WASTE-ing in incinerator

The latest Auditor General's Report is actually very interesting if one takes the time to read it patiently. I'm sure your 'blood will start shooting upstairs' when you flip from one page to another. I discovered today, an overwhelming stench from Jabatan Pengurusan Sisa Pepejal Negara. 

MINISTRY OF URBAN WELLBEING, HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT


14. Incinerator Plant Management

a. The Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government (KPKT) constructed incinerator plants using the autogenous combustion technology proposed by XCN Technology Sdn. Bhd. (XCNT) in Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Pangkor, Cameron Highlands and Pulau Tioman. Besides that, this technology was also used for the improvement of the Thermal Oxidation Plant (TOP)

Project in the Federal Territory of Labuan. These new plants were expected to solve the problem of solid waste management at respective locations. The Department of National Solid Waste Management (JPSPN) was the owner of the projects and was responsible for managing and operating the incinerator plant upon completion of the projects. Under the Ninth and Tenth Malaysia Plan, a total of RM199.09 million from RM337.45 million allocated by the Federal Government was spent on the construction of the incinerator plant projects. Audit findings revealed that overall, the management of incinerator plant projects by KPKT was not satisfactory. Among the weaknesses identified were as follows:

1. physical performance of the incinerator plant projects was not satisfactory where all 4 projects were given extension of time (EOT) between 240 to 693 days. Of the 4 projects, only one project was completed within the EOT, 2 projects were delayed for 46 and 104 days, while another project was still not completed as at 6 May 2013, which was 330 days after the EOT. Besides that, only one incinerator plant was operating while the other 2 were still not operating after completion with delay between 223 to 642 days;
   
   
2. the operation of Pulau Pangkor Incinerator Plant was not satisfactory because it did not operate autogenously, the set temperature range could not be achieved and output could not be produced at the fixed rate;

3. weaknesses in the management of the plant operation and maintenance contract due to delay in finalizing the incinerator plant operation contract documents and the manual on the plant operation and maintenance was not prepared yet;
   
   
4. KPKT spent RM7.23 million for Labuan TOP refurbishment project although it was still in the process of arbitration with the previous contractor for TOP construction wherein the project had to be terminated at the end;
   
   
5. flaws in the design caused the incinerator plant not to operate optimally;
   
   
6. non-compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements;
   
   
7. Testing and Commissioning (T & C) of incineration plants were not conducted properly, and
   
   
8. non-compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Factories and Machinery Act.
   

b. It is recommended that the respective parties take the following actions for improvements:

1. KPKT should provide the basis of effective management of solid waste from the source (house/premises) and raise awareness to the people about the importance of separation of solid waste from the house so that the quality of waste sent to incineration plants could be improved to overcome the quality of solid waste‟s calorific value (cv) and moisture content;
   
   
2. KPKT/JPSPN/XCNT should improve solid waste treatment process to ensure that the quality of solid waste (cv and moisture content) complies with the standards required before being burned by the incinerator plants so that autogenous combustion could be achieved and diesel consumption could be minimized;
   
   
3. KPKT should ensure that incinerator plant‟s operators possess the skills as required by acceptable standard during handling the solid waste in order to comply with the operation standard, environmental regulations as well as safety and health regulations. Relevant training should also be given from time to time;
   
   
4. KPKT and JPSPN should monitor closely the compliance with the terms of the contract, particularly in managing T & C process; compliance with EIA issued by the Department of Environment; quality of construction; compliance with the laws in order to ensure that the Government gets value for money;

5. JPSPN should provide a guideline to oversee and monitor the management of the incinerator plant operations so that all the rules are followed and the plant is always being operated safely;
   
   
6. JPSPN should establish a mechanism to ensure full compliance with the operating conditions of the contract prior to payment to the contractor; and
   
   
7. JPSPN should create a committee consisting of agencies directly involved in the monitoring of the incinerator plant operations including the Department of Environment, Safety and Health Department and the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing. In addition, the committee should also help JPSPN to outline the conditions to be included in the contract of operation and maintenance of incineration plants. Benchmarking with successful incinerator‟s operators could be made to ensure that the incinerator plant is properly managed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. 

Postscript of the Auditor General's Report says...

As audits conducted by the National Audit Department are based on samples and certain scopes, Secretary Generals of Ministry/Heads of Department/Chief Executives should carry out thorough examination to ascertain whether other activities have the same weaknesses and thereby take corrective actions and make improvements. In relation to this, other than carrying out evaluation on internal controls, the Internal Audit Unit should carry out procurement and performance audits on the management of programmes/activities/projects to ensure that they are implemented efficiently, economically and the stated objectives are achieved. 
Ketua Setiausaha of the ministry, the first woman KSU of Kementerian Kesejahteraan Bandar, Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, should have started looking into this 'rubbish' as the official ministry website says she is also the Pengerusi Perbadanan Pengurusan Sisa Pepejal Dan Pembersihan Awam. (this could be the best opportunity for pembersihan, Puan)

DG Datuk Dr Nadzri Yahaya Ph.D(doctorate in conservation of dolphins?) should know a thing or two about these 'rubbish' as the AG says "The Department of National Solid Waste Management (JPSPN) was the owner of the projects and was responsible for managing and operating the incinerator plant upon completion of the projects".

I'm pretty sure the new 'no nonsense' Minister Datuk Rahman Dahlan would also look into this 'rubbish' and take the necessary steps, including roping in the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission, to stop these humiliating stench. 

Stop it before it becomes a scandal like the infamous NFC lembu saga. 

"In other countries, they would take action on individuals for public misconduct. If their action was deliberate and their negligence caused the losses of millions of ringgit, they can be penalised for that.
"However today, we can't charge people for negligence and stupidity," he said, drawing laughs from the crowd. - Who is the he?

What should we do with those 'little napoleons' who act stupid, but are brilliantly corrupt to the core? 

Ada yang makan duit sampah jugak ker?