Malaysia to Hold Hearing on Lynas' $96M Rare Earth Deal Amid Public Protests and Concerns

Published: Jul 14, 2026 09:47

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[SMM Flash] Malaysia's Parliamentary Special Select Committee on International Trade and International Relations will hold a hearing on July 16 to examine the $96 million rare earth supply agreement signed between Australia's Lynas Rare Earths and the US Department of Defense. Previously, more than 20 non-governmental organizations staged a protest rally near the Parliament building and submitted a memorandum to lawmakers, demanding the government stop Lynas from supplying rare earth oxides used in weapons manufacturing to the US Department of Defense. The hearing will invite representatives from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Lynas to attend, and its conclusions will be submitted to the government as a basis for formulating the national rare earth policy. This move indicates strong public concern in Malaysia over the use of rare earths for military purposes, which may influence the future direction of the country's rare earth industry policy.

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