The proposed waste incinerator to be built in Taman Beringin in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, is too close to residential and commercial areas, according to a report by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming, who has a copy of the report, said the proposed Site Option B does not fulfil the 500-metre buffer zone for such facilities, as set by the Department of Environment (DOE).

"For Options B1 and B2, the proposed plant will be 91.78 metres and 56.93 metres respectively from the Jinjang Utara residential area.

"At the same time, Options B1 and B2 are also only 76.72 metres and 112.4 metres from the Shell and Petronas petrol stations in the area," said Ong, who visited the site along with bidders for the project this morning.

Ong ( left ) warned that without a buffer zone, the incinerator would pose a serious danger to Jinjang Utara residents and those who frequent the nearby petrol stations.

"It was only in November 2013 that a fire broke out at the Tuas incinerator plant in Singapore.

"If the same happens in the (incinerator) at the proposed site, which is next to a major highway (MRR2) and in a high population density area, the lives of many people will be put at risk," he said.

The incinerator, or Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant as the government has labelled it, is supposed to handle 1,000 tonnes of garbage daily.

Thus far, 100 companies have been pre-qualified for the bidding process and they must submit their tender proposals before April 28.

According to Ong, the UTM study, headed 'Site Suitability Study for the building of a thermal treatment plant at the Solid Waste Disposal Site in Taman Beringin, Jinjang Utara, Kuala Lumpur',was distributed to the potential bidders.

"The fact that the National Solid Waste Management Agency chose only to present this study to the potential bidders and not to the public at large clearly shows that they are worried about the possible negative implications from the publication of this study.

"This once again shows the lack of consistency and transparency on the part of the National Solid Waste Management Agency and the Ministry of Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government in managing the building of the proposed WtE plant," Ong said.

Previously,  Urban-Well Being, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan had assured the people that the incinerator would involve technology that will contain harmful fumes.