A citizens group today demanded the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) explain how it racked up RM417.28 million for solid waste management in 2012, or nearly eight times the budgeted RM52.3 million. The amount for waste disposal also exceeded the entire MBPJ budget for the year, which amounted to just RM258.3 million. The group calling itself the Coalition of Good Governance (CGG) acknowledged that the “abnormal” spike may be due to the termination of Alam Flora Sdn Bhds solid waste management contract in 2011, but pointed out that this was not documented by MBPJ. “This is gross negligence... where is the accountability?” former MBPJ councillor Mak Khuin Weng said at a press conference today. The group is now demanding an explanation from PJ Mayor Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad, saying such expenses were shielded from public scrutiny as MBPJ was administered independently of the state government. CCG spokesman Jeffrey Phang added that the massive overrun also belied the state governments claim that it saved RM60 million through the cessation of Alam Floras contract. Phang further complained that it was difficult to determine surplus or deficits from MBPJs annual budget due to insufficient of details and a lack of public consultation. “Youll find that it goes nowhere. Certain parts of the budget are unclear. Residents dont see the full picture and we demand MBPJ to be clear to us as it is important to the residents,” he said. Phang then suggested the city council engage residents in a participative budget session and implement budget monitoring procedures to avoid such situations in the future. The CGG added that such measures should begin at the MBPJs budget 2015 public consultation meeting scheduled for tomorrow. MBPJ terminated Alam Floras waste management contract in October 2012 and set up its own unit to handle trash disposal and public cleaning the following year. - See more at: m.themalaymailonline/malaysia/article/ngo-kicks-up-stink-after-mbpj-blows-waste-disposal-budget-by-rm365m-in-2012?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#sthash.XMVpKhcL.dpuf
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 11:44:40 +0000
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