Anti-Lynas group leader steps down

May 28, 2011

Jiam reacts during a news conference in the lobby of Parliament, March 30, 2011. file picKUALA LUMPUR, May 28 The head of the Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas group announced his resignation as its leader today, saying he has handed over responsibilities to his deputy.I resigned from my position willingly without pressure from any parties. I just felt that the organisation can achieve its goal faster without me at its helm, Vincent Jiam was quoted as saying in a report by The Star today.Jiam first came into the limelight when he made an impassioned plea at Parliament on March 30 for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to intervene on the behalf of Kuantan residents and stop the construction of the controversial rare earths refinery by Lynas Corp in nearby Gebeng.Since then, Jiam has become the vocal pointman of the anti-Lynas movement, teaming up with Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh to oppose the RM700 million plant.The Stop Lynas campaign has also been partly-credited for having forced Putrajaya into temporarily halting work at the Lynas facility and instituting a review of what will be the worlds largest rare earths refinery when completed.Last Friday, Jiam led over 250 protesters in a march towards the Australian High Commission in the heart of the city here, in a bid to win Canberras support in opposing the refinery.Today, Jiam said the movement has now picked up momentum but added that the committee must be more aggressive in efforts to force Lynas out before August 31.It is unclear what capacity Jiam continues to serve within the group.