Listen to us: This abandoned factory lot in Section 13 has been slated for development.
Residents who opposed the development want their opinions taken into consideration.
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.
Needing collection: The garbage in Kampung Chempaka has reached worrying
conditions and residents want immediate action to be taken.
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.
By PRIYA MENON, priya@thestar.com.my
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