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Ong Ka Ting should call
off the Broga/ Semenyih incinerator now that the No Incinerator Action
Committee has proof to show that even the site itself is highly unsafe and
vulnerable
Press Statement
by Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew
(Petaling Jaya,
Friday):
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting should call off
the RM1.5 billion incinerator in Broga/Semenyi now that the No Incinerator
Action Committee led by Professor Halil Hussein has presented solid evidence
to the BN government.
Yesterday, the action committee presented their findings and evidence to the
Acting Prime Minister, government backbenchers and opposition MPs in the
Parliament today. They have also evidence to show that the government has
contravened its own rules by two counts; not only they have given the mega
incinerator contract to Ebara of Japan on Feb 7 this year, they have also
started clearing the proposed site. Even a bridge is near completion on the
access road to the site (see photos supplied by the action committee).
Only a week ago, both the minister and the director -general of the Housing
and Local Government Ministry have said that its ministry would not start
any work (except for land survey and soil investigation) before approval of
the relevant EIA report. Ong must now explain to the people why its ministry
has ordered the incinerator from Ebara and also started works on the
proposed project without an EIA approval.
The action committee has maps and documents to prove that the proposed site
for the world's biggest incinerator is very much in the centre of the
Semenyih water catchment area, which was classified as environmentally
sensitive area (kawasan sensitif alam sekitar) by the Selangor State
government (reference: Beranang/ Semenyih/ Kajang Local Draft Plan
2000-2010). Only recreational and educational activities are allowed in such
environmentally sensitive areas.
Semenyih River happens to be one of the largest and most important sources
of water supply in the Klang Valley. At least 333 housing and industrial
areas, spreading from Semenyih to Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Puchong, Kuala
Lumpur and even Putrajaya will be severely effected if the water from the
Semenyih River and other tributaries were contaminated by the cancer-causing
dioxin and other poisonous discharge from the incinerator.
The committee also found that the average gradient at the proposed hilly
site was more than 25 degrees, which means no structures or buildings should
be allowed according to the bylaws stipulated by the Selangor State
Government. The Selangor government would appear as going against its own
law if it proceeds to build the mega incinerator in Broga/Semenyih.
It's also pointless for the Malaysian government to ratify Agenda 21, Local
Agenda 21 and frequently talk about "sustainable development" if its leaders
time and again choose to ignore the voice and aspirations of the ordinary
people.
DAP has always been saying NO to incinerators simply because no incinerators
is safe, and the cost of building and maintaining one is exorbitant. The
cost of incineration is estimated as more than RM125 a tonne, which is much
higher than the current landfill method (about RM25 per tonne) .It is not
something we Malaysians could afford in the long run, whether it is
environmentally or economically.
The experts have put 80% of the total solid waste generated by Malaysians as
organic waste. Incineration is therefore unnecessary and certainly not
practical in the whole equation of solid waste management in the country.
What the government should really do is to look for other alternatives for
solid waste management, and be more serious and professional in promoting
the 3R concept- Reduce, Recycle, Reuse.
Dioxin-producing incinerators are like cancer factories. The last thing
Malaysians want is building "cancer factory" for our future generations!
(4/4/2003)
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Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, DAP National Publicity Secretary and Selangor State
Secretary
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http://dapmalaysia.org