No Rare Earth for Genocide coalition hands memorandum to MPs

“Malaysia is at a tipping point to demonstrate principled leadership in how critical minerals are governed. The rare earth industry should help power the global transition to renewable energy and sustainable development, not repeat the unequal and exploitative patterns that have too often been associated with human suffering, armed conflict, environmental degradation, and the concentration of benefits in the hands of a powerful few.”

“We are calling on the Government of Malaysia to strengthen safeguards that protect life and  our environment, enhance transparency, parliamentary oversight, as well as public accountability, and ensure Malaysia’s industrial and foreign policies remain consistent with our country’s longstanding commitment to peace, justice, environmental stewardship and the international rule of law. These are fundamental responsibilities that we as Malaysians should expect from the governance of our strategic resources.”

“The failing apartheid, genocidal settler-colonial state of Israel in its desperation to maintain its existence, is using its lapdogs in Washington DC to bind its military even closer together with the U.S. Department of War. The supply of rare earths by Lynas to the latter will inevitably benefit the Zionist terrorist military and enable it to further conduct its plan to exterminate Palestinians and steal Palestinian lands which it illegally occupies. The Malaysian government has been commendably vocal on its support for the Palestinian cause. Now, more than any other instance, is the time for the government to walk the talk and stop the supply of rare earths by Lynas to the U.S. war machine.

“Malaysia must not be complicit either directly or directly in the genocide now being conducted by the Zionist state against Palestinians. We must be on the right side of history and do everything at our disposal to put an end to the very worst example of settler colonialism that is the Zionist state. All eyes are now on the response of the Malaysian government to the very just and moral demands that the Lynas rare earths contract with the U.S. Department of War be rescinded. We urge the Malaysian government to live up to its reformist and progressive credentials and Do the Right Thing.”

“The U.N. Commission of Inquiry’s report on 16 September 2025 has concluded that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. All state parties to the Genocide Convention, including Malaysia, has the obligation to employ all measures that is available to them to prevent genocide. Rare earths are crucial in the production of advanced military technology. F-35 jets that have killed thousands of Palestinians, require 418kg of rare earths for its missile guidance systems, radars, sensors, and various components.

“At the same time, Brown University reported that US$21.7 billion of military aid has been provided by the United States to Israel. In other words, without the U.S, Israel will not be able to commit genocide, and without rare earths, the U.S. will not be able to make advanced killing machines. Thus, by selling our Malaysian-processed rare earths to the U.S. Department of War, we are not only enabling the U.S-Israel genocidal project, but we are also going directly against our obligations to prevent genocide, and are at risk of violating international laws.”

“Sahabat Alam Malaysia stands with the No Rare Earth for Genocide coalition in urging the Malaysian government to stop any complicity in global atrocities linked to the Lynas Rare Earths Ltd agreement to supply rare earth oxides to the U.S. Department of War. Malaysia must require Lynas to prove its operations, contracts and supply chains will not contribute to genocide, war crimes, or other serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights; make those assurances conditions of its licence; and subject the company to a robust, independent human-rights and IHL due-diligence audit focused on end-use and end-user risk.”

“We also call on the government to enact and enforce clear domestic laws and regulatory conditions preventing companies operating in Malaysia from being complicit in international crimes. The government should show principled leadership by prioritising human life over war profits and ensuring Malaysia’s critical minerals are never used to perpetrate violence.”