The Selangor and Federal Territory Community Residents Association (Permas) has criticised new Selangor state opposition leader Dr Mohd Khir Toyo for his recent ‘theatrics’ in the state assembly on Thursday.

Its president Tan Jo Hann said in a statement today that Mohd Khir should be ashamed of politicising the Sungai Sedu landfill issue “to further his selfish interests.”

“What has Khir Toyo done in the past eight years to address such issues and when has the former Selangor government ever consulted the people in making decisions that affect their lives?

“He should apologize for failing to do the job he was elected to do,” he said.

On Thursday, the former state menteri besar challenged the new Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government that they have to prove themselves by fulfilling its election promises.

He proceeded to cite the Sungai Sedu landfill issue in Kuala Langat as a major matter for the new state government to resolve.

“This is something which the local councils will have to deal with and for the new state government to prove itself,” he reportedly said.

According to Permas’ Sungai Sedu community representative A Janatharni, the landfill issue has been constantly brought to the attention of the previous state government for the last eight years.

khir toyo interview 121207 confident The landfill issue has affected more than 300 families living within a 3km radius of the site of the garbage dump site directly causing health problems to residents.

The community consisting of predominantly average to lower income groups have also been subjected to the foul stench emanating from the dump site while flies and pests plague the area.

According to the Star last December, Mohd Khir promised that the dump site would be closed but not so soon.

He also said that the state would spray chemicals on the dumpsite to neutralise the pungent stench as a temporary measure to protect the residents from the foul air pollution caused by the landfill.

'Please reflect why you lost'

Tan then urged Mohd Khir and others who previously had a chance to prove themselves to be the government but lost it in the recent general election to reflect deeply why they were voted out.

“Please reflect deeply why the people have voted you out of office.

“Start pulling up your boot straps and stop trying to pass the buck’ to the barely three-month old Pakatan Rakyat state government,” he stated.

In the March 8 general election, Selangor saw a change in government when the opposition won 17 of the 22 parliamentary seats and 36 of the state seats - denying Barisan Nasional’s rule in the country’s most developed state.

Tan added that the current state government has received a memorandum from our community with regards to the landfill issue and has promised to take the necessary steps.

“The representatives from Sungai Sedu were able to voice their concerns to squatters, housing and building development chaiperson Iskandar Abdul Samad who has promised to take affirmative action.

“A task force has been set up between civil society groups such as Permas, professional bodies and the state government to look into urban poor community issues such as the Sungai Sedu landfill problem,” he added.