Selangor has been exempted from the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act, state executive councillor Ronnie Liu said.
This means the state can choose not to privatise solid waste collection and public cleaning, he said.
“But it also means that if we run out of funds, and we need more money for the work, we cannot apply to the Federal Government for funds.
“Other states can make an application to the Housing and Local Government Ministry if they need more funds,” he told reporters after the state executive council meeting yesterday.
Although the Selangor government has yet to be officially informed of the exemption, Liu said the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Kabithad written to Penang executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow informing him about it on July 8.
The letter apparently stated that Penang, Selangor and Perak had been exempted from the Act.
Coincidentally, the local authorities in Selangor will take over public cleaning works from Alam Flora starting Aug 1.
However, Alam Flora will continue to manage solid waste collection and disposal.
Earlier, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said China State Construction Engineering Corporation, a Chinese government-linked company, would come to Selangor to conduct a survey and feasibility study on revitalising the Klang River.
Khalid said this was an exploratory phase as the state had also initiated discussions with a South Korean company although it had been put on hold.
“We want to consider all our options so we can get a most inclusive option,” he said.
