The socio-economic survey conducted by Perunding Utama Sdn Bhd - the government-appointed consultant to conduct the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study for the Broga incinerator project - is "dubious and questionable" in nature, a group claimed today.

The Semenyih/Broga No Incinerator pro tem committee said that the survey which the EIA consultant undertook through the agency, PE Research Sdn Bhd, cannot be relied o­n to come out with a fair and objective report.

"The haphazard nature of interviews, unscientific methodology employed and the unethical manner of eliciting opinions from residents in the Broga/Semenyih area o­nly confirm our suspicion that Perunding Utama cannot be trusted in coming out with a fair and objective report o­n the actual state of affairs in the area."

The committee made the claim in a memorandum to the consultant which was submitted to the company's office in Petaling Jaya this morning.

Methodological flaws

Committee members Prof Dr P Ramasamy and K C Ooi handed over the three-page memorandum to a company's representative after their attempts to meet managing director Peter Ho failed.

"We were told that Ho was very busy and that we have to make an appointment to see him. We met his secretary (a lady named Lim) who accepted our memo o­n the company's behalf," said Ramasamy when contacted today.

In the memorandum which was made available to malaysiakini , the committee alleged that the survey has a number of major methodological and empirical flaws, thus raising questions o­n the integrity of the research.

"We are not sure as to how the selection of respondents for the survey was done in the first place. Although it was stated that PE Research proceeded o­n the grounds of a simple random sample, there was no scientific or methodological rational as to the exact selection of the residences."

" We have strong reasons to believe that no actual methodology was adopted, but o­n the contrary residences were selected o­n reasons best known to PE Research."

The memorandum also claimed that the timing adopted for enumeration work was inappropriate as the enumerators visited o­nly selected residences o­n weekdays during working hours.

Rude enumerators

Given this, it claimed, many of the enumerators ended up interviewing secondary occupants of residences such as children, maids and others.

The committee also contended that many of the enumerators were not very ethical or professional in their interviews as some did not have their name tags and neither did they seek prior appointment.

"A few just barged into the homes without even having the decency to wait to be invited in."

It stated that based o­n the feedback from the residents, many respondents were unable to provide objective assessment because the enumerators were biased and showed no concern for objectivity.

"Some respondents were simply told by the enumerators that "the incinerator is good for you" and some were asked whether they were going to sell their house.

Other respondents were asked as to how much compensation they would seek for damages resulting from the implementation of the project."

The committee stated that the survey represents yet another serious flaw in Perunding Utama's EIA.

Conflict of interest

Last month, the committee questioned the appointment of Perunding Utama by the state and federal government, stating their doubts o­n the company's ability to come out with a fair report because of its association with companies involved in managing industrial waste.

It stated that the consultant's involvement with companies like Motherwell Bridge Group and Envitech Sdn Bhd obviously showed a conflict of interest.

The committee had made a no-faith declaration to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) o­n April 25.

The Broga project remains a controversy from the time it was proposed in Kampung Bohol, Puchong, and later relocated late last November following massive public outcry.

Broga residents, through the No Incinerator committee claiming to represent 400,000 people in adjacent Kajang, Beranang and Semenyih, are now raising a stink over the project.

The group, opposed to incinerators anywhere in the country, claim the technology is not o­nly harzadous to public safety and health, but also falls foul of existing laws and policies.