MORE than 2,000 residents of Rawang in Selangor have submitted their objections to the Selayang Municipal Council’s (MPS) proposal to rezone land to build an incinerator in their neighbourhood.

The residents said the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) had sought their input on the proposed change of land use from residential to heavy industrial.

They said MPS will soon be holding a public hearing on the rezoning of the land for the RM4.5 billion incinerator project in Batu Arang.

Rawang Tolak Insinerator Network spokesman Esther Woo said the MPS has invited the residents to a a briefing on the matter.

She said that nearly all of the 2,000 residents are against the rezoning of Lot 3847.

“This is so that the project to build the incinerator can start. Mostly all residents are protesting the project,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

She said among the 2,000 people who have submitted their objections to the MPS, 720 have agreed to attend the public hearing.

She said the residents are looking forward to the discussions about the rezoning of the site where the proposed incinerator is to be built.

“We are also seeking a separate public hearing on the incinerator project. We hear the public hearing will include discussions on three other projects.

“However, the time and date for the public hearing have yet to be confirmed.”

Woo said the residents want to see the environmental (EIA) and social impact reports on the project.

“We have already engaged a consultant to look into the EIA report once it is completed.”

Residents of Batu Arang, M Residence, Kota Puteri, and Bandar Tasik Puteri are protesting a proposal to build a waste-to-energy green energy plant named after Sultan Idris Shah.

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

KDEB Waste Management and YTL Power are to develop the 99ha project.

Woo said residents staged a protest in October last year and another one in January.  

She added that on March 7, JRTI representatives held a briefing on the project at the Selangor state assembly office with lawmakers and the authorities.

“This briefing was on waste management alternatives in Selangor.  

“We heard the turnout was poor as only two elected representatives and some officers were there.”

In September, Selayang MP William Leong voiced objections to the project and questioned the risks of having two incinerators operating simultaneously within a 15km radius.

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

Leong said residents are concerned about health and environmental risks. – April 915, 2024.