Maimunah says DBKL is taking a firm stance against unauthorised structures encroaching onto public spaces.
KUALA Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) enforcement against illegal building extensions in residential and commercial areas will continue, says Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif.
“We are cleaning up,” she said, signalling a firm stance against unauthorised structures encroaching onto public spaces.
Shariman Yusuf says the authorities must play their part and make examples of businesses that break the law.These range from walkways taken up by makeshift shopfronts to back lanes blocked by unauthorised structures.
“This (demolition of illegal structures) is not because of recent issues or a one-off response to public complaints.
“DBKL has been carrying out enforcement actions regularly,” she said.
Her remarks come as StarMetro continues to highlight cases of illegal encroachment, where businesses have installed permanent fixtures including planters and storage units, or covering up drains and making it difficult for Alam Flora workers to carry out cleaning duties.
The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department has also warned that illegal building extensions are jeopardising emergency response efforts.
The department said businesses in many areas have failed to comply with the 6m clearance access rule for fire engines and rescue vehicles to operate effectively, thus putting lives and properties at risk.
Alam Flora chief executive Shariman Yusuf Mohamed Zain urged DBKL to clamp down on violations and enforce penalties.
“My people are struggling to carry out their work,” he said, adding that the makeshift structures forced rubbish collectors to navigate through tight spaces, which in turn delayed scheduled cleaning.
“If you look at matured nations, you would not see this happening.
“We can educate people to do the right thing to a certain extent, but it also boils down to enforcement,” he stressed.
Shariman Yusuf said that sometimes these happened because of cost.
“The businesses do not want to incur extra costs, so they take the easy way out (by building illegal extensions).”
The situation, he said, would improve if enforcement measures and penalties were imposed.
He added that the authorities must play their part and ensure that action against businesses that break the law, served as examples for others.
