Questions have arisen over a pest-control contract awarded by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) that is tied to approval or renewal of business permits for some 10,000 commercial outlets from 2009 to 2026.

DAP Selangor publicity secretary Lay Weng San, who made several claims in a statement, urged the council to suspend implementation of its mandatory directive pending a "clear and acceptable explanation on this matter".

Insisting that ratepayers should be informed before such agreement are signed with private companies, he also demanded details of the council's contract with the pest-control service provider - Konsortium SP Pest Control Sdn Bhd.

It comprises Koswasta Asia Pest Control Sdn Bhd, Damai Pest Control Sdn Bhd, Vetga Sdn Bhd, Inspirasi Asian Sdn Bhd, Suria Sakti Resources Sdn Bhd and Denmas Sdn Bhd.

MPSJ president Arif Abdul Rahman had recently instructed the owners of all commercial outlets to sign the contract with the consortium, as a condition of issuance or renewal of licences over the 17-year period.

However, Lau claimed that the party has received complaints from owners who claimed they are already being told to sign up with consortium.

"MPSJ should immediately arrange for a three-party negotiation between the (commercial outlet) owners, the consortium and the council to arrive at a solution, to prevent contracts from being signed without adequate (information)," he said.

Accreditation check

Not only will the directive cost owners some RM102 million over the next two decades, he alleged, but there is concern that the consortium has "has yet to be registered or accredited by the National Pest Control Association of Malaysia".

"Why hasn't MPSJ selected a company registered and accredited by the association?" he asked.

"Are the services provided by this consortium guaranteed and accredited by the association? Will it be held legally liable for any losses or accidents by its personnel when conducting pest-control exercises?"

He also took issue with the cost of services, saying "the lowest available charge is set at RM600, which is twice the market price".

"This will be a great fortune for the consortium," Lau remarked, while pointing out that a search on the companies had revealed that some are newly-established ones "led by directors in their 20s".

"This raises a question of whether these companies are capable of conducting proper pest-control exercises," he said.

"Why did MPSJ only designate one consortium...for more than 10,000 commercial outlets? Is this consortium more experienced than other comthe market or are its charges more economical than the rest? Was the awarding of the contract based on an open-tender system?"

Calling for transparency and accountability, Lau said the president and councillors of MPSJ should answer to ratepayers.