A scheduled dialogue between residents of Broga and opposition leaders almost came to a halt as scores of uniformed police personnel turned up at the meeting venue in Taman Tasik Semenyih today.

The meeting was to bring residents up to speed on new developments regarding the protest over the construction of a 1,500-tonne incinerator plant, touted as the world's largest of its kind.

The unusually large uniformed police presence of about 30 men clearly took many Broga villagers and supporters of the opposition PAS by surprise.

They found a police truck parked in such a way which effectively blocked the one-way street leading to the meeting venue - a newly-opened but still vacant shoplot that serves as the headquarters of the Semenyih DAP branch.

Initial requests by Semenyih/Broga No Incinerator pro-tem action committee member Zulkefly Mohamad Omar for the police to remove the truck fell on deaf ears.

However, a senior officer later ordered for the vehicle to be parked elsewhere.

"They are just trying to intimidate us," decried Zulkefly.

Police permit?

There was also a contention between the police and the dialogue organisers over the need for a police permit for the meeting.

"We don't need a permit to hold a gathering or dialogue indoors, like this one," retorted Zulkefly.

Several teams of police officers were seen patrolling the shoplots around the meeting venue and all vehicles going to Broga were stopped at a police road block, set up just before the junction leading to the meeting venue.

Besides Zulkefly, who is also PAS Youth exco member, others present are Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub, several Selangor PAS leaders and Broga committee members Alice Lee and Daniel Wong.

Both Lee and Wong acted as interpreters at the three-hour meeting that was conducted in both Malay and Chinese, given the mixed crowd of 50-odd Malay Malaysians and more than 150 Chinese Malaysians residents from the surrounding areas of Broga, Semenyih and Kajang.

DAP-appointed lawyer T Uma gave a briefing on the current status of a court case filed by the residents to stop the incinerator project - which received government approval late June - that is still pending at the Shah Alam High Court.

The multi-billion ringgit project has been widely criticised by local and international scientists and activists lobbying for alternative waste management methods that have been successfully employed by both poor Asian and developed Western countries.

Salahuddin, who is also PAS Youth chief, said the opposition MPs would continue to raise the matter in Parliament despite that their ruling Barisan National government counterparts have been evasive on the issue.

"This is now a national issue - not a Chinese or Malay issue. This is something that affects everyone's health regardless of race or religion," he said, pleading to the crowd not to see his presence as being a political gimmick.

"First, we will try to get a court injunction to delay the incinerator project," said Salahuddin.

"Although my constituency is in Kelantan, I'm here today as a duly elected representative of all Malaysians. I have a national duty to discharge in this fight against the incinerator plant and the proposed landfill."

In addition to the mega-incinerator, the Selangor state government has also proposed a landfill in the area.

Salahuddin cited previous attempts by opposition MPs to raise the Broga incinerator issue in the Dewan Rakyat but failed to make much headway because government MPs have evaded pointed questions on the matter by offering vague answers.

"I know that the residents have exhausted all possible avenues and a case is pending in court, but I promise that I will fight with you, and for you, outside the court, in Parliament, until the project is scrapped.

"I will also join you when you meet the prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi)," he said, adding that he will return to Broga to join the residents in their struggle.

The protest committee has sought a meeting with Abdullah but has yet to hear from him.

Don't be bought off

Salahuddin also cautioned locals against accepting bribes from certain big companies or politically-motivated individuals.

"If anyone tries to bribe you, please lodge a police report and inform the media. Expose them."

However, the small turnout at today's dialogue disappointed key organiser Lee.

She said that it could be due to the heavy police presence at the venue and that many residents were diverted from the area at the police road block.

Lee also hinted a lack of unity among those in her anti-incinerator committee.

"Last week, I met a member of the (now-defunct) Puchong anti-incinerator action committee. He said they had only eight members but they were all strong-willed and firmly committed to stopping the project , which they managed to do."

Due to strong protest in Puchong, the government subsequently relocated the project to Broga in late 2002.

Lee urged residents to stand united in their fight to stop the incinerator and the landfill projects in the area.

Also noting the absence of committee members who lived in adjacent Taman Tasik Semenyih, resident Gan Hin Lee said this would lead to the failure of the campaign to stop the project in the long run.

"We need all the people we can get to fight this project because it involves powerful companies and the government itself.

"There is no support from some of our own members, especially those living outside of Broga new village because they don't want to be associated with any opposition party."

Gan's disappointment was also shared by several other committee members and residents.

The Broga committee has seen a change in chairpersons since its inception in Nov 2002, following the shock resignation of former chief, Halil Hussain.

Current chairperson Prof P Ramasamy, who was not present at today's dialogue, could not be reached for comments.