The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Posted: 04 Aug 2011 03:19 AM PDT ABOUT 95% of mangrove swamp land along the coastal area in Selangor belong to individuals. Selangor Forestry Department assistant director (operations and enforcement) Mohd Yussainy Md Yusop said the mangrove swamps stretched from Sabak Bernam right up to Sepang. "The department only looks after the land which comes under the forest reserve and the rest is managed by the respective land offices. "The owners are not supposed to burn or cut the mangrove trees on their land," he said. He added that the department did not have the authority to do anything if the owners chopped down the mangrove trees or cleared the land. "It is sad that natural resources like mangrove swamps are given away to individuals. Mangrove areas should be protected instead of being developed. "If a tsunami hits the Selangor coast, the mangrove swamps will act as a protective barrier against the huge waves. "Even the eco-system at the mangrove swamp helps fishermen as it acts as a breeding ground for fish,'' said Yussainy after visiting a clearing of mangrove swamp in Sepang on Tuesday. StarMetro received complaints from environmentalists on the clearing of the land that occurred a few months ago. A fisherman, who wants to be known only as Ismail, said he knew the individuals who owned the land. "They are high profile people, including one who is a Datuk," he said. He added that the Kuala Langat District Council had planned to develop the area. The Kuala Langat land office had given out 12 lots to individuals more than three years ago. State Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment committee chairman Elizabeth Wong said she needed to see the evidence before deciding on the next course of action. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Posted: 04 Aug 2011 03:17 AM PDT LACK of co-ordination among departments in Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has been blamed for the deterioration of the low-cost housing schemes (PPR) in the city. The problem which has resulted in hundreds of units falling into disrepair and facing maintenance problems, is also said to be the reason behind the delay in getting the dilapidated units repaired. Federal Territory People's Progressive Party chairman Datuk A. Chandrakumanan said the declining state of DBKL's low-cost housing scheme was a perfect example of the lack of co-ordination among the relevant departments. Chandrakumanan said housing issues previously came directly under the jurisdiction of Housing Management and Community Development Department but now a new department, Implementation of Projects and Building Mainte-nance, had been created to oversee the maintenance of low-cost houses and flats. "The situation now is that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. We have one department in charge of giving out units and another in charge of maintenence. "Since there is no co-ordination between officers from different departments, naturally problems will arise in getting officers to execute their duties. There is no efficiency and in the end it is the people who suffer,'' Chandrakumanan said. He cited as examples a recent freak storm and a fire in Bandar Tun Razak where several families lost their homes. "City Hall was not able to immediately provide units for these families when the local authority was supposed to re-house them within 48 hours. "As a result, many of them with infants had to rough it out in community halls and temples for weeks,'' he said. "We are aspiring to be one of the top 20 livable cities in the world and to achieve that, we need to resolve basic issues like housing,'' he added. Chandrakumanan visited the Taman Beringin PPR in Jinjang Utara and Desa Rejang PPR in Setapak recently to follow up on complaints from residents over the many dilapidated units in their blocks. Residents have been living in constant fear of vagrants and drug addicts and even of falling sick from the filthy condition in their area. "I am always worried about my safety and health, and the living condition here is getting from bad to worse,'' said M. Indra Devi, 47, of PPR Taman Beringin. "My unit is next to a flat that has been left empty for more than a year. The previous owner has absconded and left all their rubbish behind. "The place is filthy and overrun by rats and vagrants,'' said 63-year-old Chang Moi. "Why isn't DBKL doing anything to clean up the place and rent it out to other people?" she asked. P. Miyalagan said the lifts broke down four to five times a week and many elderly and disabled people faced a daily chore climbing up the stairs to their units. Chandrakumanan said he would form a team to find out the problems faced by residents living in PPR units in the city and enlist City Hall's help in solving some of the issues. On the issue of rental owed to DBKL, he said he would negotiate with City Hall on the possibility of allowing tenants with large outstanding sums to pay by instalments. "Delinquent tenants who cannot afford to pay the entire amount at one go, should be allowed to pay in instalments. "I am optimistic that DBKL will allow residents the flexibility in settling their rental arrears,'' he said. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
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