The government is expected to renew the licence for Lynas to continue operating its processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan. The license is set to expire on March 2.

However, sources familiar with the matter told Malaysiakini it is likely that the firm must abide by the two key conditions set by the Pakatan Harapan government in 2019.

One of the conditions is to relocate the “cracking and leaching” facility, which produces radioactive Water Leach Purification (WLP) residue, out of Malaysia before July 2023.

Since it was set up in 2012, Harapan leaders had objected to the plant but former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration renewed the licence with conditions after the coalition won the 2018 general election.

This put Harapan parties, especially DAP, in an awkward position...