ESSENTIAL services are imperative for public safety and well-being.
These include grass cutting, drain cleaning, maintenance as well as repairing of faulty streetlights and facilities in public spaces.
But for too long, essential services have been contracted out to contractors who fail to deliver reliable services.
This has resulted in poor quality of work, shoddy service, frequent breakdowns, delays and waste of government funds.
Such poor quality of work and high levels of incompetence not only jeopardise public safety and comfort but also leave a bad impression among foreign tourists.
This is particularly damaging as tourism is crucial to our economy.
How much longer do we have to put up with this?
Shouldn’t such services be conducted by the government instead of being contracted out to private companies?
This move can help restore much-needed quality and save government funds.
The money saved can be used for systemic reforms such as higher wages, improving public transport and providing assistance to the rural poor.
When it comes to public safety and comfort, the quality of important services must never be compromised.
The government must abolish this practice once and for all and ensure important public services are not contracted out.
RAVEEN VEERASENAN JEYAKUMAR
Ipoh, Perak
