Rawang Against Incinerator Network
14 Ogo 2023
Rawang Against Incinerator Network (RTI) aimed to collect 10,000 signatures from residents
The Rawang Against Incinerator Network (Jaringan Rawang Tolak Insinerator-RTI) aimed to collect 10,000 signatures from residents within this month for a petition to oppose the Selangor state government's plan to construct an incinerator here.
Liow Yeong Lih, Coordinator of RTI, said that although collecting 10,000 signatures in such a brief period is not an easy task, it is committed and will do its best to achieve this goal.
"This is to demonstrate the opposition of Rawang residents so that the authorities know strong objection from the people. Thus, we plan to hold environmental awareness activities or lectures in residential areas near the incinerator construction site."
Liow expressed hope that the planned environmental awareness activities will help to convey to residents the information about garbage classification which is the most important principle in waste management.
"We will also hold the signature campaign at the same time," he revealed this at an anti-incinerator seminar held in Batu Arang yesterday.
About 50 local residents attended the talk. Some residents also actively responded to the call to sign the petition.
Also invited at the event to share experiences with the public were Dr. Lam Choong Wah, Media Director of Kuala Lumpur Rejects Incinerator Action Committee, and Wong Yuen Mei, member of Broga-Semenyih No Incinerator pro tem action committee.
During the talk, Wong said that the authorities originally planned to build an incinerator in Puchong, Selangor. However, after being opposed by local residents, the incinerator was relocated to Broga-Semenyih.
"Residents in Broga-Semenyih firmly opposed the plan at that time. They took the initiative to form a committee to oppose [the incinerator plan] and actively carried out various activities to explain the danger of having this incinerator. They also expressed their objections relentlessly."
Wong said that the Broga-Semenyih residents engaged various strategies including taking legal actions, as well as seeking support from international organizations. She said continuous opposition was indispensable in the then movement.
Meanwhile, Lam said Batu Arang is a beautiful town with rich history which should be protected.
"Do not reduce it to be a rubbish town," he said.
He also refuted the authorities' claim that incinerators can generate electricity as green energy.
Lam said in the fight against climate change, the world is currently making efforts to reduce carbon emissions, adding that large-scale incineration of garbage will only produce and release massive amounts of carbon dioxide.
"On the contrary, this is not reducing carbon, but adding carbon [to the air]. It will even undermine our country's commitment to reducing carbon and fighting climate change on the international stage."
"Even the the United Nations or its affiliated agencies dared not rashly classify incinerators that emit large-scale carbon dioxide as green energy. Why does the Selangor state government dare claim this is green energy?" Lam asked.
Lam urged the Selangor government to reveal the estimated total annual carbon emissions of the planned Rawang incinerator, and "must not attempt to evade or conceal the facts".
The full name of the Rawang incinerator is "Loji Sisa Ke Tenaga Sultan Idris Shah Green Energy Plant".
To sign the petition, please click here: https://forms.gle/k7EPqniU1Eaz5d6z9
Rawang residents are encouraged to join the team and work together to collect signatures for the petition. Those who are interested, please contact RTI (whatsapp) +60 11-2351 4588.