Lynas not keen to meet international safety standard, Malaysian std suffice

Lynas boss Nicholas Curtis has conceded that his company made the mistake of failing to adequately engage the community in Kuantan over fears of radioactive waste from its controversial rare earth plant, saying, "We made a mistake, and it was a big mistake, of thinking that because we have met the (Malaysian) standards (of safety), that it was enough. It was not enough. Our obligation is to continue to engage the community in Kuantan."

The Lynas chief's mea culpa came after the emergence of stringent opposition to the RM700 million plant, which is being built in Gebeng Industrial Estate, about 50km from Kuantan and will be completed by the end of September.