Some 300 people today rallied to protest against the proposed incinerator plant in Batu Arang, Selangor.
Gathering at the Bandar Tasik Puteri night market site from 8am this morning, the protestors chanted their demands to meet with Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.
Rawang Tolak Incinerator Network (RTI) spokesperson Abdul Hanan Abd Mokti said the Selangor government had been unresponsive to their demands for a meeting to discuss the matter.
He said they have tried to seek an appointment with the menteri besar for the past six months but have not received any response.
Among those who attended today’s protest was Kuang assemblyperson Mohd Rafiq Abdullah who called on the protestors to reject the proposed project while its social impact assessment was being conducted.
“This project is said to have such advanced technology to the extent it can process 2,400 tonnes of waste every day.
“I have stated in the (Selangor) state assembly that if it was so great, why not have the project in Shah Alam? Even better, why not right next to the Selangor menteri besar’s house?” he said in a speech at the rally.
It was previously reported that two waste-to-energy (WTE) incinerators are expected to operate simultaneously within a 15km radius of Rawang town.
The first incinerator is the Sultan Idris Shah (SIS) WTE Green Energy Plant under the purview of the state government, which is currently being protested against.
The plant will be overseen by Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB) Waste Management and YTL Power International Bhd.
KDEB is a subsidiary of Selangor Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI Selangor).
The second is the relocated WTE incinerator by the Housing and Local Government Ministry which was initially planned to be built at Taman Beringin, Kepong, and was later moved to Rawang.
Tunnels pose risk
In a video played at the rally, Selayang MP William Leong reiterated the negative impacts the proposed incinerators would bring to Batu Arang.
One would be geological factors, he said, as the area is built on coal mines.
“There are many tunnels (underneath the land) which raises a risk of methane and coal gas exploding.
“Even recently, the Health Ministry planned to build a multi-storey health clinic in the area but was advised by the Works Department to change its plan as the land was unsuitable.
“In addition, there have been underground fires in the area, with the last reported incident in 2011,” he said. - Mkini
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