Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting today said the government will investigate the allegations against Japanese-based Ebara Corporation for its alleged bad track record in the incinerator business.

He said the government will carry out investigation against Ebara - one of the biggest Japanese engineering firms which holds the contract with the Malaysian government to design and build the controversial 1,500-tonne thermal incinerator plant proposed in Broga, near Semenyih.

"We want Ebara to explain the allegations against them. I will also inform the Finance Ministry about it," he said in a telephone interview with malaysiakini today.

Further delay on EIA

He, however, declined comment when asked whether the government will scrap the deal with the firm if the allegations were found to be valid.

A group of Broga, Semenyih and Kajang residents who opposed the project has claimed that Ebara - a joint-venture partner of Kuala Lumpur-based engineering firm Hartasuma Sdn Bhd - is "financially and legally in trouble ".

On the status of the proposed incinerator, Ong said the government is still waiting for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.

"The EIA report has not been completed. I was told that the consultants have requested for more time," he said.

Asked how much time would be given to them, the minister replied: "We cannot interrupt the consultation works by giving them a time frame as they (the consultants} must work impartially and professionally."

At the last Parliament sitting in March , Ong told the Dewan Rakyat that the EIA report would be completed by end of May.

On the complaint by the affected residents that the ministry was not keen to hold a dialogue with them, Ong assured the group that the dialogue will be held once the EIA report is ready.

"If we hold the dialogue now, it means that my officials will be pre-empting the issues. Let us have the EIA first, see what it says and we will listen to the residents then," he said, reiterating that the proposed incinerator will "comply with international environmental standard".

Group in Parliament

Meanwhile, a 30-member delegation representing the affected residents submitted a memorandum to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tengku Adnan Mansor and Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister M Kayveas in Parliament this morning.

The visit by the group surprised the ministers but they met separately with them at the Parliament's lobby.

However, several residents had an exchange with Tengku Adnan when they started to register their strong protest against the project.

The minister, who appeared irritated, then charged that the group must be part of the opposition campaign to play up the issue.

But the group vehemently denied this, saying that they represent the affected residents and are not backed by any organisations or opposition parties.

Tengku Adnan then explained that the government will not betray the people nor cause them harm with "dangerous projects".

"People must change their mind set, this is something good for the environment. If not, you tell me, where should we dump the rubbish? In your house?" he asked.

Kayveas promises meeting

Kayveas, meeting the group later, similarly questioned the credibility of the group.

"Why are you all so persistent to object this project? Tell me, who hired you all? How much are they paying you? There must be somebody who organise this," he charged.

However, the deputy minister relented later and promised to meet with the group by the end of July and listen to their views.

"Since you told me so many things today, you must also give me suggestions on other means to treat municipal waste. I will personally arrange a meeting with you all and listen to you, but you must also convince me with concrete evidence that the incinerator is not the best," he told the residents.

Kayveas had once met with the residents for a briefing session in Broga last April but the meeting turned unruly when government officials prevented residents from asking questions.

The group's spokesperson Prof P Ramasamy said they decided to visit Parliament today as they were saddened that none of the ministers were willing to dialogue with them despite their requests and pleas.

"All our objections were backed by scientific studies which were attached in our memorandum to the ministers. So please, talk to us," he said.

In a related development, DAP national publicity chief Ronnie Liu also submitted a memorandum to the Housing and Local Government Ministry this morning asking for the incinerator project to be scrapped.