dr looi on fb malaysia, page-214

Treat the FDIs we have fairly

By PROF DATUK DR AHMAD IBRAHIM
Fellow, Academy of Sciences
UCSI University
.
________________________________________
• LETTERS
• Friday, 15 Mar 2019
.
Now we are entering a new era of smart manufacturing and industry 4.0. There will be a rising global demand for new technology-rich products linked to sensors, super magnets and powerful batteries. One key in-gredient in all such products are rare earths. As earlier declared by Chi-na’s Chairman Deng Xiaoping, the global supply of rare earths will be controlled by China. This is because China has the largest deposits of rare earths in the world. Australia is another country which similar low-radioactive rare earth deposits.
.
Malaysia also has deposits of rare earths; but ours have higher radioac-tivity because of higher thorium and uranium content. This explains the problems we faced with our earlier foray into processing rare earths near Ipoh. But we should not link that unfortunate experience with operations at Lynas, which processes rare earths from Australia, as these rare earths exhibit lower radioactivity. This fact has been corroborated by the expert review committee appointed by the government.
.
It is unwise to continue harassing Lynas to send its wastes back to Aus-tralia. If we do, we will be a laughing stock of the world because the facts cannot support such a decision. Our decisions must be based on sound science. This is exactly what we have been telling the French as they move to crucify palm oil.
.
By subjecting Lynas to new conditions that are not based on sound sci-ence, we are sending the wrong message to the world. Instead of har-assing Lynas, it would be better for us to partner with the company to bring in new FDIs in downstream businesses that make use of rare earths. That would be a better bet for our economy, which needs new injections of investments to capture the opportunities of industry 4.0. Let us be fair to FDIs.
.
PROF DATUK DR AHMAD IBRAHIM
Fellow, Academy of Sciences
UCSI University
.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/…/treat-the-fdis-we-have-fairly/…