan elektronik yang nipis, kecil dan ringan seperti iPad 2 kerana komponen yang terhasil daripada penggunaan nadir bumi ini adalah lebih baik dan efisyen berbanding komponen yang dihasilkan menggunakan bahan tiruan.

Sekarang ini, negara China membekalkan sehingga 97% permintaan dunia untuk nadir bumi yang diproses untuk kegunaan industri. Dengan kuasa yang besar seperti itu, mereka boleh mengehadkan pembekalan sekali gus menyebabkan kenaikan harga barangan elektronik seluruh dunia. China merancang untuk mengurangkan eksport nadir bumi yang telah diproses dengan alasan untuk kegunaan dalam negara mereka walaupun kita semua tahu bahawa mereka sengaja mengekspoitasi monopoli mereka dalam pasaran dunia supaya harga bahan ini meningkat.

Permintaan untuk bahan ini tak akan berkurangan kerana industri pembuatan elektronik memerlukan bahan ini. Oleh itu, pembukaan kilang pemprosesan nadir bumi di Malaysia, merupakan satu langkah yang baik untuk menambahkan pendapatan negara. Kilang yang dibuka di Gebeng, Pahang itu akan berupaya menghasilkan nilai eksport sebanyak RM8 billion setahun dan dijangkakan meningkat dari tahun ke tahun. Ini dapat memberikan pendapatan tetap yang lumayan kepada negara kita kerana kilang tak banyak negara mempunyai kilang pemprosesan nadir bumi ini.

TETAPI

Apa yang bodoh aku lihat dalam projek ini ialah:

• Keputusan yang dibuat oleh individu untuk mengeluarkan lesen pembinaan kilang tersebut pada tahun 2008 dibuat tanpa pengetahuan orang awam, termasuklah rakyat Pahang itu sendiri. Apabila negara mula melibatkan diri dalam pemprosesan bahan radioaktif, kajian menyeluruh perlu dijalankan sebelum apa-apa lesen atau arahan dikeluarkan untuk memulakan pembinaan. 
• Apabila negara memberikan lesen kepada syarikat luar untuk membuka kilang pemprosesan mereka, harapan kita adalah supaya dapat membuka peluang pekerjaan yang banyak kepada rakyat negara ini. Namun dalam hal kilang pemprosesan nadir bumi oleh Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd, peluang pekerjaan yang dibukan adalah sebanyak 350 sahaja. Langsung tak berbaloi dan tidak akan memberikan impak ekonomi yang diharapkan. 
• Pengecualian cukai selama 12 tahun. Ini adalah yang paling bodoh. Kita terlalu baik sampaikan industri yang menghasilkan sisa buangan radioaktif diberikan pengecualian cukai walaupun industri tersebut dianggarkan akan membuat untung berbillion ringgit pada tahun pertama pembukaannya. Bila negara tak dapat satu sen pun daripada industri yang sememangnya membahayakan rakyat ini, apa gunanya kita berikan mereka lesen untuk beroperasi di negara kita?
• Menteri Western Australia, Hon Norman Moore memaklumkan sisa buangan radioaktif itu adalah milik Malaysia dan tidak akan diterima balik oleh Australia. 
• Lokasi yang terlalu dekat dengan kawasan kediaman. Jarak 2 km dari Balok dengan kepadatan penduduk seramai 16700 orang. Jika diambil kira keluasan evakuasi di Fukushima dengan jarak 40km dari Gebeng Kuantan, kebocoran sisa radioaktif akan melibatkan keseluruhan penduduk di Kuantan, Gambang, Cherating malah Kemaman di Terengganu sekalipun. Jumlah penduduk yang mungkin terlibat boleh mencecah hampir 800 hingga 900 ribu secara keseluruhannya dengan Kuantan sahaja di sekitar 600 hingga 650 ribu orang. Syarat yang ditetapkan oleh Kerajaan Australia adalah minima 35 km dari kawasan penempatan penduduk. 
• Denda RM50 juta seperti yang termaktub di bawah Akta Perlesenan Tenaga Atom Perenggan 59 (1) untuk setiap bencana kepada Lynas dilihat cukup ringan berbanding hasil RM8 Billion setahun. Hanya satu bencana yang melibatkan sisa radioaktif memadai untuk menjadi ancaman yang serius dan kekal lama kepada semua.

Kesan terhadap penduduk di kawasan sekitar kilang tersebut (Kuantan & Kemaman khususnya):

• Nilai hartanah akan merudum kerana tiada siapa yang mahu membeli tanah atau kediaman di sekitar Kuantan dan di Kemaman. 
• Ancaman kepada syarikat berdekatan khususnya Petro-Kimia seperti Kaneka, MTBE, Petronas BASF dan BP Chemicals. Kerugian yang besar jika operasi mereka terganggu dengan insiden kebocoran sisa radioaktif yang boleh menjejaskan kesihatan pekerja mereka. 
• Pelabur baru dari luar negeri dan dari luar negara tidak akan berminat untuk melabur kerana ancaman sisa radioaktif daripada Lynas. Risiko terlalu tinggi. 
• Sektor pelancongan (Cherating) & perikanan (Kuantan) kemungkinan besar akan terjejas. 

