MBPJ to hire 98 new contractors for cleaning services

By Aida Ahmad
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/12/23/central/10148264&sec=central

THE Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will hire 98 new contractors for cleaning services next year.

Some 34 new officers will also be hired to monitor 77 zones in Petaling Jaya following an public outcry on the poor rubbish collection services in the city.

Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman said each officer would be in charge of four to five zones.

“We need look into hiring more labourers to collect rubbish since the local councils have taken over the duties from Alam Flora.

“Our biggest problem now is the lack of workers and monitoring,” Roslan told reporters after the MBPJ full board meeting.

“We are well aware of the problems now and will outsource or hiring more workers to do the job,” he said.

The council has taken over garbage collection as of Oct 16 from Alam Flora. Those with complaints can call the council’s hotline at 03-7954 2020, SMS to 33213 or e-mail aduan@mbpj.gov.my.

During the full board meeting, councillor and Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian raised the issue of rubbish collection.

“Residents in Section 18, 17, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in Petaling Jaya said the rubbish had not been collected for more than a week.

“Every time a wakil rakyat meets the grassroots we get bombarded by numerous complaints about the rubbish situation. The council needs to take action quickly,” said Hee.

Hee said there was also the problem of potholes especially along Jalan Universiti, Jalan Semangat and Jalan Utara.

“This is a problem that should be looked into. The authorities should not wait until it is close to the general election to do something about this,” he said.

On another issue, Roslan said the council would foot the outstanding electricity bill of RM188,000 for residents along Jalan PJS 1/52, who had been coping without streetlights for the past 10 months.

“We will pay the outstanding bill, for the sake of the well-being of the public and order the developer to reimburse the council later. In future, the council will be more stringent in ensuring the developers are trustworthy and reliable,” said Roslan.

During the meeting, councillors Derek Fernandez and Chan Chee Kong were opposed to the idea of footing the bill as it was the responsibility of the developer.

At the start of the meeting, the council offered its sympathy and condolences to the family of Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee Poh Lin who succumbed to colon cancer on Dec 20.