A need of an incinerator

MALACCA: Malacca’s status as Green Technology state would not be affected by a proposed high-tech incinerator in Sungai Udang said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.

He added that Malacca is setting up the facility at the site, similar to the technology used by the Japanese waste management industry.

“This high-tech incinerator is eco-friendly and does not emit smoke and energy produced by it’s methane by-product. This can be used as an alternative power source.

“Therefore the question of us shedding our status as Green Technology state does not arise,” he said.

The government, added Idris, was forced to open a new dumpsite to deal with the city’s solid waste disposal problem following some glitches at the Krubong landfill.

He said the 22.6ha Krubong landfill had reached its maximum capacity and the state has yet to obtain the much-needed Federal allocation to build an incinerator in Sungai Udang.

“We are appealing to the Federal Government to speed the project as the state is in a dire need of the incinerator,” he said.

Idris said the Krubong landfill had reached it maximum capacity and the only way to overcome waste disposal issues in the state is by introducing the incinerator.

“We don’t have any land reserve to be turned into landfills, therefore an incinerator is the best long-term plan,” he added.

Idris said he had also directed State Housing, Local Government and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ismail Othman to find an immediate solution on the complaints of stench being emitted at the Krubong landfill.

“I gave a one month’s grace period for Datuk Ismail to ensure the landfill is in good order by working closely with relevant waste management agencies,” he said.

Idris added that minimising the discharge of leachate when garbage trucks enter the site and upgrading the piping system at the landfill were part of the task to be overseen by Ismail.

The Krubong landfill commissioned since the 1980s has reached maximum capacity with almost a billion tonnes of accumulated solid waste and the alternative was to construct a RM500mil incinerator at a 60ha site in Sungai Udang.

Separately, the government is drafting a by-law to prohibit vending machines with elements of gambling at all entertainment outlets.

Idris said these vending machines include toys dispensing units that was widely available at shopping complexes in the state.

“This is an effort to discourage the young minds from picking up gambling habits,” he added.