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REHMAN RASHID: Salute to a failed venture in waste disposal

2007-07-18T11:47:00.000+08:00

NST Online » Columns, http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Columns/20070717093502/Article/index_html

2007/07/17

REHMAN RASHID: Salute to a failed venture in waste disposal

THE final a-Broga-tion of the RM1.5 billion incinerator project evoked in me mixed feelings of relief and regret.

Regret, because I’d met some of the technology’s developers, having visited Japan in 2003 on a fact-finding tour of their operations. I am sorry that my Japanese acquaintances had to spend five years of their lives and careers in the limbo of this project, only to wind up having to pack up from their KL condos, get their kids out of international school and go home with nothing sold, nothing built, nothing done. This won’t look good on their resumès.

Relief, because having seen how well this technology served its purpose in Japan, I deeply doubted it could work here. The Ebara Corporation of Japan had offered Malaysia incinerator technology that was all about phase transitions. Operating at higher temperatures than other systems, the process melts solids into liquids, vaporises liquids into gas, then breaks down gasses to reduce emissions to a tenth or less of World Health Organisation standards.

What ash remains is itself melted into an inert slag that can be turned into paving bricks and road surfacing. They were thinking up new uses for it all the time.

The Japanese were rightly proud of their technology. Their plants were spotless; their floors polished to the semblance of still waters. They were run like supertankers: totally computerised and automated; operated by about 20 technicians in glass-walled control rooms.
Apart from the receiving bays and conveyor belts where the garbage was sorted on its way to fiery oblivion, all spaces occupied by humans were hermetically sealed, smelling of naught but a muted hint of air freshener. Yet, the entire process from silo to smokestack was visible on banks of plasma-screen CCTV monitors. There were even cameras trained on the top of the chimney, or "flue exhaust", out of which there appeared nothing at all; not even a heat shimmer.

Sato-san, my corporate guide (not his real name, of course, he has enough troubles as it is) told me sticking one’s head down that pipe would be less harmful than smoking a cigarette. (He later provided data to back up that assertion, along with the WHO factoid cited above.)

But this did not accord with the anxieties of the people of Broga, Semenyih, Selangor, who feared a cancer factory on their doorstep; a monstrous polluter outrageously posing as a pollution solution. Their campaign made graphic use of Industrial Revolution imagery: Black clouds billowing from a 19th-century factory chimney.

Sato-san was deeply hurt by this. His company’s plants, though not exactly inconspicuous, were physically no more obtrusive than modest shopping malls, to which he’d noticed scant aversion among Malaysians. In some parts of Japan, they were shopping malls. There was one model project where a revolving restaurant had been built halfway up the incinerator flue.

The safety of these facilities and the innocuousness of their emissions was clear for everyone to see. After all, said Sato-san, resting his case, weren’t the Japanese the longest-lived people in the world, with the lowest incidence of cancer and heart disease?

Ruefully, I had to tell him that, despite the best efforts of certain former administrations, Malaysians had not demonstrated much of an aptitude for turning Japanese. For instance, see how Japanese households so neatly separate their rubbish into colour-coded bags of glass, plastic, paper and organic waste.

See how garbage trucks are really vans, compact enough to scuttle about the narrow warrens of Japan’s neighbourhoods, serving communities and not conurbations. See how waste incinerators snuggle up to municipalities, located conveniently enough for people to drop off their rubbish themselves.

This was why the incinerator had been originally slated for Puchong, smack-dab in the middle of the Klang Valley’s industrial suburbia. The system was designed to operate in intimate symbiosis with trashmakers.

But though "small is beautiful" in Japan, Malaysia had been raised to think mega. The plant was to be four times bigger than anything Ebara had built before. The people of Puchong had protested mightily, and the project had been relocated out of town to the rural enclave of Broga, whose people had also protested mightily.

In the end, after years of trouble and expense for the project contractors, maintaining offices and staff here, diverting resources from other projects, and suffering terrible public relations, the Malaysian government axed the project on the basis of unacceptable cost.

This was the right call. For the 1,500 tonnes of garbage a day the plant was to have processed, 1,000 lorries a day would have had to lumber and splatter to and fro, wrecking existing roads and requiring new ones. While the plant itself could be run by a couple of dozen technicians, a small army of manual workers would have been needed to sort the rubbish Malaysian households will probably never bother sorting themselves.

And the protests. And the lawsuits. And the political fallout: manna from heaven for the opposition; flaming meteorites for the government.

Sayonara, Sato-san. It’s not that your technology is not fit for this country; this country is not fit for it. We’ll have to find other ways to avoid living amid mountains of garbage with lakeside views of cesspits. Our most promising innovation in waste management so far: The Klang municipality’s offer of 10 sen per kilo for rubbish, encouraging the theft of garbage instead of scrap metal.

旺姐：撤焚化炉彰显人民力量学运：不透明情况下展开结束

2007-07-12T11:56:00.000+08:00

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/69710
旺姐：撤焚化炉彰显人民力量学运：不透明情况下展开结束 07年7月10日中午12:20
人民公正党主席旺阿兹莎发表文告表示，政府应认真从武来岸焚化炉计划取消事件中吸取教训，即真理最终将会在人民抗争中获得伸张，以及“人民是老板”，以免在未来重蹈覆辙，作出为民众带来不便和浪费公共资源的计划决定。 “我们需从武来岸居民伸张正义中学到两个教训。第一个教训是，无论花费多长的时间，当人民站出来要纠正错误时，正义最终都会获得伸张。” “政府须吸取的第二个教训则是，无论他们欲实行现有的计划，或在未来推介新的计划，人民才是老板。” 她指出，政府如果早在计划开始时就吸取了第二个教训，武来岸居民就无需因为有关计划，而面对巨大压力以及无法安睡。此外，公共资源也不会因为误导人民相信该计划是安全的讯息而被浪费，政府也无须为有关计划的取消而做出赔偿。政府应允许人民参与决策过程旺阿兹莎（左图）强调，由于人民对他们所居住的周遭环境拥有更深的认识，因此政府应该咨询他们，并允许他们参与决策过程。她也表示，政府往往忘记了人民只赋予他们权力来做任何有利于人民的决定，而非不利于人民的决定。 “上周五，我曾在垃圾管理法令辩论时，要求房屋及地方政府部澄清是否打算以两个位于半岛不同州属的小型焚化炉，来代替这项已被取消的焚化炉计划。” 她同时也呼吁该部公布是否曾在计划取消后，赔偿负责有关计划的发展上荏原公司（Ebara Corporation），以及赔偿的数额。纳吉：因成本和维修费昂贵取消这项耗资15亿令吉的本区域最大型焚化炉计划是于2003年首次被马哈迪政府提出。它原本打算建造在雪州的蒲种，但是在当地居民激烈反对下，最终选择了武来岸作为新的兴建地点。然而，有关的计划仍一直受到武来岸居民，包括非政府组织和在野党的大力反对。在2006年8月15日，新加坡《商业时报》率先报道，大马政府已经通知武来岸焚化炉计划发展商即日本的荏原公司和本地的Harta Summa私人有限公司，有关的计划已经被中止。但是，政府依然对守口如瓶，拒绝证实该计划是否已被腰斩。不过，武来岸居民已在上周四接获代表政府的高级联邦律师发函，证实腰斩焚化炉计划，而针对有关计划的所进行的4年抗争也终于宣布胜利。副首相纳吉在上周六透露，政府是基于昂贵的建筑成本和维修费，而决定取消焚化炉计划。他也澄清政府不是因为武来岸居民的诉讼案而停止该计划。据《东方日报》报道，纳吉也在周日指出，只要成本低和拥有适当的科技，政府在未来可能会在雪兰莪州建立一个焚化炉。
纳吉指因成本和维修费贵取消
学运促政府应公开焚化炉合约

Broga incinerator project called off

2007-07-12T11:18:00.000+08:00

Friday July 6, 2007
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/6/nation/20070706172529&sec=nation

