IEM - See no evil, hear no evil ???

On the possible structural problems of Lynas Plant at Gebeng, Kuantan as reported by New York Times, I have sent an email to The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) a few weeks ago but unfortunately there is no respond to my email so far. I would be very disappointed if they play dumb dumb.

I have been in this Engineering profession for 37 years, I am always very proud in telling people that it is the works and dedications and professionism of engineers that people can go on happily and conviniently with their everyday life. People just take things for granted, water, power, transportation, communication, internet, and so on until there is a power failure, landslides, flooding, building collapsed, lift failure .......

As an Engineer I am really concerned when I read the following from http://www.savemalaysia-stoplynas.blogspot.com/.

Serious construction problems of the LAMP -

22 concrete tanks in the processing area was defective and will result in corrosive and radioactive materials leaking onto the plant floor and into the ground eventually. These tanks were not moisture-proof, which is a standard engineering practice for this kind of plant. It is especially essential in a damp swampy environment.

We have and continue to receive confidential accounts of failed electrical wiring and installation, failed hydro tests where major tanks with structural cracks and leaks were detected, broken underground water pipes that need to be redone and so forth.

A large section of the plant has sunk. Many of these defects could not be easily fixed or safely repaired. Lynas is believed to have grossed over the problem and have summarily covered up the defects. The full extent of the construction defects and design problems can only be uncovered by a thorough independent engineering audit.

I have sent another email to IEM 2 hours ago, forwarding the above reported engineering defects to them. I hope they won't adopt the same attitude as AELB,"the plant has been certified safe by a registered Engineer, we will hold the engineer responsible if ...... ". AELB just brushed the New York Times report aside. Very irresponsible, very unprofessional, the structure involved is a rare earth refinery, not a toilet, it is a national catastrophe if something goes wrong.

Click "NGOs statement against Lynas" to read more.

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