KUANG assemblyman Mohd Rafiq Abdullah said Rawang residents are contemplating filing an injunction over a proposal to build a RM4.5 billion incinerator in their area.

He said the project needs to be investigated in detail before any action can be taken. 

“This project is still in the planning stages. We need to get details as the decision to go forward has yet to be made by the state government. 

“The residents have already set up a committee to look into the matter. They could possibly file an injunction to stop the project,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

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

Rawang Tolak Insinerator Network spokesman Abdul Hanan Abd Mokti said the closest housing scheme to the incinerator is Batu Arang with a population of about 5,000. 

This, he said, is 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.” 

KDEB Waste Management and YTL Power are to developed the project, which covers 99.15ha.

Rafiq said he would raise the matter at the state assembly meeting, which is expected to take place at the end of October or early November. 

“We want to see what the state government’s plans are as the environmental and social impact assessment reports have yet to be submitted.” 

Rafiq said he would file the injunction together with the residents should the state government remain unresponsive to their complaints. 

He, however, said they preferred an out-of-court settlement, if possible.

Selayang MP William Leong has reportedly opposed the project and has questioned the risks of having two incinerators operating simultaneously within a 15km radius. 

The second incinerator was planned at Taman Beringin, Kepong, but the Housing and Local Government Ministry relocated it to Rawang after residents protested. 

Leong said residents are concerned they may encounter health and environmental risks. – September 5, 2023.