HUNDREDS of netizens are crying foul over the plans by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to remove the smallest roundabout in Petaling Jaya located on Jalan 222.
The iconic Baiduri roundabout, better known as the Jalan 222 roundabout, is often referred to as Petaling Jaya's smallest. However, the clock is ticking on it now that MBPJ has decided to replace it with traffic lights.
In today's StarMetro, Petaling Jaya City Council public relations officer Zainun Zakaria announced that the council had decided to do away with the roundabout but said no date had been fixed yet.
When word on the plan got out, netizens reacted passionately, saying the roundabout should be maintained.
Reader Thayananthen Varatbaraju commented on StarOnline's Facebook page that as far as he was aware, the roundabout has been around for 30 years and is a landmark in Petaling Jaya.
“It would be nice if it was maintained,” he said.
Another reader suggested a petition be started to persuade the council to keep the roundabout.
Meanwhile, numerous netizens shared fond memories of the times when they used the roundabout.
Reader Azzir Gräfenberg said the roundabout was smaller a decade ago when motorists could actually drive over it. He said it was practically a ‘donut’.
It is 2m in diameter currently.
The roundabout may yet be saved, if people can rally to its cause. When informed of the reaction to the plan, MBPJ director of engineering Ismail Shafie said the council was open to public suggestions regarding the matter.