‘MB lied on TV’: Broga residents incensed

‘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.