Kerjasama pusat-negeri kunci bangunkan ‘gergasi tidur’ SG4, kata pakar

Dr. Nahrul Khair Alang Md Rashid, an industrial professor from the University of Technology Malaysia (UTM), cautioned that investors are more concerned about uncertainty in baselines and access to resources rather than strict regulations. He emphasized that the value lies in processing, separating elements, and other downstream activities, particularly in the tailings stage.

Dr. Rashid explained that if the preliminary stage (beneficiation) takes a long time, it will inevitably impact the tailings process. Both processes need to move in harmony.

Meanwhile, Norlida Hanim Salleh, an environmental economist from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), stressed the importance of utilizing REE wealth for long-term development and public welfare, rather than merely seeking immediate returns. She warned that dependence on exporting raw materials poses the risk of "new economic colonialism" when processing and value addition fall into the hands of foreign parties.

Dr. Salleh pointed out that history has shown that natural resource wealth does not guarantee balanced prosperity. The development of economies based on resource dependence needs to be assessed through the ability to build local industries, technologies, and skills, not just the output produced. She cautioned that the question is not just whether SG4 is rich in REE, but whether it can control the value generated from it.