Broga incinerator project called off
By LOONG MENG YEE and ROYCE CHEAH
SHAH ALAM: The RM1.5bil incinerator project in Broga has been terminated.
Court of Appeal judge Justice Suriyadi Halim Omar, who was sitting as a High Court judge, was informed of the matter by counsel Uma Parvathy Thothathri when the court commenced Friday for the continued hearing of an action taken by a group of Broga residents to block the project.
About 30 residents present in court cheered and applauded in court when lawyers acting for the Government confirmed that the project would no longer proceed.
Uma was acting for the residents who took the Government to court in 2003 over the project.
Friday's was supposed to have been a continuation of the hearings for the case but in a surprising turn of events, Uma informed Suriyadi that the firm had received a letter from the Attorney-General’s Chambers on Thursday evening.
Uma then told the court the letter stated the project had been “ditamatkan” (terminated).
Justice Suriyadi then turned to the two counsel representing the Government and inquired why the project was terminated.
Senior Federal Counsel Suzana Atan and Selangor legal adviser Datuk Zawyah Be Loth Khan replied that the project had indeed been called off.
The court also decided that the Government would pay costs to the plaintiff’s solicitors.
Outside the court, Alice Lee, who led the action and whose name appeared as the plaintiff in the suit, said the 402 residents who sought justice in court were “so very happy”.
“We are meeting tonight to plan for a celebration. We want to invite all those who had helped us in this struggle. Particularly, we want to record our appreciation to Judge Suriyadi. He has been very fair to both sides and he made sure the lawyers did their job on time,” said Lee.
On Nov 8, 2003, Lee filed a suit seeking a declaration ordering the Government to divulge details of the controversial RM1.5bil municipal solid waste thermal treatment plant.
On Jan 20, 2005, Lee filed an application on behalf of the villagers for a stay order pending the outcome of the suit against the Selangor Menteri Besar, the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry and the Selangor Land and Mines Department director.
On Feb 14 that same year, the High Court granted the temporary stay order.
Outside the courtroom, Uma said she would not withdraw the suit in the event the Government decided to revive project in the future.
"If the Government does, that would tantamount to contempt of court," she said.
Broga no-incinerator committee chairman Zulkefly Mohamad Omar said the residents were very happy that the matter has finally been put to rest and thanked the court.
"This issue involves public and not political interest," he said.
Selangor state executive councillor in charge of environment Datuk Ch’ng Toh Eng said there had not been any official statement from the Federal Government to the state regarding the cancellation of the incinerator project.

Broga incinerator project called off

2007-07-12T11:17:00.000+08:00

Saturday July 7, 2007
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/7/nation/18238161&sec=nation

Broga incinerator project called off
By LOONG MENG YEE and ROYCE CHEAH
PUTRAJAYA: The RM1.5bil incinerator project in Broga has been cancelled.
Court of Appeal Justice Suriyadi Halim Omar, who was sitting as a High Court judge, was informed of the matter by counsel Uma Parvathy Thothathri when the court commenced yesterday for the continued hearing of an action taken by a group of Broga residents to block the project.
About 30 residents present in court cheered and applauded when lawyers acting for the Government confirmed that the project would no longer proceed.
Uma was acting for the residents, who took the Government to court in 2003 over the project.
Yesterday was supposed to be a continuation of the hearing for the case, but in a surprising turn of events Uma informed Justice Suriyadi that the firm had received a letter from the Attorney-General’s Chambers on Thursday evening.
Uma told the court the letter stated that the project had been “ditamatkan” (cancelled).
Justice Suriyadi then turned to the two counsels representing the Government and asked why the project was cancelled.
Senior Federal Counsel Suzana Atan and Selangor legal adviser Datuk Zawyah Be Loth Khan replied that the project had indeed been called off.
Justice Suriyadi later asked again: “Are you all sure? Do not say the project is terminated, then later have the project revived. Why was the project terminated?”
Suzana said she did not know why the project was called off and that she was only informed by the ministry concerned.
The judge then jokingly asked her, “Is it a state secret?” and laughed. The Government’s counsel could not respond to his question.
Uma then informed the court that due to the turn of events the plaintiff would opt to file a notice of discontinuance within seven days.
The court also decided that the Government would pay costs to the plaintiff’s solicitors.
Outside the court, Alice Lee, who led the action and whose name appeared as the plaintiff in the suit, said the 402 residents who sought justice in court were “so very happy”.

DPM: Broga incinerator project stopped because it was too expensive

2007-07-12T11:16:00.000+08:00

Saturday July 7, 2007
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/7/nation/20070707141216&sec=nation

DPM: Broga incinerator project stopped because it was too expensive
TANGKAK: The Government had decided to cancel the RM1.5bil incinerator project in Broga last year as it was very costly to build and to maintain.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Najib Tun Razak said the decision last year was made at a meeting he chaired with the Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.
Speaking to the reporters here he said the decision was not due to any protest or court action but due to the high capital cost and keeping fee to have such incinerator.
"The studies showed that the Broga incinerator system, which cost more than RM1.5bil, is very expensive.
He was speaking after launching a unity carnival organised by Pertubuhan Kebajikan Dan Dakwah Islamiah Johor or Pekida.
Abdul Najib said the Government had several alternatives, including using the sanitary landfill system in Bukit Tagar, to resolve waste disposal problems in the country.
He said the landfill system had been running without any problem and the Government would also look into other systems, which were more cost-effective and with proven technology.
He said besides cost-effective and proven technology, whatever project the Government planned to undertake should also ensure the safety of the people and the environment.
He said many developed nations used incinerators but taxes in those countries were also very high, adding that, Malaysia could not adopt their ways as it would burden the people. Abdul Najib also hoped for Indonesia to ask for assistance from Malaysia to help in battling the haze, which had started to hit the region now. He said Malaysia could even deploy some Royal Air Force planes to carry out cloud seeding over the region as the sources of the haze had been identified. "We are willing to help Indonesia in battling the haze problem," he added.

Broga project too costly, says Najib

2007-07-12T11:13:00.000+08:00

Sunday July 8, 2007
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/8/nation/18246320&sec=nation

Broga project too costly, says Najib
TANGKAK: The Government decided to cancel the RM1.5bil incinerator project in Broga last year as it was very costly to build and maintain.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Najib Tun Razak said the decision was made during a meeting with Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting last year.
The decision was made at the Cabinet Committee meeting on solid wastes and was subsequently approved by the Cabinet.
Speaking to reporters here, Najib said the decision was not due to any protest or court action but the high capital and maintenance costs to have such an incinerator.
“Studies showed that the Broga incinerator system, which would cost more than RM1.5bil, was very expensive.
“It is also very expensive to maintain. No district council or municipality would be able to afford it,” he said after launching a unity carnival organised by Pertubuhan Kebajikan Dan Dakwah Islamiah Johor.
Najib said the Government had several alternatives, including using the sanitary landfill system in Bukit Tagar, to resolve waste disposal problems in the country.
To a question, Najib said an incinerator was something that Malaysia could use to dispose of its waste but the project should be affordable.
He said many developed nations used incinerators but taxes in those countries were also very high.
Najib also hoped that Indonesia would seek Malaysia's help in battling the haze, which was starting to affect the region now.
He said Malaysia could even deploy some Royal Malaysian Air Force planes to carry out cloud seeding over the region as the sources of the haze had been identified.
“We are willing to help Indonesia in battling the haze problem,” he added.

Najib : No Statement on Broga

2006-08-21T19:10:00.000+08:00

reelpower

http://www.merdekareview.com.my/news.php?n=2374

纳吉不谈武来岸垃圾焚化炉
政府仍不证实报道是否属实

■日期／Aug 21, 2006 ■时间／06:03:19 pm
■新闻／家国风云 ■作者／本刊林宏祥

【本刊林宏祥撰述】副首相纳吉今午主持内阁固体废料系统与环境委员会会议，会后回答记者提问政府取消武来岸垃圾焚化炉计划事件，始终不愿证实此事，只是重复说：“不谈武来岸垃圾焚化炉”（no statement on Broga）。

根据新加坡《商业时报》上周报道，马来西亚政府已决定终止在雪兰莪州及森美兰州交界的武来岸兴建备受争议的本区域最大焚化炉的计划，不过，政府迄今仍未正式证实或否认《商业时报》的报道。

纳吉（右图）今天下午三时在布城主持内阁固体废料系统与环境委员会会议，直到五时半结束，出席会议的内阁部长包括房屋及地方政府部长黄家定、能源、水务与通讯部长林敬益、天然资源与环境部长阿兹米卡立（Azmi Khalid），以及各州州务大臣和首席部长。

会议结束后，记者向纳吉提问政府是否取消了武来岸垃圾焚化炉计划，纳吉回应道：“不谈武来岸垃圾焚化炉。”后来《独立新闻在线》记者追问，是不是今天的会议没有讨论此事，纳吉再次重复：“不谈武来岸垃圾焚化炉。”

政府早在2003年已提出垃圾焚化炉计划，原定地点是雪兰莪州的蒲种，不过因遭到当地居民大力反对，政府将地点改在雪兰莪与森美兰州交界的武来岸。当地居民也是大力反弹，并且结合非政府组织的力量，展开联串反对行动。

