A decade on, the opposition against Lynas is still strong
Malaysia is a warm and welcoming county. Rarely does her people rally in force against a corporation. Rarer still that such active protests persist for more than a decade, unrelenting. Anti-Lynas sentiments emerged soon after the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) project was approved in 2007. This was not unexpected, as no one wants to risk radioactive exposure from having a potentially hazardous rare earth refinery in one’s backyard. However, the slight negative sentiment and concern escalated to numerous nationwide demonstrations by 2012 when the plant commenced operations. Today, the anti-Lynas movement is still very much alive.
the Malaysian Minister of Finance approved Australian-based Lynas Corp’s Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) project with a package of special incentives, including “pioneer” status and a 12-year tax holiday.
February 2008
the State of Pahang Department of Environment (DOE) approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for LAMP to be located in Gebeng, Kuantan. The Atomic Energy Licensing Board of Malaysia (AELB) approved the Siting and Construction Licence following an approval recommendation from the Licensing Division of the AELB. The Kuantan Local Council also approved the Development Order application.
January 2012
AELB approved a temporary operating licence (TOL) for LAMP. This was challenged by residents in court on the grounds that it breached the Environmental Quality Act 1974, among others. The issuance of TOL was withheld pending the outcome of a hearing of an appeal by a group of residents to the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister in April.
September 2012
LAMP was granted a two-year TOL effective 3 September 2012, with a safe deposit of US$50 million and five conditions, including disclosure of a permanent deposit facility (PDF) for the storage of the plant’s radioactive water leached purification (WLP) waste.
Note that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its 2011 report had recommended that a PDF be identified before an operating licence is awarded to LAMP. AELB had granted a temporary stay on this condition; Lynas promised to comply within 10 months of LAMP’s operations. The TOL was arguably granted on the excuse that AELB needed to collect data on the various areas of LAMP’s operations including wastes produced.
As of today, Lynas has yet to identify the location of the PDF. Neither has there been any public notifications, publications or announcements by AELB on the issue.
LAMP entered production in 2013, producing 1,089 tonnes of rare-earth oxides in the first quarter of 2014, with a target of 11,000 tonnes per annum.
Despite the numerous protects, Lynas was on 2 September 2014 issued a two-year Full Operating Stage License (FOSL) by AELB. The licence was renewed in September 2016 for another three years despite calls to examine the non fulfilment of terms and written undertakings by Lynas to either recycle the radioactive WLP waste into industrial by-products or ship them overseas.
LAMP is designed to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 8,000 hours a year, with a lifespan of 20 years. Each hour it produces approximately 36 tonnes ( dry weight) of solid wastes. The total volume of solid wastes that will be produced by LAMP prior to its decommissioning after 20 years is approximately 5.76 million tonnes! To put this figure into perspective, it is 15.6 times the weight of the steel used in the Petronas twin towers. The waste produced by LAMP over 20 years can fill Bukit Jalil Stadium 18 times over!
This educational article is brought to you by SMSL
It’s raining and you are coming home from work. As you approach the doorstep of your house, the autogate just won’t work. You have to get out of the car to open it manually. You get wet and start cursing. How embarrassing that can be!
The track-sliding conventional autogates succumb to problems regularly. Stuck or derailed rollers, power outage, short motor lifespan, rusty gate, dirt, or water-laden track are among the culprits. When that happens, it’s just another bad hair day for you.
Two things that concern autogate users most are product reliability and durability.
To fulfil these two criteria, it takes years of R&D and innovative engineering. DELUX Trackless Autogate now comes with a revolutionary solution to those headaches. It’s specifically designed to enrich your modern living with added peace of mind.
What makes it stand out from the crowd?
The first patented fully aluminium trackless folding gate system in Malaysia by DELUX gets rid of the track system altogether. Without the track and rollers, nothing gets trapped, stuck, or derailed. No slicing, cutting, or chiselling on the floor. And your beautiful tiles stay intact as there are no unsightly cracks.
That solves a few problems in a row. It prevents water, dirt, soil, stone, sticks, leaves, and other obstructive objects from getting stuck at the gate. This enables the motor to work smoothly to avoid unnecessary maintenance caused by the old, cumbersome design. DELUX Trackless Autogate is reinforced with a heavy-duty copper bush bearing for smooth operation to prolong the motor’s lifespan.
The trackless system also prevents your car porch or home compound from being messed up by unwanted debris. It certainly saves you the hassle of doing the extra front-yard housekeeping.
