Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister M Kayveas and Hulu Langat MP Badrul Hisham Abdul Aziz should apologise to the residents who attended the Sunday briefing in Semenyih o­n the mega-incinerator project, said DAP today.

Its national publicity secretary Ronnie Liu said the incinerator was now a national issue and every Malaysian had the right to support or oppose the project.

"The intimidating attitude shown by both the deputy minister and the MP is deplorable," he said in a statement.

The real boss

On Sunday, tempers flared after residents were denied the opportunity to ask questions after the 20-minute briefing o­n the proposed 1,500-tonne incinerator project in Broga.

Kayveas' (photo) subsequent request to the residents, mostly members of the Broga/Semenyih No Incinerator pro tem action committee, to furnish personal details including IC numbers, worsened the situation.

In attempting to calm the 200-strong crowd, Kayveas accused the residents of being 'outsiders and troublemakers' bent o­n inciting the locals who, he said, had no problems with the RM1.5 billion project.

An infuriated Hulu Langat MP Badrul Hisham Abdul Aziz ( right ) had to be restrained by several People's Progressive Party (PPP) members who were at the briefing.

Liu said both Kayveas and Badrul Hisham must apologise to pro tem chairperson Halil Hussain, the committee and other residents.

"They have no right to shout at their bosses, the rakyat. Every single sen of their monthly allowance and perks is paid by the taxpayers, the ordinary people," he said.

'Relinquish post'

Liu said the pro tem committee and concerned residents should not have been prevented from raising related issues.

"(Housing and Local Government Minister) o­ng Ka Ting ( photo ) should personally listen to the grievances of residents in Broga, if he is a responsible minister.

Liu said o­ng, who has apparently been avoiding the committee, must be bold enough to face the people.

"What has he got to hide if the incinerator is indeed safe and practical as claimed by every Barisan Nasional (BN) politician and government leaders?" he asked, adding that o­ng was also the Selangor MCA chairperson.

"If he is not ready to explain the incinerator issue to the local people, he should resign as minister and relinquish his party position in the state."

DAP alternatives

Liu also said that no convincing case has been put up for the controversial mega-incinerator to date.

"All the statements and claims are based o­n information given by the potential manufacturer of the incinerator, and no company would jeopardise its own business by telling the truth or real danger behind the project," he noted.

He said it was the responsibility of o­ng and other BN leaders to tell the truth and to listen to comments and suggestions forwarded by the committee instead of "resorting to high-handed tactics and threats to suppress the voice of the people".

Liu said DAP would submit a memorandum with alternatives to the Department of Environment before April 26, the deadline for written public feedback o­n the terms of reference for the detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA) study.

He also urged non-governmental organisations and concerned citizens to present their views to the DOE before the deadline.

The project, touted as the world's largest to use Japan's latest fluidised-bed gasification and ash-melting technology, has met with stiff grassroots resistance representing about 80,000 people in 25 housing estates around the intended project site.

To date, three police reports have been lodged by residents, two o­n Sunday against Badrul Hisham for his 'threatening behaviour' and o­ne against the government for awarding the contract to Japan's Ebara Corporation even before the EIA was done.

The government's explanation is that it is a conditional contract which allows both parties to terminate the agreement the EIA report is not approved.