Public interest requires BN to reveal the amount of compensation paid for scrapping the Broga incinerator project and whether Datuk Ong Ka Ting would fully apologise to Malaysians for such an expensive lesson in poor planning and bad governance

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Media Statement
by Thing Siew Shuen
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(Petaling Jaya, Friday) : Public interest requires BN to reveal the amount of compensation paid for scrapping the Broga incinerator project and whether Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Ong Ka Ting would fully apologise to Malaysians for such an expensive lesson in poor planning and bad governance.

DAP is happy over the victory of the Broga No-incinerator movement which was initiated by brave and consistent Broga people 5 years ago. Although the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib has denied their efforts, Broga people's courage in fighting for the right to a clean and safe livelihood is a shining example for other disadvantageous groups who are also fighting to reclaim their environment and livelihood.

After all the efforts to impose the RM1.52 mega incinerator project in Broga has failed, has the BN government learnt the expensive lessons from the price that they have to pay due to the lack of transparency, consultation and participation in decision-making? Furthermore, people are still kept in dark about the real reason of scrapping the project and why was a company chosen which has a bad reputation for safety tax evasion and corruption in Japan? Why was the site chosen when guidelines clearly provided that it should not be within 50km of populated areas? 

 When Najib told us that the project is scrapped due to the high capital and maintenance costs, it is absurd that such statement only be made to the public after the government has granted the contract to the contractor.  

A news report said that government is in the process of negotiations with Japanese firm Ebara Corp, the contractor for the incinerator project, and its local partner, Hartasuma Sdn Bhd. How much is the compensation again, will be given to the contractors for the cancellation?

In the last 5 years, the government has tried everything to defend for their decision or protect the interest of foreign investor. They tried to convince people through news reports. Media were ordered to keep shut on the No-incinerator campaign, RM3.5million was spent on advertisements to promote incinerator, a series of scaremongering tactics have been used to oppress the local people and attempts to thwart the dissemination of information. Work was done on technical drawings, surveys and procurement arrangements; a little bit work has been done at the construction site which is very near to a water catchments area and a gazetted forest reserve near Broga.

Why now only the government realizes that the Broga incinerator system, which would cost more than RM1.5bil, was so expensive to maintain that no district council or municipality would be able to afford it? Why can't the government do a proper study and planning prior to all the hardship and suffering which has brought to the people?

Due to demands on existing systems of rubbish disposal and the failure of recycle campaign, it seems like the BN government has not given up their attempts to find another place for incinerator. DAP will not support mega incinerator projects that are costly, violate incinerator building guidelines, emit dioxins, other toxic chemicals as well as greenhouse gases.  It is imperative for any democratic government to ensure that such projects are subject to public scrutiny and evaluation prior to their approval and implementation.  

(13/7/2007)