Broga project too costly, says Najib

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.