What a difference timely information makes. Support fell by a drastic 71 percent for a federal government plan to install an incinerator on Penang island, after respondents in an opinion poll heard details at a public forum.

The survey covered 153 of the 200 respondents who had attended the forum entitled 'Incinerator: Burning Our Future Away?' on Sept 9.

Held before and after the event, the poll was conducted by the Penang Environmental Working Group (Pewog) - a consultative, planning and co-ordinating body linked to the local government.

When the survey was conducted 90 minutes before the talk, 89 people expressed support. After listening to the discussions, only 29 were still in favour.

Similarly, the number of those opposed to the project doubled from 52 before the forum to 104 afterwards.

Penang Tourism and Environment committee chairperson Teng Chang Yeow said he had received a copy of Pewog's report.

"We are looking into it," he said, adding that the state would consider the issues raised by the working group.

Earlier this month, Penang municipal council urban services department director Shakri Rashid had revealed the plan to build the incinerator at a cost of RM1.2 million.

More health problems

Pewog chairperson Dr Ong Hean Tee said an uninformed public cannot be blamed for generally perceiving the incinerator as a modern way of disposing of municipal solid waste.

"But technology can only solve our problems to a certain extent. What is more important is the human factor...it is the human being that solves problems, not machines," he said.

Ong, a former politician, expressed surprise that public perception had changed so much after the forum, during which the pros and cons of the use of incinerators were discussed.

"What it tells me is that initial support was based on expectation rather than informed opinion. I expect the response to be the same anywhere else in the country," he explained.

Ong said every Malaysian - rich or poor - is concerned about health and that incinerator operations have been associated with a higher incidence of cancer, organ damage and congenital deformities worldwide.

"This has struck fear into people's hearts. Many of us have lost family members to cancer and kidney failure. Some of us have children with defects and we do not know the cause," he said.

"But if the government is going to introduce technology that leads to harmful chemical agents being emitted, then we are really worried. The question is whether our health will worsen."

Ong said a copy of the report will be submitted soon to the federal government as well, in the hope that this will influence the authorities against the plan.

SUSAN LOONE is malaysiakini's Penang-based stringer.