Zuraida not ignoring group against incinerators

KUALA LUMPUR (May 1): Housing and Local Government (KPKT) Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin (pictured) has assured the public that she is not ignoring the concerns of a local group against incinerators.

"No, it is not true that I turned a deaf ear. I don't have a deaf ear in the first place,"  she was reported saying by Malaysiakini in a group interview to commemorate the first anniversary of the Pakatan Harapan administration.

She was responding to the Kuala Lumpur Tak Nak Insinerator (KTI) group's "unhappiness" over her and KPKT  officials not responding to an invitation to attend a forum and dialogue on incinerators held on April 6. 

The forum was reportedly organised after Zuraida announced plans to go ahead with a waste-to-energy (WTE) initiative where landfills are to be converted into incinerator plants.

She revealed to the media that Putrajaya decided not to build an incinerator or WTE project in Taman Beringin, Kepong after meeting the KTI several times.

"They came to see me. [I said] 'No problem, I am not going to do it in Taman Beringin'," the news portal reported her saying.

She also said that KTI's proposal for a recycling project in Taman Beringin "would have to be considered later as the government was now prioritising cleaning up rubbish nationwide".

Zuraida added that the group had been welcomed "to join the government's efforts to implement recycling initiatives".

She said her ministry is mulling plans to construct a WTE plant in Serendah after scrapping the one in Taman Beringin.

There are also plans for WTE projects at Johor’s Bukit Payong and Seelong landfills, Kedah’s Jabi and Samling landfills, and Selangor’s Bukit Tagar landfill.

"I think the people are more exposed and understand that technology is mature now. [They are] not worried anymore like in the past.

"The people have to learn to be more open about it, in order for the country to progress with all the outstanding rubbish cleaned up," Malaysiakini reported her saying.

Meanwhile, on the subject of the planned memorial park at the site of the Highland Towers tragedy, Zuraida said she was hoping to get approvals for the demolition of the two remaining blocks by the end of June, reported Free Malaysia Today.

She said this effort was meant "to ensure that the area would be rid of threats of vandalism, theft and other crimes".

“The community in the area has been living in fear for the past 25 years,” she added.