KUALA LUMPUR (March 4): The government should enact legislation and establish a government-linked company (GLC) to safeguard the country's rare earth element sources, according to Julau Member of Parliament Datuk Larry Soon@Larry Sng Wei Shien.

Given Malaysia's rich natural resources, which include rare earth elements valued at some RM809.6 billion in 29 locations nationwide, Sng emphasised the need to ensure responsible and sustainable use of these resources.

"I propose that the government regulate and establish a GLC to oversee mining operations, similar to how Petronas oversees the petroleum industry," said Soon during the debate on the royal address in Dewan Rakyat on Monday.

Soon also urged the government to formulate a law to control the exploitation of rare earth mining, prioritising regulated environmental protection.

In a parliamentary written reply dated Nov 22, 2023, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad disclosed that the Mineral Industry Development Coordination Committee (JKPPIM) had agreed to adopt standard operating procedures for non-radioactive rare earth element (NRREE) mining.

These procedures include determining NRREE mining from ion absorption clay to produce rare-earth carbonate without involving the production of radioactive materials, and using in-situ leaching mining methods that avoid large-scale open-cast mining.

Nik Nazmi added that the ministry would also review requirements from existing legal aspects such as the Environmental Quality Act 1974, the National Forestry Act 1984, the Mineral Development Act 1994, and the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 towards fostering a responsible and sustainable mining industry.

On a separate note, Sng suggested consolidating information from all 455 government agencies, including the National Registration Department (JPN), Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), and Election Commission (SPR), to address the low registration rate of Padu.

Acknowledging Padu as a commendable initiative facing numerous challenges, Sng highlighted the low registration rate, with only 16% or 3.82 million out of 23 million eligible Malaysian citizens registered.

"Why don't we combine all the available information? Why make it difficult for people to collect data from them?" questioned Sng.

He also proposed that the Ministry of Economy allocate special funds to service centres in rural parliamentary constituencies for on-site assistance in the registration process.

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