RAWANG residents said they would not stop fighting plans for an incinerator in Batu Arang, after being ignored by the Selangor government since last year.

To get the attention of the authorities, the Rawang Tolak Insinerator Network (RTI) will hold a peaceful protest on January 21 from 8am to 12pm at the Bandar Tasik Puteri night market site.

Its spokesman Abdul Hanan Abd Mokti said the group was adamant its voice be heard by the state government.

“This protest is to remind the authorities we are still here. We have made several requests for a meeting but have yet to receive a response.

“(RTI) is not a voice of one or two people, but a united front against the incinerator project,” Hanan told The Malaysian Insight.

He said RTI had sought an appointment with Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari over the past six months, but to no avail.

“We are expecting a crowd of between 500 and 1,000 people, which are mainly the residents of Bandar Tasik Puteri and from surrounding areas like Kota Puteri, Batu Arang, Coalfields, Saujana, and M Residence, who are impacted by this project.”

He said the group plans to organise more rallies to get the government’s attention.

In September, Kuang assemblyman Mohd Rafiq Abdullah said Rawang residents were considering filing an injunction over a proposal for a RM4.5 billion incinerator in the area.

He said the project must be thoroughly evaluated before any action was 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 said.

Hanan said the closest housing schemes to the incinerator were Batu Arang, with a population of about 5,000, Bandar Tasik Puteri (120,000 residents) and Bandar Country Homes (150,000) – 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.”

Residents are concerned they may encounter health and environmental risks if the project is approved.

KDEB Waste Management and YTL Power are the developers of the incinerator plant, which is set to cover 99.15ha. – January 7, 2024.