SHAH Alam and Klang are set to have dedicated community mediation centres to help residents resolve neighbourhood disputes without escalating them to the authorities.
Selangor rural development, unity and consumer affairs committee chairman Datuk Rizam Ismail said Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) and Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) had been selected for the initiative.
MBSA identified an unused hall in Setia Alam for its centre and carried out upgrading work to prepare the premises.
The Selangor National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN) would provide trained community mediators and operate the service, while MBSA would provide the premises and refer suitable complaints to the centre.
Cases that could be referred include disputes involving noise, pets entering neighbouring properties, tree branches extending across property boundaries and other relatively minor disagreements between residents.
“Community mediation has already started, but at the state level we need to work together to provide dedicated premises so that the service is better known and easier for the community to access,” said Rizam.
JPNIN, he said, had personnel who had undergone specific training and were accredited to serve as community mediators.
Rizam was speaking after launching the Shah Alam Neighbourhood Campaign in conjunction with MBSA’s World Environmental Health Day celebration in Shah Alam.
Under the arrangement, MBSA would screen complaints and refer suitable cases to JPNIN, which would handle the mediation process.
Rizam said community mediators could help both sides reach an amicable solution.
“Any problem involving the community that can be resolved at the community mediation level need not be reported to the police or escalated further.
“Resolving problems amicably is the role of the mediator.”
Community mediation training has also been provided to village heads in Selangor to give them basic knowledge in dealing with problems arising in traditional villages, he added.
The state hoped the initiative could be expanded to all 12 local authorities in Selangor, Rizam said.
Shah Alam deputy mayor Madiyan Baweh said it was the first time MBSA had introduced the campaign that promotes five values under its “Jiran 5S” concept: sapa (greet), senyum (smile), salam (greetings), sayang (care) and sepakat (cooperate).
“This is not merely a social campaign but part of efforts to build healthier and more resilient communities,” he said.
According to Madiyan, environmental health extended beyond city cleanliness to disease prevention and creating safe and healthy surroundings.
