Hundreds of residents affected by the proposed billion-ringgit thermal incinerator project in Selangor, are perturbed by the apparent lack of news on the issue and strongly suspect that there is a political directive for a media blackout.

Noting that a few news and feature articles have been published by the New Straits Times and the Malay Mail on the incinerator in Kampung Bohol, Puchong, the residents nevertheless sense political pressure playing a role in the matter being ignored or downplayed by major newspapers.

Some charge that one English daily tabloid had even placed a 'total ban' on the subject.

This concern was raised at a 'no-incinerator' talk in a campaign organised by the Puchong residents' pro tem action committee on Sunday at Taman OUG, Old Klang Road, in Kuala Lumpur.

The gathering, which had a police permit and drew some 500 people, had addressed issues ranging from the health risks of living within the vicinity of an incinerator as listed in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the discrepancies within the report to the deaf ear by the government.

Public interest ignored

During the question-and-answer session, several residents mentioned the absence of any coverage on the issue by The Star , the nation's best-selling English daily.

"There is nothing in its news or features section, despite the newspaper having won awards for its feature articles on environmental issues," said a resident who wished to be known only as Lam.

Another resident, known only as Ng, said: "I read The Star every day. I didn't even realise that there was a proposal to build a giant incinerator practically next to my home. If not for this talk, I would have been totally ignorant but now I know the potential dangers and problems."

A senior citizen who identified herself as Madam Lee said she strongly suspected an invisible political hand to be pulling the strings.

"I have a right to know what's happening around me, and this is one of the more important issues because it affects many people's lives and property."

When contacted yesterday, Star Publications (M) Bhd deputy managing editor Chua Yew Kay said his paper was being "very cautious" in reporting the issue.

"We are collecting facts on the incinerator project. We want to check out the facts because we believe in being balanced. Furthermore, it is a very important and major project for the public.

"It is unfair for the residents to say anything against us although we know that they are unhappy about the project," he said.

Chua explained that The Star just wanted to be on the safe side and that "this (project) will affect their (residents') health for sure" before publishing anything about the complaints.

"I'm also within the affected area as I live in Subang Jaya and have a personal interest myself.

"But we've decided to pursue this very cautiously. Otherwise, if residents are simply allowed to bombard the government with all the protests and criticism, that would be unfair to the government, too," he said.

No directive

On the link made by several residents at the Sunday talk, between the media blackout to Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting who is also an MCA vice-president, Chua said Ong's connection in the whole issue was coincidental.

"It just so happens that he is the minister (in the implementing agency). If it had been someone else from, let's say Umno or MIC as the minister, then the people would say that Umno or MIC had ordered the blackout."

Denying vehemently that MCA, the largest Chinese-based partner in the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition which owns The Star , was exerting any pressure on the editors, Chua said: "As far as I know, there is no such directive from the MCA.

"I must also make it clear here that I've never received any directive from the MCA so far," he said, adding that people should know that The Star has always been concerned about the environment.

To counter the alleged media blackouts, the residents on Sunday suggested focusing the campaign channel on the Internet for speedier dissemination of information.

"It's easier to forward e-mail as it reaches a large number of people at once. And since we ourselves are in control of the campaign, the discussion can focus on our collective concerns," said one resident.

By the end of the two hours, many residents young and old had volunteered to assist the Puchong resident pro tem action committee to extend the 'no-incinerator' campaign via various means.