While the proposed mammoth incinerator plant in Broga, Semenyih, remains a burning issue, a draft terms of reference for a parallel project - a sanitary landfill - is being prepared for a detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA) study.

The Department of Environment (DOE) has called for public comments for the draft terms through an advertisement placed in the New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia over the last three days.

The public can review the draft terms at the DOE library in Putrajaya; Selangor public libraries in Kajang and Shah Alam; Kompleks Penghulu Semenyih; Kajang Municipal Council; Semenyih police station and at all state DOE offices.

The period for public review is between June 4-18, and written comments must be sent to the DOE at the address as stated in the advertisement before June 25.

Study draft first

The sanitary landfill proposal is part of the controversial incinerator project, which has drawn continuous flak from local residents, opposition parties and international lobbyists such as the Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance/Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA).

When contacted today, Semenyih/Broga No Incinerator pro tem action committee chairperson Halil Hussain ( right ) said the latest proposal was "another piece of bad news" on top of the existing incinerator issue.

"We haven't decided to respond yet but we will study the details of the draft TOR (Terms of Reference) in detail first," he said.

"Whenever we make some noise, something else seems to crop up almost immediately."

Relating his previous experience on the TOR for the detailed EIA study into the incinerator project, Halil said there was a lack of transparency in the way the whole process was being conducted.

"During the TOR for the incinerator project, we were asked to submit our comments before April 26 but the DOE's technical panel had met to determine the terms of reference on April 18.

"If that is the case, then what's the point in asking us to comment on something that has already been decided upon?"

He said the procedural discrepancy defeated the purpose of conducting an EIA based on the terms of reference which already incorporated public feedback.

The detailed EIA study for the 1,500-tonne incinerator, undertaken by government-appointed consultant Perunding Utama Sdn Bhd, is expected to be completed by month-end.

No faith in porcess

Due to doubts over the employed methodology, the committee has refrained from participating in the socio-economic study, declaring that the people no longer had faith in the process.

Perunding Utama has since denied any discrepancies in its handling of the EIA study.

Locals had also questioned a newly-built concrete bridge in a small village near Broga back in April, which they claimed was proof that actual work had begun prior to the EIA approval for the incinerator project.

Now, with the sanitary landfill proposal announced, it seems probable that the heavy-duty bridge was in fact intended for garbage trucks and heavy machinery to enter the site.

The government has repeatedly held that a parallel facility was needed within the plant's vicinity to bury the extremely toxic bottom- and fly-ash generated by incineration.

Meanwhile, questions abound as to the dodgy track record of Ebara Corp, the company hired to design and build the incinerator, in its operations of incinerator plants in Japan.

The company, one of Japan's largest engineering firms, continues to maintain its silence .