Selangor, Penang, Perak exempted from having to privatise waste management

SHAH ALAM: Selangor, Penang and Perak have been exempted from the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act.

State executive councillor Ronnie Liu said although the Selangor state government had yet to be officially informed of the exemption from the Housing and Local Government Ministry, the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Kabit had written to Penang executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow informing him of the decision on July 8.

Liu said this meant that Selangor could choose not to privatisatise solid waste collection and public cleaning.

"But it means that if we run out of money, and need more money for the works, we cannot apply to the Federal Government for funds.

"The other states can make an application with the Housing and Local Government Ministry if they need more funds," he told reporters after the state executive council meeting Wednesday.

Coincidentally, the local authorities in Selangor will take over public cleaning works from concessionaire Alam Flora from Aug 1.

Alam Flora will continue to manage solid waste collection and disposal.