Federal Government, not Local Council, responsible for garbage collection

Well, it is popular perspective that the Local Council is responsible for garbage collection, grass cutting and planting/maintaining flowers, etc --- but, a recent chit chat with the Local Council revealed several disturbing facts >>> i.e. the Federal Government has taken over garbage collection and grass cutting... 

Why? Money? Cronies? - well, if was the local council in charge of garbage collection, for example, then the Local Council staff may be collecting the garbage or the Local Council may outsource this to an independent private contractor/s - but, if it is the Federal Government, who gets the contract is determined by the Federal Government. 

What about grass cutting - I was shocked to be informed that the rate is about RM1,500 - RM1,700 per kilometer (where one is expected to cut about 5 feet of grass areas besides the road) - this is a lot of money, for work that can very easily be done by one person per day.... Labour cost= RM50 per day, that makes profit at about RM1,500 per kilometer. (New grass cutting machine - RM500). - If the local kampungs and taman community is given these responsibility - the monies earned could be used to help poor families/persons, improve community life, etc... 

Now, what must be happening should be more transferring of responsibility from the Federal government to the State Government to the Local Government (Town Councils/City Councils/District Councils) >>> But in Malaysia, it is happening the other way around - WHY? So that who rules at the Federal Government is the 'BOSS' and can help profit his/her cronies? 

Now, if you have a problem with garbage collections, you can complain still to the Local Council, who then will forward it to the relevant Federal Ministry/Department who will then inform their 'contractors' to look into it....So, Local Council are no more responsible for 'garbage collections', only conduits for complaints to 3rd parties.....

Collection of chopped tree branches/trees, old refrigerators, TV, furniture - previously all that was needed was to call the Local Council that would send the lorry and the men to help collect and clear all the stuff away - and for that, a small fee of about RM15 is charged. NOW - no more such service....( Why? They said previously we did the garbage collections, grass cutting, etc and we had the required equipment and personnel to help the people of the area - now, since Federal government taken over - we no longer have the capacity... Now, these 'contractors' also are not our contractors - but those chosen by the Federal Government - so we also have 'little influence' on them - if they were contractors appointed by us, maybe we could have asked them to these kind of 'extra' work - like collecting branches, old furnitures, etc ...but now difficult...and these contractors would have done it - they certainly would not be wanting to end up in the 'bad books' of the Local Council....LOL. In fact, the man at the Local Council advised me to just chop up all the old furniture and burn it - the best solution since no more service provided to come collect 'large garbage'....

Now, interesting news report about one of these Federal Government appointed 'private contractors' ... who say they will give...

A waste management concessionaire will provide free garbage collection services in the state from July 13 until July 27, in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

SWM Environment Sdn Bhd which is responsible for solid waste and public cleansing management for Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor, will carry out the services in stages, here, Nilai, Port Dickson, Rembau, Tampin, Kuala Pilah, Jempol and Jelebu.

Its group general manager Adnan Ibrahim said the free service was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to the public who wanted to dispose of dated, useless items such as cupboards, tyres, mattresses, chairs, tables, refrigerators and televisions.

Wow....this one company got the contract not for 1 Local Council/District...not for 1 State....but apparently for 3 States - Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor?

Now, is there some politician or politician's family member or crony.... involved in this SWM Environment Sdn Bhd? 

 

Is there some 'payback', or some other monies that flowed that enriched some politician/political party?

We really do not know? 

Convince us that all is above board..... I tried to go look up 'SWM Environment Sdn Bhd' information at its website - but sadly, no Corporate information - list of Directors, Shareholders - No information also whether there is a Trade Union - whether workers on short-term or precarious employment arrangements or  'outsourced workers' ....or are the workers all regular employees until retirement... 

History of the company is also missing...major shareholders...'policy - corporate social responsibility statement/policy.... there really is not enough information that is provided online to the Malaysian public ....and, really for all companies that get government contracts - these information must be always made available - Transparency, Accountability... 

We also would like to know whether  'SWM Environment Sdn Bhd' is a GLC or whether EPF is a shareholder or not... It would also be good to know and see the 'contract' - how much are they getting paid and for what???? and when will the contract end? ,,,,it was a 20 year concession...(so long) and it may be ending in 2015 0r 2016... Was this new 'free garbage collection service' a tactic to ensure that the contract or concession is extended for 20 years...50 years.. (Really, when it comes to such concessions and contracts, it should never be more than five(5) years - being the time between governments (GE every 5 years)... new governments must be able to make necessary changes... maybe even giving back the responsibility to Local Councils...

'Free garbage collection service' - well, is that not what we are already paying SWM for? The people are already paying for these services - cukai pintu , etc  

Why is BERNAMA reporting about this? The use of the word 'FREE' is also worrisome - will this BN government soon tell us that we have to pay for garbage collection,....

Free garbage collection service for Aidilfitri

11 July 2014 @ 11:38 AM

SEREMBAN: A waste management concessionaire will provide free garbage collection services in the state from July 13 until July 27, in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

SWM Environment Sdn Bhd which is responsible for solid waste and public cleansing management for Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor, will carry out the services in stages, here, Nilai, Port Dickson, Rembau, Tampin, Kuala Pilah, Jempol and Jelebu.

Its group general manager Adnan Ibrahim said the free service was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to the public who wanted to dispose of dated, useless items such as cupboards, tyres, mattresses, chairs, tables, refrigerators and televisions.

“This service is hoped to stop illegal dumping of garbage which usually happens during festive seasons and public holidays. Last year, SWM collected about 102 metric tonnes of garbage in the state during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

“We will place roll on roll off garbage bins at appropriate sites for the convenience of residents at housing estates where the majority are Muslims,” he said in a statement here today.

The public can channel their complaints or enquiries to SWM through its toll free line, 1-800-88-7472. – BERNAMA - New Straits Times, 11/7/2014, Free garbage collection service for Aidilfitri