武来岸垃圾焚化炉计划耗资马币15亿元，由日本荏原公司（Ebara Corporation）及本地的Harta Summa私人有限公司组成财团承建。

Merdeka Review

2006-08-21T19:04:00.000+08:00

reelpower

http://www.merdekareview.com.my/news.php?n=2335

【本刊记者撰述】新加坡《商业时报》引述消息说，政府已经取消耗资马币15亿元的武来岸垃圾焚化炉计划；雪兰莪民主行动党今天促请房屋及地方政府部尽快说明，政府是否已腰斩武来岸垃圾焚化炉计划，以扫除当地人民的忧虑。

雪兰莪民主行动党宣传秘书刘永山今天发表文告说，政府取消森美兰州武来岸垃圾焚化炉计划的消息是从新加坡《商业时报》传出，迄今马来西亚政府仍未确认政府是否已决定腰斩该计划，还是继续进行。

“政府腰斩这项计划，固然会让受影响的武来岸居民雀跃万分，但是政府也同时面对承包商Ebara Corporation马币五亿元的法律诉讼。如果政府继续这项计划，那么政府必须准备面对人民的大力反弹，甚至是法律诉讼。但是，问题关键在于以下三点：

一、为何房屋及地方政府部没有在第一时间清楚交代此事？该工程目前进度如何？

二、政府会否动用公款，赔偿马币五亿元给Ebara Corporation？政府是否愿意公布当初和该公司签署的合约内容？有什么办法可以减少这笔赔偿？

三、为何这项消息必须通过外国媒体才能知晓？难道本地媒体得到禁令不能大肆报道此课题，还是政府故意不让本地媒体知道？”

刘永山认为，这项最新发展严重关系政府的行政和运作方面的透明度、公信力、透明度和效率；这项对巴生谷河流域居民影响重大的消息，国人必须通过外国媒体和通讯社的报道才得知，是不可理喻且非常讽刺的事。

“在这之前，政府在处理蒲种甘榜波何垃圾转运站课题上一直摇摆不定。这次，政府也是以同样的方式处理武来岸垃圾焚化炉计划。我们不能苟同政府一直以这种不发言不回答的方式处理人民的问题，因此我们希望政府能够尽早交待以上三项疑惑。”

“民主行动党重申我们的立场，即任何垃圾焚化炉必须建立在人烟稀少、原理集水区的地方，避免焚化炉释放出来的致癌化学物二恶英（dioxine）危害人民的健康和污染水源。”

政府早在2003年已提出垃圾焚化炉计划，原定地点是雪兰莪州的蒲种，不过因遭到当地居民大力反对，政府将地点改在雪兰莪与森美兰州交界的武来岸。当地居民也是大力反弹，并且结合非政府组织的力量，展开联串反对行动。

武来岸垃圾焚化炉计划耗资马币15亿元，由日本荏原公司（Ebara Corporation）及本地的Harta Summa私人有限公司组成财团承建。

M'kini: Broga incinerator: it's over, says paper

2006-08-15T10:50:00.000+08:00

reelpower

Malaysiakini
Broga incinerator: it's over, says paper

Aug 14, 06 9:27pm

The government has given notice to terminate the RM1.52 billion project to build the region's largest incinerator at Broga, Semenyih, Selangor, a project which from the beginning has met with stiff opposition from local residents and concerned citizens.

Quoting 'businessmen familiar with the project', Singapore's Business Times reported this evening that the government gave the project's developers two weeks to reply to a termination notice.

It said the local government and housing ministry had written to the consortium leading the project - Japan's Ebara Corporation and local company Harta Summa Sdn Bhd - giving notice that the project would be scrapped.

First suggested in 2003 during the government of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the incinerator was first planned for Puchong, Selangor but fierce protests from residents there didn't allow it.

The government then chose Broga but met with even more spirited opposition which besides local residents involved NGOs, political parties, mass protests and the film community. The matter eventually led to the courts.

Project re-studied

Earlier reports had said that Ebara had submitted a RM500 million claim to the government over the stalled project's progress payments over a month ago. Local Government and Housing Minister Ong Ka Ting, when asked about this on Aug 5, said that he was not aware of any such claim.

Malaysiakini had reported on June 16 that the government was re-studying the viability of the project.

Responding to a reporter's question as to whether the cabinet had decided to cancel the project during its meeting on June 14, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi replied that was not so.

"There is no decision yet. There is a need for a incinerator as it is a facility for the people but we are studying whether it is suitable," he told the press conference.

On July 15, Ong said that the proposal was still under study with the matter being raised in cabinet several times. He added cheaper and more environmentally friendly options had been mulled over by the cabinet

Dioxin emissions

Residents at Broga had mobilised against the project citing the danger it posed given that its proposed location was within a water catchment area and a gazetted forest reserve.

In numerous memorandums to the government, the residents pointed out that the large-scale incinerator would reduce property prices and have negative economic effects on Broga and Semenyih, effects which they said were irreversible.

They were also concerned for their health and well-being, citing dioxin and mercury emissions, among other known contaminants, from incinerators as supported by research findings in Europe and Japan.

The incinerator was to handle Kuala Lumpur's 2,700 tonnes of waste a day, which is more than the city's disposal sites can currently handle.

Global Day of Action against Waste Incineration

2006-06-07T18:29:00.000+08:00

reelpower

June 17th is the Global Day of Action against Waste Incineration:

http://www.daysofaction.net/ events-waste-incineration. php

Broga residents clear second hurdle in court

2006-05-25T19:08:00.000+08:00

reelpower

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/51542

Broga residents clear second hurdle in court
Claudia Theophilus
May 25, 06 2:33pm

Alice Lee was declared by the Shah Alam High Court late yesterday as
the legitimate representative of Kampung Broga residents in a suit to
stop a RM1.5 billion mammoth incinerator project nearby.

The Attorney-General's Chambers and the Selangor state legal advisor
had contended that she did not have any legal standing in the main
suit filed on Nov 8, 2003, seeking a court declaration for full
disclosure of the project details which has so far remained opaque.

Justice Suriadi Halim Omar, in granting the order in terms, offered a
polite yet firm rebuke of both government lawyers present for failing
to reply the plaintiff's affidavits.

"As far as today's matter is concerned, I follow the law and not based
on my own whims and fancy. I have to grant the order in terms. I'm
going to give the order because you didn't reply," he said to a
courtroom packed with Broga villagers.

Special Branch personnel also sat in court throughout the day although
the Broga matter was only heard for 40 minutes until 5.10pm.

State legal advisor Badariah Hassan and senior federal counsel Suzana
Atan appeared for Selangor Land and Minerals Department director and
the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry director-general
respectively.

Earlier, the residents' lawyer T Uma Parvathy said both parties have
yet to respond to the plaintiff's affidavit which was filed seven
months ago.

This kept Suriadi on their backs asking for reasons why they had not
bothered to reply.

"Why reply some (affidavits) and not the rest? Why didn't you reply?
You must be all-enveloping in your response to the affidavits.

Chose to ignore

Badariah replied that they didn't want to reply because they were
waiting for the outcome of an appeal both had filed that morning
against the deputy registrar's decision on March 24 to dismiss an
earlier application to strike out the main suit.

"But you lost. If there was no case, the matter would have been struck
off," said Suriadi.

"An appeal does not act as a stay, the law is very clear on this."

He chided them for ignoring the affidavits.

"You have to reply all the affidavits, you have to act. You can't just
sit there and do nothing. You can't ignore the plaintiff's affidavits.
What is strange here is that both of you decided not to act."

At this juncture, Suzana argued that additional supporting documents
to prove Lee's legal standing were only filed "as an afterthought to
circumvent our appeal".

Suriadi: Yes, we all see this. We're all professionals here. Now,
we're hearing by affidavit and you have failed to reply, and this
could be deemed as an admission.

Suzana: We cannot reply because we're not a legal entity.

Suriadi: No, you can't say that. Why didn't you react to it
(affidavits). You must be sensitive to every application. You must
understand (this), you are a professional.

Before standing down the Broga case earlier in the day, the judge had
remarked that he may not appear stern or angry but that did not mean
he will not show his dissatisfaction or anger.

Approached later, Suzana said they chose not to reply because it was a
tactic by the plaintiff to circumvent their appeal.

Zarina Begum held a watching brief for the Bar Council.

Controversy-ridden

The federal government project for a 1,500-tonne capacity plant has
drawn international criticism from zero waste management lobbyists and
anti-incinerator scientists who cite potential hazards of toxic
emissions, and economic and environmental problems.

On Feb 14 last year, Broga residents won temporary reprieve when the
court granted an interim stay order on all project work pending the
disposal of a main suit.

However, the interim stay did nothing to stop the Selangor government
from acquiring land from 52 Broga residents to build access roads and
as part of the incinerator plant's perimeter compound.

