City council moves to clear congestion at Ipoh’s railway station - The Malaysian Insider

March 7, 2016

This is thanks to the Ipoh City Council for moving in to prevent vendors from attracting crowds with attractions such as roller-skates, skate-boards and battery powered mini-scooters and cars.

Such attractions had resulted in the square becoming a festival ground for the city folk at night, particularly during weekends and eves of public holidays.

The area would become congested, obstructing those entering the railway station, which has become busy with KTM increasing the frequency of its electric train services.

The carnival-like atmosphere was damaging this city’s main attraction, which is located in the centre of its famous heritage buildings.

Not only were the plants and grass damaged, some cracks had also appeared on the concrete floor around the fountain and the “Ipoh Tree.”

In the past one week, several enforcement officers had been stationed there at night-time to take action against such vendors.

A check with Ipoh Mayor Datuk Zamri Man confirmed the presence of enforcement personnel at the square.

Acknowledging that trading was not allowed at the square, he said a notification of the rule had been posted at the square some time ago.

“I have done spot checks at the railway station and noted the traffic congestion. It was manageable but not as comfortable as it should be,” said Zamri, adding that the traders contributed to the traffic congestion.

“The council has been doing enforcement. However to be effective, we will be monitoring the location more regularly for the benefit and comfort of all parties.”

Yahaya Long, 54, who was waiting to pick up his son, who was returning from Kuala Lumpur on the 11pm Electric Train Service last Saturday, gave the thumbs up to the presence of the enforcement personnel.

He described the traffic as “so much better” with their presence. – March 7, 2016.

First step in restoring Ipoh as clean city - The Malaysian Insider

March 4, 2016

The six-month trial anti-litter programme initiated in Gugusan Manjoi, the largest cluster of traditional villages within Ipoh, has won the hearts of residents.

After just seven weeks, the residents are giving the waste collection company E-Idaman the thumbs up, saying the programme has eliminated illegal dumpsites, resulting in a cleaner environment because cats and dogs no longer have bags to rip open.

The trial began early in January with the company distributing free dustbins to all households and simultaneously spring cleaning the entire neighbourhood.

Senior couple Mohd Tahir, 70, and his wife Esah Mohd Hashim have lived on Jalan Datin for 40 years and said that since the start of the programme illegal dumpsites had stopped.

“Our house is on the junction with the main road. In the past, I would hang my bags out for collection but passers-by would then leave their rubbish nearby.

“Animals usually tear up the waste bags and that leaves a foul smell. Ipoh City Council (MBI) only collects the bags. The torn bags are left on the road and they foul up the neighbourhood for days,” he said.

“Now every house has a dustbin and we have clean streets. It is an improvement,” said Esah, who admitted they had never owned a dustbin before January.

Just around the corner on the main road Jalan Raja, roti canai sellers Nor Ainshah Dahlan and Suhaimi Zambri said that the initiative was a general improvement.

“As there are no more illegal dumpsites along the roads and this make the neighborhood cleaner,” said Ainshah.

Indeed E-Idaman’s service has been so good that residents themselves have adjusted their mind-set not to litter, said stallholders Nor Azlinda and Nur Amira.

The trial was launched by mayor Datuk Zamry Man to monitor and evaluate the quality of service provided by government-appointed concessionaires SWCorp and Environment Idaman, and in collaboration with the city council.

E-Idaman state operations manager Nur Azam Ahmad Zaini said the first priority was to distribute 120-litre dustbins to the households and 600-litre bins to commercial premises.

“Through January and February, by working with the village chiefs, we distributed over 90% of our allotted dustbins,” said Azam. – March 4, 2016.

KL condos to use recycling cages for waste separation - The Malaysian Insider

March 4, 2016

The use of special steel cages for recycling will be expanded to highrises in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and five states from April.

Solid Waste And Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) deputy chief executive officer (technical) Dr Mohd Pauze Mohd Taha said the initiative would give a further boost to the separation of waste at source programme which was implemented last September, Bernama reported.

Apart from those in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, households in Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Perlis and Pahang were required to carry out waste separation.

Pauze said currently, the special cages were only used in residential neighbourhoods.

"The concessionaire is responsible for supplying the cages and those living in highrise apartments and condominiums will have to separate their waste just like those living in landed properties," he said at a media briefing on waste recycling organised by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The Malaysian Insider had previously reported that a total of 129 recycling cages would be placed at flats in Negri Sembilan to enable effective waste sepration at source.

The cages have three separate sections for paper, plastic and other recyclable items.

Residents should separate and place the items in plastic bags before placing them in the correct section in the cage.

Pauze said at present, the recycling rate in Malaysia was still at 17%. The target is to reach a recycling rate of 22% by 2020.

Meanwhile, SWCorp has issued 50,000 reminders from September last year to last month to households which failed to separate waste at source.

SWCorp is an agency under the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry, which is in charge of the waste separation project.

It has been reported that the implementation of mandatory separation of household solid waste is capable of reducing the amount of solid waste sent to waste disposal sites by 40%.

Beginning June 1, action will be taken again those who failed to carry out waste separation at source.

First time offenders will face a RM50 compound, with RM100 and RM500 for subsequent offences.

A RM1,000 fine would be imposed if an offender did not settle the compound. – March 4, 2016.