Johor Bahru: The Johor government today expressed hope that the federal government will expedite the construction of the waste-to-energy (WTE) plant at the Bukit Payong Sanitary Solid Waste Landfill near Batu Pahat. Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor highlighted that delays have pushed the project back by two years from its initial schedule.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Jafni emphasized that the completion of the plant would address issues such as odour pollution affecting residents near the Batu Empat landfill in Kota Tinggi. The project is also expected to alleviate the waste load at the site. He expressed sympathy for the residents’ situation and stressed the need for the federal government to accelerate the WTE project in Bukit Payong, thereby diverting part of the waste currently sent to Batu Empat.

The chairman elaborated that the Batu Empat landfill should be designated exclusively for waste from the Kota Tinggi area, which would help reduce its overall capacity. This statement was made during a press conference following the opening of the Kulai Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Career Carnival.

When questioned about the odour pollution affecting Kampung Desa Makmur residents near Kota Tinggi, Mohd Jafni explained that the landfill currently receives waste from four local government authorities, including the Kulai, Pontian, Kluang, and Kota Tinggi districts. He expressed hope for additional federal funds to implement a more systematic and modern waste management system at the site, which is still using outdated methods.

Mohd Jafni stressed the need for a long-term solution and proper budget allocation to improve waste management infrastructure at Batu Empat. He noted that this would not only resolve the odour issue but also enhance environmental and public health conditions for surrounding communities.

Last Tuesday, more than 50 residents of Kampung Desa Makmur staged a peaceful rally calling for the closure of the Batu Empat landfill. The landfill, which spans approximately 4.2 hectares and is situated 300 metres from the village, is reported to cause odour pollution and discomfort due to the presence of flies. The pollution is claimed to affect over 10 surrounding villages, impacting about 5,000 residents.