DPM: Broga incinerator project stopped because it was too expensive

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.