Nadir bumi yang dilombong di Mount Weld mengandungi beberapa mineral utama dan diantaranya ialah monazite. Monazite adalah bahan radioaktif. Di dalam bahan mineral monazite ini terdapat thorium, cerium dan lanthanum. Monazite kaya dengan thorium dan thorium ini juga adalah bahan radioaktif yang tinggi dan boleh digunakan untuk menggantikan uranium dalam menghasilkan tenaga nuklear. Berikut adalah kes-kes yang berkait rapat dengan thorium:

1. Syarikat Mitsubishi Chemical yang terlibat dalam industri pemprosesan nadir bumi di Bukit Merah dikaitkan dengan 8 kes leukimia dan 7 kes kematian. Telah ditutup pada tahun 1992 dan kerja-kerja pembersihan sisa masih berjalan sehingga ke hari ini (hampir 20 tahun) dan telah menelan belanja lebih RM300 juta. 
2. Kesan toksik dan radioaktif dari industri ‘rare-earth’ di Baotou Mongolia. Setiap langkah pemprosesan nadir bumi yang bermula dari perlombongan bijih ke ‘rare earth oxide’ atau ‘rare-earth metals’ banyak menggunakan bahan asid dan kimia. Malah ketika perlombongan bijih, bahan asid akan dimasukkan ke lubang yang digali. Sisa buangan radioaktif khususnya Thorium juga dihasilkan ketika melalui semua proses itu. Kebocoran bahan asid, kimia dan sisa radioaktif ini yang banyak berlaku di Baotou terbukti telah menyebabkan kemusnahan kepada hasil pertanian dan kesihatan seperti kerosakan hasil tanaman, gigi tercabut dan rabut putih atau beruban diawal usia muda sekitar 20-an. Malah kematian disebabkan kanser juga direkodkan walaupun lokasi penempatan penduduk berada 10KM dari kawasan penyimpanan sisa buangan radioaktif itu. 
3. Kajian yang dilakukan oleh Kolej Perubatan Jiangxi di China dari sample darah dan ujian IQ pada kanak-kanak mengemukakan kesimpulan bahawa kanak-kanak di sekitar umur 7-10 tahun yang tinggal berdekatan dengan kawasan pemprosesan nadir bumi berkemungkinan mempunyai IQ atau kecerdasan akal yang lebih rendah berbanding mereka yang tinggal jauh atau yang tinggal di kawasan yang terkawal. 

Aku berpendapat, projek Lynas ini sangatlah tidak sesuai dan berisiko tinggi. Projek ini boleh dijalankan sekiranya lokasi kilang tersebut diletakkan dalam kawasan kawalan 35 km minimum seperti yang digariskan oleh kerajaan Australia dan boleh menjadi sumber pendapatan yang lumayan kepada negara sekiranya cukai dikenakan terhadap syarikat Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Kalau dua yang aku sebutkan ini tak berlaku, maka sebagai rakyat tentanglah projek ini habis-habisan. Ini adalah untuk kebaikan kita bersama.

Tugas aku melalui blog ini adalah untuk menyampaikan maklumat. Kepada blogger lain yang mempunyai rasa tanggungjawab, sampaikan maklumat ini melalui blog anda. Copy paste dibenarkan macam biasa. Tweetkan kepada Najib Razak. Harap usaha kecil sebegini dapat mengubah sesuatu.

Sumber:
Apa itu Lynas?
National Geographic: Rare Earth Elements

Delayed But Not Too Late. The Return Of The Erdogans.

It is funny how the face of politics in Malaysia can change sometimes so suddenly or because of changes happening seemingly off the mainstream.

This year's PAS Muktamar was not only keenly contested, it was also keenly observed. I am sure UMNO was watching and yes, the non-Muslims especially the Chinese were watching too. Now to see whether the Erdogans actually will make a difference. Going forward, lets see their public statements on pluralism and how they tackle socioreligious matters. In the past, PAS had a tendency of shooting itself in the foot and for "foot-in-mouth" disease.

Nevertheless, I think this PAS election result is significant for the next GE. The following article was in Malaysiakini:

Mat Sabu is PAS new deputy president

Jun 4, 11 9:01am

PAS grassroots leader Mohamad Sabu has won the PAS deputy post in the Islamic party's most hotly-contested polls to date.

