Pulau Burung landfill operator may lose concession, says Penang CM

GEORGE TOWN: There is a possibility that the concession awarded to the operator of Pulau Burung landfill could be revoked.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the matter was being reviewed thoroughly by local government department and Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) and a report about what action could be taken will be prepared.

"The state executive council hasn't made any decision yet.

"The decision can only be done after the local government department and MBSP have scrutinised the report of the incident," he said during a press conference at Komtar on Thursday (Jan 20).

Chow said from the initial report that was presented to the state executive council meeting recently, there were several flaws in terms of operation at the landfill.

He said the state executive council had instructed the local council with MBSP to see what kind of action could be taken against the operator as there were compliance violations.

Chow said the current concession awarded to the operator to manage Pulau Burung landfill was made in 2012.

"The concession is for 23 years and the main duty that should be fulfilled by the operator is to manage phase 1 and 2 of the landfill.

"Both phases have been there since the 80s and according to the consensus, phase 1 and 2 could be continued until it is closed and phase 3 will be ready to receive waste disposal," he said.

In the same press conference, state secretary Datuk Dr Ahmad Jailani described the fire at Pulau Burung as among the worst in the history of the landfill.

Ahmad Jailani said currently the Fire and Rescue Department was conducting various method of operation to douse the fire.

"I was informed that the operations are being carried out in zones.

"The data has shown that about 30% to 50% of each zone has been successfully contained," he said.

He hoped that the process can be completed immediately, despite the difficulties faced by firemen during the operations.