This message is addressed sincerely to Alinah Ahmad, Mayor of Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ), to help us clarify, and answer our deeply affected concerns of new projects in Petaling Jaya central area.
Many of our Residents' Association members are plain residents of beloved Petaling Jaya town. Some of us were born here, many of us grew up, and schooled here.
We are never against development, only alarmed at the rapid development and progress, that you have instructed your people to implement various projects the last two years. Please can you clarify for us, from a quality standpoint, the following matters:
1. One-way loop PJ Project
Those using this busy loop knows that it traverses around Jalan Utara, Jalan Barat, i.e. through PJ New Town section, which are the main arteries of the old section areas; currently undergoing rapid changes. We understand that your intention is to ease traffic.
Situation: Looking at the current progress over the last two months, only parts of the loop’s centre line have been paved, or trees uprooted. What is the final plan, if we launch by early November? Or, can we really meet this 1.5 month timeline?
Many people, even SMEs who are knowledgeable traffic experts, have mentioned that it will not benefit the users, due to the way it is being done.
Action: What are the action plans to complete the work? Who will explain the new plan, or traffic flow situation to the users? What are the expectations management plan you have planned for affected users?
Just these drawings are not enough, and some road education for children; also User preparation is necessary, don't you think so?
2. Atria Re-development in Damansara Jaya
A department store that many of us used to shop at, has been developed over the last three years into a highrise. However, there are very clear evidence, that operation, security and safety rules are being ignored. Are our MPBJ engineers, councillors, assemblypersons, respected MPs - knowledgeable of exactly what is happening? We beg you to heed attention to this, and be accountable for the developer’s shoddy works that are taking place.
Situation: there are no safety hoardings, barriers, that separate the public vehicles from the building site. Accidents are waiting to happen. The developer themselves, their consultants, and DJROA, all need to buck up, and take remedial action as soon as possible.
Action: MBPJ, assemblypersons and MPs all need to come together, and punish the developers and contractors behind this. What are the steps taken so far? Why hasn’t anything been done?
Based on some of the drawings, we can see how shoddy the developers are, in their planning.
Is cutting corners, and reducing risk, at the expense of the workers a norm here? Where is the accountability developer, and why isn't the assemblyperson aware of these dangers?
Overall root cause analysis
For that, we go back to basics - what is MBPJ, the custodian of quality of service, for 'PJ as a liveable city', doing? Where are the local council’s overall feedback model, code of conduct for poor service, and action plans for accountability, governance and prompt management? Aren’t all these important areas?
Madam, we know that you are planning for retirement soon this year. However, don’t you want to leave a proper legacy, where people can acknowledge MBPJ as a better council? We hope that you will do the necessary, and PJ residents will appreciate you for it.
Thank you, sincere regards. On behalf of Resident Association of Section 14A, PJ.
MICHAEL KUM is the assistant chairperson of Section 14A Residents' Association.
