Metro

Friday May 9, 2008

Port Klang in dire need of a clean-up


A TOTAL of 60% of our nation's trade goes through Port Klang. All over the world port cities are also tourist attractions. Cities like Sydney, Auckland, Rotterdam, Melbourne, Southampton, Bremen, Marseille and Barcelona are some fine examples of this.

However, Port Klang is a totally different case. The potholes on the roads are growing deeper and broader. The kerbs are littered with unswept rubbish and covered with weeds.

Drains are there just to transport rubbish and they get choked and blocked by everything from garden waste to bulky cast offs such as old mattresses and broken chairs and furniture. Carcasses of dogs and cats are also a common sight on the streets.

The Kesas bypass has left the whole town a ghost town. Burnt and dilapidated buildings and the wooden Customs quarters are among the ugly sights on Jalan Kem. Rodents and uncollected waste near the restaurants are also common.

If this is how a port city is maintained and kept, how can anyone be proud of it. The first thing that needs to be done is a good whitewash of all the buildings that are showing signs of deterioration. The heritage colour used for the buildings in Malacca would be nice.

Enforcement officials and health inspectors should visit all the eateries and restaurants and issue stern warning to ensure their cleanliness and overall waste management are in order.

The town's lighting and traffic lights system has to be re-evaluated. The drains in the town must be widened and deepened since the sea water backflows into the drains.

The contractors in charge of cleaning the drains must be made answerable for the blockages. All the roads in the city must be resurfaced with nice white markings to project a new life for the ailing and sick Port Klang. The buildings in Jalan Kem must be reconstructed and leased out for businesses.

The shop houses under the double-decker Kesas highway must be made to rejuvenate their businesses. All the walking paths must be clearly marked and all the manholes covered to prevent any mishaps.

There must be proper parking and rest areas for long hauliers who are the key stakeholders of Port Klang. Every haulier who visits Northport has to find a place to eat and rest since he has had a long journey. A decent rest area would be a boon for the drivers.

The grass cutting and waste collection in the township must be stepped up and further monitored. The Northport area must be provided with adequate signages to prevent visitors from getting lost.

Overall, the wonderful heritage city of Port Klang is an unpolished gem that can be sold to the world. It can become not only the logistics hub of the nation, but also a tourist site. Why not spruce it up!

Concerned Port Klang Visitor

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