Pengerang residents who are affected by the RM60 billion Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project, are to hold two rallies this month to send a strong message to the government and their elected representatives that the giant petrochemical plant is not welcome.

In a statement issued today, Hasnul Ahmad, secretary of Pengerang NGOs coalition, an ad-hoc organisation against the mega project, said a rally dubbed 'Himpunan Hijau Lestari Pengerang' (Pengerang sustainable green rally) would be held at Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, on Sept 30.

azlan The Malay community in Pengerang, he said, would hold another rally, dubbed 'Kampungku Suaraku', (My village, my voice) at Sungai Kapal, Pengerang, on Sept 16 to raise the greater awareness on the issue among of Malay residents in the area.

'Kampungku Suaraku' aims to send a clear message to the prime minister, Johor menteri besar and the Petronas management that Pengerang residents do not agree with the Rapid project, the statement says.

Through the rally, the coalition aims to debunk statements made by their elected representatives, in both Parliament and the state assembly, that majority of the residents welcome the project.

"The Pengerang people will prove that they do not agree with the project.

"This rally will be the platform for Pengerang residents to raise their voice and safeguard their rights," Hasnul said.

MB Ghani, state officers urged to attend

He invited Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman, representatives from the land office and the state government to attend the rally and listen to the residents.

"So far only the government has called up the people for project briefings, but this time the people call on the government to listen to their problems," Hasnul said, adding that the residents are also demanding answers from the authorities to questions they raised during a briefing on Aug 13.

The rally on Sept 16 will also serve as a pre-event for the mega rally on Sept 30, he elaborated.

'Kampungku Suaraku' is also an effort to target Pengerang residents, especially the Malay community, which has been "afraid and silent" about the issue, Hasnul added.

He expects the rally to attract some 500 local residents.

Issues that will be discussed during the rally, including a protest against the BN representatives who failed to represent the residents and industrial development policies that only benefit the economy but sideline the rights of the local people, will be recorded in a memorandum.

The memorandum will be submitted to the prime minister, Johor menteri mesar and Petronas, Hasnul added.