JARINGAN Rawang Tolak Insinerator (JRTI) has welcomed Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari’s statement that the state government may consider relocating a proposed incinerator from Batu Arang, near Rawang.
The decision follows objections from local residents regarding the waste-to-energy (WTE) project, officially known as the Sultan Idris Shah (SIS) Green Energy Plant.
The statement is significant as it shows that the state government is now publicly recognising the concerns raised by the Batu Arang community and is prepared to reconsider the proposed site.
However, “may relocate” is not yet a decision.
After more than three years of raising our concerns through formal channels, residents need more than another possibility.
We need to see clear and concrete action.
The Mentri Besar also acknowledged that the current 500m buffer zone is insufficient and that a larger buffer should be considered.
This raises an important question: if 500m is now considered inadequate, why was the Batu Arang proposal assessed on the basis of the existing buffer?
In light of the Mentri Besar’s statement, JRTI calls on the Selangor government to remove Batu Arang from consideration as the site for the proposed WTE plant.
After more than three years of raising objections and concerns through formal channels, the state government should now provide a clear commitment that the proposed plant will not proceed at this location.
Any alternative location must avoid residential areas.
Shifting these health and safety risks onto another community for government convenience is unacceptable.
Any alternative site must be transparently assessed for environmental, safety and traffic impacts.
Affected residents must be given a genuine opportunity to review the proposal and voice their concerns before a final decision.
We will be watching closely what follows this statement, and whether the state government is prepared to take concrete action to remove Batu Arang from consideration.
For now, we will continue to engage through the proper channels and represent the concerns of the Batu Arang community.
Jaringan Rawang Tolak Insinerator (JRTI)
