Bandar Kuching parliamentarian Chong Chien Jen has urged Kuching City South Council (MBKS) to heed a request for an appointment to discuss a controversial contract the council had awarded to a foreign company.

The contract in question involves a multi-million ringgit privatisation deal with a German-based company, Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, to run waste management services.

This particular deal has come under the scrutiny of the 2007 Auditor-General's report which recommended that the contract be reviewed.

Chong has submitted a written request to MBKS acting mayor Mohd Amin Hassan on Sept 21 and again yesterday requesting for an urgent meeting to discuss the matter.

"The contract involves about RM10 million annually and effects public health. It is regrettable that MBKS is still ignoring an elected representative's demand to discuss the matter," Chong told a press conference in Kuching yesterday.

Chong's letters to Mohd Amin, which cite the AG report, said waste management used to cost the council RM4.8 million prior to the privatisation deal.

"Thus, the aim of privatisation, which was to reduce the financial burden of the council, was not achieved at all," stressed Chong.

Many shortcomings

Chong added that his constituents had complained that since the privatisation process, rubbish collection services have been reduced from thrice to twice weekly.

Additionally, the AG also found that the new company did not provide regular rubbish collection services to several areas, said Chong.

According to the DAP legislator, MBKS has allowed the Matang dump site for free when in fact the company could be charged.

Despite the shortcomings, it was recently suggested by Trienekens that it would increase the rubbish collection fee.

Given the circumstances, Chong hoped that MBKS heed his request for a meeting to discuss the matter as soon as possible.