THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has brought the waste collection problem in Air Itam and Seri Delima under control after increasing its number of workers to 33 and will send another 90 workers to resolve the same issue in Batu Uban and Pantai Jerejak next week.
MBPP councillor Tan Soon Siang said the number of online complaints in Air Itam and Seri Delima to MBPP has been reduced from about 100 to only 12 in the last 24 hours since MBPP took over the responsibility of managing the waste collection.
This came about after newly-appointed contractors were unable to fulfil their responsibilities, causing service disruption.
“To strengthen the waste management services in Air Itam and Seri Delima, the council has increased the number of workers to 33.
“Besides that, the council has supplied an additional four compactor units for the domestic waste collection of high-rise residences and housing estates, and one one-tonne high-side tipper truck to go into the village area for the collection service.
“For bulk and garden waste collection services, three high-side tipper trucks (three tonnes) have been prepared to make a total of 15 trips in conjunction with the Chinese New Year festive season,” Tan told a press conference at the community centre in Taman Kejiranan Desa Mawar, Air Itam today.
MBPP environmental health officer Mohd Zamzuri Hussain, who was also at the press conference, said MBPP wants to reduce the working hours of its workers, some of whom are on duty for up to 19 hours in shifts.
“The addition of part-time workers will be divided according to the needs in the areas involved. We aim to find a solution next week,” Mohd Zamzuri said.
Air Itam and Seri Delima are both under the Bukit Bendera parliamentary constituency while Batu Uban and Pantai Jerejak are under the Bayan Baru parliamentary constituency.
Also present at the meeting were Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soo Siang, MBPP alternate chairman for public health standing committee Nicholas Theng, MBPP councillor Rohaizat Hamid, MPKK Kampung Melayu chairman Abdul Aziz Buhari and secretary Yaakob Ramli.
Theng thanked MBPP for providing workers to help solve the garbage collection issue and said the fate of the three contractors who did not fulfil their duties would be left to the MBPP tender board.
He added that one compactor truck was delayed as it was not approved by the Road Transport Department and Puspakom.
But Ng, speaking as a resident as well as the assemblyman for Air Itam, strongly felt that MBPP should terminate their contracts as they were engaged much earlier in 2022.
“Normally during a transition period, a contractor may face some problems but the problem in Air Itam and Seri Delima is quite severe. Moreover, it does not happen in other areas.
“Everyone wants to welcome the new year in peace but suddenly the situation has become chaotic. Decisive action must be taken as a lesson,” Ng stressed.
According to MBPP secretary Datuk A. Rajendran in a press conference two days ago, the waste collection management on the island is divided into nine zones.
Because of the service disruption, he said MBPP has taken over the waste collection management in the two zones, namely Bayan Baru and Bukit Gelugor. This brings the total number of zones under MBPP to three as it has been managing the Balik Pulau zone.
The other zones, he said, managed by the old contractors are doing a good job so far.
Meanwhile, Tan added that if there is a need to dispose of bulk waste such as furniture or large-sized household items in Air Itam or Seri Delima, the public can call the MBPP hotline.
The domestic waste schedule for residential areas in Ayer Itam is scheduled three times a week, which is every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (between 5am and 4pm) whereas, for the Air Itam Market area and its surroundings, the garbage collection work has been scheduled twice a day daily between 8am and 4pm.
Tan said any complaints regarding collection service delays can be channelled to the MBPP hotline (24 hours) at 04-2637637/7000 or 04-2824282/04-2633000 (office hours).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Watawa Nataf Zulkifli