Mastika II residents want cement plant to be shifted

The Star 22/6/2004 By CHOW HOW BAN

SOME residents of Taman Melati in Kuala Lumpur want the local authorities to shift a concrete plant near the Mastika II phase of the residential area. 

They claim that the plant, which produces concrete used in the construction of the Platinum Victory project nearby, caused air and noise pollution to the surrounding areas. 

Mastika II Residents Association pro tem committee chairman Ramely Mansor said although the plant had been shifted after residents’ complained, its current location was still unsafe for the residents. 

“The plant’s location does not meet the minimum distance of 500m from a residential area, stipulated in the Department of Environment’s (DOE) guidelines on industries. 

“The plant is located less than 500m from the terrace houses in Mastika, SK Taman Melati, the school’s teachers’ quarters, Taska Islam Kampung Melayu Bumi Hijau, Kampung Melayu Bumi Hijau and Tunku Abdul Rahman College,” he said at a press conference held at a community hall in the Kenari Apartment on June 19.  

Also present was Wangsa Maju MP Yew Teong Look. 

Ramely said the residents feared that cement dust from the factory would become a health hazard for residents in the area. 

”We have met City Hall officials and the developer but they don’t seem to have taken our plight seriously as the plant has been approved by the authorities.” 

Yew said the residents’ concern for their health was understandable. 

“As a wakil rakyat, I will continue to find a way to resolve this matter. But that’s all I can say for the time being. I hope that the developer will not begin their operations at the plant until a solution is found,” he said. 

When contacted, Platinum Victory Sdn Bhd managing director Gan Yu Chai said the plant had yet to resume operations since it was shifted 120m from its former location. 

He said the plant was now about 200m away from the back of the houses in Jalan 4/5A, Taman Melati (Mastika II). 

“We started our plant operations at the previous location at the end of last year. After the residents’ complained, City Hall asked us to stop and we shifted to the current location,” he said. 

Gan said it was not easy to have the plant approved as the developer had to go through many procedures set by the DOE and City Hall’s planning and health departments.  

Officials from both departments have certified that the site was suitable for such purposes. 

He said the developer was awaiting other measures like putting up of hoardings, providing cover for sandstones and installation of sprinklers to be met before the plant would be allowed to resume operations. 

“We will not begin operations until all the environmental standards are met. As a responsible developer, we want to make friends with our neighbours.  

“We have yet to begin operations at the plant since the Feb 25 meeting with City Hall,” he said, adding that the developer had fulfilled about 80% of the requirements so far. 

On the minimum distance of 500m, Gan said the plant was considered safe as the “wet” concept used by the plant was different from other dry concrete-producing facilities that were required to comply with the ruling. 

He said since cement, sand and concrete was mixed with water and eventually formed a liquid-based mixture at the facility, it would relatively reduce air pollution in the surrounding areas compared with dry mixture-producing facilities. 

The mixture will be transported to the project nearby.  

The plant will cease operations once the project, which consists of medium-cost apartments and shops, is completed by 2006.