DELUX Trackless Autogate is equipped with a 48-hour power backup system to ensure uninterrupted operation. This comes in handy during power outage caused by lightning or malicious sabotage, for instance. That’s not all; incidents where people are robbed as they are opening their autogates manually during a malfunction are common too.
When your personal safety and home security are at stake, it’s worth investing in a system that gives you peace of mind in every aspect. The product quality of DELUX Trackless Autogate is further affirmed by the SIRIM QAS International certification for passing over 50,000 cycle and durability tests. It has also earned the HOMEDEC Quality Award 2013.
DELUX Trackless Autogate has a built-in alarm system consisting of a multifunctional keypad and remote control with a panic button trigger to ward off intruders to keep your family and property safe. The gate will not accidentally unlock itself due to natural or human disturbances. It is also equipped with an auto-reverse sensor to detect the presence of kids or other objects to prevent them from being hit by or getting caught between the gate panels.
The installation of DELUX Trackless Autogate is made easy with the 360-degree adjustable hinges and heavy-duty waterproof bearings for vertical and horizontal adjustments. It adopts a highly durable wall-plug support secured by a 12-point locking system to cleverly balance the weight of the gate on the pillar. Better still, installation on uneven floor is no longer an issue for the trackless system.
No on-the-spot wielding is needed. For a top-notch finish, the entirely screw-fabricated gate is made using the German robotic wielding technology at DELUX’s in-house facility.
The 3-turning-point arm locking system that supports (holds) two panels at the same time provides reinforced defence against intrusion such as forced break-ins. This is further enhanced with the anti-force latching mechanism. A hardened stopper is fitted to stabilise the gate in the right position to ensure it remains constantly closed in its locking state.
In order to withstand the hot and humid climate, DELUX Trackless Autogate is enhanced with premium, hard outdoor powder-coating for a more durable finish. This makes the gate more resistant to chipping, scratching, and fading. That saves you the repainting maintenance.
The very design of the trackless system allows for unprecedented flexibility and efficiency in many aspects, including space utilisation. The folding gate can fully open up wide up to 100-degrees point-to-point to allow for more parking space and ease of entering and exiting.
A trusted brand
DELUX Trackless Autogate is trusted by many satisfied customers for its secure, reliable, and durable build and performance. It suits both domestic and commercial use such as houses, shops, warehouses, and factories with many prefab or customised designs to choose from. The brand has been a leading pioneer in trackless technology since 2009 with a wide network of sales and service centres across Malaysia.
Real estate is more than just selling bungalows and semi-ds on land. It is also about selling bungalows and semi-ds in the sky.
Recently, a client by the name of Ali asked me, “Do you have any new condo property to recommend?” Hewanted to purchase his first (new) home for his own-stay with future investment potential. Ali’s family were a family of 4 with 1 more child on the way. Therefore, they were searching for at least a 3-bedroom unit. They’re preferred location is in Petaling Jaya as Ali works in Sunway and his wife, Siti works in Subang.
I recommended this project and invited them to the sales gallery. The sales gallery itself has a luxurious and cozy feel. Upon entering the sales gallery, they felt relaxed and comfortable. The children marvelled at the life-size scale model and were left to be self-entertained at the kid’s section. I took them on a walkthrough around the sales gallery and in the show units.
The project is located in the heart of Petaling Jaya. It is accessible by and to 5 major highways: Lebuhraya Damansara-Perdana (LDP), Lebuhraya Persekutuan (Federal Highway), New Pantai Expressway (NPE), KESAS, and New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE). The project is also surrounded by matured neighbourhoods with comprehensive amenities – Paradigm Mall, Sunway Pyramid, Sri Emas International School, SJKC Yuk Chai, Taylor’s University (Lakeside Campus), Sunway Medical Center, Glenmarie LRT, Kelana Jaya LRT, etc.
In addition to its strategic location, the project is surrounded by nature. From the sky, the bungalows and semi-ds have a unique calm blue lakefront view of a 15 acres lake. It also has a majestic green view of the Subang National Golf Club.
The project has an array of facilities. The indoor facilities are gym, multipurpose room, theatre room, and more. The outdoor facilities are a 6-lane Olympic length infinity lap pool, 210 meter Lazy River, 500 meter jogging track, and much more. The bungalows and semi-ds in the sky also come with facilities in the sky: sky gym, sky jacuzzi, sky lounge, and observation deck @ roof top.
As its concept is bungalows and semi-ds in the sky; the units are either standalone or 2 units side-by-side. The units range from 2 to 5 bedrooms. Built-up sizes range from 892 sq. ft. to 1,788 sq. ft.
