Opposition Playing Up Lynas Issue Will Not Affect Investment - PM

KUANTAN, April 25 (Bernama) -- The issue of the Lynas advanced materials plant in Gebeng near here which has been played to the hilt by the opposition has had little impact on investors wanting to invest in Kuantan, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said despite their (opposition) trying to frighten people by claiming their health was at risk because of the plant, the government of China did not hesitate to invest in the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP).

"They (Chinese government) never even asked about the Lynas plant, they never saw it as a threat.

"That is why they dared to invest in MCKIP and not only that, they also dared to ask for land closest to the Lynas plant to invest in this project," he said at a dinner with members of the Chinese community in Kuantan at a hotel here Thursday night.

Najib launched MCKIP in Gebeng on Feb 5. The project involves investments totalling RM10.5 billion and offers 8,500 job opportunities.

The idea to open MCKIP came about after the opening of the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park in China, which was given national status by the Chinese government.

Najib said if before the opposition was going in overdrive in claiming that the factory endangered the people's health, now the situation had changed.

"Anwar Ibrahim (opposition leader) initially said Lynas plant was dangerous but now it appears he has come around to accept it is not.

"In an interview with an Autralian news agency, he said he would support Lynas if it was proven the plant was safe, he has also started to follow what we said," said Najib.

At the function, Najib also announced that tax exemption would be given for donations made for the construction of the Chong Hwa private school in Kuantan. "As education is something close to the hearts of the Chinese, the Government agrees to donations made for building this school to be tax-exempt, besides the existing RM5 million allocation already made available," he said.

Prior to this, the prime minister had announced an additional RM3 million allocation for the school on top of the RM2 million that had been provided earlier.

At the same time, Najib said the Barisan Nasional (BN) guaranteed that the country would be stronger, more peaceful and stable if the mandate was returned to it in the 13th General Election on May 5.

"This is not political rhetorics because we know in the last four years we can see Malaysia has become stronger and more progressive.

"If we are given the trust, we can be a fully developed country in seven years ( by 2020)," he added.