In efforts to halt the construction of the proposed RM1.5 billion thermal incinerator plant in Puchong, 20 minutes south of Kuala Lumpur, a group of residents are urging relatives, friends and neighbours in nearby housing estates to register as voters.

Residents have been asked to register as voters in Bandar Kinrara, a housing estate with a population of 20,000 which is adjacent to the proposed controversial plant, to decide their own future.

The 'battle-cry' is being repeated at talks on the project's adverse implications on health and property value which is expected to affect about one million people within the 5km radius, including areas in Petaling Jaya, Subang, Sunway, Serdang and Bukit Jalil.

Leaflets detailing simple instructions on who should register, as well as how and where to do it were distributed at the dialogue session on Sunday in Bandar Kinrara.

The people were also reminded to change their old identity cards to the new MyKad first at the Serdang and Petaling Jaya National Registration Department branches before they can register as voters in their area of residence.

Thousands of votes

In July, the Election Commission introduced the online system in post offices, which enables year-round voter registration.

Puchong residents pro tem action committee secretary HJ Lim said currently there were only slightly more than 2,800 registered voters in Bandar Kinrara because most were voting at their old addresses or hometowns.

"In Bandar Kinrara alone, there are more than 5,000 houses, while nearby housing estates which we are going to have dialogues with such as Puchong Jaya and Pusat Bandar Puchong, have about 10,000 and 7,700 units respectively," he said when contacted.

"We are encouraging people to register as voters using their present address so that they can decide their own future and for their voices to be heard."

The project employing Japanese technology is funded by a soft loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

However, it has sparked off a determined campaign among the locals to relocate the plant, touted as the largest in Asia at a maximum capacity of 1,500 tonnes of waste per day.

In September, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar was quoted as saying that three Japanese contractors Ebara Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Corporation and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd had been shortlisted for the tender.

While the tender award has not been officially announced, Ebara Corporation, a major player in incinerator technology, is expected to get the main contract.

The project is to be managed by a consortium of consultants comprising Tokyo-based Yachiyo Engineering Co Ltd, Minconsult Sdn Bhd, HSS Integrated Sdn Bhd, and Environmental and Engineering Consultants Sdn Bhd.

Tengku Azlan had also said that the operational cost would be RM50 million a year.

Neighbours concerned

Meanwhile, the proposed incinerator has also generated some heat among neighbouring communities such as Subang Jaya and Pusat Bandar Puchong, with queries and e-mails posted on their websites USJ.com and Puchongnews .

The Puchongnews editor questioned the wisdom of building a single large plant that will cause massive traffic congestion and dirty the roads in Puchong

The editor also commented that while the residents can demand for the incinerator to be as safe as possible, they cannot demand that the estimated 400 truckloads of waste daily be dumped in some other part of the country.

"Every community should bear the responsibility for its own rubbish. Recycling can only apply to some kinds of rubbish. A modern incinerator is a good solution for unrecycled rubbish, compared (with) open burning."

In an e-mail to Subang Jaya state assemblyperson Lee Hwa Beng on Oct 1, a ratepayer asked whether the Subang Jaya Municipal Council had debated on the choice of the Puchong incinerator.

Why was (Kampung Bohol) selected "instead of other less populated area, for example, a forest reserve"? read the e-mail.

Lee's reply was: "I do not see how I or (the council) can do anything about it (now)."

He said the council had not been consulted on the proposal and that the decision was made by the prime minister and the Cabinet.