Buyers have the options to furnish their units attached with multiple easy ownership schemes and additional rewards.
Ali and Siti were very impressed with the show unit and the sales gallery that they’ll invite their family and friends to the upcoming Reapfield event at the sales gallery.
Names have been changed for story purpose
Register your interests and RSVP in the Google Form below
KUALA LUMPUR, 19 March 2018 – Invest Selangor Berhad today announced that the Selangor International Business Summit series is back for its second edition this year, following its astounding success in 2017, which saw a total of 22, 000 visitors and generated RM 204.2 million in transaction value. SIBS 2018 is set to run for 10 days, from 6 – 16 September 2018, at Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC).
It will feature three main events as follow:
Selangor International Expo 2018: 4th edition | 6 – 9 September 2018
Selangor-ASEAN Business Conference 2018: 2nd edition | 6 – 7 September 2018
Selangor Smart City & Digital Economy Convention 2018: formerly known as the Smart City International Convention | 13 – 15 September 2018
“We are honoured that SIBS 2018 has received formal endorsement from MATRADE, and that Malaysia Airlines Berhad is onboard as the summit’s official airline partner. Also strongly supporting us this year are 19 partners, to date, from local and international business chambers and councils”
, said Yang Berhormat Dato’ Teng Chang Khim, Senior Executive Councillor of the State Government of Selangor, during the Official Launch of SIBS 2018 today.
“In the wake of the current global economic situation, it is imperative for ASEAN countries to operate as a united community, in support of each other. As the Gateway to ASEAN, Selangor will act as a centre-point that hosts and connects a rich network of trade industry players globally, by leveraging a solid platform like SIBS 2018”, Teng further adds.
“Invest Selangor Berhad is proud to organise an event of such positive magnitude, as part of its efforts to position Selangor as a global trading hub and a significant gateway to ASEAN for domestic and international businesses”
said Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Hasan Azhari Haji Idris, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Selangor Berhad. He further added that SIBS 2018 is set to generate lucrative business opportunities and partnerships, as well as provide exposure of the latest technological developments globally.
The summit series will continue to adopt a highly focused and result oriented setting. One of the summit’s main events – Selangor International Expo 2018 with a focus on food and beverage (F&B), will act as a solid platform to connect industry players through its effective business matching programme and hosted international buyers programme. Subsequently, other events will highlight international market opportunities through ASEAN economic integration, discuss global market developments and trends as well as showcase industry-led digital capabilities in Selangor.
Below is the list of local and international local and international business chambers and councils that have officially come on board as supporting partners of SIBS 2018, as of today:
No.
Organisations
1.
ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Malaysia
2.
British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce
3.
Dewan Perdagangan Islam Malaysia Selangor
4.
Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia Selangor
5.
EU-Malaysian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
6.
Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (Selangor Branch)
7.
Italy Malaysia Business Association
8.
Klang Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
9.
Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
10.
Malaysia Retail Chain Association
11.
Malaysia Specialty Coffee Association
12.
Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce
13.
Malaysian Danish Business Council
14.
Malaysian French Chamber of Commerce & Industry
15.
Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry
16.
Malaysian Spanish Chamber of Commerce & Industry
17.
Malaysian-Finnish Business Council
18.
SME Association of Malaysia
19.
Tea Trade Association Of Malaysia
20.
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor
For enquiries on investment in Selangor, please visit
Asian parents place much emphasis on academic excellence and are willing to make sacrifices to give their children the best education they can afford; sometimes even when they can’t afford to.
Given the less-than-stellar quality of Malaysian public education, the sacrifices are real.
Many observers look back to the good old days when the Malaysian education was regarded as second to none in Asia. Oh how far we have fallen!
Alas, the oft-quoted maxim “Those who can’t do, teach” now rings too close for comfort.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlighted weaknesses in teacher competencies as a serious impediment to overall education quality in Malaysia, attributing that partly to the low quality of applicants to teacher education institutes. In 2010, a mind-boggling 93% of Bachelor of Education applicants at these institutes scored below the minimum academic requirement (Ministry of Education Malaysia, 2012)! Would you wager things have significantly improved since?
Tuition classes to supplement the insufficient learning from public schools are common; a necessity even, some might argue. Hours robbed from one’s childhood can never be recovered.
The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) global rankings on student performance in mathematics, reading, and science highlights the dismal proficiency of Malaysian students on these subjects. PISA is an exam administered every three years to measure 15-year-olds in 72 countries.
