Housing and local government minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has confirmed that the planned incinerator project in Kepong will be suspended.

The confirmation came as a twist in the tale after her ministry, in a written parliamentary reply to Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng last week, stated that the project would go ahead.

Zuraida said the ministry’s initial answer was due to miscommunication between her and her deputy Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad.

"I think it was answered by my deputy minister, because he didn’t know that it was a development that I was looking into.

"Whatever the answer, we are KIV (keeping in view) the project to be reviewed… to review an alternative way to solve the rubbish problem in Kepong," the Ampang MP told the press after launching a Jalur Gemilang giveaway ceremony today.

Pressed on whether the latest ministry decision is to suspend the Kepong incinerator, she replied in the affirmative.

According to The Star, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng received a written reply last Thursday from the ministry stating that construction of the plant would proceed as planned.

It said the decision was based on several "justifications," such as the open tender for the project, and the fact that the plant would reduce reliance on landfills for waste disposal.

Zuraida later said the miscommunication occurred due to the reply being issued a day before her meeting with an anti-incinerator group in Parliament.

"I saw them in Parliament somewhere back then. I listened to the anti-incinerator camp one day before the ministry gave the answer. We had no time to update it," she said.

Questioned on whether the incinerators in Cameron Highlands, Pulau Tioman and Langkawi would be terminated as well, Zuraida replied in the negative.

"No, it's different. The Kepong incinerator is not installed. The rest are already installed and operating. We will let it be."

Meanwhile, Zuraida noted that she is happy to continue with the distribution of Jalur Gemilang, a practice she began since being elected Ampang lawmaker 10 years ago, despite now being a federal minister.