Mr. Mayor will you act?

Various health and safety issues were raised with the previous Mayor but to no avail. Will the current Mayor be any different?

FMT LETTERS

By Rebecca Jane Thomas

Over and over again, I have made various complaints to DBKL with regards to

the worsening situation in Lembah Pantai mainly Pantai Hill Park, Taman Bukit
Angkasa and Pantai Dalam. Many tax paying, law abiding citizens and honest community leaders have also repeatedly highlighted their concerns about the way these areas are now becoming a place where the law does not seem to prevail.

Let me list them out here so that readers can judge for themselves.

1) Illegal stalls

Many illegal stalls are mushrooming both in residential areas and on the pavement of main roads. Some of these illegal stalls are rented out and here we are talking large sums of money, not small ringgit!

The situation is deplorable. Pedestrians are unable to walk peacefully on the pavement. Rubbish and all sorts of junk are thrown about and left to rot.

The stalls operate 24 hours a day. They claim parking areas for themselves and are frequented by all kinds of people. It is actually scary to see the likes of those who patronize the stalls.

Motorbikes are parked in haphazard manner and patrons sit at these stalls till the wee hours of the morning “lepakking”.

This brings me to the question of the food court which is under the management of DBKL but operates much like the illegal stalls in the area.

2) Medan Selera Seri Angkasa

This place is filthy. Rubbish remains uncollected for days. The place is filled with rats, worms, crows and stray cats who feed on what is thrown away by stall operators. The smell makes you want to vomit. Yet many feast on the banquet like spread of food which is kept out in the open.

Stall operators make use of all the empty spaces available be it in the front or the back. They put up tents and additional tables and chairs. The alleys are a sight for sore eyes since they are a dumping ground for old and unused furniture and materials, etc.

Illegal stalls keep sprouting even though legal lots appear to be available. Many of these available stalls have been empty since the day the food court was built. Maybe DBKL does not mind them being empty since rent is being paid.

3) Illegal Car Parks

There appear to be more cars than people.

Cars are parked everywhere all the time, day or night – on the main roads and residential areas. Many people go so far as to claim legal parking spots to run businesses out of their vans.

The situation is made worse by employees from surrounding offices parking their cars for free in residential areas and on the main roads. Most of these employees work nights, so parking spaces are always taken up leaving residents without spots.

4) Illegal recycling dumping area

There are many recycling areas of different sizes – large and small. While recycling is good, some items which cannot be recycled are also thrown in the designated recycling area so it becomes just another dumping ground. Additionally the fences surrounding this area are broken and in disarray.

Now this brings me to the question of the electronic recycle bins managed by Sisa Corp.

5) Electronic recycle bin managed by Sisa Corp

Sisa Corp has placed two electronic recycle bins along the walkway to Medan Selera Taman Seri Angkasa. These are a mess and an eye-sore!! They are completely unmanaged and a waste of funds!

The bins are overflowing with rubbish and now we even have an illegal stall operating right next to it.

I have brought the matter of removing these bins up to the DBKL many times but have only been given all kinds of excuses.

In conclusion, these issues have been raised before with the previous Mayor but to no avail. I am now raising the same with the current Mayor.

Will there be a difference?.

Rebecca Jane Thomas is an FMT reader.