‘Rethink centralised waste management’

DAP leaders urge the government to maintain the service under local authorities, a global practice since 1997

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP leaders are urging the government to reconsider plans to federalise solid waste management services to avoid rent-seeking.

Its MPs, Tanjong’s Chow Kon Yeow and Bukit Bendera’s Liew Chin Tong, said Putrajaya should learn from the disastrous outcome of water and sewerage privatisation.

They urged the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) to maintain the services under the local authorities, a universal practice since 1997.

“The government aided rent-seekers by federalising these essential services that are local in nature,” Liew told a press conference at Parliament lobby here today.

He said the disastrous water privatisation experience was sufficient lesson for the government to put a stop to the federalisation of solid waste management,” he added.

“The same can be said about sewerage privatisation through Indah Water Konsortium,” Liew said.

“Solid waste management, like sewerage, cannot be divorced from political and administrative overseeing by the state and local authorities.

“It is just impractical for Putrajaya to be responsible for uncollected garbage from the capital, hundreds of miles away, Liew said.

The government’s plan to implement the Solid Waste Management Act 2007 on April 30 has been postponed as announced by Housing and Local Government Minister Chor Chee Heung.

It is understood that the delay came following public uproar over the failure of several privatisation enterprises by the government.

Liew claimed rent-seekers have made about RM700 million from privatisation of government services.

He urged the federal government to consult state governments to look into all possible options in waste management and to hold talks for input from stakeholders. - FMT