FOUL: Some Damansara New Village residents have been indiscriminately throwing rubbish on a footpath because the area lacks a proper garbage disposal system
KUALA LUMPUR: A GOTONG-ROYONG in Damansara New Village, Section 17A, recently unearthed many issues, especially the need to have a systematic rubbish collection to prevent health hazards.
Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Petaling Jaya Utara task force chairman Datuk Dr Wong Sai Hou said villagers were dumping garbage on a footpath next to Jalan 17A/12 as a previous dumping ground on a plot of vacant land had been taken over by a developer.
This, he said, was happening despite Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) providing a lorry for garbage collection.
"There are houses along the footpath where rubbish is being dumped. Exposed rubbish will bring communicable diseases such as dengue and leptospirosis. The rubbish also emits a foul smell," he said.
He was speaking during a gotong-royong session with 60 villagers from 118 families there. A discussion was held at Yuen Leong Beow Taoist temple afterwards.
During the discussion, Tifferny K.L. Sin said a shallow drain in the new village overflows during heavy rain, while Sofiyah Sutiman, 48, who lives at 115, Jalan 17A/12, complained about a burst pipe in front of her house. Malay community leader Zulkefli Mohd Amin was concerned about snakes and rats breeding at the rubbish dump.
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd personnel also attended the discussion.
Voice of Women president Chew Hoong Ling said that the close-knit group of women there were willing to help out on community issues but needed the support of the authorities to create conducive living conditions.
MCA Public Complaints Bureau legal adviser Datuk Lim Choon Kin said most of the villagers own land with 60 or 90-year leases.
"A conducive environment will attract the younger generation to live in the village," he said.
Dr Wong suggested redevelopment to upgrade the village.
He urged MBPJ to build ramps for 12 senior citizens whose homes are on a slope in Jalan 17A/12.
"Regular garbage collection must be carried out and residents need to be given rubbish bins."
He said the 64-year-old settlement is more secluded compared with Sungai Way New Village and Cempaka New Village in Petaling Jaya.
He said the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) should inform the authorities what is happening in the village.
"As a third-tier government, MBPJ can plan for the upkeep of new villages annually with a suitable budget from assessment rate collections. MBPJ can also ask for allocations from the state government if there is insufficient fund," he said.
He said, at present, housing and local government ministry has given RM5,000 for the upkeep of the village surroundings.
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