Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) said it was not convinced by Kedah’s claims that the minerals to be mined would not be radioactive when China’s experience in the same matter had shown it could seriously damage the environment.
Yesterday, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the state had signed a deal with a Kuala Lumpur-based company to explore rare earths in Sik, Ulu Muda and Baling.
He touted the venture as a game changer as the state stood to make “tens of billions” of ringgit from it. An exploratory permit had since been issued.
In a statement today, SAM president Meenakshi Raman said a 2013 study in southern China had shown the negative impacts of the “ion-adsorption rare earth ore” mining, similar to what is being mooted in Kedah and parts of Perak.
She said some of the effects include severe soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, air pollution, underground water pollution and health issues.
“The question remains: Why embark on an exploration to identify rare earth minerals in the first place, if the mining and processing of the minerals are so extremely environmentally damaging, with serious human and public health costs?”
Meenakshi said the Kedah government should reveal more details on the mining for the sake of transparency, including naming the company involved.
She said despite it being an exploratory venture, it would still have an impact on the environment, especially in forest reserves.
She called on the energy and natural resources ministry to reveal its policy on the rare earths industry and to consult NGOs and the public before allowing states such as Kedah and Perak to carry out such ventures.
“Both the federal and state governments should not be blinded by promises of billions and trillions of ringgit from the rare earths industry.
“It has to be viewed as a dirty and toxic industry, similar to what we now know of the plastic and tobacco industries.
“We have to find alternatives to rare earths given their damaging nature.
“Malaysia must get its priorities right and put the environment at the centre, and not continue to plunder and damage our natural resources, in the name of generating economic wealth.
“Clearly, we are not learning from lessons of the past on what it takes to be truly sustainable, but instead are leaving a toxic legacy for generations to come,” she said.