Subang Jaya council trips up again

Subang Jaya council trips up again

Posted on 16 December 2014 - 06:55pm
Last updated on 17 December 2014 - 01:02am

R. Nadeswaran

http://www.thesundaily.my/node/286159 

EIGHT years ago, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council was involved in a controversy and the repercussions echoed throughout Selangor. Two years later, the state leader Dr Mohamed Khir Toyo became the ex-mentri besar, and the rest, as they say, is history.

What the council and its members started was seen to be establishing a monopoly for friends and associates for pest control services in the municipality. Some 20,000 businesses were affected. These companies had their applications for renewal of their business licences refused unless they acquired the services of one of the companies in what was termed as a "consortium of pest control companies."

Investigations carried out by theSun, which was in the forefront exposing this sham, showed that some of the companies were not even registered with the Pest Control Authority and had neither the experience nor the expertise to undertake such work.

The backlash was obvious. Subang Jaya folk are a vociferous lot and not known to have things shoved down their throats. They protested and finally, the council backed down. But the after-effects of such a bold attempt to enforce self-serving yet futile policies were reflected through the ballot box two years later.

Did the council learn its lesson? Yes, for a while. The council's wheels have to be oiled and "inaction" for six years meant that something had to be done after the "new" state government gets used to the "old" system.

Like new brooms, they swept clean but have things really changed? No! To put it crudely, it's the same baloney except for the difference in texture, colour and smell.

The council is now bent on building a monopoly on collection of industrial waste and is compelling businesses to appoint one of the eight companies it is promoting through its flyers.

(I am not carrying a candle for anyone but Alam Flora, the country's biggest waste collection company, has been omitted from the list although it has appeared in a previous list.)

Ironically, the council's website lists over 40 companies.

The council justifies its action and the flyer quotes a clause in the refuse collection, removal and disposal bylaw which states: "Pembuangan atau pelupusan buangan industri atau barangan perdagangan hendaklah di tempat longgokan sampah yang diselangara oleh majilis atau dengan cara yang ditetapkan oleh Majilis." (emphasis is the council's).

The key phrase is the "methodology fixed by the council". But does that mean it has the ultimate authority to decide who can undertake the collection of refuse from the doctor's clinic or the four-digit shop? There's a vast difference from methodology and choice of contractors.

Why should companies which have dealt with the same contractor for ages suddenly be forced to pick a new one appointed by the council?

Looking at the bigger picture, is this what the lawmakers had intended? Did they want to empower the council to pick and choose contractors? Where is the free enterprise system that we are promoting?

But here is the clincher and the flyer goes on to warn: "Failure to comply will result in the business licence not being renewed and legal action can be taken."

Isn't this blackmail? Why is the council putting the gun to the head of its ratepayers? Since when has employing an "anointed" person to carry out waste collection a pre-requisite for the renewal of the licence?

What will they think of next? Will the council decide from whom companies should buy pens, paper and stationery? Perhaps, they may even compel companies to choose from a panel of cleaners who could do the sprucing up of their premises. Could the council create a monopoly by insisting that only one florist can supply flowers to the offices in the neighbourhood?

This is the embodiment of why several systems in the government have broken down. When vested with powers, some seem to get the impression they have dictatorial authority over all and sundry and in the process throw the law books and common sense out of the window.

If we accept such practices to be embodied in our system, we might as well allow the council to dictate what we should eat and what brand of car that will be allowed on the roads in Subang Jaya. 

R. Nadeswaran wonders if anyone in the council remembers the ruckus created by their earlier policy on pest control. Comments: citizen-nades@thesundaily.com