The controversial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed 1,500-tonne incinerator proposed in Broga, a backwater near Semenyih, has been under evaluation longer than expected, government sources said.

This is because the Department of Environment (DOE) is unable to set a deadline for the completion of the technical evaluation of the detailed EIA report.

The technical evaluation is necessary before a final decision can be made on the viability of the project.

DOE sources said the technical panel was considering the input obtained from the public "point-by-point".

"We want to be thorough and very proper in our evaluation of this project. So, we are looking at all the issues raised during the public feedback very carefully," said the sources when contacted today.

"The project proponent - the Housing and Local Government Ministry - and the government consultant have to explain, clarify and address the issues raised by the technical panel and public before we can decide on the EIA report."

Not unusual

Similarly, said the sources, the Bakun EIA study had also taken some time to be completed, particularly because there were sensitive issues involved.

The departmental sources, however, explained that a lengthy technical evaluation was not unusual given the complicated issues involved.

The DOE technical panel has met at least three times to deliberate on the EIA study for the proposed incinerator which costs an estimated RM1.5 billion and another RM200 million per year to maintain.

The project has also drawn flak from local residents, and local and international anti-incineration activists who described it as a waste of taxpayers money besides posing a health and environmental hazard.

The local protests have also been blacked out by the local media, prompting the Semenyih/Broga No Incinerator pro tem action committee to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.

Pro tem action committee chairperson Prof P Ramasamy felt the government would not reach a decision on the project before the general election, expected to be held in the very near future.

"I feel that the government will either shelve the project or start implementing it after the elections," he said.

The committee, he said, was keeping tabs on the current development and awaiting the outcome of the DOE evaluation.

Legal action

A group of Broga villagers have initiated legal action against the ministry, the Selangor government and the state land administrator. They have also asked for an early hearing date.

Opposition parties PAS, Keadilan and the DAP have shown a keen interest in taking up the issue, including visiting the Broga site and talking to the villagers.

Reiterating the committee's stand, Ramasamy said they were willing to work with "anyone who is opposed to the incinerator project".

"(But) that does not mean we are opposition members. We are only collaborating with them to stop the project, especially since the ruling party has failed to even listen to our grievances.

"It has also failed to respond to the numerous letters we have been sending to the prime minister, the ministry in charge, the state government and the various authorities since last year," he said.

Malaysia awarded the multi-billion ringgit project to a Japanese engineering giant, Ebara Corp, to design and build the plant touted as the world's largest to use the zero emission technology.

However, the government later launched a probe into allegations of fraud, and financial and environmental scandals involving the company.

The outcome of the probe remains unknown.