‘Insensitive’ MBPJ workers irk residents

Longhouse residents of PJS 1 claim that MBPJ officers, who came to address the flooding problem in their area, were rude to them

PETALING JAYA: Petaling Jaya City Hall (MBPJ) officers refused to clear a clogged drain that has been causing flood at the longhouses in PJS 1, alleged residents action committee chairman M Sugumaran.Since June, the 28 families living in the longhouses have been suffering from flood caused by a clogged drain behind their homes.

The residents claimed that everytime it rained, murky waters flooded their homes, causing health concerns.

They also said the problem started after a developer buried the drain link at the two longhouses that were demolished in June.

Sugumaran said about five MBPJ officers came to the area Thursday morning after he alerted Selangor Pakatan Rakyat leaders of the flooding caused by incessant rain over the week.

Among the leaders he sent the text message to were Selangor exco members, Iskandar Abdul Samad, Ronnie Liu and Elizabeth Wong.

Sugumaran said the officers came to the longhouses with two tractors, led by the city hall’s director of engineering department, Cherami Tarman.

Also present with them was Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sean.

“At first we thought they came to clear the drain causing the problem and upgrade it so the water can flow better. Imagine our surprise when they started digging right in front of the houses. When we enquired about it, they told us rudely to keep quiet and said they knew their work,” said Sugumaran.

When he pointed out that the problem was with the drain behind their houses, Sugumaran claimed that Cherami started asking them when they planned to move to the Lembah Subang low cost flats.

The residents were buyers of the Block E low cost flat units that had been stalled since 2003. They refused to move to Lembah Subang and vowed to remain at the longhouses till their homes are built.

The state government eventually decided to build the low cost block for them and promised not to evict them from the current area.

‘Does he expect gold in the drains?’

Naturally, Sugumaran said, Cherami’s question touched a raw nerve among the residents who then started yelling at the officers for being insensitive to their predicament.

“Cherami also blamed us for the rubbish floating in the drains. How can he be so ignorant?

“Doesn’t he know that this place used to be a garbage disposal site before the longhouses were erected? Does he expect gold to float from the drain then?” asked Sugumaran.

Angered by the residents’ criticism, the officers left the area without cleaning the drain.

Sugumaran also said that even Hee spoke in defence of the MBPJ officers. “He even told us that he won’t take part in this anymore,” he said.

Hee, meanwhile, said he would continue working with MBPJ to find a solution to the drainage problem.

On why MBPJ did not clear the main drain, Hee said the officers could not do anything on the drain as it would not solve the flooding problem as the longhouses were erected on lower ground.

“That is why we will be having another meeting on Tuesday to figure out a solution,” he added.

Cherami refused to comment on the matter citing there was a gag order from the mayor, Mohamad Roslan Sakiman.