The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| No access to treated water for Changkat Asa and Kerling estate workers Posted: 28 Jun 2013 06:33 AM PDT ESTATE workers in Ladang Changkat Asa, Hulu Bernam and Ladang Kerling, Hulu Selangor have not been getting supply of treated water from Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) for the last 40 years. Although many residents in Selangor are enjoying 20 cubic metres of free water supply every month since 2008, the estate workers have no such benefit. At Ladang Changkat Asa, water is sourced from a nearby river, which is treated with chemicals and chlorine to make it safe for consumption, before it is channelled to the houses. There are about 400 residents on the 1,716ha estate. Estate worker Razali Tajuddin, 63, said over the years many promises were made by politicians but nothing had materialised. "During the general election in 2008 and the recent GE13, politicians from the various political parties pledged to get us treated water but nothing has been done. "Syabas workers only came to inspect the pipes in the area. "Now, even the water from the river is contaminated as about 340ha of state land along this river has been converted into agriculture use as a banana plantation. "We are worried about contamination as chemicals and pesticides used at the plantation is bound to find its way into the river. "It will be a danger to health if the residents consume contaminated water," said Razali. He added that the lack of action indicated that the authorities were not taking the welfare of the estate workers seriously. Another Ladang Changkat Asa resident, R. Sundaram, 53, said he used to work as a security guard at the banana plantation and had seen its workers throwing rubbish into the river. "Since the banana plantation started its operation, the river is not as clean as before. "No one takes heed of the signage by the pump house along the river, cautioning against rubbish dumping," he said. Meanwhile, at Ladang Kerling, residents obtain water from a river in a nearby jungle. However, an orang asli community 5km away from Ladang Kerling are receiving treated water from Syabas. Although Syabas has laid pipes at Ladang Kerling, it has yet to channel water to the houses here. |
| DBKL recommendation needed for renewal of business licence Posted: 28 Jun 2013 06:33 AM PDT STARTING from next year, food and beverage (F&B) outlets in the city will require a recommendation from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Health and Environment Department before being allowed to renew their licences. Department director Dr Hayati Abdullah joined a team of health enforcement officers on an operation in the city centre. "The officers will visit the premises three months before the licence expires to conduct sanitation inspections. "If satisfied, DBKL will issue a letter to them and the Licensing Department to recommend a licence renewal," she said. DBKL is also considering introducing additional F&B business licence rulings, including closing 24-hour outlets for a day if found to be without a proper hygiene procedures. The business owners would be required to clean up the premises and separate food preparation and cooking areas. Currently, 80% of the F&B premises in Kuala Lumpur have a Grade A hygiene rating while 20% have Grade B. Between 2011 and 2012, DBKL statistics showed that more F&B operators had received compounds for lack of hygiene and not giving workers typhoid vaccination. In the same period, the number of complaints involving dirty eateries had decreased. Dr Hayati said issuing compounds to errant operators was less effective compared to closing down the outlets. "The reputation of a restaurant is adversely affected when it is ordered to close. "Errant operators will have to thoroughly clean the premises before being allowed to resume business," she added. During yesterday's operation in Leboh Pudu and Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin, six out of eight premises inspected were ordered to close. The restaurants were Charis, Weng Heng, Aung Nan Daw, Hassan, April and Shwe Taung No 1 Plus. Shwe Taung was issued a compound. The action was taken under the Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur Food Establishment Licensing Bylaw (21b) 1985 and the Food Act (Section 11) 1983. |
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