PROBLEM MOST FOUL
Pix By Mohamad Danial Mohamad Saad
2011/06/14
Residents of Mutiara Jaya Flats in Simpang Ampat, Penang, have to put up with overflowing garbage because of insufficient bins
NIBONG TEBAL: For the past two years, residents of Mutiara Jaya Flats in Simpang Ampat have been forced to put up with the stench from overflowing rubbish due to the lack of garbage bins at the five blocks of flats.
To compound matters, rubbish from the two bins is often scattered around the blocks by stray dogs as garbage collection is irregular.
And when it rains, the stench becomes unbearable.
The residents claim that they have raised the matter with the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) and the project developer numerous times for the past two years.
To their dismay, MPSP and the project developer allegedly passed the buck to each other, leaving residents in the lurch.
Checks show there are two garbage collection sites at the flats, with each site having three bins, but they were in a deplorable condition.
The residents claim the garbage bins are not enough to contain the daily domestic waste produced by the 480 units of flat dwellers.
Mutiara Jaya Flats Rukun Tetangga (RT) deputy chairman Harun Zakaria, 39, said it has forwarded written complaifts with pictures to MPSP and the relevant authorities several times, but nothing has been done.
"We also contacted MPSP, but each time we were passed from one person to another and were given all sorts of excuses," said Harun
He said the flats were in dire need of more garbage bins and a more efficient garbage collection service.
"For how long must we put up with the foul smell?" he asked.
Resident Khairul Azman Abd Manan, 33, alleged that the contractor appointed by MPSP to remove garbage from the area only collected rubbish in the bins.
"They are simply not bothered to collect rubbish that spill over to the ground," said Khairul, who has been living here for 11 years.
Another resident Mohd Arif Shin, 57, said the area was fast turning into a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
"There have been several dengue cases in our area. We are worried that if this garbage issue is not resolved soon, more people would be sick with dengue fever," he said.
Meanwhile, an MPSP spokesman clarified that the supply of garbage bins did not fall under the council's jurisdiction, but the flats' joint management board.
He said that under the council act, MPSP is only responsible for managing garbage collection from dumpsters, while the supply of garbage bins is the board's responsibility.
He said the issue was discussed at a meeting recently when the council was informed that the developer has agreed to sponsor five bins for the area. The garbage bins were expected to be handed to the flats' residents on Sunday.
In the meantime, he said the council has instructed the contractor appointed to handle garbage collection for the area to clear the rubbish at the dumping site.
To compound matters, rubbish from the two bins is often scattered around the blocks by stray dogs as garbage collection is irregular.
And when it rains, the stench becomes unbearable.
The residents claim that they have raised the matter with the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) and the project developer numerous times for the past two years.
To their dismay, MPSP and the project developer allegedly passed the buck to each other, leaving residents in the lurch.
Checks show there are two garbage collection sites at the flats, with each site having three bins, but they were in a deplorable condition.
The residents claim the garbage bins are not enough to contain the daily domestic waste produced by the 480 units of flat dwellers.
Mutiara Jaya Flats Rukun Tetangga (RT) deputy chairman Harun Zakaria, 39, said it has forwarded written complaifts with pictures to MPSP and the relevant authorities several times, but nothing has been done.
"We also contacted MPSP, but each time we were passed from one person to another and were given all sorts of excuses," said Harun
He said the flats were in dire need of more garbage bins and a more efficient garbage collection service.
"For how long must we put up with the foul smell?" he asked.
Resident Khairul Azman Abd Manan, 33, alleged that the contractor appointed by MPSP to remove garbage from the area only collected rubbish in the bins.
"They are simply not bothered to collect rubbish that spill over to the ground," said Khairul, who has been living here for 11 years.
Another resident Mohd Arif Shin, 57, said the area was fast turning into a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
"There have been several dengue cases in our area. We are worried that if this garbage issue is not resolved soon, more people would be sick with dengue fever," he said.
Meanwhile, an MPSP spokesman clarified that the supply of garbage bins did not fall under the council's jurisdiction, but the flats' joint management board.
He said that under the council act, MPSP is only responsible for managing garbage collection from dumpsters, while the supply of garbage bins is the board's responsibility.
He said the issue was discussed at a meeting recently when the council was informed that the developer has agreed to sponsor five bins for the area. The garbage bins were expected to be handed to the flats' residents on Sunday.
In the meantime, he said the council has instructed the contractor appointed to handle garbage collection for the area to clear the rubbish at the dumping site.
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