Bukit Rahman Putra community are overjoyed by the outcome to save their field – Filepic
From community concerns and local council initiatives to legal decisions and long-standing housing matters, issues in Selayang highlighted challenges of balancing growth, safety and residents’ needs at the local level.
In Batu Arang, Rawang, a proposed waste-to-energy (WTE) plant continues to draw criticism from surrounding residents.
Jaringan Rawang Tolak Insinerator (JRTI), a group formed to protest the project, said more than 500,000 people living within a 5km radius could be affected by such a plant.
They cited potential health risks, traffic hazards and environmental impact, and urged the authorities to reconsider the project and carry out more transparent consultations with affected communities.
JRTI previously stated that Batu Arang was situated on a former coal mine, connected by a network of tunnels, and the location of the incinerator plant on a former open-cast coal mine could affect the geological stability of the area.
Over the past year, the residents staged several protests, the most recent in November outside Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor in Shah Alam.
They demanded suspension of all related action until formal meetings were held with authorities, including one with the Mentri Besar.
They are also calling for a state committee to review the entire project approval process, ensuring transparency and meaningful public participation in all decisions related to the plant.
Managing strays
In May, two dog-related incidents prompted Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) to step up operations on stray dogs in Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang.
On May 2, a teenager was injured after falling while fleeing a pack of canines, while on May 10, a woman was bitten while exercising near her home.
MPS increased patrolling to monitor for stray dogs in the area, although the local council could not confirm if the dogs in the incidents were strays or had owners.
Between May 5 and 20, MPS carried out 14 operations resulting in the capture of 40 dogs, which were then transferred to a shelter in Rawang.
Padang Awam BRP in Bukit Rahman Putra is popular with Sungai Buloh folk who jog, walk or play basketball at the field. — Filepics
People’s win
A resident-led legal battle to protect a neighbourhood public field became a defining community victory this year when the Shah Alam High Court ruled in favour of Bukit Rahman Putra residents in Sungai Buloh.
In May, the court brought an end to a long-running dispute over a proposed road upgrade and expansion that would have taken up about 20% of the 3.15ha Padang Awam Bukit Rahman Putra.
The road would have required the felling of mature perimeter trees, and cut through part of the field.
Residents, who had opposed the project since MPS approved it in 2019, argued that it would permanently alter a valued public green space.
To challenge the decision, they formed Warga Mesra Bukit Rahman Putra Association (PWMBRP) in 2023 and pursued judicial review proceedings.
On May 29, the High Court quashed MPS’ conditional approvals for tree-felling and roadworks, ordered the park be restored for public recreational use and open space, and awarded RM5,000 in costs.
The ruling, which negated earlier justifications citing traffic congestion, marked a significant victory for community-led action.
Teduh initiative
In Bandar Baru Selayang, a modest back lane became one of the year’s standout examples of how small urban interventions could significantly improve daily working life.
MPS transformed an under-used lane along Jalan 2/16, Dataran Templer, into a Rider’s Pit Stop – a sheltered rest hub for delivery riders navigating Selangor’s fast-paced gig economy.
The space provides benches, fans, charging points, and prayer facilities, offering much-needed respite between deliveries in a busy town centre.
Initially designed for food delivery riders, the hub quickly attracted a wider range of workers, including ride-hailing drivers and postal workers.
MPS said the initiative was driven by both welfare and safety concerns, providing a designated rest area while also helping reduce haphazard parking near eateries.
The initiative gained state- level recognition this year, with Selangor government announcing plans to replicate the model across all local councils under the “Teduh” programme.
In limbo
An issue involving former squatters of Kampung Kuil Sikh returned to media attention this year, nearly two decades after their homes were demolished.
A total of 25 families, whose houses built in the 1980s were cleared in December 2005, have yet to receive replacement housing that was promised at the time.
While rental assistance and several compensation options were offered, the housing projects did not proceed after the appointed developer encountered difficulties, leaving the site undeveloped and the matter unresolved.
The issue resurfaced following renewed appeals by former residents seeking updates on the status of the project.
MPS later clarified that land and squatter resettlement matters fell under the jurisdiction of Gombak Land and District Office and outlined how changes in land allocation, developer constraints, and expired planning approvals contributed to the delay.
