Residents opposing the proposed RM1.5 billion thermal incinerator plant in Broga were stonewalled by Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo during a 90-minute meeting at his office in Shah Alam today.

Five representatives from the - No Incinerator Semenyih/Broga protem action committee - met Mohd Khir to clear the confusion surrounding the controversial project which has steadily drawn public ire.

Committee chairperson Halil Hussain said they were told that the state will conduct a thorough study first before deciding o­n whether or not the proposed project was viable.

"The MB said the project was still being studied and that he wanted to get all the information first," he told reporters outside the state secretariat building.

"But o­ne thing he made clear is that an incinerator was a necessity in the country and Broga has been identified as o­ne of several proposed incinerator sites," he added.

The committee handed Mohd Khir an 11-page appeal from residents - in Semenyih, Broga, Beranang, Kajang and other surrounding areas - to relocate the incinerator to a remote, uninhabited area far away from water sources or dams, and no planned future development.

"We have also provided the MB with 17 addresses of websites talking about the health risks and safety aspects of incinerators in other countries," Halil (photo) explained.

An estimated 80,000 people from 25 housing estates live in the abovementioned areas, comprising more than 20,000 school-going children, senior citizens and pensioners, business operators, factory workforce and professionals.

Dodging questions

Outlined in the appeal were the grounds for opposing the proposed Broga incinerator - emission of poisonous chemicals, unsustainable development, negative environmental impact and the critical need for due diligence in its implementation.

This evening's "disappointing" session - which started at 4.30pm - also somewhat shifted the tone of the residents' protest from willing to consider a smaller plant to fully opposing any incinerator in or around their area.

Late last year, a similar plant sited in Puchong, Kuala Lumpur, was relocated to Broga due to intense public pressure which included an open threat to vote for the opposition in the coming general election.

Halil said Mohd Khir was also dodging specific questions raised during the meeting by saying that "a committee will be set up to look into the matter".

"We will now proceed with our plans to oppose the project, including meeting residents and explaining to them the risks involved.

"Looks like we are o­n our own now and have to fight for our future and that of our children."

Lawyer J D Lovrenciear, o­ne of the five committee members in the meeting, said they had given the menteri besar a reality audit "to show him that our concerns are not misplaced priorities".

"Our objective today was to meet him personally, clear the existing confusion and stop any unnecessary speculation o­n the matter," he said.

He added they counter-proposed that the state run a pilot project first o­n a much smaller scale in a remote area before seeking to build a bigger capacity plant.

'Totally disappointing'

Meanwhile, an exasperated Wong Yuen Mei described the meeting as "totally disappointing".

"The MB told us that it will take two to three years for the study to be completed. At the same time, he has not given us any timeline to work o­n.

"He also could not confirm nor deny media reports that a preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study had been done previously," said the media studies lecturer.

She said instead of direct answers, Mohd Khir kept reassuring them the incinerator was not dangerous since many other countries had them and that Malaysia had no choice but to build it to better manage its burgeoning solid waste problem.

Wong said the menteri besar also denied being aware of the risks involved when asked to comment o­n related information found over the Internet and through other material.

"If the plant is so safe as everyone claims it is, then why are we still not convinced?

"In fact, we were told that the state government was still considering which incinerator technology to use, a choice between stoker and the proposed fluidized-bed and ash-melting thermal treatment," she said.

An o­ngoing protest campaign has also yielded about 6,000 signatures, including from the Kampung Orang Asli Kacau comprising about 70 families.

When approached for comment, o­ne of Mohd Khir's aides told reporters that he had declined to do so.