Monday August 3, 2009

Clean Zone title for dirty neighbourhood

By SALINA KHALID

INSTEAD of feeling proud, residents of Taman Sri Muda in Shah Alam felt ashamed when their neighbourhood was named as part of the city’s Clean Zone early this year.

“People are laughing at the title because they know the real conditions here,” said Zone 9 residents’ representative council (MPP) committee member Robert Pang.

The entire Zone 9, which covers the whole of the Taman Sri Muda (Sect 25) area, was named a Clean-Zone by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) in April this year, and it will hold the dubious honour until the end of the year.

Strewn with garbage: A backlane in Taman Sri Muda.

“Most people do not understand what it means as they probably think that it is an honour to receive the title.

“But every one here knows that it is not so,” Pang said.

Pang, who lives in Taman Sri Muda, said one of the biggest problems they faced was indiscriminate garbage disposal by the residents.

He said various efforts had been made by the authorities, including the MPP, to improve the situation, but to no avail.

“People would just throw their garbage wherever they want, although we have tried to tell them to dispose of their waste properly.

Unhealthy state: A clogged drain in Taman Sri Muda.

“It does not help that there is a large number of foreigners staying in this area. They rent units in the apartments and just do not care about anything, including where they dispose of their rubbish,” he said.

He added that the committee had been making its rounds to nab those who disposed of their garbage indiscriminately and advise them on how to throw it in a proper place.

Most of the time, though, their efforts were mocked by the residents.

“Some people just throw their garbage, including soiled baby diapers, out of their window without giving a thought to whether it might hit anyone below.

“They even dump their old mattresses on the roadside, adding to the eyesore,” he said.

Pang said the residents’ irresponsible act had triggered a chain reaction, and there were now traders who set up stalls by the roadside and shop owners who routinely dumped their waste into the drain, without installing a proper filtration system.

He said the traders – many of whom were operating without a permit – would leave their garbage at the spot where they were trading. Since they did not get a permit, they are not required to pay the fee for cleaning up services in the area.

“The number of these illegal traders is increasing by the day and there is nothing we can do, since every one says that it is the economic situation that has forced them to conduct their businesses.

“Nevertheless, they should be more responsible and make sure they clean up the mess afterwards,” he said.

Another committee member, Steven Perumal, said they had distributed flyers and notices to residents in the area, urging them to improve the situation.

“This problem has been going on in the past 10 years and it is about time we do something about it.

“We are willing to go all out to improve the situation; holding this title of Clean Zone is not something that we should be proud of unless it is clean for real,” he said.

Steven said they would organise gotong-royong and other programmes to ensure the area would indeed become the cleanest zone in Shah Alam be the end of the year.

When contacted for clarification on the title, MBSA public relations officer Shahrin Ahmad confirmed that the title was actually awarded to the dirtiest zone.

He said that, under the State Government’s directive, the city council had to identify the zone that was perceived to be in greatest need of improvement in terms of cleanliness.

It is hoped that by the end of the programme, the area would be transformed into the cleanest area for real.

“The programme is aimed at creating awareness in the community of the importance of keeping their area clean.

“Various programmes will be held in their neighbourhood to instil awareness and to encourage their participation towards achieving the programme objective,” he said.

He added that stricter measures would be taken against the errant residents and traders who did not dispose of their garbage properly. Action would also be taken against those who did not keep their area clean.

“We will also put up signboards in the neighbourhood to inform the public about the ‘Clean Zone’ programme.

“More bins will be placed throughout the neighbourhood, too,” he said.

Other areas in Selangor that have been identified as Clean Zones are Jalan SS2/52 in Petaling Jaya, Jalan Berangan, Taman Gembira, Port Klang in Klang, Bandar Baru Bangi in Kajang, Bandar Baru Selayang, Taman Bayu, Bukit Sentosa Bus Terminal and Bandar Utama Batang Kali in Hulu Selangor, Pasir Penambang in Kuala Selangor, Taman Seroja in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Sepang, Kampung Baru Sungai Jarum and Pasar Sungai Jarum in Kuala Langat, and Pasar Awam Sekinchan in Sabak Bernam.

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