Bangsa Ria's Section 17 home
PETALING JAYA: The future looks brighter for residents of Bangsa Ria day care centre for children with special needs now that they moved into a new neighbourhood in Section 17 in September.
"2014 was a tough year but we managed to overcome all the hassles, including moving from our previous premises in Section 12. We are lucky to have this new place in Section 17, it is a nicer place and we feel happier here," said the centre's president S. Nagappan.
Bangsa Ria moved from its old premise at No. 40, Jalan 12/14 to No 584, Jalan 17/17 here.
Nagappan said the move did not inconvenience any of the parents who rely on the centre's services.
Nagappan, who spoke to The Star Online at the centre's annual Christmas lunch, added that Bangsa Ria's committee, made up of parents of children who used the centre, is "very relieved" to be free of the court case that hung over centre until March 21 this year.
On March 21, Justice Vernon Ong dismissed the judicial review application filed by A. Kanesalingam and K. Rajeswari against the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MBPJ) and Bangsa Ria’s landlord, Ramesh Chelliah.
Kanesalingam and Rajeswari had filed the judicial review application to nullify the planning permission granted by the MBPJ to Bangsa Ria.
They had said in their Statement of Judicial Review that MBPJ had acted illegally by contravening provisions of the National Land Code in granting planning permission to Bangsa Ria.
They had also sought damages, claiming they had suffered the “nuisance of experiencing the uncomfortable sensation of seeing the disabilities and sufferings of all the special children, the whole day, day in day out”.
On the application for a new MBPJ licence and the relationship with the new neighbours, Nagappan said that most of the new neighbours had been very supportive of the centre.
"But we will find out if there are any objections when MBPJ sends out the letter to the neighbours in January or February as part of the approval process for a permit for the centre, which should be completed by March," said Nagappan.
Asked what plans Bangsa Ria has for 2015, Nagappan said the immediate priority was to get an operating licence from MBPJ, following which the centre plans to launch a full-scale fundraising campaign to buy a building of its own.
"We need to draw up a project paper and get funds, this will be our main thrust for 2015. The public can help us financially, as we need about RM9,000 a month to operate, and our parents can only contribute RM4,000.
"The public can also help by volunteering, coming over to play with the children. The presence of new, friendly faces excites them," said Nagappan.
Similar views were shared by another parent and committee member, Halim Hamdan, who said that moving to a new place was very good for Bangsa Ria.
"The centre helps us as parents because it cares for our children and their special needs, allowing us to focus on our jobs," added Hamdan.
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