Thanks to Lynas controversy, an unpublicized MoU between a Perak state agency and a HK company was made public, with Menteri Besar and an Exco member claiming no knowledge of it!
We did not seem to learn from Asian Rare Earth problems and businessmen seem bent on making money regardless of what ill effects an industry could pose to the people. But I sense something else. CVM could be facing the wrong end of the stick for describing it as mining for rare earth, which touches on the sensitivities of the current protesters against radio-active substance.
I guess CVM could be interested in tin mining as its main objective with rare minerals as secondary revenue sources, and getting the involvement and approval of the state administration is a definite advantage. It used to be tin mining but lately, rare minerals are fetching record prices in the world markets. The company stands to gain from tin which could be the 'bread and butter' reason, but also struverite, ilmenite, zircon, monoxite, xenotine and whatever the world markets demand, from time to time. The minerals are non-perishable and with vast tracts of land available, they could be stored for the right price. Could 'rare earth' be a red herring which turns out to be a real hindrance?
In The Malaysian Insider: Zambry says unaware of Bukit Merah rare earth deal:
In FreeMalaysiaToday: Reveal details of rare earth venture, Zambry urged:
Note: YB Fong Po Kuan has her service centre in Bukit Merah New Village which is right opposite Asian Rare Earth factory which was shut down in 1992.
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