Despite efforts by the KL Tak Nak Insinerator (KTI) movement to build momentum ahead of a march to Parliament tomorrow in protest of a planned incinerator in Kepong, it attracted a lacklustre turnout at its ceramah yesterday.

However, the movement is drawing parallels to the early days of the now influential Himpunan Hijau movement which was aimed at protesting against Lynas' rare earth processing plant.

anti incinerator rally 241113 KTI committee member Lam Chong Wah acknowledged that the turnout of about 200 in Kepong yesterday was low but said that the movement was merely at the preliminary stage.

He added that it was important for the movement to start early in order not to repeat the mistakes of the Lynas project in Kuantan.

"When the movement against Lynas started, it was already too late, the factory in Kuantan was already completed, so we have to start now even before they tender the project," he said.

He added that this was only the movement's fourth ceramah while another similar movement in 2006 which thwarted a previous incinerator project in Semenyih was only successful after over 200 ceramahs and three years of effort.

Because of the movement's potential, especially in an area that is increasing anti-establishment, it was no surprise that the event yesterday, even though small, was more than just preaching to the converted.

Several Pakatan Rakyat MPs present yesterday took pains in sharing the ropes on building and sustaining a social movement.

Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming pointed out the previous incinerator projects in Puchong and Semenyih were similarly stopped following successful protest efforts.

"You should be encouraged that such projects have been scrapped twice," he said.

 Lack of Malay presence

However, like the early stages of the Anti-Lynas movement, there was a lack of Malay presence among the crowd and Ong urged them to address this matter.

"If you are hardworking, if you get more people to join including our Malay friends, no incinerator will be built in Kepong or anywhere in Malaysia," he said.

Urging the group to stay the course, Ong also proposed that they submit a memorandum to the palace which is within a 7km radius of the incinerator, to which the crowd responded in agreement.

Also present was former Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu, who stressed that the incinerator project had to be opposed at the early stage to avoid possible compensation payment after it is tendered.

"Even if the project is unsuccessful after it is given out, some people will be laughing all the way to the bank because compensation has to be paid out.

anti incinerator rally 241113 "That will be taxpayers' money," said Liu, who previously led the anti-incinerator movement in Semenyih.

Taking the stage later, KTI chairperson Isaiah Jacob ( right ) urged the public to participate in the march to Parliament tomorrow.

"There are concerns about turnout because it is a working day but I have received a lot of feedback that people will be taking leave to support us," he said.