AS Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) finalises its SS15 Placemaking Action Plan to rejuvenate the SS15 commercial hub, local residents and business operators are calling for traffic improvements, pest control and more inclusive infrastructure.
Long-time digital print shop manager Datuk Samson Maman, who has been operating in the SS15 commercial area since 1981, urged MBSJ to address the traffic gridlock there.
“The area currently only has one or two entry and exit points, while most of the other roads are always choked with traffic.
“We need more ingress and egress roads for the area to resolve this issue,” he said.
Samson also called on MBSJ to improve hygiene and pest control.
“It is commendable that MBSJ wants to make SS15 a food haven, but do not make it a ‘rat haven’ as well.
“Though MBSJ is making efforts to exterminate the rats, more still needs to be done, be it the budget allocated for rat extermination programmes or the amount of bait applied.”
He pointed out that the commercial area had reached its saturation point, creating a need for MBSJ to set clear goals for the placemaking action plan.
“What does MBSJ hope to achieve through the plan?
“Is it to bring more people into the area or to improve the area’s clientele?
“MBSJ needs to be clear on how it wants to make the people’s life there better,” he said.
SS14 Rukun Tetangga (RT) chairman John Zachariah urged MBSJ to step up enforcement to ensure initiatives under the plan prove effective.
“Having more parking spaces is meaningless if the people still park their vehicles illegally,” he said.
Zachariah also requested more covered walkways to shelter pedestrians from the sun and rain.
Echoing these concerns, SS15 Hexagon RT secretary Ramlah Ahmad, better known as Rina, called for infrastructure such as ramps catering to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
“There are many potholes on the roads in SS15 that need to be addressed.
“We also need more lights, especially in the back lanes and alleys,” said Rina.
StarMetro visited the SS15 commercial area on Aug 30 and found some roads needing resurfacing.
She hoped the placemaking plan would enhance community cohesion alongside physical upgrades.
“By community spirit, I mean holding projects that can help the community and get them together, such as gotong-royong and campaigns against dengue and rats.
“When residents, businesses and MBSJ work together, we can build a neighbourhood that everyone is proud of.”
Addressing alternative mobility, SS15/2 and SS15/3 RT chairman Michael Sundram urged MBSJ to promote the blue bicycle lanes in SS15, particularly to youths, to reduce driving reliance.
“MBSJ should encourage students from the surrounding institutions of higher education to ride bicycles instead of driving,” said Michael.
He said civic-mindedness must improve for Subang Jaya to reflect its city status.
“Some people are still throwing rubbish right under the banner asking them not to throw it there.
“This needs to be changed,” he added.
