23 residents’ organisations use this year’s funds on projects to improve community well-being
RESIDENTS of Meridian Townhouse in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, are tapping into their do-it-yourself (DIY) skills, alongside funding from their assemblyman, to build a gym corner and play area in their compound.
Meridian Townhouse Joint Management Body (JMB) committee member Darryl Klassen said the complex in SS23 did not have many common facilities when it was built in 2004.
“So last year, our JMB applied for funding under the Bandar Utama (BU) community grant to build a gym corner equipped with several machines, including a few bought secondhand,” he said.
“This year, the funding will be used to build a gazebo and a couple of swings for children.”
The townhouse youngsters, he added, previously had to go to neighbouring playgrounds to play.
Klassen said the grant would be used to buy materials, with the swing set to be built by residents.
“These facilities will provide residents with a better quality of life,” he said, adding that the complex had 30 units occupied by couples, families and retirees.
Klassen said Meridian Townhouse JMB received RM5,000 under the grant programme last year and RM8,000 this year.
The JMB was among 23 residents’ groups that received funds under Bandar Utama Constitu-ency Pro-Community 4.0 Grant.
Bandar Utama assemblyman Jamaliah Jamaluddin presented the grants to representatives from residents associations (RA), Rukun Tetangga (RT) and JMBs during a ceremony held at a clubhouse in Petaling Jaya.
“This grant is among efforts to support various initiatives driven by the community themselves,” said Jamaliah.
“I strongly believe that many ideas and programmes that have an impact on the community start from the very people that best understand the needs of their own residential areas.”
She said funds had previously been used for initiatives such as community gardens, security enhancement, green initiatives like recycling and composting, as well as health screenings.
“This community grant is only for resident organisations within the Bandar Utama constituency.
“It is separate from initiatives or funding offered by the state government or Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ),” Jamaliah said.
“This has been an almost yearly programme since 2019.
“It indirectly encourages residents’ groups to be more active and interact with their neighbours to exchange ideas.”
She added that her office vetted all applications and kept track of all projects to ensure accountability and residents’ engagement.
Jamaliah said RM175,000 in community grants was presented to 23 organisations this year, while RM100,000 was given to 19 organisations last year.
Meanwhile, the SS20 community will be using the funds to improve their neighbourhood security system.
“We got over RM5,000 that will be used to install new closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras,” said SS20 Central Zone RA treasurer Chua Piak Chwee.
“We need to replace several cameras and move from an analogue to a digital system,” he said, adding that their zone comprised 243 houses.
SS20 Central Zone RA assistant secretary Wong Yin Choo said the RM3,000 grant they received last year was used to organise a health screening event.
“It was well-received, with over 120 people attending.
“The free event offered eye screenings, urine tests and selected cancer marker as well as blood tests,” she said.
SS20 RT Jiran Usia Emas (Seniors wing) chairman Eileen Thong was grateful for the RM5,000 grant, which would be used to install a new CCTV system in the SS20 Southern Zone.
“The RT helps oversee certain matters in that zone, as it does not have an RA,” said Thong, highlighting that SS20 Southern Zone had over 500 houses.
“A working committee will decide on the details, such as the number of cameras required and system to be used,” she added.
Present at the grant presentation were MBPJ councillors Mohd Ikhshan Mohamad Din, Billy Wong Swee Sang, Quratulain Atiqah Norzahirul Anuar and John Leong Chee Cheng.
