No hiccups after takeover

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RESIDENTS in areas like Subang Jaya and Bandar Puteri Puchong reported that there has been no problems in recent weeks after the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) took over the garbage collection service from Alam Flora.

It was recently reported that Alam Flora Sdn Bhd had ceased providing garbage collection and cleaning services in Selangor as of Oct 16.

The Selangor state government took over garbage collection and cleaning services via the local authorities.

A typical vehicle: A one- to two-tonne lorry making its rounds collecting garbage in a commercial area in the Serdang and Seri Kembangan vicinity.

While the collection was scheduled for three times a week, PJS 9 Rukun Tetangga (RT) chairman Goh Hai Thun said the service in terms of timing and frequency in his residential area in Bandar Sunway was inconsistent.

“There is also the leachate problem with the garbage trucks, which is something I hope the council will look into,” he said.

Subang Jaya Residents Association chairman A. S. Gill noted that much improvement needed to be done to address the rat and other vermin infestation problem in SS15, especially the commercial area.

Bandar Puteri 11 Residents Association chairman Alice Choo said: “The truck driver and garbage collectors will inform us should they run out of space, and we know they will return the next day to resume collection.”

However, she pointed out that the takeover had caused a little confusion among the residents as they were unsure of who to contact should they have problems.

“We didn’t know if we should have contacted MPSJ or the contractor last week when our garden waste was not cleared,” she said.

“Nonetheless, we lodged a complaint with the MPSJ hotline and the contractor came to clear them away.”

MPSJ public relations assistant director Azfarizal Abdul Rashid said the council has retained the 71 existing contractors for garbage collection services since taking over the task from Alam Flora.

”MPSJ is retaining the same contractors until Dec 31 and will directly monitor the contractors’ work.

“The council will also evaluate the contractors’ service during this period, and, depending on their performance, decide whether to continue or cease the contractors’ service next year,” he said.

According to the MPSJ’s Urban Services Department, the council would save an estimated 10% of its expenses from the termination of contract with Alam Flora.

The schedule for garbage collection services in areas under the MPSJ’s administration are: three times a week for residential areas and playgrounds, six times a week for high-rise buildings, commercial areas and industrial areas, and daily for wet markets.

Azfarizal assured the public not to worry as the garbage collection and cleaning services would be carried out as usual.

He said those who have complaints or feedback on garbage collection and cleaning services, could call the MPSJ’s Complaints Hotline at 03-5637 6545.

Ampang Jaya

Hameedah Begum Ibrahim, 60, from Taman Melawati, Ampang, is not pleased with the council for carrying out what she describes as “half-baked jobs”.

According to her, although the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council’s (MPAJ) contractors conducts regular garbage collection, services like grass-cutting and general cleaning was not up to mark.

“There is a bush behind my house but every time I complain, they pass the buck saying it’s not the council’s responsibility.

“There have been many cases of dengue in the area, so are they willing to risk someone’s life before they decide to cut the bush?” she asked.

Hameedah added that the council should at least use some common sense when they send their contractors out to carry out the job. “Garbage collection is very good but the cleaning contractors need to buck up,” she said.

In Ampang, the total number of solid waste contractors is 25, the same as the cleaning contractors whose management was taken over back in August.

According to MPAJ public relations officer Norhayati Ahmad, things were going well up to this point.

“The contractors are showing good commitment and we have not encountered any problems with this new system so far,” she said, adding that the council was committed to providing the best service to the public.

She said that MPAJ was monitoring the contractor’s performance through their Town Services and Health Department and complaints can be made via their toll-free line at 1-800-22-8100 or 03-4296 8007/ 8044.