The Selangor government is making efforts to be more transparent about the controversial multi-billion ringgit incinerator project in Broga, near Semenyih, particularly on its funding which remains shrouded in secrecy.

A senior state politician has promised to raise the issue of the lack of information on the matter at the next state-level Broga incinerator coordinating committee meeting.

State exco member for local government, housing and squatters, and environment, Mokhtar Dahlan, made the promise to do so when told about the lack of transparency around the 1,500 tonne mega project.

"I will raise this matter at the CC meeting soon because I don't see why the funding details are not made available to the people," he told malaysiakini when met in Shah Alam yesterday.

"Selangor is merely implementing the proposal in so far as land matters are concerned, for example, because land falls under state jurisdiction."

The meeting date for the committee, chaired by Mohamad Saib, the director-general of the Local Government Department under the Housing and Local Government Ministry, is not fixed yet.

It is not clear why the government has remained mum on the project's funding despite numerous requests by malaysiakini , including written questions to the Treasury and the ministry.

The controversial project is strongly opposed by local and international anti-incinerator campaigners, especially among the 80,000 residents in Broga, Semenyih, Kajang and Beranang.

The contract to design and build the giant incinerator was given early this year to Tokyo-based Ebara Corp, a prominent engineering company well known for building and operating incinerators in Japan.

The company's bad track record in the incinerator business has also prompted the government to seek clarification from its Japanese counterparts and other relevant parties.

Best safety measures

On this, Mokhtar said the government can guarantee the best safety measures and guidelines are complied with when building the plant.

"No government in the world would propose something harmful for the people. We would definitely do all that is humanly possible to ensure that the risks are minimal or non-existent.

"Of course, the rest is God's will. There is also the question of the EIA report that is unresolved," he added.

The Semenyih/Broga No Incinerator protem action committee and the opposition DAP has consistently demanded that the project be scrapped on grounds that the public health and environmental risks are unjustified, especially when the proposed technology remains unproven.

Among others, they fear dioxin emissions and effluents contaminating the groundwater and subsequently the river basin which is the source of water supply to millions of households in the Klang Valley.

Dioxin is classified by the World Health Organisation as a cancer-causing agent.

The 600-ha state land, part of which will site the incinerator plant, is currently undergoing an environmental impact assessment by a government-appointed consultant, Perunding Utama Sdn Bhd, and the report is due to be completed by July end.

Don't rush EIA

Mokhtar said thee EIA report should not be rushed and that fair comments can only be made after the report is completed and submitted to the Department of Environment.

Asked if being a state exco member, he would meet with the protem action committee, he said Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo must give the green light first.

"We don't to overlap our tasks with those of other committees, such as the one at the grassroots level chaired by Beranang state assemblyperson Ahamad Kuris Mohd Nor.