Review system of awarding drain maintenance contract – activist

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KOTA KINABALU: The government has been urged to review the present system of awarding contracts to one consortium for maintaining the drains within housing estates.

Social activist Robert Foo made the call during City Hall’s meet-the-clients day here on Thursday, saying he was informed that the drain maintenance contract has been awarded to a consortium for 15 years.

Ideally, a contract of this kind should be limited to two or three years depending on the good performance of the company, said Foo in his proposal presented to Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir.

He also reckoned that the company doing the maintenence job should also be subjected to proper control from City Hall and not otherwise.

He added that the company’s job also should not be limited to the front portion of the houses as was the case now.

“Many housing estates were flooded recently due to possibly poor maintenance as in some cases the drains in those housing estates were clogged.

“It is time that City Hall should voice up this matter to the relevant ministry (for appropriate action to be taken),” said Foo, adding that he was informed by the Mayor that the awarding of the maintenance contract was not within City Hall’s jurisdiction.

The retired senior police officer also brought up to City Hall’s attention the issue of vehicles with tinted dark glass, using high intensity discharge (HID) head lamps and modified exhaust pipes that violate the standard limit set by the relevant authority.

“In the past I have brought up this matter (HID lamps) with the Road Transport Department (RTD), Sabah. Although, I was told that they have frequently taken action, I still very often confront the strong glares that may cause accidents.

“Modified exhaust pipe that causes noice pollution should be dealt with by the RTD and traffic police,” said Foo, who presented a copy of a news article clip which stated that the RTD in Johor had looked into this matter seriously.

Foo also appealed to the management of the public transport company running shuttle services between the City and Terminal 1 and 2 of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) to seriously consider giving 50% discount for senior citizens aged 65 years and above.

The company should also extend its time of operation to 12 midnight and not at 7pm as is the case now, he added.