By K Pragalath. Published by Free Malaysia Today on 27 December 2012.
A pro-environment group called Malaysian Youth Against Public Hazards (MYAP) is organising a hunger strike tonight at Dataran Merdeka to raise awareness against hazardous projects. The group had identified five projects – Lynas Rare Earth Plant, Bukit Koman Cyanide Gold Mining, Pengerang Oil Refinery, Sarawak Mega Dams project and the Rawang High Tension Cable. However, MYAP’s two immediate demands were focused on Lynas.
They are demanding for an end to Lynas’ temporary operating license (TOL) since there is data to show risk to public health and environment whereas their second demand is for a proper Detailed Environment Impact Assessment (DEIA) to be done and made public before a TOL is issued.
The hunger strike is called Hunger Protest 100. The 100 refers to the number of hours that the hunger strike would be held. The protest, which begins at 8pm, would end on the stroke of midnight on Jan 1, 2013. MYAP spokesperson and team leader Tan Woen Tien told FMT that at the time of writing 18 participants had confirmed their participation.
Student activist Adam Adli and PKR affiliated NGO Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia would be participating as well. “Hospital Kuala Lumpur has been notified. In addition, a St John’s Ambulance will be stationed nearby,” said Tan.
According to MYAP’s Facebook page, non-Muslim participants would only consume water throughout the fasting period whereas Muslim participants would be fasting from dawn to sunset. During the strike, several speakers were scheduled to deliver speeches. Bersih steering committee member Wong Chin Huat is expected to start the ball rolling tonight with a talk entitled, “Would it be possible for Mat Kilau to accept Lynas?”
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S Arutchelvan would be giving a talk tomorrow. Meanwhile, Tan said another environment group Himpunan Hijau leader, Wong Tack, would be organising the “people’s congress to allow the people to decide the type of development that they want."
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