How many policemen does it take to jot down the words on a protest banner? In Semenyih, it took seven including one in plainclothes.

Ah Gan, a villager from nearby Kampung Broga who has vehemently opposed the 1,500-tonne incinerator being built less than two kilometers away, was about to ride off at 4.30pm when a man wearing a full-face crash helmet blocked him with his motorbike.

He immediately snatched a banner from the metal carriage of Ah Gan's bike and demanded to see his identity card. Soon after an unmarked grey Pajero with seven to eight uniformed policemen arrived.

An argument ensued with Ah Gan loudly protesting the seizing of the banner as the police officers proceeded to open it and record down the messages contained inside.

Two uniformed personnel also attempted to seize malaysiakini's digital camera but backed off after being told about the rights of a journalist on duty.

Asked later, Ah Gan said he was not intimidated by the police.

"Do they think that just because they are the government, the rest of us villagers are stupid cowards?" he said loudly, visibly angry.

"They (police) can do whatever they want. I'm not afraid because I know that I've not done anything wrong."

The banner

Incidentally, the banner welcomed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the University of Nottingham Malaysia for today's official opening of its first campus outside of the United Kingdom.

Below the two messages of greetings, however, the banner contained words opposing the RM1.5 billion incinerator plant in Broga, situated a few kilometres from the campus.

The campus project saw a two-year delay following concerns over the relocation of the mammoth incinerator from Kampung Bohol in Puchong, in Kuala Lumpur's suburbs, to remote and laidback Broga.

Local residents have since mounted strong protests and peaceful demonstrations to halt the incinerator - touted to be the biggest of its kind in the world - including challenging the project in court, and have since exhausted all avenues.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was supposed to attend the opening ceremony of the spanking-new campus along Jalan Broga but was replaced by his deputy, Najib Abdul Razak.

A group of 30 senior citizens, young women, men and children from Broga had gathered at Taman Tasik Semenyih since 2.30pm to watch the arrival of the VIP entourage.

At about 4pm, Ah Gan and three others unfurled the banner at the Semenyih-Broga junction hoping to get the deputy prime minister's attention on their four-year fight against the incinerator.

The local anti-incinerator campaign, led by the Kampung Broga sub-committee, has seen numerous memorandum and appeal letters sent to Abdullah, Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting, the Department of Environment and local elected representatives.

None of them have responded to date, except for a request for clarification from Abdullah's office to Ong's ministry.

Octogenarian protester

At the shoplot where the villagers had gathered, watched closely by just as many police officers armed with batons, a few senior citizens tried explaining that they were there to welcome the PM and to tell him about their plight.

The ranking officer whose name-tag read Zainuddin declined to say anything when approached for comments and refused to give his full name.

He was heard explaining to Keadilan Hulu Langat division chief and Selangor information chief Lee Kim Sin about illegal assembly if a group exceeds five persons.

"You either tell everyone here to disperse immediately and go home or I will not hesitate to use force, if necessary.

Lee, also known as Cikgu Lee, had tried to persuade Zainuddin by telling him about the villagers plight and why they wanted to meet Abdullah but the officer only said that "everyone must follow the law regardless".

An octogenarian known as Madam Kok (photo), with an umbrella and a small bag in hand, said she was not perturbed by the police presence.

"We don't want the waste incinerator in our midst, and that's final. That is why I'm here now, to meet the PM and tell him this because I don't think he's aware of what we've been up against over the last four years."

Her friend, Liau Siew Kian, who is in her 70s said she could never understand the police whenever they protested against the incinerator because "we never did anything wrong".

Despite their age, both women and their neighbours appeared determined to meet the prime minister one way or the other in order to stop the incinerator project.

Early this month, the Selangor Land and Minerals Department shelved plans to acquire land until the disposal of a suit filed to stop the project.