Over 100 families staying near a development project in Kampung Kayu Ara in Damansara, Selangor have cried foul over the drainage and sewage systems which have been clogged for the past two months causing a stench in their homes.

The situation, described as "unbearable" by the families comprising some 500 people, has also turned into a health hazard. Cases of dengue and pneumonia are on the rise.

Kampung Kayu Ara is situated in the middle of a working class area comprising Malay and Indian families

The families are residents of a longhouse settlement completed in 1998 by developers Puncakdana Sdn Bhd who are said to be responsible for low and medium-cost housing in the area.

One of the residents, 38-year old cleaner, R Meenambal told malaysiakini that they cannot even bear to eat in their own homes as the stench is just overbearing.

"The problem has been there for two months now and no one seems to be doing anything about it. There have even been cases of dengue and viral fever among the children," said Meenambal who has lived in the area for 27 years.

Her uncle, A Krishnan, a 58-year old businessman, suffered from pneumonia a month ago and was taken to a nearby medical centre in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

A malaysiakini survey of the area revealed that sewage had also clogged the drains and this caused a strong smell to permeate into the homes as each house has a drain at the back.

"The situation is just terrible and it is getting worse and worse," Meenambal added.

Given the runaround

When she contacted the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) a month ago she was refered to Indah Water Konsortium, a private sewage management company who then refered her back to MPPJ.

"MPPJ then told me that it was not their business and said that IWK is responsible. When IWK people finally came, they informed us that our longhouses are not under their jurisdiction. The officers who came also did not want to be named.

"They opened up the septic tanks and said they could not do anything about it. They just left after that," Meenambal said.

The longhouses were built for the residents when Puncakdana took over from the owners of the former rubber estate.

"This is the second time that this has happened. The first time it happened was in 2000. Then, we organised a gotong-royong to clean the clogged drains. The developer also helped clean up the area when they initially began the project and only a few more times after that," Meenambal said.

She added that the situation was not caused by the people living there.

Worried for children

Another resident P Essu, a 42-year-old stall owner stricken by a similar problem, expressed concern for his children's well-being.

"The sewage is stuck and every time we flush the toilet, it overflows. My children have also been bitten by rats and we have to constantly deal with mosquitoes.

"One of my children who is suffering from asthma now has more frequent attacks," said the father of five.

Housewife A Irusammal also complained that the dirty surroundings were beginning to take a toll on her children.

"My youngest child, who is four, suffered stomach pains and had to be taken to hospital for," she said, adding that the condition of the water was probably the cause.

N Sundra, a 45-year-old Kuala Lumpur city hall worker, said it seemed that the authorities never took the complaints of the residents seriously but declined to say more. Other residents were also unwilling to talk.

"They are all afraid," Meenambal said claiming that in the past residents were threatened that they would not be provided housing by the developers if they complain too much.

Meenambal also said that she was given a flat later than the others because she, Essu and another individual were too outspoken about the problems in the area..

No compensation

"We were not given compensation and were given low costs apartments at RM 25,000 with no discount. They promised in an agreement that they would finish the housing in three years and as of this August, it would be three years," Meenambal said.

The longhouses were however provided free for them.

Meenambal said that she was also hoping to seek the assistance of lawyer and DAP Youth chief Teng Chang Khim over their problems.

"We also never had any help from our state assemblyperson who only came in once and that was during the elections in 1999," she said

Kampung Kayu Ara is in the Bukit Lanjang state constituency whose elected representative is Gerakan's Lum Weng Keong. He is also the Selangor executive councillor for tourism, science, technology and organisational development.

"I think I want to contest in Bukit Lanjang in the next elections," said a disgruntled Meenambal.