The Kuala Lumpur Rejects Incinerator Action Committee (KTI) has staged a protest in front of the Kepong garbage transfer station as some 100 pre-qualified bidders are brought to inspect the proposed incinerator site near Taman Beringin.

Under close surveillance of some 20 policemen and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officers, about 50 people gathered since 8.30am, to protest against the government’s plan.

They also held up placards and banners during the protest, which drew some motorists to honk to show support.

KTI chairperson Isaiah Jacob said the main purpose for today’s demonstration was to show to the pre-qualified bidders that residents objected to the proposed incinerator.

Meanwhile, Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming, who had earlier joined the bidder team, would be holding a press conference to reveal details of the site.

The planned incinerator in Taman Beringin, Kepong has been rejected by the residents of the area as it wil be located within a mere 3km radius from residential areas, comprising almost 1,000 houses.

KTI expressed concern that the combustion of garbage could lead to health problems such as cancer, asthma and disabilities in newborn children due to the release of hazardous gasses rich in mercury, lead and other chemical compounds.

Foreign bidders approached protesters

Later, the masked protest group, who suffered from the hazy outdoor situation and the odour at the site, moved to Taman Metropolitan Kepong, a gathering spot for the bidders before heading to the incinerator site in three buses.

At noon, KTI members shouted, “We don’t want incinerator” upon seeing the bidders alighting from the buses. Some of them took photos of the protesters, while some foreign representatives went forward and handed over their name cards to the group.

Meanwhile, Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming, who had earlier joined the bidder team, revealed that the foreign bidders were mainly from Japan and Germany, with some of them being green technology companies.

“According to the requirements, the local companies must establish partnership with foreign companies and utilise the latter’s technology, under a condition that the local must own a 51 percent share of the project,” said Ong.

Ong said the bidders were also given a research report conducted by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), showing that the site is suitable for setting up an incinerator.

“As the government said before, an incinerator is just one of the options, but it seems like the report is confirming the building of an incinerator,” he said.

Ong ( left in photo ) added that since the site is unsafe, as it is only 57m away from Jinjiang residential areas, and 112.37m from a petrol station, a shorter distance compared to the required 500m.

Isaiah then issued a ‘100-day ultimatum’ for the government to disclose Geo Technical Suitability Incinerator Construction’s report on the proposed incinerator project.

“As there are so many solid waste management technologies, such as mechanical biology technology, anaerobic digestion and material recovery facility and many others, why is the government insisting on an incinerator?”

He requested the government to also reveal the operational status of small-scale incinerators set up in Langkawi, Pangkor Island, Cameron Highlands and Seremban.

Isaiah also urged the authorities to explain on action taken against the Taman Beringin solid waste transfer station’s operator Umpan Jaya Sdn Bhd, a company that came into the public limelight last year when it abruptly ceased operations, forcing garbage collection contractors to dump their loads along the Middle Right Road 2 (MRR2) for several days.

“We will upgrade our movement and activities against the incinerator, if the authorities are not able to answer those questions,” he claimed.