KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 -- The government's green light for Lynas Malaysia's 10-year operating licence renewal is not an act of betrayal.

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) Datuk Chang Lih Kang said the licence renewal comes with a strong stand of "no more new PDF (permanent disposal facility)" to be built in Malaysia in the future.

"This is not an act of betrayal. What we have consistently protested against is the continued accumulation of radioactive waste in Malaysia, and we have taken a firm position that there will be no PDF in the future.

"The production of WLP (Water Leach Purification) residue will be discontinued after the first five years, up to 2031, so any WLP produced before or during this five-year perio...