KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 ― The Selangor state government admits it is facing a crisis in domestic waste management in certain residential areas because of sabotage by outgoing contractors.
State chairman of the Selangor Local Government, New Village Development and Legalising of Factories committee Ean Yong Hian Wah said most contractors whose contracts were not renewed would stop work about 10 days before their contract ended.
“That is why you see garbage in some areas are not collected… there is a serious element of sabotage by these contractors,” he told Malay Mail Online.
In Klang, Ean Yong said Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB), a state subsidiary, has taken over the duties of collecting garbage from the Klang Municipal Council (MPK).
He said KDEB has a seven-year contract ― beginning July 1 ― to handle waste management for the town.
“The agreement is that KDEB will use a new method whereby it will invest in its own compactors and install a tracking system in each of these trucks to ensure garbage is collected from all areas,” he said
Ean Yong said the frequency of garbage collection in all residential areas within the state is three times a week and there is no favouritism given to any particular township.
“Three times a week is standardised by the state and as for some areas where garbage is uncollected, that could be the act of sabotage by these contractors,” he said.
When contacted, an officer from the corporate communications department in MPK said he was in the dark as to why KDEB had taken over garbage collection duties from them.
“We have received many complaints from the public of uncollected garbage in several parts of Klang and MPK is deploying our men and equipment to clean up the areas.
“But I am not sure what the deal is between KDEB, MPK and the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, Shah Alam Mayor Datuk Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad agreed with Ean Yong about sabotage by outgoing contractors.
“That is normal, it happens all the time,” he said when asked if Shah Alam experienced similar problems.
At a recent event after the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) handed out contracts to 24 new contractors for collection of domestic waste, Ahmad Zaharin said his council has increased frequency of garbage collection from three to four times a week.
“I admit there are many cases here where garbage is left uncollected... that is why we have increased the collection frequency for industrial areas and hotels to five times and four times for residential areas,” he said.
He added that MBSA has ordered all compactors to be equipped with the Automatic Vehicle Locating System (AVLS), a similar system to KDEB’s in Klang.
On the cost of the system, he said it ranged between RM1,000 and RM3,000 per compactor for installation; the cost will be shared between MBSA and the contractors.
“We used to have the AVLS system before but we did not continue with the system. It was useful to track down errant workers and we see a need for it today,” he told reporters at the event on Thursday.
