Maimunah (left) addressing Seputeh constituents at the Dialog Bandaraya in Seputeh, with DBKL top management, department heads and Kok (in red) in attendance. — Low Lay Phon/The Star
TRAFFIC gridlock, abandoned vehicles, unsustainable development and faulty infrastructure are among the major problems faced by Seputeh residents in Kuala Lumpur.
They aired their grievances to mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif during the fifth “Dialog Bandar Raya” (DBR) programme at the Muhibbah Community Complex.
Maimunah attended the session with Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) top management team and department heads.
Some 500 participants from non-governmental organisations, residents’ associations and representative councils as well as management committees attended the dialogue.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok raised the issue of upcoming development around Kampung Bohol flood retention pond.
She said if the developers were allowed to carry out their plans, there would be a rise in traffic congestion.
She also recommended that matters pertaining to government land in Kuala Lumpur be subjected to review and suggestions by a standing committee made up of the 11 MPs who are in DBKL’s advisory board.
Kok also urged DBKL to look into having elected area councillors for better checks and balance.
Maimunah replied that the issues raised by Kok needed to be addressed at the Federal Government level and that she would arrange a meeting between the ministers and MPs.
Atar wants DBKL to remove some 250 abandoned vehicles at PPR Kampung Muhibbah.
Among the 14 community leaders who brought up issues was Kampung Muhibbah People’s Housing Programme (PPR) Residents Association chairman Atar Haja, who requested that DBKL give the high-rise blocks a new coat of paint.
“On the outside, it looks like Highland Towers,” he said, likening the buildings’ appearance to the structures involved in the landslide disaster in Hulu Kelang, Selangor many years ago.
Atar also asked DBKL to tow away some 250 vehicles that had been abandoned within the PPR compound.
“The abandoned vehicles, in addition to occupying the limited parking spaces, have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and snakes.”
Atar also suggested that a multi-storey parking facility be built for the PPR residents as well as speed bumps installed to deter drivers from speeding in the housing area.
Other community leaders raised issues with stray dogs, faulty utilities and the chopping down of trees that had robbed them of much-needed shade.
Among other complaints were unpainted parking bays and heavy industries being allowed to operate near residential areas.
Maimunah took the time to address the issues, instructing the relevant officers to look into them.
Issue of abandoned vehicles, she said, required the involvement of Road Transport Department while giving assurance that she would also follow up with other agencies.
In a press conference after the dialogue, Maimunah said engagement with the Seputeh constituents, estimated to be 323,000 people, would enable DBKL to come up with more effective actions in terms of service delivery.
On residents’ grouses about DBKL ignoring their letters of complaints, Maimunah said she had been specific in her meetings with heads of departments that every letter of complaint must have a reply and followed through.
“Even if the issue does not fall under DBKL, we have a ‘no wrong door’ policy.
“This means that we will forward the complaint to the relevant agency and the sender will also be copied.”
Maimunah said Adu@KL, DBKL’s integrated complaint gateway, received some 200 complaints daily.
She added that there were 96,219 assessment tax accounts in the Seputeh constituency worth over RM84mil.
However, as of August, 70% of the total assessment tax value of RM59mil has not been paid.
“I call on all communities in the Seputeh constituency to carry out their responsibilities as taxpayers.”
The DBR programme that started in June were previously held in Bandar Tun Razak, Bukit Bintang, Lembah Pantai, Titiwangsa, Setiawangsa and Segambut constituencies.
The next location will be in Cheras, Wangsa Maju, Batu and Kepong.
