A group of Selangor residents lodged a police report today claiming that the Housing and Local Government Ministry had taken steps to facilitate the construction of a mega-incinerator in Broga before an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been completed, as required under the law.

No Incinerator Semenyih/Broga pro tem committee chairperson Halil Hussain said the report (no. J706/03) was lodged at the Kajang police station this morning.

According to the police report, a copy of which was obtained by malaysiakini, the residents had decided to lodge the report after reading a Feb 7 press release by Ebara Corporation, a Tokyo-based firm, that it had secured a contract to build "the largest incinerator in the world in Malaysia".

"We have checked that the company exists and that the press statement is genuine before lodging this report. We obtained the press release for ourselves from the Ebara Corporation's official website after reading about the document o­n a malaysiakini report ," said the residents.

Laws violated

The residents said their concern was prompted by two separate developments over the government's controversial proposal to build a RM1.5 billion mega-incinerator project at Broga.

"From the information in (Ebara's) press release, we believe that some laws have been violated. The Housing and Local Government Minister (Ong Ka Ting) and the Selangor Menteri Besar (Dr Mohd Khir Mohd Toyo) both said that nothing would be carried out o­n this project before an EIA study is completed," the residents said, pointing out that the announcement by Ebara appeared to contradict the promises made by O­ng and Mohd Khir.

"We urge the police to investigate the construction of a bridge in Kampung Sungai Lalang Baru which we believe is for the purpose of facilitating the construction of the incinerator. This has also been done before completion of the EIA report."

According to the committee, residents living in the areas surrounding the proposed Broga site are concerned over the effect o­n their surroundings should the project be carried out.

"We are concerned by the threat posed to our safety and health as well as the value of our properties should an incinerator be built in area," they said.

The committee also called o­n the police to ensure that no other development activity is carried out at the proposed site before the completion and approval of the EIA.

One-year assessment

In an exclusive report last Thursday, malaysiakini reported Ebara's press release announcing that it had been selected to build the incineration plant through an international bidding process and a o­ne-year technology assessment.

The company claimed that its latest technology promotes zero emission and that there would be "no secondary pollution" of surrounding areas.

The press release also named Kuala Lumpur-based engineering company Hartasuma Sdn Bhd as the leading partner in the project consortium. However, the value of the project was not stated.

Broga was selected as the site for the controversial incineration plant to dispose of city refuse after an earlier proposal by the government to place the plant in Puchong encountered strong resistance by the local community.

Residents opposing the plant's construction have claimed that the proposed technology for the incinerator has not been proven to work and could result in the release of toxic substances in surrounding areas.