The Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) movement will apply tomorrow (Sept 25) to the Kuantan High Court to suspend the temporary operating licence (TOL) issued to the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) until hearings for its two judicial review cases are completed.

Tan Bun Teet, a co-applicant to revoke the TOL and spokesman for the movement, said that SMSL is turning to the court for recourse as neither the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) nor the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) had responded to a legal letter requesting for the TOL to be suspended by Sept10.

Justice Mariana Yahya had earlier on Aug 28 accepted the two judicial applications from SMSL to revoke the TOL granted on Jan 30 this year by the AELB on the ground that to LAMP had failed to submit any detailed environmental impact assessment.

Counsel for SMSL argued that a fresh radiological impact assessment and a radioactive waste management plan should have been submitted to AELB for approval before the TOL was granted.

The application to Justice Mariana was lodged on behalf of Tan together with fellow Kuantan residents Syed Talib Syed Sulaiman and Hasimah Ramli.

The second application called for a review of the decision by Mosti not to revoke the Lynas TOL.

Earlier this year on April 17, a group of Kuantan residents, together with their legal representative and experts, had appeared before the Mosti panel to make a case for the risks posed by LAMP and the potential harm arising from the project.

The application for judicial review was made by Ismail Abu Bakar and Tan Ah Meng who noted that Lynas is yet to find a solution for disposing of its waste.

“On top of this, we are concerned with the risks of air and water pollution,” said Ismail in his objection to the TOL being issued under such uncertainties.

“A responsible government would never have issued the TOL knowing full well that the court has accepted SMSL’s two judicial review applications,” added Tan.

The application to suspend the Lynas TOL will be made at the Bandar Indera Mahkota court complex at 9am Tuesday. Supporters are urged to attend to indicate to the government that the people do not want the Lynas rare earth plant in their backyard.

“Tomorrow will be a good test of our judicial system in delivering justice. We wait in hope that the truth shall prevail and that justice will be dealt,” said Tan.