She also questioned the sort of action that would be taken should there be a sharp increase in cancer cases surrounding the Lynas plant in the future as no baseline study on public health has been carried out.

“I wish to remind you that in the case of low radiation level, the effects cannot be seen overnight, but in years,” she told the media today.

Should Lynas be allowed to continue operations in Malaysia, the best course of action would be to return the waste to Australia to be disposed of at a mine there, she said.

“If Lynas were to build a plant in Australia, it would send such waste to the mines, why should there be a double standard? Why here they say the waste can be located near the plant, which is close to a river and the sea ?” she asked.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was recently reported to have told foreign correspondents in Japan that Malaysia would allow the Lynas plant to continue operations.

Fuziah, who is a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said sending Lynas radioactive waste back home should be a pre-requisite if Lynas were to renew its operating licence in the country.