Meeting between Kuala Lumpur parliamentarians and DBKL

Source: http://komunitikini.com/kl-selangor/kuala-lumpur/dbkl-urged-to-drop-dubious-outdoor-contract (by LEVEN WOON on 25 Aug, 2011)
Cheras Member of Parliament, Tan Kok Wai (DAP), today asked Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to revise its decision to enter into a privatisation agreement with Katchi Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a company owned by the previously engaged inefficient contractor. He told Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail that the owner of Katchi is a shareholder of Ritz Sdn Bhd, whose contract was terminated by DBKL in 2010, for failing to build 1,300 bus and taxi shelters for the council as agreed, and for failing to pay DBKL an annual contribution for being able to sell advertising for the shelters.
The new contract requires Katchi to build 650 shelters within a year and the company is in return granted the right to place two “media units” and 100 advertising billboards in KL. “The fact that the shareholder from the previous company is the owner of Katchi proves that there is only a superficial change in the contract,” he claimed, during a meeting between Kuala Lumpur parliamentarians and DBKL today.
He noted that there is also a dubious term in the contract, under which Katchi is only obliged to pay DBKL RM1,868 per shelter yearly, when the shelters are fully deployed. “If they are unable to build 650 shelters, like the last time (under Ritz), does it mean they don’t need to pay?” he asked. He also claimed the company has not secured bus shelter sponsorship nor does it have the experience to undertake a privatisation project such as this. Ahmad Fuad, in response, said he would deliberate on the issue. It is known that DBKL is due to sign the agreement in two weeks.
On another note, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok cried foul to the council that the NSK hypermarket in Old Klang Road is breaking council by-laws on operating hours by staying open 24 hours a day. She said petty traders around the area have suffered a great drop in sales because of this.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Fuad gave instructions that officials of not lower than the director rank answer all letters of inquiries from the MPs. This was in view that many questions posed by the MPs in letters were treated lightly by the council, said Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng.
According to Lim, the mayor also agreed to fix a period of one month as the response time to reply questions posed by MPs during meetings.
Lim also expected no redevelopment of the wet market in Taman Tun Dr Ismail as the proposed MRT station opposite it has been scrapped.
The Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun’s representative asked about the application status of squatters in Kampung Kerayong, who would like to shift to the Kampung Muhibah council flats. Fong was one of four absentees at the meeting; the others were Bandar Tun Razak MP Khalid Ibrahim, Setiawangsa MP Zulhasnan Rafique and the late Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohd Ghazali.