In a surprise victory, Mohamad ousted two ulama (religious scholars) candidates in the election - the three-term incumbent Nasharudin Mat Isa and a last-minute challenge from Pahang PAS commissioner Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

According to election committee chairperson Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman, Mohamad bagged 420 votes against Tuan Ibrahim, 399 and Nasharudin, 224. 

Mohamad, who has succeeded in his second go at the number two position, is the first non-ulama to hold the post for two decades.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Husam Musa (right), another non-ulama, has made an astounding comeback by winning one of the three vice-president's posts.

The other two winners are incumbents Salahuddin Ayub and Mahfuz Omar, both of whom are also non-ulama.

It appeared that PAS delegates have opted to reach out to a wider audience by electing all the non-ulama.

Salahuddin is the highest vote-getter in the vice-president contest with 753 votes, followed by Mahfuz, 616 and Husam, 660.

The losers in the six-way contest are Idris Ahmad, 491, Mohd Amar Abdullah, 321, and Nizar Jamaluddin, 217.

Husam, a senior member of the Kelantan state cabinet, had previously held the vice-president's post, but failed in the polls three years ago in his bid for deputy presidency.

Husam is considered close to PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Aziz and is seen as a progressive voice in the party.

The victor and the vanquished

Mohamad, the new No 2, is fast-talking and a crowd puller at ceramahs who rose up the ranks from the very grassroots movement, lending him hard-earned street credibility.

The Penangite, however, does not have a religious background and his success in bagging number two may indicate a rejuvenation in PAS, as well as a boost to its image as an accommodative and open party.

Well-received by supporters of DAP and PKR alike, Mat Sabu or Abang Mat as he is fondly referred to, is expected to forge stronger ties between the Islamic party and its Pakatan Rakyat partners.

Yesterday, Mohamad was spotted outside the muktamar venue amid a flock of youngsters all eager to snap a photo with him on their mobile phones.

His youth appeal is expected to draw a younger and more diverse lot of supporters to PAS.

Once considered to be progressive, Nasharudin (left) has apparently failed to use his long tenure as deputy president to his advantage raising questions over whether he has the mettle to deal with issues confronting PAS.

This could be a concern for the Islamic party as it goes into an anticipated stiffly-contested general election.

The former International Islamic University Malaysia lecturer rose through the ranks of PAS at lightning speed and was a high performing secretary general before elected onto the number two spot in 2007, to much surprise.

The other loser, Tuan Ibrahim, is said to be a candidate representing the ulama faction, which is uneasy with Sabu's ascendancy.

Although relatively unknown at national level politics, Tuan Ibrahim (right) is almost a celebrity in the religious scholar circles and is now spearheading PAS anti-slander campaign in response to the sex video said to be of a man resembling PKRde facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The nephew of PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat, Tuan Ibrahim religious background and his good relations with Anwar will help him balance party and Pakatan Rakyat interests, as PAS grows to take a more significant role in national politics.

He had previously held the post of vice president.

All three VPs are non-ulama

Joining the new leadership team under president Abdul Hadi Awang, who won uncontested, are winners of a crowded vice-president race - all of whom are non-ulama.

Mahfuz (right), who has retained his post, is widely believed to be the running mate of Mohamad.

Like Mohamad, the Pokok Sena MP, rose through the ranks from the grassroots and is popular with both PAS members and Pakatan Rakyat supporters alike.

Meanwhile, Salahudin, who has successfuly defended his post, is a double-term Kubang Krian MP and is seen to be a diplomatic leader who has managed to appease different factions of the party, sometimes appearing sympathetic to the unity government call.

Those who failed to make the cut in the vice-president race included Nizar Jamaluddin (left), an engineer by training who gained superstar status in the bid to defend his position as menteri besar in the Perak coup.

Nizar, who came in last, is possibly the most popular PAS leader among the Chinese community, second only to Nik Aziz.

Also defeated in the six-way contest are two ulama - information chief Idris Ahmad, and another member of Kelantan executive council Mohd Amar Abdullah.

Erdogans control party's central committee

It appears that victory by the professionals over the ulama also included the party's powerful central committee.

The results showed the professionals, also known as the Erdogans, won the majority of the 18 seats.

PAS new central committee - those widely considered as Erdogans in bold

Mazlan Aliman, 884 votes

Dr Hatta Ramli, 765

Kamarudin Jaffar, 739

Hanipa Maidin, 735

Azizan Abdul Razak (Kedah MB), 721
Dzulkefly Ahmad, 702

Mujahid Rawa, 651

Khalid Samad, 643

Ghani Shamsuddin, 579

Amiruddin Hamzah, 576

Abdul Wahid Endut, 556

Abu Bakar Chik, 527

Mohd Amar Abdullah, 470

Mahfodz Mohamed, 449

Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, 445

Hassan Mohamed Ali, 437

Abdul Ghani Abdul Rahman, 430

Nuridah Salleh, 416