The staircase at Dewan Banquet in MBPJ headquarters is not equipped with handrails. — LEW GUAN XI/The Star
PETALING Jaya residents in Selangor are calling for improvements to the city as part of the Petaling Jaya Local Plan (RTPJ) 2035 (Replacement), which is currently being drafted by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
Section 16 resident Shazwan Azizan, 36, said he wanted better pedestrian infrastructure.
“I am sick and tired of seeing motorcycles and cars blocking footpaths, as well as illegal parking that causes traffic jams or prevents buses’ passage.
“Pedestrian walkways should also provide sufficient connectivity and not end abruptly,” he said.
SS20 resident Eileen Thong, on the other hand, highlighted the need for more senior-friendly infrastructure in the city.
“Staircases need to be equipped with handrails to accommodate senior citizens with mobility issues.
“This could have been done so easily, but it is still missing in many areas.
“The safety of senior citizens and those with physical challenges must be addressed.”
Thong cited the staircase connecting Dewan Banquet in MBPJ’s headquarters to its carpark as an example of non senior-friendly infrastructure.
Mutiara Damansara resident Jessica Wong said there was a need for proper guidelines for roadside hawkers to allow them to continue their business without jeopardising road safety.
“There needs to be proper guidelines and placements for these stalls as they represent a very important segment of society.
“I have seen cars stopping by the roadside to buy from them, which is dangerous, and this needs to be addressed.”
She said MBPJ should increase its efforts in promoting recycling by distributing recycling bins to every household to make it easy to practise separation at source.
During its full board meeting, mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon said MBPJ planned to combine its previous RTPJ 1 and RTPJ 2 to draft RTPJ 2035 (Replacement).
RTPJ 1 and RTPJ 2 were gazetted in 2003 and 2011 respectively, according to the Selangor Town and Country Planning Department’s (PLANMalaysia) website.
The records show that RTPJ 1 underwent four rounds of amendments, while RTPJ 2 went through three rounds of amendments. — By LEW GUAN XI

