DAP's double standard apparent in Batu Kawan?

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional lawmaker Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said it was a double standard on the part of the DAP-led Penang government in defending of the Batu Kawan solar panel plant project.

Speaking to The Mole, the MP for Kota Belud questioned the principle used by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as his arguments in defending the Batu Kawan project is similar to that used by pro-Lynas group in justifiying the project.

Abdul Rahman said: “Guan Eng (at Dewan Rakyat on yesterday) said the project in Batu Kawan was declared safe by the DOE (Department of Environment). I pointed out to him that it was the exact argument used in defending the Lynas project.”

“He (Guan Eng) also asked us to accept the United Nation’s IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) experts’ view but at the same time he and Pakatan Rakyat refused to accept the agency’s view on Lynas,” Abdul Rahman added.

“So if this is not double-standard, then what is it?” he asked.

Lynas rare earth refinery plant in Pahang was strongly objected by DAP and its partners from Pakatan Rakyat.

Prior to this MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker had also pointed out on the double standard practised by DAP and Pakatan Rakyat in using authorities’ approval to validate and justify their decision on the Batu Kawan project.

“When the same authorities gave the same approval and credentials for Lynas, they were quick to dismiss it and claimed these authorities were not dependable," Ti said.

Meanwhile Parti Cinta Malaysia vice president Huan Cheng Guan said as Batu Kawan project is shrouded with much secrecy, the onus is on Penang Government to disclose details about it to avoid any misunderstanding.

Huan said : “From what we see, they are keeping this project under wraps. The state government only spoke about this after the matter was highlighted repeatedly.”

“They need to be responsible. It does not matter whether it is an assembly or a manufacturing plant, the people need to know what the project is all about, what material will be used and the effects of the project, if there is any,” he added.

Huan was commenting on a statement made by Penang exco Phee Boon Poh in an English daily newspaper on Tuesday.

In the news report Phee had asked Huan to check and get his facts right on solar panel plant, saying that no nuclear waste will be generated and that it does not need the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB)’s approval to operate.

 AELB director general Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan said the project will not need to get the board’s approval if it is radioactive-free. 

Source: MOLE