SANDAKAN – A tender notice for waste and rubbish collection in Sandakan has finally been put up on November 18, for which only contractors with the Pukonsa A licence, which takes months to obtain, can apply.
Sabah DAP acting chairman Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung said he cannot understand the logic of the new restriction as it limits capable contractors from applying and resolving the city’s long-standing garbage woes.
Pukonsa refers to the Sabah State Registration Centre for Contractors in Works, Supply and Service
Each applicant is also restricted to two subheads which means it can only perform two types of work in the collection chain.
Poon who is the assemblyman for Tanjong Papat said the requirement is unfair to new contractors and interested candidates who are capable and have the resources, yet do not have the required licence.
“This also leaves room for possibility that the tender will be awarded to someone with the required licence but unable to carry out the task.
“It is also unfair to taxpayers, the community in Sandakan as they still have to put up with lousy rubbish collection service, as they have been for the past six months.
“This is unacceptable. How can our town and state have such regressive practices?” he said.
Poon said it was ridiculous for the tender to be advertised on November 18 and the briefing to qualified applicants to be set only two days later on November 20, as the duration was far too short.
“This strict requirement is restricting the participation of known, experienced and capable contractors.
“The best way forward is to open the tender for Class A Licence holders and not with subheads. That way many Class A Licence holders can apply.”
He said Sandakan has over the past six months had “lousy” rubbish collection in most areas, with garbage trucks rented from other towns in Sabah being used.
He also questioned how rubbish management at the dumpsters is being conducted.
“Is anyone managing the rubbish dumped at the collection centres? How are they managing them?” he asked.
Poon said priority should be given to a local contractor.
Sandakan’s garbage collection woes started when the ten-year-contract of the last contractor expired on April 30.
The company refused a new contractual arrangement on month-to-month basis that was offered to it. Since May 2, rubbish collection has been handled temporarily by Sandakan Municipal Council with regular trucks and borrowed garbage trucks from other districts. –The Vibes, November 29, 2020.