The government's lack of transparency in this case has prompted
numerous local protests.

The plant, first proposed in 1997, is touted as the biggest of its
kind in the world using Japan's fluidised-bed gasification and
ash-melting technology.

Residents surrounding Broga and in Semenyih have maintained over the
last four years insisted that the plan sits in a water catchment area
where a dam is located, their strongest ground yet.

A global movement is also underway to replace incinerator technology
with green solutions such as recycling and zero waste management which
has a proven record in many rich and poor countries.

In late March 2003, malaysiakini exclusively reported that Japanese
engineering giant Ebara Corp had won the multi-billion ringgit job the
previous month to design, build and commission the plant.

In another exclusive, malaysiakini reported that it was in trouble
with the Malaysian government for allegedly failing to fulfill its
contractual obligations by not detailing its technology transfer plan.

Despite reported problems between the contractor and the project
proponent, the Housing and Local Government Ministry, the status of
the project is unclear because government officials including minister
Ong Ka Ting remain persistently evasive when approached for comments.

Hearing of an application for a fresh stay order pending disposal of
the main suit will continue on July 11.
Send your comments on the above issue to us at
voxpopuli@malaysiakini.com. Your email may be published in
Malaysiakini. Please keep your comments brief, and do let us know if
you wish to remain anonymous.

Fix Problem at the root

2006-05-20T07:47:00.000+08:00

reelpower

NST Letter
Fix problem at the root
11 May 2006
ZURINA ISMAIL, Kuala Lumpur

I HOPE that in the haste to rectify the leakage of leachate from landfills, the Government does not rush into building the RM1.5 billion mega incinerator at Broga. It must first consider the possible consequences.

Incinerators for waste disposal have been reported to release dioxins, an extremely hazardous class of chemicals that can cause anything from cancer to reproductive and neurological disorders, birth defects, kidney damage, to heart and lung diseases in humans.

Residents in Broga, Kajang and Semenyih also include students from schools and a university. These young people are our future.

We should take every precaution to ensure their health and safety.

I am disappointed that recycling campaigns do not include adequate facilities and incentives for the campaign to be effective.

A significant point to note is the absence of recycling bins in most, if not all, residential areas and schools.

One cannot expect individuals to go for recycling if the facilities are not readily and visibly available.

I live in a middle-class residential estate and have yet to see recycling bins here.

I separate my garbage and dispose of it at the nearest recycling bin at a shopping mall, paying RM1 to get there.

Given the effort involved, very few people are likely to take the trouble to recycle their waste.

What we need is more bins for garbage separation if waste prevention and reduction are to be carried out at source.

Since much time and money has been spent on creating an awareness of recycling, why not spend a little more on providing the facilities to enable us to actually do it?

A simple calculation shows that if a family with three or four children practice waste separation, the habit would be inculcated in three or four more families by the next generation.

This could mean a significant amount of waste reduction by then. It is, without a doubt, a sustainable solution to an ongoing problem.

Spending millions on rehabilitating problem landfills will not amount to much if a mega incinerator that costs millions is then built, only to be the source of a much bigger problem in the future.

No amount of high-tech solutions is going to solve a problem if the problem is not first addressed at the root.

Huge M'sian waste project runs into hurdle

2006-05-05T18:56:00.000+08:00

reelpower

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/sub/news/story/0,4574,194207,00.html?

Published May 4, 2006

Huge M'sian waste project runs into hurdle
Govt to review RM1.5b incinerator in Selangor

By S JAYASANKARAN
IN KUALA LUMPUR

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THE construction of the region's biggest waste incinerator, to be located in the rural hamlet of Broga in central Selangor state, has run into some hiccups.

According to several businessmen familiar with the project, the technical committee of Malaysia's Ministry of Local Government and Housing has decided on a second look at the project, raising concerns among those involved that the RM1.52 billion (S$663 million) project could be scaled down or even scrapped.

It isn't clear why the review is being considered but the businessmen said that it could involve the growing anxiety in government over the environmental side effects of waste disposal projects.

On April 28, for example, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that 16 open landfills situated near water intake points in Peninsular Malaysia would be closed with immediate effect.

This followed allegations that discharge from an open landfill had led to high ammonia levels in the Selangor River resulting in some residents receiving foul smelling water through their taps.

The re-think on waste disposal projects underscores what has long been perceived as a problem with the government - a tendency to react to events rather than to think through and address long-term solutions to obvious problems.

The issue of landfills, said the businessmen, had been pointed out to government as far back as six years ago but nothing was done. Similarly, an idea to mandate recycling as a means to tackle waste generation has been sitting on the statute books for over 10 years, the businessmen said.

For its part, the incinerator project has been engulfed in controversy from the word go. That it's necessary cannot be denied: Kuala Lumpur produces 2,700 tonnes of waste a day which is more than its disposal sites can handle.

Unfortunately, the scale of the incinerator project - it can burn 1,500 tonnes a day - almost inevitably guaranteed that no neighbourhood wanted it in their backyards for environmental reasons. The incinerator would have been one of the largest of its kind in the world, capable of burning six times more waste than current facilities.

Indeed, the first place selected for the project was Puchong, a working class industrial township southwest of Kuala Lumpur. Its residents raised such a howl that Ong Ka Ting, the then minister of housing and local government, beat a hasty retreat.

Broga, a rural outpost to the south of KL, was Mr Ong's next choice but even its residents attempted to stop the project by way of a court injunction. The injunction has since been set aside and the project was awarded to a consortium led by Japanese company Ebara together with Harta Suma, a private Malaysian construction company.

Even so, it isn't clear if the project can be scrapped without the government having to pay hefty sums in compensation to the consortium. Businessmen noted that government had to fork out RM100 million to the developer of the stalled bridge project to replace the causeway linking Singapore.

Rubbish incineration not as clean as its advocates say

2006-04-27T23:50:00.000+08:00

reelpower

Rubbish incineration not as clean as its advocates say
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/4/27/focus/14072119&sec=focus

LETTER to editor, THE STAR, 27 April 2006
CHAN CHIAN WEN,
Birmingham, Britain.

I DISAGREE with Ridzuan Jusoh over our waste management system, “Time to get tough and build the incinerator” (The Star, April 26).

Landfills should not be considered primitive and Third World. I am studying in Britain and I know for a fact that only 8% of the country's waste is being incinerated.

An incinerator is not as clean as one thinks it is. It spews out hazardous gases such as dioxin and nitrogen oxide.

Dioxin is cancerous. The two gases will be precipitated as rain, polluting our rivers, forests and land.

Incinerators are more appropriate in places where land is scarce such as Japan, Singapore and Taiwan.

Depending on the type of rubbish collected, the incinerator is not as energy productive as one thinks it is, not to mention the amount of extra carbon dioxide that will be released into the atmosphere, causing global warming.

Landfill spillage into rivers is the result of local councils mismanaging them. And illegal dumping is caused by lack of enforcement.

Rather than spending a considerable amount of energy, the production of which will affect the environment, would it not be more practical to spend slightly extra to improve the efficiency of our waste management system?

The average citizen is guilty of pollution, too. Just take a walk down any commercial centre and see the amount of litter everywhere.

The combined rubbish generated is much more than the amount spilled from landfills or illegal dumpsites.

CHAN CHIAN WEN,
Birmingham, Britain.

Want clean rivers? Scrap Broga incinerator!

2006-04-27T12:23:00.000+08:00

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/50106

Want clean rivers? Scrap Broga incinerator!
Andrew Ong
Apr 22, 06 12:07pm

As the government hints at the closure of open dumpsites nationwide to protect rivers from pollution, the proposed waste incinerator in Kampung Broga, Semenyih must also be scrapped as well.

Stating this, Broga No-incinerator committee pro tem chairperson Zulkefly Mohamad Omar added that the government should be far sighted and scrap the project to avoid future mishaps.

“Ammonia in the water can be easily detected. But (cancer causing) dioxins (emmited from waste incinerators and dissolved in water) cannot be seen nor does it have taste, and it is even more dangerous,” he told reporters after submitting a memorandum on the matter to the Department of Environment (DOE) in Putrajaya yesterday.

This was the latest move by the committee who have been struggling over the past three years to stop the project.

Two rivers - Sungai Rinching and Sungai Seringgit - are within close vicinity of the proposed site. Both rivers flow towards Sungai Semenyih, a water catchment area which supplies water to about two million people in the Klang Valley.

Cabinet committee

Zulkefly urged the authorities to heed of the recent incident where leachate from a landfill near Sungai Kembong had caused ammonia levels to rise in the Sungai Semenyih, forcing water supply disruption to a large area of the Klang Valley.

