RAWANG residents are seeing red over a proposal to build an incinerator in their neighbourhood as it could cause environmental and health issues. 

The residents from Batu Arang, M Residence, Kota Puteri, and Bandar Tasik Puteri are protesting the proposal to build a RM4.5 billion waste-to-energy Sultan Idris Shah green energy plant.   

They are seeking the intervention of Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari to stop it.

Rawang Tolak Insinerator (RTI) Network spokesman Abdul Hanan Abd Mokti said they only found out about the project in July through residents who were invited for a briefing session by the developer. 

“The developer conducted a stakeholders engagement involving 17 parties in early July. 

“Out of that (representatives), only two residential areas were invited to the session despite there being many other housing schemes there. 

“So, we only got the information from those who were invited to the session,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

Hanan said the proposed project, covering 245 acres, is to be developed by KDEB Waste Management and YTL Power.

“It (project) is currently at the proposal stage, where the developer is preparing the environmental and social impact assessment reports. 

“We don’t know when the reports will be given (to the state government).” 

Environmental and health concerns

Hanan said based on the proposal by the developer, the facility would be strictly regulated in terms of gas emissions, bottom ash, and fly ash disposal. 

“But our concern is the maintenance and compliance culture (by the developer). 

“If the key performance index and control functions are not strictly enforced, there could be environmental issues such as gas emissions and control of waste material.” 

He added that they were concerned about health issues as fly ash could contain chemicals harmful to one’s health in the short- and long-term. 

“Another environmental issue is that there could be leachate both from the incinerator operations and accumulation of garbage. 

“It could end up polluting ground water and the rivers. 

“The incinerator is also to be built next to a lake and there is a high potential of pollution.” 

He said the residents were concerned about traffic as the incinerator would be processing 2,400 tonnes of waste per day, which meant there could be 120 lorries coming in daily from all over Selangor. 

“This could also impact our property values. The closest housing scheme to the incinerator is Batu Arang with a population of about 5,000, followed by Bandar Tasik Puteri (120,000) and Bandar Country Homes (150,000), which are all located within a 5km-radius. 

“There are also houses located about 500m from the project, so all the residents here are rejecting this project.” 

Creating awareness 

Hanan said their focus now was to create awareness of the project among residents. 

“We have also started an online and physical petition to get 10,000 signatures. So far, we have got about 4,000. 

“We have also erected about 50 “Say no to incinerator” banners all over the area and are reaching out to residents on TikTok, Facebook, and other platforms.” 

Hanan added that they were not against the incinerator project but wanted it built elsewhere. 

“We understand other countries also have incinerators, but please do not build it here as this is not a suitable place. 

“We don’t want this area to be turned into a rubbish hub as Batu Arang is also a heritage site.” 

Another RTI spokesman, Lam Choong Wah, said residents were upset with the state government as it did not solicit their feedback. 

“Why didn’t it tell us what qualified it to build (the incinerator) in this area? 

“We are also finalising our memorandum to be presented to the Selangor menteri besar. 

“We have already contacted his office last week and it said it was going to send an officer to handle our requests. 

“We want to meet the MB to handover our memorandum and petition signatures. So far, we have not gotten any response.” 

Lam said they also requested the help of Selayang MP William Leong but had yet to receive a reply.  

“If our formal requests do not receive any response, we have no choice but to seek out the MB and present our memorandum.” – August 29, 2023.