MOST of the malfunctioning street lamps around a commercial area in Pusat Bandar Utara in Selayang, Kuala Lumpur, are now operational following repair work by the local authority.
Community activist Yee Poh Ping, when contacted, said only a small number of street lamps remained non-operational.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said it had temporarily restored street lamps along Jalan 2/3A after identifying a damaged underground cable as the cause of the disruption.
In a social media post, City Hall said an inspection was carried out following a complaint about the street lamps, and an overhead cable was installed as a temporary measure to restore lighting along the road.
“Permanent repairs to the underground cable would require an excavation permit.
“The area will be monitored to ensure the street lamps continue to function properly,” it said.
Yee had earlier raised concerns over faulty street lamps along several roads around the Kuala Lumpur Wholesale Market in Pusat Bandar Utara.
He said the problem affected the area from Jalan 2/3A to Jalan 6/3A, where several banks and other businesses were located, and some of the street lamps had been out for months, despite complaints being made to DBKL.
“The illuminated shop signboards provide some light, but large sections of the area remain poorly lit at night,” Yee had said during a press conference at the commercial area before DBKL’s repair work.
“The problem also affected businesses connected to the nearby wholesale market, some of which operate from midnight until the early morning.”
He urged DBKL to investigate the cause of the problem and to find a permanent solution to light up the whole area.
A bank employee who declined to be named said the lighting problem began about four months ago.
“Some lights are completely out while others flicker, leaving parts of the area in almost total darkness after business hours.”
She added that some of her co-workers felt vulnerable walking to their vehicles after work.
“Several women employees now ask colleagues to accompany them.
“Some of us are concerned that the premises could become a target for break-ins or vandalism,” she said.
Yee also raised concerns about potholes and deteriorating road surfaces in the commercial area, saying they posed a danger to motorists.
He called on DBKL’s Batu branch office to carry out regular inspections instead of relying solely on public complaints before taking action.
