Illegal dumping spot in Jalan Suria 5, Taman Suria, Kajang.
Folk in Taman Suria, Kajang, Selangor love waking up to the sounds of birds chirping in the morning.
However, tranquil living in this neighbourhood has been marred by poor air quality due to the stench from several illegal dumpsites and open burning spots nearby.
Taman Suria Residents’ Association chairman Tan Wee Hing, 50, said although the problem was recently solved when Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) moved in to clear the place, residents want better enforcement to prevent repeat incidents.
“The best way to catch illegal dumpers, in the act, is to catch them on camera,” he said.
“I hope MPKj will consider installing closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in affected areas.
“Take Bandar Mahkota Cheras, for example. Residents resorted to installing their own CCTVs at a dumping spot in Jalan Permaisuri to catch the perpetrators.
Construction waste at an open area in Jalan Bukit Suria, which has now been sealed and cleared by MPKj.
“However, it is not practical for Taman Suria residents to instal CCTVs because it will be expensive,” he said.
“So, we urge MPKj to consider installing the cameras for us.”
He said the illegal dumping problem and bad smell at Jalan Suria 4 and Jalan Suria 5 had been ongoing for about two years.
“Residents in Jalan Suria 1, 2 and 3 do not get the smell because those streets are on lower ground.”
He said residents were happy now that the rubbish had been cleared but constant monitoring of the area would deter people from throwing rubbish indiscriminately.
Wee Hing said a WhatsApp group chat, which served as a communication channel between residents and the authorities, was set up in 2019 to communicate problems to the latter.
However, the authorities and local representatives exited the group, leaving residents to face the stench issue on their own.
The chat group comprised officers from MPKj, Selangor Environment Department (DOE) and Kajang assemblyman David Cheong.
Wee Hing: Streets affected by bad smell are Jalan Suria 4 and Jalan Suria 5.
Wee Hing said he was also confused about the existence of more than one rubbish contractor in Taman Suria.
“Sometimes, I see big lorries collecting rubbish and other times, smaller lorries are seen,” he said.
Condominium Permata Residence Joint Management Body (JMB) chairman Tan Kuan Kit, 38, highlighted the issue of tenants dumping and burning unwanted belongings when moving out.
“These include wires, furniture, mattresses, PVC pipes, toilet seats, water bottles and plastic bags,” he said.
Kuan Kit said the illegal dumping problem intensified with an increase in construction waste now that development projects had resumed after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.
He said a popular dumping ground, in Jalan Bukit Suria, had been sealed by MPKj.
Kuan Kit wants MPKj to prevent illegal dumping and open burning from recurring.
The council, he said, had put up a signboard prohibiting people from dumping rubbish at the site.
Kuan Kit also said another dumpsite at Jalan Rakan 12 in Taman Rakan had also been cleared and a similar signboards affixed by the council.
Earlier, nearby shop operators took matters into their own hands by cordoning off the area because the stench was affecting their businesses.
Residents want MPKj to come up with sustainable measures to solve the illegal dumping problem once and for all.
Kuan Kit welcomes MPKj’s action in putting up the signboards.
He wants the council to act swiftly when informed about illegal dumpsites and open burning areas in Taman Suria.
He agreed with Wee Hing that CCTVs were a good way to prevent illegal dumping, but said it was impractical to expect MPKj to implement it so soon because of the cost.
Wee Hing wants MPKj to put up CCTV cameras to catch those dumping waste and burning rubbish in Kajang.
Authorities’ response
When contacted, MPKj councillor Siti Razimi said the council had approved placing warning signage to prohibit illegal dumping in Taman Suria.
“I have informed residents that the banners and yellow tapes are only temporary measures,” she said, adding that signboards would follow.
On complaints received from residents on the illegal rubbish dumping, Selangor DOE director Nor Aziah Jaafar said Bukit Suria residents filed four complaints in 2019 and one this year.
All of their complaints were related to an illegal dumpsite near Twin Palms in Sungai Long.
However, she said DOE had not received any complaints regarding Taman Suria.
KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd (KDEBWM) Kajang operations head Abd Razak Abu Talib said the company’s main job scope was domestic waste collection and public cleansing.
An open burning rubbish incident at an illegal dumpsite in Taman Suria.
“We collect domestic waste three times a week with different schedules for different residential areas.
“During this period, contractors only pick up light waste such as food packages, used diapers and household waste,” he said.
Abd Razak said contractors also collected bulk waste, once a week, limited to medium-sized boxes, chairs and tables among others.
He added that large and heavy waste such as construction debris and furniture did not fall under KDEBWM’s job scope.
“Different sub-contractors are appointed for different jobs and they have to observe standard operating procedures,” he said.
On the WhatsApp group chat which residents claim officers had exited, Cheong said he had appointed his personal assistant and an MPKj councillor to follow up on the matter with residents.“I left the chat group because I have so many other matters to deal with such as flooding and the landslide issues in Kajang,” he said.
Nor Aziah said the DOE officer in charge had left the chat group after being transferred to Putrajaya office on promotion.
She advised residents to lodge complaint through authorised channels such as the DOE hotline 03-8889 1972 or 1-800-88-2727.
