Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Thumbs up for open tender system - The Star

April 29, 2008

MANY residents in Seberang Prai are supportive of a call for garbage collection and solid waste management to be given to capable companies through an open tender system.

Seberang Jaya resident M. Karthi, 44, said it was high time that capable companies be given a chance to undertake garbage collection on the mainland.

“We badly need a change. The work carried out by the present contractors is below satisfactory.

“Open tender is the best way to ensure that the citizens would obtain maximum benefits from the more competent companies undertaking the task,” he said in an interview on Sunday.

Last week, former Jawi assemblyman Tan Cheng Liang said the Seberang Prai Municipal Council should use an open tender system to select competent companies to handle solid waste management and garbage collection.

She said through an open tender, the council could obtain the best proposals to do the job more effectively and efficiently.

Presently, Tan said, the council used a turnkey system to award contracts to selected companies to do the job.

Taman Tambun Jaya Residents Association (RA) chairman Chew Ong Leng, 44, said the council should display mobile phone numbers of the garbage collection contractors in all residential and commercial areas.

Wisma Telaga Residents Association chairman Shaik Ali Md Hussain, 74, said he made numerous complaints to the council on badly clogged drains behind Jalan Kampung Benggali in Butterworth, but they were futile.

Taman Senangin resident N. Balakrishnan, 58, said the Seberang Prai municipal councillors should go to the ground at least once a week to check on the services provided by the council’s contractors.

Newly appointed municipal councillor Teoh Seang Hooi said he supported Tan’s call, noting that he would raise the matter in the next full council meeting.

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