5 hours Ago By Philip Kiew
Hee shows piles of uncollected garbage behind a commercial centre. MIRI (Jan 23): The DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak yesterday criticised Miri City Council’s (MCC) handling of waste management in the city. This was after the council recently moved to shut down garbage collection points in commercial centres, followed by a directive for businesses to transport their waste directly to the Kuala Baram landfill.
Dapsy Sarawak chief Peter Hee said such a move reflected MCC’s “abdication of responsibility”, as waste collection is a basic service that the council is obligated to provide especially in commercial areas that generate revenue for the city. “This is tantamount to abandoning one of its core municipal duties, and such a decision is not only absurd but also imposes an unnecessary burden on businesses,” he said in a statement. In this regard, Hee called on the council to “stop passing the buck” to businesses and “take responsibility for its failures”.
He also said that it was impractical for businesses that lack the resources or vehicles to transport their garbage to the landfill. “This policy is an insult to business owners who have already paid taxes and fees for such services, and forcing them to bear the cost of transporting their garbage to the landfill is nothing short of ridiculous. “This hasty and poorly thought-out decision clearly shows the council’s lack of consultation with stakeholders and the absence of any viable alternative solutions.
“It will disrupt operations and increase costs for businesses, as well as tarnish the city’s reputation as a business-friendly hub in the long run,” said Hee. He stressed the issue was not just about garbage collection, but governance. “If MCC cannot even handle basic services like waste collection, how can the people trust them to manage larger city issues?” In this regard, Hee called upon MCC to hold itself accountable for the waste management issues without shifting the burden onto the business community.
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