The Broga/Semenyih No Incinerator pro tem action committee is defending itself against allegations that it is opposing the proposed mega-incinerator for selfish reasons.

Pro tem

chairperson Halil Hussain ( photo ) said the committee is serious about taking up the issue to the national level, especially in promoting alternative methods to waste incineration.

"Our o­ne and o­nly objective is very simple, that is, to have no incinerators anywhere in the country," he told malaysiakini after a o­ne-day seminar o­n Selangor Agenda 21 for sustainable development held in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

The seminar was organised by the Malaysian Environmental NGOs Support Unit (Mengo) together with the Environmental Protection Society Malaysia.

On Tuesday, Housing and Local Government Minister o­ng Ka Ting ( photo ) told the Dewan Rakyat that the detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA) report was expected to be completed in May.

He had also said that work would not begin until approval was obtained.

Previously, the government had accused residents of Puchong - who opposed the RM1.5 billion proposed project initially sited in nearby Kampung Bohol - of adopting a "not-in-my-backyard" or 'nimby' attitude.

Selfish reasons

This is a standard argument used by governments and incinerator companies against opponents.

The government has already placed an order to buy the fluidised-bed gasification and ash-melting technology from Japan's Ebara Corp.

The 'nimby' comparison was made during the question-and-answer session by Petaling Jaya resident Medaline Chang, who also said that none of the Broga residents will continue to take up the issue if the incinerator was moved out of their area.

"This fight is quite self-centered because people will o­nly start to oppose something if it is in their backyard, otherwise no o­ne would even bother with it, like the Puchong people now."

Coming to the defence of his colleagues, former Puchong pro tem action committee vice-chairperson Edward Lee ( photo ) said they empathise with their Broga counterparts.

"Personally, I believe it is not a 'nimby' attitude o­n our part but more of keeping our word to the government to refrain from any further comments o­n the matter."

Govt assurance

Through a massive protest campaign, the Puchong committee collected about 135,000 signatures within a few months and had also created a website for o­nline petitions but was shut down soon after the relocation was announced by the cabinet.

He said the Puchong committee was disbanded following the relocation of the 1,500-tonne thermal waste treatment plant to Broga last November.

"The committee had collectively decided against participating in the Broga protest. We felt it was inappropriate and we didn't want to appear as rabble-rousers chasing after the issue until Broga," he said.

"Furthermore, we had given an assurance to the government that we will cease operation as the pro tem committee (once the incinerator was moved elsewhere)."

When told that it sounded more like a trade-off, he denied it saying that it (assurance to the government) was "done or agreed in good faith".

Another member of the Broga/Semenyih committee, Wong Yuen Mei ( photo ), pledged to initiate a zero waste campaign in Broga during the question-and-answer session.

"As we learn more and more about the hazards of incinerators, we decided to promote alternatives and educate people o­n what the community can do for themselves."

"We want Broga to be the pilot project for zero waste as an alternative to incinerators in the country," she declared.