A NEW RM4mil open-air parking facility scheduled to be fully completed this August is expected to reduce parking problems for three places of worship located along Persiaran Kewajipan in Subang Jaya, Selangor.
Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng said the 90-bay open-air carpark was built as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project by Sunway Group.
The facility is expected to ease congestion at Subang Jaya Buddhist Association (SJBA), Sri Varatharaja Perumal Temple and Gurdwara Sahib Subang, especially during major festivals and large-scale community events.
“To ensure users’ safety and comfort, the carpark will also be equipped with lighting and drainage systems to prevent any water-logging problems.
“As an added value to the project, the developer has also agreed to carry out special upgrading works for the Sri Varatharaja Perumal Temple.
“Since the front of the temple directly faces the new carpark, the developer will upgrade its front entrance by building a better set of stairs and providing a wheelchair-friendly ramp to ensure the temple can be accessed by all levels of society,” said Ng.
Ng was speaking during a press conference on Wesak Day at SJBA’s premises.
Also present were MBSJ councillor Chia Yew Ken, SJBA president SC Chim, Balvinder Singh from Gurdwara Sahib Subang and Subramaniam Arumugam from Sri Varatharaja Perumal Temple.
“The lack of parking issue in this area has been ongoing for years, as the three places of worship are very important religious institutions and community focal points,” she said.
“There have been occasions when festival dates or events clash, resulting in a huge influx of vehicles and causing inconvenience to devotees and even other road users.”
As a short-term solution, Ng said her office worked closely with MBSJ to allow devotees to park their vehicles in the open areas behind the temples during major events.
However, this solution was found to be unsuitable due to the site’s terrain, which had a steep incline.
This made it difficult for worshippers, especially the elderly and children, to move around.
“Recognising that this problem required a permanent solution, my office continued working on fostering a strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors,” said Ng.
“In 2023, Cheah announced a RM4mil CSR contribution to build a systematic parking facility on the road reserves behind the three places of worship.
“We believe that the strength of Subang Jaya lies in its diversity and it is our responsibility to ensure that every religious and ethnic group receives the support and advocacy it deserves.”
Separately, she said state investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han had announced that Selangor government would be contributing RM40,000 to SJBA’s building fund, which would go towards the rebuilding of structures damaged during a fire last year.
