Some roads in Balakong Jaya industrial area need to be repaired. — Photos: SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star
BALAKONG Jaya Industrial Area Association has not been able to get all the landowners there to agree on much-needed infrastructure upgrades for the area.
After struggling for over a decade to get a plan in place for the 113.3ha land in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, the association has turned to Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) for help.
It handed over RM4.2mil from its infrastructure and maintenance fund to MPKj for the cost of repairs.
The association’s chairman Peh Hong Zen said the roads and drainage were in dire need of repair and maintenance, but some landowners were not willing to give up their road and drainage reserves, which hampered infrastructure development plans.
He said the area originally comprised agricultural land divided into many lots with individual titles.
Over the years, many factories were built on the land but not all projects got the necessary approvals, resulting in haphazard development and improper roads and drainage.
“The association was formed in 2008 to gather resources and look into improving the roads and drainage.
Peh (third from left) handing over RM4.2mil funds to help cover repairs to Najmuddin. Looking on are (from left) Balakong Jaya Industrial Area Association former president Jang Say Joo, MPKj engineering department director Fadilah Razalli and MPKj vice-president Kamaruzaman Salimin (right).
“However, some landowners are not keen to join the association or agreeable to our infrastructure development plans.
“So we were never able to undertake a holistic approach to improve the infrastructure because of the few who are not willing to cooperate,” he said after handing over a mock cheque to MPKj president Najmuddin Jemain in a ceremony at Bristol Technologies Sdn Bhd, Balakong Jaya industrial area.
One of the landowners, Bristol Technologies Sdn Bhd director YS Yong said the roads were too narrow.
“Some landowners are encroaching into the road reserves, which makes it difficult for vehicles to go through.
“There are also many landowners who appear to be reluctant to change their land status from agriculture to industrial because of the extra cost involved.
“Those that are non-cooperative include some who have not developed their lots or are hesitant to give up the road and drain reserves, which is not fair to the rest who have done so.
“It is best to let MPKj enforce the law to see the matter through,” he said.
Najmuddin said the contribution was small compared to what the association expected the council to accomplish but assured that steps would be taken to upgrade the infrastructure when the time and finances were right.
However, he acknowledged that there was a dire need for better roads, drainage and lights in the area.
As a first step, he said a land surveyor and consultant would be engaged to study the area and come up with a master plan.
“We can start with making small fixes before moving onto big projects.
“Finances are tight, as the local council’s budget for the coming year is expected to go into deficit.
“This year, we estimate a budget deficit of RM8mil and next year, the budget deficit is expected to be RM16mil, which cannot be avoided.
“MPKj is still using the assessment tax revision that was done in 1985.
“I want to share this information with the people in hopes that the expectation of our services will be realistic and on par with our financial standing,” Najmuddin said, adding that the local council was looking into ways to increase income in the coming years.