While Singapore consistently topped all three, Malaysia’s scores stayed below average. In 2015, Malaysia scored 446 in mathematics (vs. average: 490) , 431 in reading (vs. 493) and 443 in science (vs. 493), albeit an improvement from 2012. Granted Singapore has long left Malaysia far behind in many socio-economic aspects, with education being just one. But losing even to Vietnam?!
Much has been said about students entering universities lacking mastery in basic mathematic skills, reasoning and proof, and not being able to make connections in other disciplines. And of unemployable university graduates, some of whom are incapable of stringing a single coherent sentence in English.
Alas, Malaysia’s education system seems to lack long-term planning. Education policies often get changed every few years before they could deliver results – it feels like we’re in a perpetual state of experimentation in respect to curriculum, teaching methodology, evaluation and even medium of instruction.
Perhaps the most disruptive and controversial in recent years was the flip-flop on using English as the medium to teach science and mathematics in schools – the policy was introduced in January 2003, and reversed in July 2009.
No one likes their children to be experimented upon. The perceived lack of certainty in education policies pushed many parents to consider private schools.
Amid the dwindling confidence in our school system, international schools are thriving.
There used to be a 40% cap on Malaysians permitted to enrol in international schools. With the cap removed in 2012, some international schools are now predominantly filled with Malaysian students.
According to a 2017 report by the International School Consultancy Research (ISC), Malaysia has 170 international schools with a total of 71,589 students. Education Destination Malaysia’s 2017/18 guidebook highlights 140 international schools.
The cost to put a child through private school ranges from RM12,000 to over RM120,000 per year, excluding other fees such as boarding. Then there’s the 5-10% annual increase.
Education Destination Malaysia estimates RM30,000-50,000 as roughly what it would cost to put your child through a year of primary education in a mid-cost international school. According to its data, Sri Kuala Lumpur (probably the most sought-after international school) has relatively affordable annual tuition fees of RM15,300-RM29,600 (excluding other fees). But you’ll have to jostle other parents for a spot – the waiting list is crazy long!
Getting a spot in Malaysia’s public universities is also highly competitive. The racial quota in local universities makes it harder for minorities to be accepted for highly sought-after courses. Under the government’s affirmative action programme, 55% of university places went to Bumiputeras. Upon the abolishment of the race quota, matriculation was introduced as an alternative to Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM). But it has been highly criticised for being markedly easier than STPM, and serves as an easier path for Bumiputeras, for whom 90% of the places are reserved.
Those who can’t get a spot in local universities for a course they want may have no choice but study in private universities. Ringgitplus.com estimates that it cost an average of RM7,000 to pursue a local public university course while local private universities charge 3-5 times that or more, depending on the course. Moreover, the cost of studying in a private university keeps increasing much faster than inflation.
Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) unveiled the new iconic campus in 2017 that is strategically located in Technology Park Malaysia (TPM), Bukit Jalil. APU is a top-notch University recognised as a Premier Digital University by MDEC and was rated 5-Stars at the SETARA 2017 Ratings by Ministry of Higher Education.
APU’s Campus blends technology, integration, innovation and creativity under one roof. Designed by award-winning consultants and architects, APU’s new iconic campus provides not just a university learning environment, but also a lively community spot for our students to formulate new ideas, gain intellectual growth and discover new adventures.
Technology Park Malaysia (TPM), Bukit Jalil – A Location with Ultimate Connectivity and Accessibility
Strategically located within TPM, Bukit Jalil, the APU’s new iconic campus provides high accessibility through major highways from Puchong, Subang, Petaling Jaya and the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Apart from providing ample parking spaces on-campus for students and staff, the campus is surrounded by a wide array of public transportation, such as the Bukit Jalil LRT station and Terminal Bas Selatan @ Bandar Tasik Selatan. TPM, the technology park that also houses Astro, Mimos, Jaring and other various technological companies, is the ideal location for this contemporary campus, due to its strong positioning as Malaysia’s primary hub for leading-edge and high-tech developments in a wide variety of areas.
Well-trained academics at APU offer intensive knowledge sharing sessions in class, by making use of the highly-reliable educational technology within the APU’s New Iconic Campus.
Dynamic Environment Where Aspiring Young Minds Assemble
Being a university student can be one’s most exciting expeditions, where dreams are realized and the future is envisioned. The expedition starts at The Spine – a distinctive and unique feature that stretches from the main entrance all the way to the far end of the campus. While providing seamless connectivity to all areas within the campus, The Spine also aims to establish a community aspect for the university – where integration is the key. Covered walkways that extends from the Spine further promotes connectivity and cultivates exchange of ideas among students from different disciplines and academics, through the series of ‘intelligent’ teaching, learning, research, and social spaces spanning from the Spine. Within the Spine, a vibrant array of academic, leisure and social activities take place on a daily basis; it is not only the heart of the campus but also the nurturing ground for world-changing global ideas. APU’s Centre Point, which located at the center of the Spine serves as a melting pot of cultures from all over the world, where cultural activities are organized regularly at the campus, fostering long-lasting intercultural relationships among APU students, who come from over 110 countries.
