Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin (centre) launching the Kota Damansara car boot sale venue while Mohamad Zahri (fourth from right) looks on. — Photos: AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
FOR Dayana Batrisya Rosdan Efendi, 24, the weekly car boot sale in Kota Damansara offers a side income while she continues hunting for a permanent job.
The law graduate from Universiti Teknologi Mara Melaka makes RM200 to RM300 a day selling pre-loved clothes.
“I used to donate my clothes for recycling but after seeing friends selling pre-loved items, I started selling mine as well,” she said.
Dayana sells from her car in the outdoor carpark of the business square Bistari De Kota along Jalan Teknologi 3/9 in Kota Damansara.
The venue has been the spot for weekly car boot sales since 2013. It got a boost after being chosen to host celebrations marking 19 years since Petaling Jaya gained city status.
Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin launched the celebrations, marking the start of 31 activities organised by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) under the theme “Petaling Jaya Bandar Paling Bahagia”.
The activities, including community programmes and competitions, are being held throughout June.
Accompanying the Tengku Permaisuri in visiting the booths were Selangor Women’s Welfare and Charity Organisation (Pekawanis) president Datin Seri Masdiana Muhamad and Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon.
The Kota Damansara car boot sale is the second such community event being held regularly in Petaling Jaya.
Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, accompanied by the Petaling Jaya mayor, visiting the booths set up at the Kota Damansara car boot sale.
Another one is held at Kompleks C MBPJ in Section 52.
The Kota Damansara sale runs from 7am to 12pm on Sunday while the Section 52 sale is from 6pm to midnight on Saturday.
Both events, which are community-run and monitored by MBPJ, offer a total of 647 parking bays for sellers.
Mohamad Zahri said several other initiatives were kicked off during the anniversary celebrations launch.
These included “Food With Love”, a new care economy programme organised by MBPJ.
“The project will see halal meals prepared at a central kitchen run by a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
“The meals will be distributed to eligible senior citizens and disabled individuals who register under MBPJ’s guidelines,” he said.
Mohamad Zahri highlighted that MBPJ was the first local council to introduce a senior citizens’ guideline − the Senior Citizen Action Plan 2030 − to address the needs of a growing ageing population.
He added that MBPJ was also the first local council in Malaysia to have set up a children’s council.
Mohamad Zahri said the anniversary theme was aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Malaysia Madani and the First Selangor Plan.
“MBPJ has offered free training programmes since 2022.
“More than 5,000 business owners have participated in courses covering marketing, AI tools, and banking,” he said.
The mayor said MBPJ had also been sending the top 10 participants for overseas educational trips annually.
“Past destinations have included Bandung, Bangkok and Vietnam. China may be the destination for this year,” he said.
At the launch, Malaysia Book of Records held a presentation to recognise MBPJ for having played a leading role in setting up the PJ Eco Recycling Plaza.
The three-floor recycling centre in Sungai Way Free Trade Industrial Zone was set up in collaboration with seven NGOs and professional bodies.
The Eco Recycling Plaza has been officially recognised by Malaysia Book of Records as the country’s first excellent-rated centre of environmental sustainability managed by a local authority.
