SHAH ALAM: Selangor is set to become the eighth state to adopt the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) to improve the efficiency of solid waste management and public cleansing services in the state.
In a statement on Monday (Oct 12), Istana Alam Shah said the matter had been reviewed by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, following audiences granted to Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Selangor State Secretary Datuk Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin on Oct 8 and 10.
"Both meetings were held to brief His Royal Highness on developments in the implementation of Act 672 in Selangor. They followed His Royal Highness's recent visit to the Amager Bakke (CopenHill) waste-to-energy (WTE) plant in Copenhagen, Denmark.
"His Royal Highness reviewed the developments presented by both the state and federal governments and welcomed the latest announcement by the Housing and Local Government Ministry that Selangor was preparing to become the eighth state to adopt Act 672," the statement said.
It added that Nga had informed the Sultan during the audience that comprehensive efforts involving local authorities had been completed and all stakeholders were committed to finalising and completing the remaining processes.
Nga also informed the Sultan that once the tripartite agreement was signed under the implementation of Act 672, the appointment of the relevant stakeholders would proceed, enabling Selangor to benefit from higher service standards in solid waste management and public cleansing.
"This will be supported by additional funding from the Federal government through the Housing and Local Government Ministry. Similar arrangements have been in place since 2011 in Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Pahang, Kedah and Perlis," the statement said.
Istana Alam Shah said Sultan Sharafuddin had called for the tripartite agreement between the ministry, the Selangor state government and local authorities to be finalised as soon as possible in the interests of all parties, so that the people could enjoy a cleaner Selangor.
His Royal Highness also stressed that the Federal Government, through the ministry, the state government and local authorities must work together to ensure that solid waste management and public cleansing services remain at least on par with, or better than, existing standards following the adoption of the Act.
"His Royal Highness also emphasised that after the agreement is signed, there must be no compromise or decline in the performance and quality of waste management and public cleansing services, including the timeliness and frequency of collections.
"This is particularly important given Selangor's large population, which relies on these services throughout the state," the statement read.
Sultan Sharafuddin also expressed hope that plans for waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities in Selangor could proceed and be expedited in the near future with appropriate facilitation by the Federal Government.
"His Royal Highness believes that, through cooperation and mutual understanding among all stakeholders, an agreed solution in the people's best interests can be achieved successfully for a more advanced Selangor," the statement said. – Bernama
