Noh Omar slams Selangor state govt for improper waste management

PETALING JAYA: Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar (pix) blames the Selangor government for improper waste management that has led to the spread of dengue and probably Zika.
He said it is being ignorant for not wanting to be a part of Putrajaya's waste management scheme under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 or Act 672.
"Selangor recorded the highest incidences of dengue fever among the states in Malaysia, now probably Zika will follow suit.
"They don't want to be a part of Act 672 because if they agree to it, the federal government will have power to intervene about waste management," he told the media after visiting Taman Medan Cahaya low-cost houses here today.
The federal government allocates RM2.2 billion each year for rubbish collection for states that have agreed to the terms.
To date, seven states in the peninsula – Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Kedah, Perlis and Federal Territories have agreed to the Act.
He said his ministry is working closely with the Health Ministry, under the National Blue Ocean Strategy banner, to curb the spread of dengue and Zika.
The steps taken include making it compulsory for developers to install insect traps at their sites to ensure insects like mosquitoes and other termites would not breed, he added.
He also said the government would provide data to local councils on the spread of dengue and Zika.