Media statement
by Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, DAP National Publicity Secretary and DAP Selangor Secretary
on Tuesday, 29 October 2002
 in Petaling Jaya

Look for better alternatives and stop all plans on incinerators!
 

There were two recent developments related to the controversial Kg Bohol incinerator. One, the Housing and Local Government Ministry Minister was talking about introducing new act and regulations to make recycling compulsory in the country by next year; and two, the Selangor State Government was also talking about building similar incinerators in Broga, Rawang and Kuala Langat area.

The fight against the Kg Bohol Incinerator is an ongoing battle. The 1,000,000 residents within the radius of 7.5 km from Kg Bohol, Puchong have every reason to say no the "cancer factory" being built near their homes, schools and work places.

So far, more than 130,000 residents in the affected areas have voiced their strong opposition through the ongoing signature campaign conducted by the No-incinerator Action Committee. The campaign is gaining great momentum simply because the authority has not been able to respond with reasonable and sensible explanations. The silence on the part of the Housing and Local Government Ministry is deafening. The 1,000,000 residents are now wondering whether their elected representatives (except for the Seputeh MP) and ministers were prepared to listen to their grievances.

The DAP has since recommended to replace incinerator with Material Recovering Facility (MRF), which is a much safer alternative than the incinerators and other traditional methods such as landfills. In short, MRF sorts out different materials such as PVC, glass bottles, aluminium and iron, plastics, papers and other reusable materials for resale, before turning all other unrecyclable municipal waste into solid "pellets" that could be used as building materials.

The MRF method is definitely in line with the pending act and regulations that compel every Malaysian to recycle reusable materials, instead of dumping or burning them as rubbish. It is therefore unthinkable for the Housing and Local Government Ministry to insist on the use of incinerators, putting the health of the people in great risk. The people in Kinrara, Puchong, Balakong, Old Klang Road, Kg Medan, Bukit Gasing, Sunway, Subang Jaya, Bukit Jalil and PJ Old Town have no reason to take the risk on behalf of the ministers. There is also no reason for the Selangor State Government to subject its people under such risk by building hazardous incinerators.

The MP for Seputeh, Teresa Kok has challenged the ministry to relocate the incinerator in question to Putrajaya. If the incinerator is really safe and definitely would not cause cancer to the residents within the vicinity, the Government should be bold enough to relocate or build one in Putrajaya.

Alternatively, Datuk Ong Ka Tin should be brave enough to move over, to stay in any residential area within the 7.5km radius of Kg Bohol, to prove a point that there is really nothing hazardous about the incinerator. Action speaks louder than words. What do you say, Yang Berhormat Minister?