Abdul Hanan and other Rawang residents protesting against the proposed incinerator in Batu Arang. — Photos: AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
RAWANG folk are against the proposed RM4.5billion incinerator project in Batu Arang, citing safety, health, environment and traffic concerns.
Bandar Tasik Puteri Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT) Blok 12 chairman Abdul Hanan Abd Mokti claimed the proposed incinerator with a daily capacity of 3,500 tonnes was expected to receive 3,400 tonnes of waste from six local councils in Selangor – Petaling Jaya, Hulu Selangor, Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Ampang Jaya and Selayang.
The incinerator would also receive 100 tonnes of scheduled waste, he alleged.
He said 13 residential areas nearby would be affected.
“We object to the incinerator project because of the associated safety, health and environmental risks,” he said.
“The incineration process, which will involve extremely high temperatures, is also raising concerns about its impact on the geological structure of Batu Arang.”
He said Batu Arang was once Malaysia’s largest coal mine. The area has open-cast mines turned into lakes, besides extensive mining tunnels.
“Based on our understanding, there is a 52km tunnel network.
“Nobody knows where exactly these tunnels are but if they are located beneath the town, then there are risks of explosion,” he said during a press conference organised by Rawang residents associations and Jaringan Rawang Tolak Insinerator (JRTI) at the operations room of KRT Blok 28 GVP in Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang.
“Selangor government has designated Bandar Batu Arang as a heritage area but ironically, the same government is planning to construct the incinerator at the gazetted site,” he noted.
Abdul Hanan said studies had shown that gas emissions from incinerators could have adverse effects on the health of those living nearby.
“Besides odour from accumulated waste, we expect traffic congestion with 350 lorries carrying 3,500 tonnes of waste daily.
“An incinerator in Batu Arang will also affect property value. Most of us here are either low-income earners or retirees.
“We cannot sell our properties and relocate because we have invested all our savings here,” he highlighted.
He said the waste-to-energy (WTE) facility was not a green project despite being labelled such.
“It is not environmentally friendly and contradicts Malaysia’s commitment to zero carbon emissions, as incineration is not a renewable or green technology unlike solar, wind and geothermal energy which are abundant and renewable.
Abdul Hanan said there were proposed WTE facilities in Tanjung Dua Belas and Jeram, with Jeram’s incinerator already built.
“We think these facilities will be sufficient to handle waste management for all of Selangor, without the need for a new incinerator in Batu Arang,” he said.
Woo: Growth of the northern Selangor corridor will be affected.
Bandar Seri Coalfields resident Woo Wai Kuan said the potential growth of the northern Selangor corridor would be affected by the project.
She asked, “Who will want to develop housing, business or industrial areas next to the incinerator?”
The JRTI group plans to hold a demonstration on Jan 21 and wants to meet with Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and state local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim.
When contacted by StarMetro, Rawang assemblyman Chua Wei Kiat said he had raised residents’ concerns over the incinerator.
Meanwhile, Kuang assemblyman Mohd Rafiq Mohd Abdullah when contacted, described the incinerator’s location as unsuitable because Batu Arang was a densely populated area.
He said he would be attending the protest at Tapak Pasar Tani Medan Puteri,
Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) was asked for comments on the incinerator, set to be built on a 140ha site, but had yet to respond at press time.