Through a stylish blend of functionality & accessibility, APU’s new iconic campus sets a new benchmark for design excellence among Malaysian Universities. Highlighting the importance of transparency, the campus makes extensive use of glass to limit physical barriers between people. Teaching and learning facilities are redesigned to suit the needs of the industry, in line with the Industrial Revolution 4.0, a strong emphasis on cooperative learning is reflected at APU’s new iconic campus, through the abundance of communal spaces and discussion areas, where aspiring young minds come together to formulate innovative ideas. Wings spreading out from the Spine offer creative spaces intended to foster self-directed learning and teaching. Highly conducive teaching & learning spaces, study lounges, studios, laboratories, tutorial rooms, breakout rooms and syndicate rooms sit alongside modern, fully equipped lecture theatres where core knowledge is taught by well qualified academics. All spaces are carefully designed to create an unforgettable learning and lifestyle experience that lasts for a lifetime, while enabling professional learning and cultivating global mindsets.
State-of-the-art lecture halls and classrooms provides a comfortable and sophisticated learning experience to students during lecture and tutorial sessions.
The Library – A Contemporary Learning Space
The APU Library sits as a core of the Knowledge Commons, providing an intelligent space for exceptional learning experiences. Apart from the wide array of book selections, e-books, e-journals and other resources, the library also positions itself as a popular spot for interactive discussions and creative brainstorming sessions, in line with our teaching strategy that encourages open, multidisciplinary approaches. The contemporary two-floor library features an abundant array of discussion rooms that are well-equipped with LCD TVs, providing the facilities for students to gear up for their professional presentations, debates and group assessments. At another corner, the Bean Bag zone provides maximum comfort to students who wish to create and share knowledge in a casual yet aspiring way. A soundproof Quiet Zone is designed exclusively for students who prefer a quiet and cozy study environment for their upcoming exams and assessments.
By incorporating cutting-edge technologies, APU students will be able to keep up with the latest technological trends and equip themselves with necessary skills to be a highly-employable graduate.
Cutting-Edge Technologies
At APU, we aspire to ensure success in our students’ future careers, granting them ability to combat the global challenges that lie ahead. The campus is a unique fusion of technology, innovation and creativity, to reflect our identity as Malaysia’s leading technological university. Apart from being a vibrant campus, APU’s new iconic campus is also established as a smart campus, where reliable high-speed wireless internet access and cashless payment systems combine to create a whole new level of campus lifestyle experience.
APU’s graduates are self-starting, innovative problem solvers with skills attuned to their particular professions. They are capable, enterprising and entrepreneurial, and hence highly employable. Our educational technology environment supports the development of graduates of this calibre, in which well-equipped computing and engineering laboratories with advanced software, hardware and technologies place students at the forefront of technological excellence. By applying the latest technology and design, the campus supports a vibrant community of scholars, who will eventually become highly-employable working professionals, and commit to engaged, reflective learning and research in a connected, interactive environment.
The Atrium, located at the center of the campus, serves as a melting pot of cultures from over 110 countries at APU.
Comfort Away From Home –
On-Campus Accommodation
Studying away from home is an experience of a lifetime. At APU’s new iconic campus, the experience is made an unforgettable one, as the on-campus accommodation aspires to amalgamate comfort and security at the same time. Built within the campus grounds, all dormitories have en-suite facilities, where students are accorded maximum comfort and privacy. The residential blocks can be independently accessed from the main university teaching zones, providing ultimate accessibility and convenience to its tenants. In addition, a fitness sweatzone and student lounge provide spaces for relaxation and socialization throughout the day.
APU’s New Iconic Campus features an abundant array of communal spaces, in line with our teaching strategy that promotes interaction and active sharing of knowledge.
The APU’s New Iconic Campus is a campus made ready for the world, to nurture professional graduates who are career-ready upon graduation. To date, the global campus houses 11,000 students who came from 110 countries. For more information, please visit our website www.apu.edu.my, email [email protected], or contact student services at +603 8996 1000 or hotline 1 300 888 278. To be connected, join us on APU Facebook at www.facebook.com/apuniversity.
