Sad state of Damansara Damai

I VISITED a friend at Damansara Damai in Petaling Jaya recently. The name Damansara associated to this township developed about 10 years ago is a sham really.

The housing estate is filled with potholes, rubbish. There are no road signs and haphazard parking is a major problem.

There are many old cars and damaged motorcycles left on road sides and pavements.

There are no rubbish chambers for houses or shops. The shopowners have to battle with the residents who bring down their garbage and leave them at the business premises door-step.

The overall look and feel of this housing estate is bad. Though it was recently developed, it looks like a 50-year-old township. Even Petaling Jaya Old Town looks far better than this area.

It is sad and pitiful to endure such a horrible sight of a township under the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

You can enter any street here and you will see there are no proper road signs. The roads are so narrow. The waste chambers are overflowing with rubbish and you can see rodents scavenging the waste chamber area like in a landfill.

The road sweepers are often busy collecting recyclables and will lecture you if you ask them why they are not sweeping the back lanes.

The back lanes are filled with rubbish. You can find old mattresses, cooker hoods or bookshelves at almost every back lane or junction.

Street lights are hardly working even if they are there. Perhaps the MPBJ officials are too busy within the city limits area that they have ignored this township.

The traffic flow along the Sungai Buloh and Kepong road became worse when Damansara Damai was developed. It is no better now too. The traffic condition is in chaos.

Potholes fill the roads. Rubbish is everywhere. Massage parlours too, everywhere. Dirty restaurants are a common sight. Illegal shops too. You can see foreigners operating their shops, most of them without a business licence.

A friend who happened to open a shop recently was summoned by the city council for not displaying their business licence.

The irony is illegal traders are enjoying brisk business; where else this honest Malaysian is forced to pay a heavy compound while his shop was under renovation.

Can the elected representatives impress upon MBPJ officials to see the actual scenario of this housing area?

MBPJ must be more proactive and receptive to address these issues rather than wait for someone to complain.

Vision 2020 may be a reality for the nation, but not for this ignored haven for foreigners called Damansara Damai.

A CONCERNED MALAYSIAN

Kuala Lumpur