(Petaling Jaya, Friday): It was reported in the Sun yesterday that Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has instructed the Subang Jaya and Sepang Municipal Councils to submit reports to him on the vetting procedure for the award of fumigation concessions to two consortiums.

He was also quoted that he is waiting for the reports and if the vetting process is legally wrong, action can be taken. He said that if there is any corruption, a report should be made to the Anti Corruption Agency.

We welcome the statement from the Mentri Besar but we also want the reports to be simultaneously available to the media and public for greater public scrutiny, afterall, the people is the taxpayers and they have absolute right to understand how MPSJ and MPSepang award pest control concessionaire to these companies which are not recognized by Pesticide Board and Pest Control Association Malaysia (PCAM)

On this part, we are willing to assist the Mentri Besar. It is always good to listen to both side of the stories in order to get a clearer picture of the whole incident. Inliue of this, the DAP Selangor is more than ready to present a copy of the materials we have to the Mentri Besar for his reference.

Three more reason for MPSJ to suspend the decision

The Mentri Besar should pay special attention to the different contradicting statement from the council officers, President and Councilors. I had pointed in a press conference on 31^st July that DAP Selangor is outraged on the decision made by MPSJ based on the following five reasons:

1. What are the jurisdictions for MPSJ to require non-eatery commercial outlets to conduct pest-control exercise? MPSJ is certainly lacking transparency in it’s policy making when requiring owners of non-eatery commercial outlets to do the same.
2. Even though if pest control exercise is compulsory for all commercial outlets, why do MPSJ only designate one consortium to conduct the exercise for more than 10,000 commercial outlets under MPSJ’s jurisdiction? Is this consortium more experienced than other companies in the market, or it’s charges are more economical than the rest? Is the awarding of the concessionaire conducted based on open-tender system?
3. This consortium is said not a member of the Pest Control Association of Malaysia (PCAM). If that’s the case, why MPSJ does not select a company registered, recognized and accredited by the association? Are the services provided by this consortium guaranteed and accredited by the association? Will it be held liable legally for any losses or accidents by its personnel when conducting pest-control exercises, especially when pest control personnel must be well-trained to handle insecticides and poisonous materials which could also be carcinogenic?
4. DAP Selangor has also conducted a company search for the companies under the consortium and discovered that some of the companies are not only newly established, but also led by directors in their 20s. This raises a question of whether these companies are capable to conduct proper pest-control exercise.
5. The lowest available charge of the consortium is RM600, which is twice the market price. If all owners of commercial outlets under the jurisdiction of Subang Jaya were to sign a contract with this consortium till 2026, that will be a great fortune for the consortium.

After that, Subang Jaya ADUN cum MPSJ councilor YB Datuk Lee Hwa Beng claimed in a Malaysiakini report (http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/54955) that the council will not employ companies which are not recognized by the Pesticide Board under the Agriculture Department.

Since Lee Hwa Beng mentioned about Pesticide Board under the Agriculture Department, I then on 9^th August obtained the approved companies list from the Board, initially done through the website (http://www.doa.gov.my/pco), in which I discover that the consortium approved by MPSJ (Konsortium SJ Pest Control Sdn. Bhd.) and it’s members (Koswasta Asia Pest Control Sdn. Bhd., Damai Pest Control Sdn. Bhd., Vetga Sdn. Bhd., Inspirasi Asia Sdn. Bhd., Suria Sakti Resources Sdn. Bhd. and Denmas Sdn. Bhd.) and the four companies approved by Majlis Perbandaran Sepang or MPSepang (Salak Pest Control Sdn. Bhd., Wismanis Sdn. Bhd., Lembah Dahlia Sdn. Bhd. and Koswasta Asia Sdn. Bhd.) do not appear on any of the lists. Some media have even taken the initiative to write in to Pesticide Board to get a written verification, which they managed to  obtain.

Although Lee Hwa Beng claimed that the Council only appoint companies accredited by Pesticide Board, but he failed to explain why the Council persist in appointing these pest-control companies. Even though we have proven that these companies are not accredited by pesticide Board, the Council in a statement said that out of the seven companies mentioned, there are only five accredited by the Board (please refer to a newspaper report published in The Sun dated 8^th August 2006, page 11).

On 21^st August, Lee Hwa Beng again said that the Council’s License Committee has on 20^th June 2006 has decided that companies not accredited by Pesticide Board cannot carry out any pest control exercise. Business operators can still seek services from other pest-control operators.

Unfortunately, although Lee said that the ruling is still effective, there are still business operators who are forced to sign contract with the newly-appointed companies before they can renew or apply their trade license.

He even further pointed that he himself and YB Liew Yuen Keong had opposed to the appointment of the six companies but majority won.

In fact, judging from the different and contradicting statement between Lee Hwa Beng and MPSJ, it is not shocking if they are people lodge reports with ACA against him and MPSJ.

Since first, this has seriously tarnished the image of MPSJ and Lee Hwa Beng; second, this decision has drawn opposition from business operators and third, the Mentri Besar has expressed his own concern over the issue, and has even directed both councils to submit a report, Lee Hwa Beng shall on the up and coming MPSJ full board council meeting on 28^th August until there is a full and accountable explanation from the council to the public and the Mentri Besar.

MPSJ must explain...from left: Thomas Goh (DAP PJ Action Team Treasurer), Lau Weng San (DAP Selangor Publicity Secretary), Ning Sang
(DAP Taman Paramount Branch Chairman) and Won Ah Kui (DAP Selangor Treasurer).

(25/08/2006)