THE fire accident in the Pulau Burung landfill in Penang in January had cost the local government RM59.5 million.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo revealed this figure at the State Legislative Assembly sitting at the State Assembly building today.
He also said the state government and the operator are now discussing terms before they part way in two to three months, following which a new operator will be engaged.
“In fact, the failure of the contractor to maintain the landfill properly resulted in the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) suffering a loss of RM59.5 million,” Jagdeep (PH-Datok Keramat) when answering a question from Lee Khai Loon (PH-Machang Bubuk) regarding the incident.
Apart from that, he said state government paid a total of RM888,000 in compensation to the affected parties, including a total of RM115,000 to the affected families.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting