Rubbish scattered across the compound of Bund Shanghai building in Kuala Lumpur.
FAILURE to maintain the cleanliness of the Bund Shanghai building in Changkat Bukit Bintang has triggered public health and safety concerns, prompting Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to intervene.
DBKL advisory board member Carmen Leong said she saw rubbish strewn across the compound of the six-storey building.
“I was walking along the side lane next to the building and saw the dirty compound through a hole of a broken hoarding erected around the perimeter.
“We investigated and found that the compound was filled with rubbish.
“We are worried that such conditions will spread diseases.
“It is an eyesore, especially in a popular tourist attraction like Bukit Bintang,” she said.
Leong added that the matter was escalated to the DBKL Health and Environment Department, Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) as well as the DBKL Commissioner of Buildings (COB).
During a site visit by the relevant agencies, rubbish was found scattered across the compound as well as dead rats.
The refuse chamber of the 30-unit private residence was found to be locked.
Residents have been throwing rubbish from a hole on the first floor into the roll-on roll-off bins (RoRo) placed behind the building along the road.
The water pipes were also found to be emitting a putrid stench.
(From left) Lai and Leong checking the premises in Changkat Bukit Bintang.
During the site visit, a SWCorp representative said a cleanup would be carried out with the building’s joint management body (JMB).
Leong said she would also call for a meeting to address the issue with the relevant DBKL departments.
“Everyone has the right to better living conditions,” she said.
Resident Billy Ng, who has been living in the building for 20 years, said most of the tenants were foreigners.
“There are unscheduled water and electricity cuts, and the building is not properly maintained,” he said.
“Drug addicts sometimes sleep in the compound and there have also been robberies here.”
Bukit Bintang Residents Representative Council (MPP) Sub Zone 2 chairman Lew Kok Kiat said the building’s condition was unacceptable.
Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun’s aide Lee Bing Hong said many Kuala Lumpur strata properties faced similar problems.
“We should relook at some policies and allow the authorities to take over the management of the building,” he said.
On a separate matter, DBKL advisory board member Andre Lai said City Hall was looking into more tourism friendly options in Bukit Bintang.
“There is a proposal to promote Jalan Rembia as a tourist. attraction, thanks to the murals painted on buildings there.
“We are looking to make it a car-free road or night market like Jalan Alor,” he said.
