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Incinerator is a national
issue with far-reaching consequences. Ong Ka Ting should be bold
enough to face DAP and other opposition members if he has nothing to
hide on Broga incinerator
Media Statement
by Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew
(Petaling Jaya,
Thursday):
Yesterday, the Minister of Housing and
Local Government Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting admitted to the reporters that the
deputy director general of his ministry Fong Tian Yong was sent by him to
meet the Broga/Semenyih residents, and the Sunday dialogue was cancelled
simply because there was a presence of some opposition members. He seemed to
agree with his senior officer that the dialogue must be cancelled just
because some opposition members from the DAP were seen among the audience.
Ong 's attitude is deplorable
and totally unacceptable. What Ong did not tell the press was that there was
also a presence of some MCA members, and that every Malaysian, whether he or
she is a member of DAP or MCA, has the equal right to attend any public
gathering concerning the interest of the people.
It is also wrong for Ong not to
meet the Broga residents until the EIA report for the incinerator project is
ready. Look at what happened to the original project in Kg Bohol. There was
an EIA report done for the project, and the report did point out many flaws
and weaknesses. The project was eventually scrapped because of people power.
Not the EIA report.
The DAP has been following the
incinerator controversy very closely since day one. We have been fighting
vigorously against incinerators within and outside the Parliament from the
time when the project was supposed to take off in Kg Bohol, Puchong.
I attended the futile Sunday
dialogue as an observer, together with five other DAP Selangor and FT
leaders. We were there to listen to the voices of the Broga people. The
atmosphere in the hall was peaceful and normal. Everyone was waiting eagerly
for Fong and his officers to come to the stage. It was local MCA leaders
that informed Fong about our presence, and subsequently instigated Fong to
sheepishly leave the hall without a reason, leaving the residents and
members of the press in shock. At this point, some residents booed him and a
few MCA members, and they were told not to return to Broga.
As a minister, Ong should know
that the Broga incinerator is indeed a national issue with far-reaching
consequences. Once the precedence is set, there will be many more
incinerators mushrooming elsewhere in the country. The Menteri Besar of
Selangor has openly admitted that there are plans to build at least another
two more in the state (one of them in Rawang area). Every Malaysian has the
right to question why the BN government insists on such a high-risked
project at all cost.
A memorandum with 19-point
objection and an alternative to incineration will be presented to the
Department of Environment by the DAP on this Saturday morning at 10 am.
(24/4/2003)
* Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, DAP
national publicity secretary and Selangor state secretary
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