Broga residents opposing the mega-incinerator project should write to the Housing and Local Government Ministry to present their case and propose an alternative, if they have o­ne, said a top official.

Local Government Department director-general Mohamad Saib - echoing minister o­ng Ka Ting in parliament earlier this week - said the government was willing to listen to alternative suggestions o­n how to handle wastes from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

"Ask them to write in, and we can have a dialogue. I am a firm believer in sustainable development and public participation is a crucial component," he told malaysiakini when met at his office in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Although the government knows that incineration is expensive, he said, the municipal solid waste scenario must also be seen in totality.

"I'm sure there are people who have travelled far, seen a lot and have knowledge about things which we in the government may not be aware of.

"If they can come up with good suggestions o­n alternatives and present it to us, I would like to study that and we can take it from there," he said.

Mohamad Saib was responding to the continued opposition by local residents to the proposed RM1.5 billion thermal incinerator plant in Broga, Selangor, scheduled for completion in 2007.

Waste woes

The Broga/Semenyih No Incinerator pro tem action committee claims the plant not o­nly poses a public health and safety hazard to millions in the Klang Valley, but is also not economically and environmentally viable.

Mohamad initially appeared upset with the opposition to the project, the first of several incinerators planned nationwide, and questioned the motive for the protest, likening it to the Puchong experience where intense public pressure led to the project's relocation to Broga.

"What is it that they actually want? Are they opposing the incinerator or the way the government is handling the matter?

"Previously, the Puchong residents didn't want an incinerator in their area and the government was forced to relocate it but now, Broga residents are against it too. Maybe we should put it somewhere else," he said, referring to the not-in-my-backyard syndrome.

The action committee, claiming to represent about 80,000 people from about 25 housing estates in Broga, Semenyih, Kajang, Beranang and surrounding areas, is disputing the tender itself.

He then related the government's predicament in handling increasing volume of trash o­nce several scheduled shutdown for landfills over the next few years are completed.

"For instance, the Puchong landfill is supposed to be closed down next year. How am I going to handle thousands of tonnes of garbage?" he asked, adding that the proposed incinerator was to complement the recycling campaign.

Conditional contract

The government has awarded Japan's Ebara Corp the contract to build the plant.

Asked to comment o­n this, Mohamad Saib said: "As I have said in a statement earlier, the contract is conditional because we have included a clause stating that if the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study is not approved, the contract will be terminated."

"People don't understand this and start accusing us of many things."

The ministry has appointed Perunding Utama Sdn Bhd, an environmental consultant registered with the Department of Environment (DOE), as the independent consultant to prepare the detailed EIA.

The Broga committe has also sent a memorandum each to Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, government and opposition MPs.

Their efforts to get Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and local elected representatives to consider their objections have proven futile.

The public has until April 26 to submit written comments to the DOE o­n the terms of reference for the detailed EIA at the address stated in advertisements placed for three days beginning yesterday in the News Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia.