Residents of Sungai Petani in Kedah are outraged that their MP, PKR's Johari Abdul, has dismissed their protest against imported waste recycling factories which they claim are causing heavy pollution that endangers the health of the residents.
Lydia Ong Kok Fui, the spokesperson for the local activist group Persatuan Tindakan Anti-Sampah Sungai Petani, urged Johari to have an urgent dialogue session with the residents to resolve this issue.
"As Sungai Petani MP, he should meet with us since he said there are no unlawful recycling factories polluting the environment. We like to show him otherwise, " Ong told Malaysiakini.
"We have complained about the issue for almost a year, but nothing was done. Instead, the situation is getting worse with more factories opening, for example, in Gurun.
"There are some 20 illegal waste recycling factories there," she added.
Yesterday, Johari accused the protesters of possessing “inaccurate” facts and disputed that his constituents were involved in a Sept 21 rally about the issue.
He claimed that the protesters were activists and not residents of Sungai Petani.
Johari said based on information from the local Environment Department officers and local council meetings, only licensed factories were allowed to operate.
Johari was referring to a group of 250 residents who held a peaceful rally at the Kedah Halal Park in Sungai Petani to protest against the factories which they said are still operating "day and night" despite being sealed by the local council.
The same group held another rally in Alor Setar the next day. Thus far, the state exco in charge of the matter, Tan Kok Yew, has failed to respond to any queries by Malaysiakini.
Ong slammed Johari for disputing that the protesters were his constituents and said: "Is it because he is always in Kuala Lumpur that he now fails to recognise us?"
On June 29, the residents led by Ong met with Johari at a buka puasa (breaking of fast) event in Sungai Petani and submitted a report to him about the pollution situation in their areas.
In a video distributed to the media, Johari was seen laughing off the matter, telling Ong "Don't burn down the factory".
Ong regarded the remark as an insult to residents fighting for their right to clean air and clear blue skies.
"Our MP also lacks communication with the Kedah government. Doesn't he know that they have stopped issuing licenses to waste factories, but some of these companies continue to operate?" she asked.
"We urge future prime minister Anwar Ibrahim to meet with us just like how he has successfully met with fishermen affected by the reclamation in Penang.
"Please, Dato Seri (Anwar Ibrahim) [...] help us as your own PKR MP has refused to listen to us, even though he obtained the mandate to be MP through our votes," Ong added. - Mkini
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