FLOOD mitigation and unannounced checks on cleanliness and municipal services will be among immediate priorities of new Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohd Yazid Sairi.
He said flooding was a pressing issue for Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), particularly as incidents and public complaints could quickly attract attention on social media.
“Whether we like it or not, the main focus now is floods.
“Anything that causes concern among the public can easily go viral, and one of the latest issues involving MBPJ is flooding,” he said after being sworn in as Petaling Jaya’s eighth mayor on Monday (Aug 3) at Dewan Bunga Tanjung at MBPJ headquarters.
Mohd Yazid said the state government directed MBPJ to set up a one-stop centre in flood-affected areas such as PJS 2 and PJS 3.
The council would also identify other locations facing similar problems and determine the interventions required, he added.
Beyond flood mitigation, Mohd Yazid said he might conduct unannounced visits to assess everyday conditions in neighbourhoods and the delivery of services.
“Sometimes I like to visit places without anyone knowing I’m on a visit, like mystery shopping.
“That’s why spot checks will likely be carried out,” he said, adding that unannounced checks would provide a more accurate picture of conditions on the ground and help the city council identify areas requiring attention.
Mohd Yazid said complaints submitted by residents would also be assessed based on the actual conditions at the site.
He identified functionality and safety as the two main considerations in determining whether a complaint should receive priority.
Mohd Yazid said MBPJ already had many strong practices that should be continued with numerous awards and recognitions received last year.
“If something is already good, I’ll continue it. Where there’s room for improvement, we’ll look into it, and we’ll make the necessary changes for the benefit of the community,” he said.
Mohd Yazid said managing Petaling Jaya would require a different approach from his previous experience at Selayang Municipal Council (MPS).
Although Petaling Jaya covered only 97.2sq km compared with Selayang’s approximately 545sq km, he said its population, mature developments and brownfield areas presented different urban management challenges.
He believes that his experience leading MPS together with his background in human resources and financial management would help him lead MBPJ alongside its officers and councillors.
Mohd Yazid, 52, previously served as Selangor deputy state secretary (management) from March 1, 2024.
He holds a master’s degree in Strategic Human Resource Management from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak, obtained in 2014, and a Diploma in Public Management from the National Institute of Public Administration in 2000.
Other previous postings apart from MPS president are at the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (2020), Petaling District and Land Office (2018), and the State Economic Planning Unit in 2015.
Mohd Yazid succeeded Datuk Mohamad Zahri Samingon, who was appointed Human Resources Department director-general under the Human Resources Ministry.
