In what is seen as a move to appease the fierce opposition, there are talks that the government is planning to reduce the capacity of the proposed controversial incinerator in Kampung Bohol, Puchong, from 1,500 to 600 tonnes of waste per day.

But local residents, firmly opposed to having Asia's largest plant in Kampung Bohol near Kuala Lumpur are not about to fall for mere "talks". They have now turned the heat on Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting.

When met today, Ong said he was trying "his best to help the residents" but refused to divulge more on the grounds that his plans "may be pre-empted by someone else" if announced too soon.

"I will be making a statement on this issue in a few days. I don't want to talk about it now because you will distract our recycling programme from making it into the news," he said at a press conference after the ministry's 2002 Recycling Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur.

This is the closest malaysiakini has come to getting a response from Ong on the incinerator issue.

It is believed that ministry officials and experts sitting on the technical panel are shunning away from the issue due to a directive not to speak to the media.

Asked when exactly he plans to respond to the issue, Ong said: "I will decide when to do it. Talk to me some other day...and don't worry, I will let you know when I decide."

When told that residents were upset over the government's blatant silence, he said: "I've been meeting with these residents and I know who these people are. I cannot say anything now because I am trying to help them."

More signatures

Yesterday, about 300 residents braved the rain in an open field in Bandar Kinrara to listen to the action committee's explanation and updates on the protest campaign, including the collection of 135,000 signatures so far.

The committee's secretary HJ Lim displayed two big bundles of documents containing the petition forms.

"We decided to bring the documents and show people today because we heard that some Umno politicians and government officials doubted that we had managed to collect so many signatures. In fact, we will not stop until the incinerator is relocated."

The action committee has held a number of similar road-shows in several housing estates around Old Klang Road to increase people's awareness of the proposed project, the health risks and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which was approved despite the glaring discrepancies.

Lim said the government's continuous silence on the project which, if implemented, would pose great risks to the residents' health and wealth was a clear indication of how much it cared for the 'rakyat'.

"We are not politicians or non-governmental organisations. We are just residents concerned over our rights, health and future, and that of our children."

The residents demanded that Ong replied their letter which, among other things, demanded a clear-cut answer as to whether the government was going to build the plant there or relocate it elsewhere.

It the minister failed to do so, they said the coming general election results will speak for themselves in the surrounding constituencies.

Volunteers also registered protest signatures and distributed car stickers and leaflets urging residents to transfer their names on the voters list from their old addresses to their present.

The committee's legal advisor S Selva said Ong met with committee members privately early last month to negotiate a 'compromise' on the matter, offering a reduced capacity of 600 tonnes of wastes per day. There was no talk about relocating the plant.

Passing the buck

"We rejected him flat. We don't want to hear utter nonsense from our ministers. Before talking, they should check their facts first!" he exclaimed, visibly upset by Ong's inaction on the matter. His heated words were greeted by loud applause from residents.

The committee is also seeking the intervention of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in resolving the matter.

Referring to the private meeting, Selva said Ong kept telling the committee that it was the PM's decision and that he could not do anything about the proposal because his predecessor (Dr Ting Chew Peh) was the minister responsible for it.

(slug: umbrellas) "If that's the case, there is no need to have Ong as the minister because the PM can run the ministry. The same goes for community leaders in the MCA and the MIC, and to blame another MCA minister for this is an embarrassment for the party."

Another committee member Goh related to residents how he had contacted the media Nanyang Siang Pau, Sin Chew Jit Poh, China Press, Malay Mail , the New Straits Times, The Star and TV3 for coverage.

"Generally, they were all aware of the issue but told me that they have been instructed not to give any coverage."

Not idiots

Referring to a news report on Seputeh MP Teresa Kok's attempt in the Dewan Rakyat to get clarification on the incinerator issue, Goh said the government should not brush the people aside as idiots.

"Don't insult our intelligence or take us for granted. By belittling our requests, you are only pushing us against the wall," he warned.

Goh said the government should just admit its mistake and rectify the situation without causing more distress to the estimated one million residents who will be affected by the project.

Construction work is scheduled to begin by the end of next month while land clearing was done a few months ago.