10,000 activists arrive in KL to protest against rare earth plant

KUALA LUMPUR - Environmental activists protesting against the setting up of a controversial rare earth plant in Kuantan arrived in the Malaysian capital on Sunday after a 13-day march from the seaside town.

The march, which started in Kuantan 300km away, was in response to the Kuantan High Court's decision on Nov 8 to lift a suspension of Australian miner Lynas Corp's temporary operating licence (TOL) to process rare earths at its RM2.56-billion (S$1 billion) plant in Kuantan, Pahang. The decision paved the way for the Sydney-based miner to start importing ore from its Mount Weld mine in Western Australia.

A judicial review for an interim injunction application on the TOL filed by three Kuantan residents will be held on Nov 30.

With elections due to be called by April 28 next year, public opposition to the plant may further erode support for the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.