“Instead of spending money to clean up rivers, the government can save money by not building incinerators, otherwise they have to spend again to clean the rivers later,” he added.

He hoped that the DOE would relate the committee’s concerns to the cabinet committee on environment and disasters chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, which will meet on April 28.

Among matters expected to be deliberated is a proposal to close all open dumpsites by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Azmi Khalid and the fate of the Broga incinerator.

On the possibility of the government establishing a Refuse-derived Fuel (RDF) plant within Semenyih as an alternative to the controversial incinerator, Zulkefly said that the committee can accept it, if it was a ‘temporary’ solution.

“But that doesn’t mean everyone can dump their garbage in Broga. Every council should have their own RDF facility,” he said.

Green light given?

Earlier, the committee members and about 20 residents of Kampung Broga turned up for a meeting with DOE deputy director-general Dr Shamsuddin Abd Latif.

Shamsuddin was met with a barrage of questions from anxious residents, mostly concerning more details to the addendum of the Environmental Impact Assessment of the project, published late last year.

“Who has the final say in approving the EIA? The DOE or the politicians?” asked Alice Lee (right), a resident and ardent critic of the project.

Shamsuddin avoided Lee’s questions and those from other residents, repeatedly saying that he would pass on their concerns and issues raised in the memorandum to his superior.

However, when asked if the ‘green light’ has been given to the EIA, Shamsuddin said, “That would be a question of interpretation. For now, EIA has not been finalised”.

Toxic waste

The project, said to be the biggest of its kind in the region, is capable of processing more than 1000 tonnes of municipal waste daily, but according to the addendum to the EIA, produces 400 tonnes of toxic slag daily as well.

The addendum makes no reference to how the slag would be brought out of the incinerator, nor where it would be disposed off.

According to Zulkefly, this may potentially expose nearby residents to the toxic waste.

“What happens if the transport used to carry the toxic materials meet an accident in a busy street?” he asked Shamsuddin, to which the latter did not answer.

He added that water pumped from nearby rivers to wash the interior of the incinerator would flow back into the water system, bringing along toxic ash and other poisonous materials.

BN MP raises concern over incinerator

2006-04-24T23:11:00.000+08:00

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/50041

BN MP raises concern over incinerator
Beh Lih Yi
Apr 20, 06 6:58pm

A government backbencher today raised concerns over the controversial RM1.5 billion mega incinerator project proposed in Broga amid strong opposition from the residents.

“My house is just about 2km away from the incinerator site. I am seeking an explanation on the impact of this project,” said Markiman Kobiran (BN-Hulu Langat) during the ministerial winding-up on the Ninth Malaysian Plan debates in the Dewan Rakyat.

He also asked why an information committee set-up by the government in relation to the project was not doing its job.

“The committee is supposed to disseminate information on the project, but I see non-governmental organisations are more active in explaining the negative impacts,” he added.

He also asked about the implication of a court injunction over the Broga incinerator and whether the ministry will be using an existing road to transport solid waste to the plant.

Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting however refrained from commenting on the MP’s concerns, saying that answers would be given at a meeting to be held on April 28.

The meeting will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to determine, among others, the government’s policy in handling solid waste and landfills nationwide.

On Feb 14 last year, Broga residents won a temporary reprieve when the court granted an interim stay order on all project work pending the disposal of a main suit filed by the residents.

Take it to Putrajaya

The multi-billion ringgit project was earlier relocated to Broga from the heavily populated southern suburb of Puchong after strong protest from the residents there.

Interjecting during the winding-up, Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) reiterated her opposition to the project since it is located at a water catchment area and could prove to be an environmental hazard.

Replying, Ong said: “When the project was in Kg Bohol (Puchong), YB Seputeh (Kok) went there everyday to collect signatures and said ‘no’ to incinerator.”

“I still remember then, someone was saying the project should be relocated to Semenyih but when the relocation was done, there is still objection, so where shall we go?” asked the minister.

A smiling Kok responded: “Putrajaya, Putrajaya”.

To this, Ong said: “It would be unfair to take the rubbish from other places to Putrajaya, I shouldn’t take the rubbish from Seputeh to Putrajaya right? The point I want to make is it is a big problem to handle solid waste.”

Broga incinerator a chemical bomb

2006-04-02T19:04:00.000+08:00

reelpower

Broga incinerator a chemical bomb
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=13512

Thu, 23 Mar 2006

MENTION "INCINERATOR" IN Japan and chances are the name of veterinarian
Miyata Hideaki will come to the fore.

In the Land of the Rising Sun and of rising dioxin levels more than
three-quarters of the garbage, including loads of plastics, are reduced to
dust in more than 4,000 government- approved incinerators, not to
mention illegal, privately operated burners.

Dioxin gas is an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) released when
plastics and other wastes containing chlorinebased chemicals are burnt.

In recent decades, dioxin pollution had grown to become a national
nervousness in Japan and the man to be credited for the paranoia is
Hideaki.

Years ago, he told the international news media that the saying "as
pure as mother's milk", no longer holds true, at least for many Japanese
mothers who live in the cities surrounded by incinerators.

Hideaki, who had first read about dioxin in a US government research
paper in the 70s, had long suspected that mother's milk might be
contaminated with dioxin.

It was only a hunch, but when he carried out tests, he found traces of
incinerator gas in the milk of lactating women! That was when he issued
a shocking scare: "I think it is safe to keep our babies away from
mother's milk" and the media went to town with it.

His terse comments were a wake-up call for the industrial nation and
since then, higher standards and tough regulations were put in place with
the aim of cutting dioxin release by 90%.

In the last few years in Malaysia, the people of Broga, Semenyih and
Kajang have been shouting themselves hoarse about the government's plans
to locate a mega incinerator in their midst.

In a media statement three years ago, DAP National Publicity Bureau
assistant secretary John Chong expressed grave concerns about the project.

He said it is highly irresponsible for the Housing and Local Government
Ministry and the state government to insist on building the
incinerator, without coming clean on the project's impact on public safety.

But all that shouting and protests from various groups and NGOs fell on
deaf ears and the project has been slated to take off.

Perhaps we need a Hideaki in our own country, but for the moment, we
could do with the "ammunition" that the Consumers Association of Penang
(CAP) has in store.

CAP president S.M. Mohd Idris told theSun, the government should
monitor and control the widespread threat of EDCs in the country.

EDCs, including dioxin and furan, are toxic chemicals that cause
anything from cancer, heart and lung diseases, liver, reproductive and
neurological disorders to birth defects and kidney damage in humans.

Idris said incinerating wastes releases EDCs such as dioxin and furan
and this is a major emerging problem in the world.

"Both dioxin and furan are some of the most hazardous chemicals known
to science.

"They were the primary components of Agent Orange and furan are also
by-products of chemical, manufacturing and combustion processes," he
said.

These poisons would leave the incinerator either as air emission or
ash, said Idris. Purifying the emission would only make the ash more
lethal.

"The more hi-tech an incinerator is, the cleaner its air emission will
be, but the resulting residue of ash will be more noxious," he warned.

Idris said instead of building incinerators, the government should look
into the use of other alternatives such as intensive waste segregation,
promoting waste minimisation, reduction in the use of non-biodegradable
materials and material recovery options such as composting and
recycling.

If the Selangor government and the Housing and Local Government
Ministry continue to throw conventional wisdom to the wind, then perhaps what
will return from the wind, will be nothing short of a "chemical
holocaust".

‘MB lied on TV’: Broga residents incensed

2006-02-02T08:25:00.000+08:00

‘MB lied on TV’: Broga residents incensed
Claudia Theophilus, Malaysiakini Jan 27, 06 8:31pm

“The Selangor government is just not bothered about us... and the MB lied on TV!” shouted an irate resident of Kampung Broga after being informed that Dr Mohd Khir Toyo was away at another function yesterday morning.

Gan Hin Lee and 10 other residents had gone to the state secretariat in Shah Alam to hand over a protest memorandum against the RM1.5 billion incinerator project sited less than 2km from their village in Broga, near Semenyih.

Expressing disappointment, he said the level of indifference displayed by the menteri besar was simply unbelievable.

Citing an ntv7 news bulletin aired on Jan 19, Gan, a member of the Broga sub-committee, said Mohd Khir had misled the people by saying that the land acquisition in Broga was to build a public road.

“Everyone knows that land is being acquired to build the access road to the incinerator site. Does he think we’re stupid? How can he blatantly lie on TV and get away with it?”

The memorandum was received by the MB’s chief private secretary Mohd Yusof Shafie.

Earlier, Dr Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, chairperson of the anti-incinerator Broga sub-committee, was heard repeatedly asking the MB’s private assistant on the phone for a representative to meet the group.

