A PLAN to convert an underutilised community hall in Kampung Perwira Jaya, Ampang Jaya in Selangor, into a recycling centre has drawn objections from residents.
Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) intends to repurpose Dewan MPAJ Perwira Jaya in Jalan Hilir 1 as a collection point for recyclable materials, citing low usage of the facility.
The project is expected to be completed by June 30, with an estimated cost of RM327,000.
Resident Mohd Salim Mohamad said the hall’s limited use was largely due to its open-concept design.
“It is difficult to organise large-scale events like weddings as they can be affected by weather conditions.
“However, I still do not agree that it should be turned into a recycling centre as it may bring issues such as unpleasant odours and increased traffic.
“If MPAJ is already doing construction to close off the sides and the hall is no longer open-concept, they might as well keep it for community use,” he told StarMetro.
Former Chempaka assemblyman Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad also voiced opposition to the conversion following complaints from residents.
He said construction of the hall has been approved during his tenure as elected representative and it was meant to replace an older facility.
“Residents told me that usage could be improved if bookings were allowed to be managed through the local community, in addition to MPAJ.”
Representatives from nearby Masjid Nurul Islam have also objected to the use of the community hall as a recycling centre.
In a statement, the mosque said the hall has been utilised annually for its Program Ibadah Korban.
“As such, using the hall for other purposes such as a recycling centre is not suitable,” it stated, adding that the area around the hall also served as additional parking space during events.
MPAJ, in a statement, said the facility, which had previously been considered for use as a coconut waste recycling site, would serve as a collection point for recyclable materials, as well as used cooking oil and electronic waste.
It said the hall had recorded low utilisation, with no bookings or activities since February 2023.
“As such, the initiative to give the hall a new function is aimed at optimising the use of existing public assets while ensuring it continues to benefit the local community.”
MPAJ added that the centre would also function as a recycling education hub to support sustainability initiatives, including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and low-carbon city agenda.
In 2023, StarMetro reported that the open-concept hall was built at a cost of RM605,000 and could be rented for RM100 per hour for weddings and other community-related events.
