PKR today endorsed the Selangor government's decision to set up an audit committee to supervise waste management agreements and to adopt a more "transparent and accountable" tender system for future contracts.

This comes after Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said last week that an audit committee will be set up to probe contracts awarded to waste management company Alam Flora Sdn Bhd to ensure its contracts are awarded to "genuine operators" and not to party-linked brokers.

alam flora waste management 120609 05 The Alam Flora controversy was brought up by Petaling Jaya City Councillor (MBPJ), A Thiruvenggadam who had alleged last week that the state had issued a directive to Alam Flora instructing it provide 70 percent of its contracts to government-friendly companies for the collection and removal of rubbish.

The councillor said that the state government divides Alam Flora's waste management contracts according to party affiliation - 40 percent to PKR, 30 percent to PAS and 30 percent to DAP.

It is believed that in return for such contracts, the companies would make donations to fund local party activities.

Imbalance in the past

In a statement issued to the media, PKR also said that it was aware of the Umno-BN practice of awarding class F contracts to their cronies.

alam flora waste management 120609 02 Class F contractors are generally in charge of maintenance work.

In order to reverse this imbalance, PKR urged all contractors to make an application even though they had been denied access in the past.

No payment will now be required from these contractors for new applications

The statement also said that this move should restore the situation to a more level playing field.

However, the party maintained that these suggestions depended on the final decision by Alam Flora which had to look into the existing contracts and older between them and the local councils.