“Why didn’t you tell us earlier that he will not be in today? Isn’t there anyone else in this whole building who can receive our memorandum on his behalf?

“If he doesn’t want to meet us, why didn’t he say so earlier? At least we wouldn’t have come all the way from Broga and Semenyih,” he said.
Letter sent last week

Speaking to reporters later, Zulkefly said a letter was sent last week informing Mohd Khir (left) that they were coming to hand over the memorandum.

“As we did not receive any reply confirming he will not be in, we decided to see him and explain a few things,” he added.

During the brief meeting, he told Mohd Yusof about the MB’s statement over ntv7 and alerted him to the police reports lodged over illegal logging within the area earmarked for the incinerator project.

“We want the state government to be more transparent and truthful,” he said.

When approached, Mohd Yusof (right) said he will forward the memorandum to the MB after he returns from an official function. “I cannot comment further on this.”

Zulkefly, in refuting Mohd Khir’s statement, said the committee had evidence to show that the site is for an access road.

“We have (copies of) letters from the state Land and Minerals Department telling landowners to collect their cheques for payment of compensation. The letters are proof of the project.”

Last week, two police reports were lodged over the letters from the land department which they claimed ignored the fact that the additional environmental impact assessment (EIA) was still pending approval.

A site visit by the committee and media representatives later that day led to the apprehension of illegal loggers by Selangor Forestry Department officials.
State guidelines
The Broga sub-committee members also highlighted to Mohd Yusof the recommendations in the state Town and Country Planning Guidelines pertaining to development in water catchment areas, forest reserves and environmentally-sensitive zones.

“State guidelines clearly provide for 50km as buffer zone between a development such as the incinerator project and the nearest residential area but the Broga EIA report has found only a distance of1.5km,” said Zulkefly.

“As we’ve said previously, we are prepared to withdraw our suit against the government if the state revokes land approval for the incinerator project,” he added.

In a suit filed on Nov 8, 2003, Broga residents are seeking a court order to compel the government to divulge details of the RM1.5 billion project to build a 1,500-capacity incinerator.

Hearing has been postponed three times and the next one is fixed for Feb 18.

Last November, Taman Tasik Semenyih residents, sharing similar concerns with their Kampung Broga neighbours, raised funds to file a second suit to stop the project.

Malaysiakini Jan 19

2006-01-21T14:39:00.000+08:00

Broga: Site visit turns into a day of drama
Claudia Theophilus
Jan 19, 06 8:49pm

It was a day filled with adrenaline-pumping drama for Broga residents and journalists who embarked on a journey to the area earmarked for the RM1.5 billion incinerator.

The drama unfolded during a slow trip to the newly-marked site in a convoy of 4WD vehicles employing tricky manoeuvres on a slippery mud road that cut through fruit orchards and rubber trees.

The group comprised residents, journalists, DAP non-governmental organisation bureau chief Ronnie Liu, Semenyih DAP branch chief Gan Boon Cheong and DAP international secretary Prof P Ramasamy.

Broga sub-committee chairperson Dr Zulkefly Mohamad Omar arrived much later.

First, two of the 4WDs got stuck in the mud. So, the media representatives had to continue the 45-minute hike uphill by foot.

At one point along the route, the sound of chain-saw and trees being felled were heard. Then, a newly-built open-sided wooden hut came into view with two men walking about.

After another 20-minute trek, three men were seen felling trees. Liu was heard shouting for them to stop work, saying that police reports have been lodged against the illegal activity.

Minutes later three Acehnese, one of them carrying a chain-saw on his shoulder, emerged from the hillside clearing and related how six of them had been hired last week to cut down trees in 40 acres of forest area.

Contract workers

Claiming ignorance on the land status, they said they were told it was Orang Asli land that was being cleared for oil palm cultivation.

One of them called their ‘employer’, a Jeffri, who then spoke to Liu and agreed to stop the felling.

The group continued to the new site of the incinerator further uphill where border markers were seen surrounding a five-acre land of rubber and fruit trees belonging to Wong Chen Kim, mother to the committee’s most vocal member Alice Lee, who was not present today.

However, upon return to the land clearing, the six Acehnese were seen detained in two Pajeros belonging to the Selangor Forestry Department enroute to the police station.

Met on location, central region forestry officer Muhamad Murad (left), who was accompanied by a uniformed ranger and three other officers, said they were conducting a routine check when they heard the sound of chain-saw.

He said although the area in question was not the Sungai Lalang forest reserve, it was an offence to fell trees and remove timber on state land without a permit.
“We need to first check the status of the land. If it is private land, the owner can fell the trees but needs to have a permit to transport the timber out.

“We will investigate this matter. I think this is most probably state land,” he told reporters and the Broga committee members.

Police reports

Ramasamy, who is Semenyih/Broga No Incinerator pro tem action committee chairperson and resident of Taman Tasik Semenyih, said later that the culprits could be outsiders taking advantage of the mud road cut through the forests for the incinerator project.

Earlier, two reports were lodged at the Semenyih police station over the land clearing nearby the incinerator site and against the Selangor Land and Minerals Department for acquiring land pending the approval of an additional environmental impact assessment (EIA) report.

The addendum is pending technical evaluation by the Department of Environment (DOE) which is seeking public comments until the extended date of Feb 28.

A new site was chosen after the original one, approximately 200 metres higher, failed to make the cut in the detailed EIA report which was given conditional approval on May 28.

It is believed that a failure to comply with the conditions had prompted a study of the new area, which report was completed in March last year but only released early last December.

But pending a DOE approval, the state land department has started paying compensation to Broga landowners totalling hundreds of thousands of ringgit for land to build an access road to the site of the 1,500-tonne capacity incinerator project.

Misleading statements

After lodging his report, Liu said the department is wrong because it was also named as a defendant in a related suit pending in the Shah Alam High Court.

“Making such statements is false and misleading. In our view, this amounts to a contempt of court,” he said, referring to a report in an English daily yesterday.

“Clearly the land acquisition procedures under the Land Acquisition Act 1960 have not also been followed.”

He said landowners must first be notified of the intention to and purpose of acquiring land followed by price negotiation and an offer letter on the agreed sum before finally issuing a letter to collect payment.

“We were told that some of the cheques were from the department and some from Ebara but we haven’t confirm this yet.”

The government hired Tokyo-based Ebara Corp, with its local partner Hartasuma Sdn Bhd, to design, build and operate the mammoth incinerator originally slated for operations in 2007.

For the past four years, residents in and around Broga, a remote farming hamlet that straddles Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, have doggedly opposed the construction of the giant plant.

They said it poses a health and environmental hazard, a huge burden on taxpayers and directly affects the local economy which is largely based on rubber small-holdings and fruit and vegetable farming.

The incinerator project was relocated from Kampung Bohol in suburban Puchong to backwater Broga in November 2002 following intense public pressure which posed a threat to the ruling government.

Ever since then, the government particularly the Housing and Local Government Ministry, has remained indifferent to Broga residents’ countless requests to hear them out.

Broga project settled’ NST 17th Jan 2006

2006-01-21T09:51:00.001+08:00

Broga project settled’
Jason Gerald KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17:

The Selangor Land and Mines Department has obtained a court order to proceed with land acquisition for the building of an access road to the incinerator project site in Broga.  Deputy director Othman Ismail said the department was going ahead with the land acquisition and compensation payment to residents.  "Everything is settled. The High Court rejected the interim stay order against the project in October. The land is being acquired under the Land Acquisition Act 1960, under the instruction of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.  "The matter has been referred to the state legal adviser and everything is being done according to the law," he said today.  Othman was asked to comment on the claim by a group of Broga residents accusing the State of acquiring land for an incinerator plant before the project had been approved.  On Feb 15 last year, residents of Broga, in their battle to stop the construction of the billion-ringgit incinerator project, obtained an interim stay order against the project.  On Jan 20, Broga resident Lee Yoke Kim filed an application on behalf of the villagers for a stay order against the Selangor Menteri Besar, the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry, and the Selangor Land and Mines Department director, pending the outcome of the main suit.  The residents are seeking a court declaration ordering the Government to divulge details of the project.  Broga No-Incinerator Action Committee member Alice Lee said Othman may be unaware that the case was still pending in court.  The hearing date has been set on Feb 18.   Lee said the High Court had still not heard the Government’s reply on the matter, especially on the project details.   She said the committee planned to lodge a police report in Semenyih on Thursday.  Othman also said that of the 28 Broga residents who received offers of land acquisition, 14 had collected their cheques.  Residents received a letter dated Dec 28, asking them to collect cheques from the department.  The action committee was up in arms over the letters, a copy of which, signed by Othman on behalf of the director-general of the Selangor Land and Minerals Department, was obtained by the NST.

