The 2023 Puchong landslide triggered by monsoon drain failure displaced residents from nine houses along Jalan Wawasan 3/9.
Flood mitigation and landslide rectification works as well as the impending assessment tax increase were among issues faced by residents in Subang Jaya, Selangor, this year.
The city, with a population of 1.2 million, also had a new mayor at the helm, though it took almost three months before the appointment was announced.
Assessment hike
When Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) distributed 326,646 new valuation list notices to property owners starting June 21, it set off a storm of protest.
The new valuation meant an impending increase in assessment tax starting Jan 1, 2025, mirroring statewide adjustments in Selangor.
While many ratepayers demanded improved services to justify the proposed 25% increase, over 10,000 of the 326,646 property owners submitted objections.
An ad hoc group of residents even banded together under the People’s Coalition Against Assessment Hike (GPMKC) and handed a two-page memorandum to MBSJ, stating that the increase was “unfair and a shock”.
Subang Jaya deputy mayor Zulkurnain Che Ali confirmed that 4,000 residents attended subsequent hearings to voice their discontent over the new rates.
However, on Dec 9, despite objections from ratepayers, the Selangor government approved the 25% increase in assessment rates at all local councils next year.
New mayor
Subang Jaya went 52 days without a mayor before Datuk Amirul Azizan Abd Rahim, former Kuala Langat Municipal Council president, was sworn in on July 22.
The vacancy arose after Datuk Mohd Fauzi Mohd Yatim was transferred in June to serve as Shah Alam mayor.
Amirul Azizan appointed fourth Subang Jaya mayor on July 22.
Slope repair works
Victims of the Taman Wawasan landslide in Puchong finally returned home on Nov 1 after nearly a year of displacement.
This follows completion of slope repair works undertaken by landowner Wawasan Indera Sdn Bhd at a cost of RM12.12mil.
The landslide on Dec 16, 2023, was triggered by monsoon drain failure.
The incident displaced residents from nine houses along Jalan Wawasan 3/9.
Each affected resident received RM3,000 in aid from local representatives.
Flood mitigation
The flood mitigation project near IOI Mall Puchong, originally slated for February completion, was delayed until December due to realignment of a pipe beneath the Damansara-Puching Highway (LDP).
This upgrade aimed to improve flood management by diverting 70% of excess rainwater to a lake behind the shopping centre and the remaining 30% to an existing monsoon drain.
In 2023, heavy rainfall caused water to overflow from the monsoon drain, flooding IOI Mall’s North Court carpark and parts of the building.
Complaints channel
To make it easier for residents to submit complaints and receive prompt responses, MBSJ introduced direct WhatsApp channels for all 21 departments.
Zulkurnain said these WhatsApp channels received over 500 complaints in total each month.
