The government has wisely decided to hold back further comment o­n the incinerator proposal until the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report is issued.

It is to be hoped that similar wisdom has advised the EIA consultants to do their work thoroughly and objectively so that the government and the consultants themselves are spared the embarrassment that would be associated with an inadequate EIA.

In the studies of incinerators overseas with which I have been associated in the past, an essential component of the EIA was an objective risk assessment.

Indeed, people following this controversial proposal would be aware that the main concern is regarding potential risks to the public, to workers and to the environment. Assessment of the risks must address how the facility will be designed, constructed, commissioned, operated, maintained and finally removed and the site eventually re-instated to a safe condition.

The design specifications clearly need to meet acceptance standards for air emissions, ground deposition and waste effluents. It is also most important that the risks of process interruption, equipment damage, failure or combustion process abnormalities be properly addressed with a pragmatic understanding of the costs and availability of specialist and skilled services in this country.

The public will rightly ask, when other basic services cannot be maintained properly including our public water, air emissions from our public transport systems, drains and rivers; why should we believe that a waste disposal facility will be maintained to a level beyond failure?

Even in advanced countries in Europe, incinerators have been damaged by explosion of LPG cylinders included in the garbage, which managed to pass through the separation process. There are other similar sources of damage and failure waiting to happen. Has Malaysia suddenly acquired the expertise and means to separate and classify waste into fuel, intractable waste components, explosive or highly toxic components requiring specialised treatment?

If so, that is fantastic. Frankly, I have yet to see it.