MBSJ Building Department senior assistant director Mohd Safiee Junun (pointing) and Kamarul Hisham (on his right) overseeing the operation as a demolition hammer breaks concrete drain covers and other illegal structures in the back lanes of Jalan USJ1/19 and Jalan USJ1/20 in Subang Jaya. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
SUBANG Jaya City Council (MBSJ) held a joint operation to demolish illegal concrete drain covers and shut down two dirty restaurants at a commercial area in Taman Subang Permai, USJ 1, Subang Jaya.
The council had identified 25 premises along Jalan USJ1/19 and Jalan USJ1/20 that had illegally built slabs or structures that covered the drains in the back lanes.
As a result, KDEB Waste Management (KDEBWM) workers were unable to carry out regular cleaning work and the build-up of rubbish led to clogged drains.
“This demolition exercise is carried out after the premises owners and shop operators ignored notices to remove the illegal structures themselves.
“MBSJ had served the notices a few months back,” said MBSJ Corporate and Strategic Management Department director Muhammad Azli Miswan.
The enforcement action, he said, was done under Section 46 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133).
“Food premises that are found to discharge waste directly into drains will also be issued a compound that comes with a maximum fine of RM1,000.
“They are committing an offence as food premises are required to instal grease traps, as stipulated in MBSJ’s licence requirements.
“Today’s joint operation is the third to be carried out this year and is part of an ongoing exercise that MBSJ will undertake in all commercial areas under its jurisdiction.
“The focus of this exercise is to remove illegal structures or permanent covers that block drains and make it difficult for drain cleaning works,” said Muhammad Azli.
He added that the premises owners would be asked to bear the cost of demolition.
The joint operation involved some 60 officers from several MBSJ departments and 30 personnel from KDEBWM.
MBSJ councillor Kamarul Hisham Yeop Hashim, who was also present during the operation, said multiple notices had been issued to the premises owners, with the last 30-day notice issued on March 30 this year.
“The problem of clogged drains because of illegally built covers has been ongoing in Taman Subang Permai for at least 10 years.
“Although residents have been lodging complaints, KDEBWM is limited by what it can do since the structures obstruct their cleaning works,” said Kamarul Hisham.
“We will be using a catch basin cleaner suction and high-pressure water jetter to clean the drains,” said KDEBWM Subang Jaya operations head Mohd Fauzan Hushim.
“Our duty is to clean the drains in commercial areas twice a month.
“We urge business operators to play their role in ensuring that we are able to carry out our work, such as not building permanent structures that block drains. And they should instal grease traps to filter food waste,” he added.
Muhammad Azli said the operation in Taman Subang Permai could take two to three days, as it would take time to remove the debris and clean up the drains and backlanes.
MBSJ health inspectors also shut down two dirty restaurants in Taman Subang Permai.
The restaurant operators were found to have committed offences such as not storing or preparing food properly besides failing to maintain their exhaust fan and cleanliness of the entire premises.
Under Section 62 of the Food Establishment Licensing Bylaw (MBSJ) 2007, the two food premises would be closed for 14 days for a thorough clean-up and are only allowed to reopen after they have been inspected by MBSJ.
