ISKANDAR PUTERI: Local council elections cannot be held at the moment because of the country’s financial situation, says Zuraida Kamaruddin.

“But the Pakatan Harapan-led government hopes to carry out the polls in three years’ time,” added the Local Government and Housing Minister.

“In the meantime, I want to see more women as councillors,” she told reporters after meeting with Johor Local Government, Science and Technology Committee chairman Tan Hong Pin here yesterday.

Zuraida said there should at least be 30% women councillors in local governments.

On another matter, she said Malaysia intended to do away with landfills by adopting technology in waste management.

Landfills in Johor alone were reaching its maximum intake capacity, especially the one in Simpang Renggam here.

It caused environmental problems to the area and residents there, she said.

“There will be a new 40.4ha landfill in Bukit Payung in Batu Pahat and we understand the concerns raised by the people there, but we have to take this step because there is no land in Johor for landfills.

“I have requested the state government, the local council and the respective wakil rakyat of that area to have dialogue sessions with the people in Bukit Payung over this matter.”

Zuraida also said she would convey the state government’s request to the Cabinet for RM3.5mil to upgrade the landfill in Simpang Renggam.

Johor has 11 landfills where about 3,600 tonnes of garbage a day is dumped.