Alternative site proposed NST 17th Jan 2006

2006-01-21T09:49:00.000+08:00

Alternative site proposed
  PUTRAJAYA, Jan 17:

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) document on the proposed Broga incinerator, now on public display till Feb 28, reveals that an alternative site for the project is being considered for its benefits in terms of reducing soil loss and slope erosion.  The alternative site lies between Sungai Saringgit and Sungai Rinching on gentler terrain, whereas the original site was on hilly slopes north of Sungai Saringgit.  The project will use up 39.7ha of land compared to the 166ha in the original site. Because of gentler terrain, only 2.4ha of slopes face erosion risk in the new site, compared to 13.3ha at the old one.  The document notes that sloping areas to be developed will be reduced by 82 per cent and require only 531,000 cubic metres of soil to be excavated. The original site required 4,270,000 cubic metres to be dug up.  Less cutting and filling of slopes would be necessary, and there would be a lower risk of slope failure.  "There are significant positive implications for soil erosion and sediment control ... (the new site) will generate 76.8 per cent less soil loss over earthworks, and shorten the earthworks period from 14 months to five months."  The document is called "Addendum to the Detailed EIA on Thermal Treatment Plant for Solid Waste Management in Broga, Semenyih, Hulu Langat".  It is an addition to the original detailed EIA, which was approved on May 28, 2004. The Department of Environment requested the addendum after receiving feedback that more attempts to minimise environmental impacts be looked into.  The addendum was to have been removed from public scrutiny on Jan 5 but is now on further display at all DOE libraries until Feb 28 following appeals by Broga residents yesterday.  The bad news is that the document appears to predict that average soil loss after project completion would be roughly 5.6 tonnes per hectare per year.  Most of this soil run-off would flow into Sungai Rinching, which the report did not deem to be of "beneficial use" compared to Sungai Saringgit, which flows into aquaculture farms downstream.  Sungai Rinching was also noted to be a faster-flowing river and hence, having a higher dilution rate for pollutants to aid in the recovery of the river system.  However, the report notes that soil loss will still be significant due to the removal of vegetation cover and loosening of soil, especially during the first few months of earthworks.  Mitigating measures during construction, such as building sediment ponds, silt traps, run-off drains, culverts and re-vegetation of slopes must be undertaken, the report said.

Updates on Broga Incinerator

2006-01-02T23:57:00.000+08:00

Did you know that the largest incinerator in Asia is planned to be built in Broga, 40km from Kuala Lumpu? And it lies in a water catchment area that supplies drinking water to 1.5 million people in the Klang Valley including Bangsar, Petaling Jaya, parts of Shah Alam and Puchong.

The latest update: The Broga incinerator site has been moved down the slope and now it lies right smack on Alice's mother's land. Coincidence? We don't think so. For those who have not watched the doco Alice Lives Here, Alice Lee is one of the feisty residents of Broga who has taken the government to court over the controversial incinerator. For this, she and the peaceful folks of Broga have been threatened by SB's and a wakil rakyat, "nanti saya hentam baru tahu!".

We need to let the authorities know how we feel, because it affects not only Alice and Broga, but us, in that we will be drinking water where the incinerator will be sitting on. This is the time for us to give feedback to the Department of Environment and I suggest that we CC to Pak Lah, Ong Ka Ting (his ministry is implementing the project), Health Ministry and newspaper editors (e-mail addresses are below). There are two versions, Malay and English.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Reelpower

Useful Contacts

2006-01-02T23:49:00.000+08:00

Ministers addresses

Dato' Sri Abdullah Perdana Menteri
Pejabat Perdana Menteri
Bangunan Perdana Putra
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62502 Putrajaya
Tel : 03 8888 8000
Fax: 03 8888 3444
ppm@pmo.gov.my

Dato Dr Chua Soi Lek
Menteri Kesihatan
marsita@moh.gov.my

Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting
Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan
Paras 3-7, Blok K, Pusat Bandar Damansara, 50782 Kuala Lumpur
[Tel: 603-2094 7033 /Fax : 603-2094 9720] menteri@kpkt.gov.my
-------------------------------------------------------------------

E-mails and contact numbers:
News Straits Times : fax 03-2284 8248 / ! 03-2282 3001 / 03-2284 9144
email: letters@nstp.com.my

The Malay Mail : fax 03-2284 9133
email: mailbag@nstp.com.my

The Sunday Mail : fax 03-2282
1434 email: mmnews@nstp.com.my

Star Publications (M'sia) Bhd : fax 03-7954 2544
email: editor@thestar.com.my

The Sun : fax 03-7785 2624
email: letters@thesundaily.com

Malaysiakini : 03-2289 2579
email: editor@malaysiakini.com

Utusan
Malaysia : fax 03-9222 7876 / 03-9223 6031 / 03-9223 9854 (surat
kpd Pengarang)
email: pendapat@utusan.com.my

Berita Harian : fax 03-2282 2425 / 03-2284 4978
email: bh@bharian.com.my

Harian Metro : fax 03-2284 8390 / 03-2284 6133
email: bhnews@bharian.com.my / sazarina@bharian.com.my

Bernama : fax 03-2698 1102
email: bgns@bernama.com.my

KOSMO : fax 03-9221 8590
email: farizwan@kosmo.com.my

Surat Bantahan atas Laporan Tambahan EIA

2006-01-02T23:45:00.000+08:00

Ketua Pengarah
Jabatan Alam Sekitar , Aras 3-7, Blok C4, Parcel C,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62662 Putrajaya.
e-mail: hri@doe.gov.my

Tuan/Puan,

Mengapa Projek Insinerator Broga Harus Dipertimbangkan:
Ulasan Ke Atas Laporan Tambahan EIA (Addendum EIA 2005)

Saya, sebagai rakyat Malaysia yang prihatin terhadap alam sekitar dan kesihatan rakyat, ingin membuat ulasan terhadap Laporan Tambahan EIA yang dikeluarkan baru-baru ini. Walaupun adanya sedikit kelebihan memindahkan tapak incinerator ke kawasan lebih rendah dan pamah (200m Tenggara dari tapak asal), akan tetapi masalah-masalah yang dihuraikan di Laporan EIA Terperinci Semenyih/Broga 2003 masih lagi belum dapat diselesaikan.

Misalnya:

1) Tapak insinerator terlalu hampir dengan kawasan perumahan dan Universiti of Nottingham. Seperti yang dinyatakan dalam Garis Panduan Perancangan Tapak Insinerator yang dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Perancangan Bandar dan Desa (JPBD) Semenanjung Malaysia 1999 , oleh kerana Insinerator bersekil besar adalah jenis bersepadu di mana sisa pepejal dan sisa-sisa berjadual (toksid) diproses, Insinerator ini perlu ditempatkan jauh daripada orang awam. Jarak perlulah sekurang-kurang 50 km radius daripada kawasan keutamaan pembangunan.

Akan tetapi mengikut Laporan EIA Terperinci (DEIA 2003), terdapat 400,000 penduduk di dalam lingkungan 10km radius darip tapak insinerator. Kawasan perumahan terdekat ialah Taman Tasik Semenyih yang jauhnya hanya 1.99 km dari tapak incinerator. Cadangan projek ini benar-benar bercanggah dengan garis panduan demi keselamatan rakyat yang dikeluarkan oleh JPBD di bawah Kementrian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan.

2) Tapak insinerator yang baru masih di dalam kawasan tadahan air iaitu di antara Sg Saringgit dan Sg Rinching dan kedua-kedua sungai ini adalah anak Sg Semenyih yang membekalkan air minuman kepada lebih daripada 1.5 juta penduduk di sekitar Lembah Kelang dan Selangor.

Air adalah hak kita semua. Jabatan Alam Sekitar harus memahami kepentingan sungai sebagai sumber air minuman kepada rakyat. Kami juga merujuk kepada janji Puan Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Alam Sekitar semasa penerangan kepada ketua-ketua kampung di Semenyih pada 2002 iaitu sekiranya kawasan projek insinerator adalah kawasan tadahan air, beliau adalah orang pertama yang akan membatalkan projek tersebut. Di samping itu, Menteri Besar Selangor juga telah berjanji bahawa kerajaan negeri tidak pernah membenarkan sebarang pembangunan di kawasan tadahan air. Oleh itu, kami menyeru Puan Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Alam Sekitar dan Menteri Besar Selangor menuraikan janji mereka memandangkan laporan EIA telah jelas menunjukkan tapak insinerator yang dicadangkan adalah kawasan tadahan air.

