Over 4,000 objections against land rezoning for Rawang incinerator project

Rawang residents highlighting issues on the proposed incinerator during the presentation.

RAWANG residents have submitted over 4,000 objection forms to Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) opposing its plan to rezone land for the proposed RM4.5bil incinerator project in Batu Arang, Selangor.

Jaringan Rawang Tolak Insinerator (JRTI) member and Bandar Seri Coalfields resident Woo Wai Kuan, who gave the figure, said the council was planning to convert land gazetted for agriculture into industrial use.

This was to accommodate the state government’s plan to construct a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility, she told StarMetro after MPS’ Local Draft Plan 2030 Inquiry and Hearing Committee Meeting at a property sales gallery in Rawang.

The local council did not allow reporters entry into the meeting.

The residents’ objection forms outlined key issues such as conflicts with Rawang’s status as a heritage town, traffic hazards, health risks, odour pollution, water pollution, land instability and impact on property value.

Woo said the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Tanjung Dua Belas Incinerator was rejected by the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry on Nov 6.

“The rejection temporarily halted the state government’s efforts to proceed with the Tanjung Dua Belas incinerator project,” said Woo.

She said over 300 attendees were present at the hearing and 17 individuals, comprising JRTI members and Rawang residents, opposed the WTE facility.

They also submitted a memorandum and petition to state local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim.

Bandar Tasik Puteri Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT) Blok 12 chairman and JRTI member Abdul Hanan Abd Mokti said that attendees who opposed the incinerator included those living around the vicinity including Batu Arang, Bandar Tasik Puteri and Kota Puteri.