The country's only toxic waste treatment plant Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd, located in Bukit Nanas, Negeri Sembilan, plans to meet local residents over allegations that emissions from the plant have adversely affected their health, crops and environment.

The plant, which employs Danish technology using Japanese machinery, lies less than 2km from their homes in Felda Sendayan, or about 6km west of Seremban.

Met at the plant today, Kualiti Alam corporate communications manager Chiew Hai Wah said the management was prepared to meet with the residents committee.

"We're ready to meet the committee anytime. We're just waiting for them to set a date," he said.

Last Friday, a delegation from Felda Sendayan submitted a memorandum detailing several grievances, including one over the toxic waste treatment plant, to DAP chairperson and Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang at the Parliament lobby.

Asked about the memorandum, Chiew acknowledged that a copy was handed to Kualiti Alam last week.

"We wish to liaise directly with the committee over their allegations regarding our operations," he said, declining to elaborate.

It is learnt that a dialogue between Kualiti Alam and the Sendayan settlers is expected to be held on May 27.

Not informed

Contacted later, residents committee member Mustafar Ab Latif (photo left) said he has not been informed of any meeting with Kualiti Alam.

"Tomorrow, I will contact them to fix a date for the meeting. We want to resolve this immediately because people fear more damage to their health and crops."

Meanwhile, insiders told malaysiakini that a meeting scheduled between Kualiti Alam and the committee earlier last week failed to materialise when the residents did not show up.

Several residents, when met at their homes, said some have moved out because they could not bear the stench and skin irritations suffered by family members.

Jaharah Daud said many have complained about suffering from skin problems and rashes all over their body.

"But they are afraid to speak out. Over the last year, I know of five or six families who have left the place."

Mustafa said the fear was due to several other problems which remain unresolved by the government, including land ownership and payment.

Thorough investigation

Insiders also claimed that it was standard operating procedure for all complaints, verbal and written, to be thoroughly investigated.

"A copy of the report is sent to the state exco in charge of environment and the people are told about it. Besides that, the residents are given regular briefings on the plant's operations," they said.

It is learnt that the plant also handles scheduled waste from Singapore.

Kualiti Alam, incorporated in 1991, holds a 15-year concession to handle toxic or scheduled wastes from around Peninsular Malaysia. The plant was fully commissioned in 1998.

The First Schedule of the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 1989 lists down 107 categories of toxic and hazardous wastes, which include spent acid and alkaline, lubricants, printing ink, cyanide waste and pesticides.

The plant, manned by 300 workers mostly from the surrounding areas of Sendayan and Labu, processes toxic waste through incineration, physical/chemical treatment, solidification, secure landfill and leachate treatment.

The Bukit Nanas plant, however, does not handle wastes that are radioactive, pathological or explosive.

It is also shut down for a month every year, or less depending on the necessity, for maintenance purposes.

Kualiti Alam is the first company to operate an integrated waste management system, part of the government's ongoing privatisation of waste management services.