Print
    01 April 2012| last updated at 06:03PM

    Govt takes serious view of unsatisfactory solid waste management



    0 comments

    ALOR SETAR: The government takes a serious view of unsatisfactory solid waste management which has been privatised, says Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung.

     

    As such, he urged companies granted concessions to correct their weaknesses as the federal government has to pay them RM500 million annually.
     
    Chor said the garbage tax paid by the public to local authorities was insufficient to cover the cost of paying the three companies.    
     
    "The weaknesses can be corrected by improving the schedule of garbage collection from homes and public cleansing," he said after launching the solid waste toll-free complaints line and distributing free garbage bins in Taman Wira, Mergong here today.    
     
    Solid waste management companies E-Idaman, (northern region), Alam Flora (central region) and Southern Waste Management (southern region) have been urged to take immediate action.    
     
    "Privatisation is aimed at improving the efficiency of solid waste management. I want companies given concession since September last year to be more serious in upgrading services."
     
    The government would not hesitate to cancel their contracts and give the job to others who were more efficient and willing to provide better services.
     
    Chor said 1,560 enforcement officers in peninsula would monitor the effectiveness of waste collection and public cleansing by the three companies.     "For example, if the garbage collection schedule is 10am but the lorry comes  at 11am, we can give another chance but if it comes at 4pm, the government must act and will give the job to others," he added. -- BERNAMA 

    Leave Your Comment


    Leave Your Comment:

    New Straits Times reserves the right not to publish offensive or abusive comments and those of hate speech, harassment, commercial promos and invasion of privacy. Your IP will be logged and may be used to prevent further submission.The views expressed here are that of the members of the public and unless specifically stated are not those of NST.