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PR-led states to unite
on waste management
by Humayun Kabir
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
IPOH: The five Pakatan
Rakyat-led state governments
in Perak, Penang, Selangor,
Kedah and Kelantan are likely
to take a united stand against
the federal government’s
move to implement the Solid
Waste and Public Cleansing
Management Act 2007
through three concessionaire
companies nationwide by
year-end.
They intend to sue the
federal government if it goes
ahead and implement the act.
State education, local
government, housing and
public transport committee chairman Nga Kor Ming
said yesterday the federal government’s move would
impose an additional financial burden on the people
because it would privatise most of the services now
carried out by the local councils.
“I have discussed this matter with the state
governments of Penang and Selangor and they have
agreed to take a united stand,” he said.
“I shall be contacting the two other state
governments of Kedah and Kelantan and I believe
they will also agree to take a united stand.
“The federal government has been hasty in
pushing through the act without proper feedback
from the public and without consulting the state
governments as they should do under the Local
Government Act, which states that the federal
government cannot impose any local government
act in any state without the consent of the respective
state governments.”
Nga said the privatisation of the council services
to the three concessionaire companies would mean
the assessment rates would go up “which will cause
financial hardship to the public during this downturn
in the economy”.
“There is a price tag for every service undertaken
by the concessionaire company like, for example,
the removal of carcasses from public places such
as those of cows, which will cost RM250 each, cats
or dogs, which will cost RM100 each, and chickens,
which will cost RM40 each.”
At present, he said, the local councils removed
such carcasses without charge.
“The concessionaire companies will bill the local
councils for the cost of the services undertaken by
them instead of billing the public directly to avoid
public complaints. Nevertheless, the local councils
will pass on the cost to the public by increasing the
assessment rates,” he said.
“At present, members of the public caught littering
in public places are slapped with fines of up to RM250
by the councils, which can be reduced on appeal.
“However, when the new act comes into effect, the
concessionaire company will have extensive power
to impose fines, whereby the minimum is RM10,000
and the maximum RM100,000 or six months
imprisonment, or both.
“Also, the state government and local government
will be burdened by the act, whereby both must apply
for licences from the housing minister or director-
general before they can handle their duties.”
Calling on the federal government to review the
act, Nga said the scope of the concessionaire company
is “wide and far-reaching as it covers almost all the
basic and core activities of the local councils”.
“The local councils will only be left with the duties
to do landscaping, approving plans and maintenance
of roads,” he said.
“All the core
responsibilities, such
as cleaning of
drains, handling
landfill, and
maintenance
of public
toilets,
public parks
and public
markets will be
surrendered to this
company and the local
council will be rendered
powerless to act on public
complaints.”
Nga spoke to reporters
after Mentri Besar Datuk Seri
Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
officiated at the first state motivation seminar for the
338 councillors in the 15 councils in Perak at the State
Secretariat.
Ong’s masterpiece ...
M ISS World Malaysia 2008 Soo Wincci shows off
her elegant evening gown named Jewel of
the Pacific, designed by the official couturier of
Miss World Malaysia Carven Ong. Soo leaves
for Johannesburg on Nov 15 to take part in a
month-long series of activities in the run-up
to the Miss World 2008 pageant grand
finals on Dec 13. The 23-year-old will wear
the gown to compete against 100 other
contestants from around the world for
the best designer award. Ong said he
got his inspiration to design the gown
from the ocean mermaids and the
phrase ‘Save the World’, elements
that he had incorporated into the
gown. Yesterday’s event was also
held in conjunction with the launch
of Ong’s Aloha! Love Forever!
autumn/winter collection.
Perform or out you go, MB tells councillors
IPOH: The state government will get tough
and terminate the services of any of the 338
local councillors not performing their duties to
the state’s expectations and those who try to
tarnish the image of the state by using their
posts for their personal agenda.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar
Jamaluddin said yesterday “the personal
records of all the councillors must be impec-
cable and they must live up to the image of
giving their best in services to the rakyat”.
As ambassadors of the state, he said, they
must safeguard the image of the state gov-
ernment at all times and should not involve
| WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 5 2008
Accountant files
action to stop
multilingual
road signs
by Himanshu Bhatt
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: An accountant from
Pahang has applied for a court order to
stop the state authorities from installing
road signs in various languages in the
heritage zone.
Nik Rizman Sapian, 33, of Kuala Lipis,
applied for the order at the Penang High
Court yesterday afternoon, naming the
Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP)
and the state government as the defend-
ants.
Some 50 supporters chanting slogans
gathered at Dewan Sri Pinang, next to the
courthouse, after they had marched about
200m with Nik Rizman from the nearby Es-
planade.
In his writ of summons, Rizman also sought
a declaration that the state government’s move
to approve MPPP’s application to install the
road signs was at odds with article 152 of the
Federal Constitution, which states that the
national language is Malay.
Rizman identified himself as a member of
the pro tem committee of the Confederation
of Young Malay Graduates (Gabungan Graduan
Melayu Muda) which, he said, comprised pro-
fessionals like lawyers, engineers and account-
ants.
“As a Malaysian citizen, it is my right and
responsibility to respond to the Penang govern-
ment’s decision as it has breached the Federal
Constitution,” he said.
Asked to comment on Chief Minister Lim
Guan Eng’s clarification that the signs
would only be installed at certain herit-
N
age streets and that the use of Malay
HESU
would be upheld, Rizman said he was
OR/T
acting based on what he had read in
HD N
the media.
He told the reporters to direct all
MO
their other questions to his lawyer.
AN
Rizman said in his writ, filed
RIDU
through Muar-based lawyer
KAMA
Sahrihan Jani, the Penang govern-
ment had, at its state executive
council meeting on Oct 24, ap-
proved MPPP’s application to install
the road signs within the George
Town heritage site.
State executive councillor
Chow Kon Yeow said it was Riz-
man’s right as a citizen to file for
the injunction.
He also said he was collecting
public feedback on the multilingual
road signs to present to the state
executive council for discussion.
themselves in activities that will tarnish the “Ratepayers will be happy to pay their as-
image of the state. sessment dues if the councillors perform to
“Any local councillors found to misuse their the expectations of the public,” he said.
power for their personal agenda, misbehave The mentri besar also called for healthy
or practise racial discrimination will have their competition among the 15 local councils,
services terminated,” he said while officiating which would motivate them further in en-
at a one-day orientation seminar for the coun- hancing thire services to the public.
cillors from the 15 local government councils. Education, local government, housing and
“There is no room for personal interest, so public transport committee chairman Nga
do not force me to open the door and push Kor Ming, who was present, told reporters
you out (of the council).” the state government would assess the per-
Mohammad Nizar said there would be no formance of the 338 councillors at the end of
problem recruiting new councillors ”as there the year and the non-performing councillors
are 2,000 applicants in the waiting list”. wouldl be dropped and replaced.