I refer to the report Row erupts over illegal hall .

Desa Jaya MCA chairman Yeong BL was quoted as saying that the action taken (referring to Selayang Municipal Council’s (MPS) possession of the ‘MCA hall’ for use as a Volunteer Fire and Rescue center) was not right.

He said: ‘I received a notice that the hall would be taken over on Sept 2008 but I have spoken to state assembly person Elizabeth Wong and Selayang member of Parliament William Leong on this matter.

‘Both Wong and Leong said they will discuss the matter further and promised me an extension’.

‘MPS especially, just cannot break into this premises and take over the hall as they like. The people in Desa Jaya and the surrounding areas have contributed money to build the hall about 30 years ago and many community activities are held here’

I live a few streets from the disputed hall and have the following comments to make on the issue.

mca kepong hall karaoke session 160309 03 1. Although it’s called the Desa Jaya Youth and Sports Hall, from my observations, for all intent and purposes, its known as an ‘MCA Hall’ by the locals because its mainly used by MCA to conduct party-related activities.

The front portion is used to operate a MCA kindergarten during the weekdays and taekwondo class on weekends.

The back portion of the hall is partitioned off for MCA leader Chan Kong Choy’s office and a private karaoke room for MCA party leaders. The MCA party signboard erected at the entrance says it all!

mca kepong hall karaoke session 160309 02 2. Residents nearby have complained numerous times over the loud karaoke sessions held till the wee hours of the morning.

One middle-aged lady who lives just behind the hall said that once she appealed to the MCA people to tone down their karaoke session at 2am so that her daughter who was having examinations could have a peaceful sleep, but to no avail.

3. I have not seen the hall being used for community activities in my 20 years of living nearby the hall.

mca kepong hall karaoke session 160309 01 4. As admitted by Yeong, notice was given on Sept 28, 2008. It’s almost half a year since the notice was issued thus he should have had ample time to organise the ‘handing over’.

5. According to Selayang councilor Lim Jit Lee, the building will now be used as a volunteer fire and rescue unit for the nearby area.

It will also serve as a training center for the neighbourhood youths who are interested in Bomba (fire brigade) related activities.

Jit Lee also mentioned that other community activities will be conducted there too. For a start, a BBQ party was held last night to celebrate the return of the hall to the Desa Jaya community!