MPP to charge management bodies for cleaning up indiscriminate rubbish dumping at MJC Batu Kawah Commercial Centre

Tan Kai inspects the worsening indiscriminate rubbish dumping situation at one of the blocks at MJC Batu Kawah Commercial Centre, Kuching on Jan 23, 2024.

KUCHING, Jan 23: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) will step in to clean and collect waste following the worsening rubbish dumping at MJC Batu Kawah Commercial Centre, says chairman Tan Kai.

He expressed his disappointment over the management of bin centres by the management committee (MC) or joint management body (JMB) of the commercial centre, particularly at certain blocks that have deteriorated into indiscriminate waste dumping sites.

In addition, MPP has received numerous complaints from business operators and residents at MJC Batu Kawah Commercial Centre with five offenders fined RM500 each to date.

“MPP’s records indicate that all 50 blocks of the MJC Batu Kawah Commercial Centre have formed their respective MC/JMB.

“According to the Strata Management Ordinance 2019, MC/JMB is obligated to manage and maintain buildings/lands, including bin centre and common property, and keep the strata scheme in good and serviceable condition.

“The Council reiterates that MCs/JMBs must ensure proper care, maintenance, and cleanliness of the bin centre, while the Council’s responsibility lies in waste collection through Trieneken and disposal at the Mambong landfill,” he said in a statement today.

Nevertheless, he said MPP will assist to clear and collect waste at the affected blocks with costs incurred charged to the respective MC/JMB.

“Additionally, to prevent similar issues from recurring, the Council will demolish identified bin centres that are prone to indiscriminate waste dumping and provide individual bins for every parcel.

“MCs/JMBs are expected to manage these bins once distributed to ensure proper waste disposal,” he added.

Earlier, Michael Kong Feng Nian who is a special assistant to Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen, in a statement, claimed that the waste dumping situation has persisted for almost six months.

He then urged MPP to step in and resolve the issue immediately as well as implement a comprehensive and sustainable waste management solution to prevent the issue from recurring in the future. — DayakDaily