3) Tidak kira projek ini pindah ke mana, ia tetap akan melepaskan berbagai jenis gas semasa operasi loji. Gas-gas ini bukan sahaja merosakkan alam sekitar, ia juga akan membahayakan kesihatan manusia. Menurut Laporan EIA Terperinci 2003, penilaian utama pencemaran udara dari sisa incinerator ialah dioksin. Salah satu bahan kimia yang terkandung dalam dioksin adalah 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) yang diketahui membawa kesan-kesan negative terhadap system saraf, pembiakan dan imuniti (daya ketahanan badan). Menurut laporan itu, Agensi Antarabangsa untuk Kajian Barah (IARC) mengklasifikasikan TCDD sebagai Kelas 1 penyebab barah manusia, misalnya barah testis, prostate dan buah dada.

4) Pembinaan insinerator ini masih di sebahagian kawasan cerun yang melebihi 25 darjah meskipun kawasan ini telah dikurangkan dari 9 ha ke 3 ha. Ini adalah bercanggah dengan pengumuman kabinet untuk memberhentikan pembangunan di kawasan cerun yang melebihi 25 darjah.

5) Oleh kerana tiada pusat pelupusan sampah (Landfill) di kawasan berhampiran projek insinerator untuk melupus abu-abu yang bertoksid (Toxic Fly Ash), maka beratus-ratus ton abu bertoksid setiap hari akan di hantarkan ke tempat lain untuk dilupuskan. Abu-abu yang mengandungi berbagai jumlah logam berat dan organic jejak termasuk Dioksin akan membahayakan kesihatan rakyat semasa ia dibawa keluar. Keadaan akan menjadi lebih serius lagi apabila berlaku kemalangan dalam perjalanan.

6) Tapak insinerator berada dalam kawasan pertanian (Agriculture Land) di mana ia merupakan tempat cari rezeki oleh penduduk-penduduk tempatan. Kebanyakan penduduk kampung sini kurang berpelajaran. Oleh itu, menoreh getah dan kerja pertanian seperti berkebun sayur, menternak ayam / ikan dan berkebun buah-buahan adalah satu-satu kemahiran mereka dan pendapatan (Income) mereka adalah di antara RM300 – RM600 sehari. Sekiranya projek ini dilaksanakan di sini, penduduk - penduduk Broga akan kehilangan kerja dan pendapatan harian mereka dan ini turut akan menggangu kehidupan mereka.

Oleh kerana sebab-sebab yang diterakan di atas, Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Alam Sekitar TIDAK BOLEH meluluskan tapak yang dicadangkan.

Kami mahu pembangunan tetapi kami TIDAK mahu projek yang membawa risiko yang begitu besar dan tidak setimpal dengan faedah yang diberikan. Kami menyeru agar kerajaan mempertimbangkan cara-cara alternatif yang lebih selamat dan sayang terhadap alam sekitar, misalnya recycling dan sanitary landfill. Ini kerana negara kita hanya mengitar-semula kurang dari 3% sampah kita, berbanding dengan Jepun yang megitar-semula 20%.

Sekian, kami berharap Jabatan Alam Sekitar akan utamakan alam sekitar dan kesihatan rakyat.

Yang benar,

Nama :
Tel:

E-mails of Malay papers:

pendapat@utusan.com.my, bh@bharian.com.my, bhnews@bharian.com.my, sazarina@bharian.com.my, bgns@bernama.com.my, farizwan@kosmo.com.my

Letter of Protest (addendum EIA2005)

2006-01-02T23:35:00.002+08:00

Director
Department of Environment , Aras 3-7, Blok C4, Parcel C,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62662 Putrajaya.
e-mail: hri@doe.gov.my

Dear Madam,

Why the Broga Incinerator Project Must Be Reconsidered:
Comments on the Addendum EIA 2005

As a Malaysian citizen who is concerned about the environment and health of the rakyat, I would like to comment on the Appendum EIA that was released for public feedback recently. There appears to be some improvements with regards to decrease in soil erosion and sedimentation in the new site (shifted 200 m South East from the original site), however, what is worrying is that the problems highlighted in the Detailed EIA for Broga/Semenyih 2003 have not been resolved.

For instance,

1) The incinerator site is too close to residential areas and the University of Notthingam. According to the Planning Guidelines for Incinerator Site 1999 , published by the Town and Rural Planning Department Peninsular Malaysia, large scale incinerators where toxic waste and solids are combined and processed, they should be sited far away from public places. The distance should be at least 50 km radius from sites of major development.

However, according to the Detailed EIA 2003, there are 400,000 people living within a 10 km radius from the planned incinerator site. The closest housing area is Taman Tasik Semenyih and Kampung Broga which are merely 2 km away from the site. The planned project is definitely in conflict with the planning guidelines from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government which published the 1999 guidelines, evidently for the safety of the public.

2) The new site is still within a water catchment area, i.e, between Sg Saringgit and Sg. Rinching, and both these small rivers feed into Sg Semenyoh which provides drinking water to more than 1.5 million people in the Klang Valley and Selangor including Bangsar, Petaling Jaya, Puchong and parts of Shah Alam.

Clean water is our right and the Department of Environment (DOE) should understand the importance of clean rivers as a source of drinking water for the people. The incinerator must not be built in a water catchment area, as have been promised to us by the Director of DOE and the Menteri Besar of Selangor.

3) No matter where the incinerator is located, it is well documented throughout the world that incinerators release toxic gases during operation. According to the Detailed EIA 2003, the main emissions from incinerators are dioxins, a group of chemicals that is known to be carcinogenic.

The report also acknowledges that the most poisonous is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) that is known to affect the nervous system, reproductive and immune system. The International Agency for Research onCancer (IARC) classifies TCDD as a Class 1 cancer causing agent, for instance, testicular, prostate and breast cancers.

4) Although it is moved to a new site, a portion of the site is still on slopes of more than 25 degrees, a reduction from 9 ha to 3 ha. This is clearly in conflict with the cabinet's announcement since the Highland Tower's tragedy, that development at slopes of more than 25 degrees should not be allowed. To built an incinerator on hill slopes and in a water catchment area is asking for trouble.

5) As there is no site for landfill nearby the planned incinerator to contain the Toxic Fly Ash, tonnes of ash would have to be transported to another location. This toxic ash that contains various heavy metals and inorganic traces including Dioxins will endanger the health of people living along the routes of trucks carrying the ash. In the event of accidents, the result would be catastrophic.

6) The incinerator is built on agricultural land. The local people depend on the land for their livelihoods. Most people in the area tap rubber, grow vegetables, tend orchards, farm fish and rear chickens. If this project goes ahead, they will loose their source of income and their work and lives will be disrupted. Food production, most of which is sent to Kuala Lumpur for sale, will stand the risk of contamination with an incinerator that is built so close by.

For the above reasons, the Director of the DOE, CANNOT approve the incinerator project.

We want development, but we DO NOT want a project that brings such high hazards and risks for such little benefits. We urge the government to find alternative means that are safer and more environmental friendly, for instance, recycling and sanitary landfill to manage Klang Valley's mounting trash. Malaysia is only recycling less than 3% of our waste, and we are already opting for the biggest incinerator of its type in Asia, compared to Japan that is recycling 20%.

We hope that the DOE will have the environment and the health of the rakyat in mind before they consider the project.

Yours Sincerely,

____________________________

Name:
Tel:
Address:

E-mails of English papers:
letters@nstp.com.my , mailbag@nstp.com.my , mmnews@nstp.com.my , editor@thestar.com.my, letters@thesundaily.com , editor@malaysiakini.com

reelpower

REHMAN RASHID: Salute to a failed venture in waste disposal

REHMAN RASHID: Salute to a failed venture in waste disposal

旺姐：撤焚化炉彰显人民力量学运：不透明情况下展开结束

Broga incinerator project called off

Broga incinerator project called off

DPM: Broga incinerator project stopped because it was too expensive

Broga project too costly, says Najib

Archive

Najib : No Statement on Broga

Merdeka Review

M'kini: Broga incinerator: it's over, says paper

Global Day of Action against Waste Incineration

Broga residents clear second hurdle in court

Fix Problem at the root

Huge M'sian waste project runs into hurdle

Rubbish incineration not as clean as its advocates say

Want clean rivers? Scrap Broga incinerator!

BN MP raises concern over incinerator

Broga incinerator a chemical bomb

‘MB lied on TV’: Broga residents incensed

Malaysiakini Jan 19

Broga project settled’ NST 17th Jan 2006

Alternative site proposed NST 17th Jan 2006

Updates on Broga Incinerator

Useful Contacts

Surat Bantahan atas Laporan Tambahan EIA

Letter of Protest (addendum EIA2005)