Penang Watch

One of the reason for the existence of Local Government is the duty to maintain cleanliness of the municipality ie to collect the garbage around the area. When this job is taken away and given to a federal concessionaire would our city councils become largely unemployed? Another `exciting' issue is: if the people don't want to give their garbage to the Federal concessionaire and rather give it to local recycling operators -what can theFederal govt do in this garbage fight? A sure thing is: the value of garbage will go up! Suddenly the value of garbage is unvealed! It can only be good that the value of garbage is recognised-and we will see more recycling that help the environment!

NST Online » Local News
2008/11/18
Penang wants redress over waste

GEORGE TOWN: If the Federal Government is to take over waste management, the state government wants a compensation package for local authorities.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said state Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow had been tasked with studying the repercussions of the Federal Government taking over waste management, scheduled to happen in January, when the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 comes into effect.

Lim, who is not in favour of the act, expressed concern that people would be unable to complain to the state government directly about unsatisfactory services.

"I want to know what recourse the people would have." He said other considerations included the cost of engaging concessionaires.

Under the law, federally-appointed private concessionaires will take over waste collection, treatment and disposal duties from local authorities. They will be answerable to a federal corporation and department.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Perak opposed the new act with Selangor set to follow suit.