The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Posted: 24 May 2013 06:19 AM PDT THE people of Petaling Jaya are clear about what they want from their elected representatives. Their list of wishes include better planning for development projects, safety as well as transparent governance over the next five years. Residents associations and Rukun Tetangga representatives said they want to see improvements in the city with the new line-up. Petaling Jaya currently has four MPs. They are Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian and Subang MP R. Sivarasah while the assemblymen are Bukit Gasing's Rajiv Rishyakaran, Taman Medan's Hanizah Talha, Damansara Utama's Yeo Bee Yin, Seri Setia's Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Bukit Lanjan's Elizabeth Wong and Kota Damansara's Halimaton Saadiah Bohan. Section 12 Residents Association chairman Datuk A. Narayanan said that before GE13, they had prepared a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the candidates to sign. "The MoU contains our wishes and one is that we want all development in Section 12 and Section 13 to be carried out in compliance with development rules and regulations," he said. Residents in Section 12 also want the proposal by Universiti Malaya to redevelop land along Jalan 12/5 and 12/7 the University of Malaya Health Metropolis to be rejected. "Above all, we want transparent governance and see copies of proposals submitted by developers. "We hope to get 31 days to study and give feedback, if any," Narayanan said. Rukun Tetangga Gasing Indah members, on the other hand, want safety and security measures improved. Its chairman Eric Chew said security was not about having more gated-and-guarded schemes. "As Isaac Newton said: "We build too many walls and not enough bridges". "Walls always separate people, it is only through bridges that we can bring people together to create safe streets through collaborative actions rather than legislation," he added. Chew said he hoped the assemblyman would work closely with the police in developing strategies, initiatives, identifying gaps and evidence-based crime-prevention programmes to improve awareness. "We also hope Rajiv can help come up with measures that we can take to support the police in safeguarding the community," he added. Apart from that, they want a Rukun Tetangga centre in Gasing Indah to bring its residents closer. Chew said they hoped to instil in everyone a sense of ownership, a vital aspect in building a community. Rukun Tetangga Gasing Indah proposed a quarterly get-together, such as "Festival of Neighbourhoods" to bring residents from surrounding neighbourhoods together. He said they hope the MPs and assemblymen would make this a reality. Chew said this broader society could then work together for the good of the community. Meanwhile, Save the People's Field action committee secretary Esham Salam from SS7 Kelana Jaya, said he hoped the state government would appoint good councillors. "The non-performing councillors should not be re-appointed. Also, only those who understand the Town and Country Planning Act should be made councillors," he said. Esham said he hoped to see more representation from non-governmental organisations and professionals in the local councils as well. He said basic amenities like schools, sewerage plants, open spaces and parks should be sufficient before more development projects were approved. In Kampung Chempaka, its Rukun Tetangga chairman Lee Meng Chong said their immediate concerns were irregular rubbish collection services and drainage problems. Lee said rubbish was found all over the Chinese new village and had become an eyesore. "The stench is unbearable as garbage is strewn about at every turn. "The drains are clogged and need to be cleared," he said. "We are surrounded by many upmarket housing developments such as Tropicana and Bandar Utama yet we remain under-developed," he said. He added that Kampung Chempaka needed a hall to carry out activities for the residents to help foster closer ties. All-Petaling Jaya Residents Association Coalition (Apac) adviser Mohd Umar Peer Mohd echoed the residents sentiments. Umar said most of the residents wanted rubbish problems, clogged drains, security and the leasehold issue in Old Town Petaling Jaya resolved. He said the elected representatives should go to the ground more often and urged them to organise meetings with residents from different areas at least three times a month. "In Bukit Gasing alone, we have Section One to Section 17, and if the representatives can visit four sections three times a month, it will be good," he said. |
| Frustrated resident resorts to direct action to protest uncollected waste Posted: 24 May 2013 06:10 AM PDT FED up with garbage being dumped illegally in his housing area and left uncollected for long periods, a resident decided to take matters into his own hands. Dr Mohan Mahatheva said to show his dissatisfaction with the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), he dumped bags of garbage in front of Menara MBPJ last Saturday. The frustrated resident of Section 14, Petaling Jaya, said he had no choice but to resort to such drastic action as numerous complaints to MBPJ had fallen on deaf ears. He said he and his hired help loaded about 25 bags of uncollected garbage from Jalan 14/1 into his vehicle and disposed them in front of Menara MBPJ in the morning. However, the matter was resolved after MBPJ personnel promised to look into the matter and transported the bags of rubbish for proper disposal at the PJ Old Town wet market. Dr Mohan said many people dumped rubbish indiscriminately around Section 14, adding that this problem had been occurring for about two years. "The culprits lack civic-consciousness and the fact that the authorities did not do anything made matters worse," said Dr Mohan, adding that the waste lying around, besides marring the area, was smelly. "It is a health hazard to the public. "When the rubbish contractors came to collect household waste, they ignored the waste in public places," said Dr Mohan. Apart from garden waste, the rubbish left lying around included old and broken furniture along Jalan 14/4C and 14/6. This problem was highlighted in a report in StarMetro on Feb 7. Dr Mohan said he had paid contractors to clean up the area many times. "This situation is unacceptable. "We pay quit rent and assessment and should not have to live in such conditions," he said. When contacted, MBPJ public relations officer Haniza Abdul Hamid said the council had sent seven lorries to clean up Section 14 last Sunday. She said their contractors also collected garden waste and that the rubbish left lying around was due to illegal dumping. "We will take steps to educate the public on proper disposal of waste," she said, adding that the public can call MBPJ's 24-hour hotline at 03-7954 2020 to make complaints. |
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