Jalan Raya Timur in Klang. The royal town will be upgraded to city status soon. — Filepic
FLOOD mitigation and other municipal improvements need to be prioritised before Klang is declared a city.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari recently announced that Klang would be given city status soon.
The statement has not been greeted with any major enthusiasm or interest by townsfolk in Klang who have for long been coping with a wide range of municipal woes and other shortcomings.
For example, the residential housing estate where I live, Taman Bijaya, is still prone to flashfloods, water logging and stagnant drains despite complaints to the MP, the state representative and the local councillor.
Klang Municipal Council (MPK) is no better at responding to complaints.
The possibility of floods is a major threat to lives and property, and mitigation or the elimination of floods should be the number one priority of the administrators and politicians.
Hopefully, the state reps in the Klang parliamentary constituency will take note of the problems that have been plaguing the townsfolk for years.
Whether city status will make Klang better, remains to be seen.
For a start, before conferment of city status, MPK should upgrade the whole of Klang with a focus on cleanliness, better infrastructure (especially roads and drains), parking facilities and easing of traffic congestion, as well as the innovation of better flood prevention measures.
Klang’s unsanitary conditions can be traced to poor drainage as well as rubbish clogging up drains and waterways.
Needless to say, flood prevention will be the most important issue to be considered when Klang attains city status.
The new administrative status should be used as a catalyst for all crucial municipal and infrastructural improvements such as large retention ponds, overcoming traffic congestion, general beautification, more recreational parks with better facilities for young and old, redevelopment of dilapidated buildings, upgrading of municipal services, strict supervision of KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd, overcoming littering and pollution, greater concern for the environment along with more government staff to ensure better administration and competent supervision of services.
There are numerous abandoned buildings all around Klang and together with the vacant, unkempt plots, they are an urban eyesore. Land values are bound to increase with city status.
The MPK administration should ensure that all these local problems affecting residents can be overcome with more allocations from Federal and state governments.
Commercial activities and businesses can also get a boost from city status.
Klang needs to be spruced up all around and shops and buildings given a new coat of paint to mark the celebration.
Klang, which is also a royal town, needs improvements and betterment in all aspects and if city status can herald all these, Klang folks will be proud of their city.
Mathews JosephTaman BijayaKlang
