Sultan Sharafuddin (centre) looking at MBDK’s mace after officially declaring Klang as a royal city. Also present are Noraini (left) and Amirudin (right). — Photos: Filepic
A SIGNIFICANT event that took place in Klang this year was undoubtedly its official declaration as a city in February.
Being the royal town of Selangor, its city council has been named Klang Royal City Council (MBDK).
On Feb 5, Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah officially declared and bestowed royal city status on the vibrant port town of Klang.
Klang became the fourth city in Selangor after Shah Alam (year 2000), Petaling Jaya (2006) and Subang Jaya (2020).
Klang was a municipality for 47 years from Jan 1, 1977. It was upgraded to a city on Nov 23 last year.
MBDK president Datin Paduka Noraini Roslan, who was born and raised in Klang, became its first mayor.
She retired on Nov 20 and was succeeded by current mayor Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain.
StarMetro recaps other significant news in Klang city over the course of 2024.
Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang, officially opened on Dec 5, was inspired by the mosque architecture in Xi’an, China.
Royal patronage
In mid-August, Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin opened Klang’s RM800,000 Cat Park at the Wetland Pavilion in Bandar Bukit Raja.
Built by a private developer, the park has various facilities to provide stray cats in the city with shelter and care.
MBDK requires about RM50,000 annually to run and maintain the park.
On Dec 5, Sultan Sharafuddin inaugurated the new Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang.
He told of how on a visit to China’s Xi’an City in 2015, he was taken by the beautiful architecture of a mosque there.
In his Royal Address at the inauguration event, the Ruler said his dreams of having a mosque with Chinese Muslim architecture had come true.
It all started when a group of Malaysian Chinese Muslims had an audience with the Sultan and conveyed their hope to build a mosque for their community in Selangor. The Ruler pointed them towards Xi’an.
At the inauguration event, the Sultan also reprimanded MBDK over the unsatisfactory standard of cleanliness in Klang, referring to some areas that remained dirty and poorly organised and rivers filled with rubbish.
He said he received many complaints about rubbish and filth in the city from residents as well as local and foreign tourists, including those on cruises arriving at Port Klang.
He attributed the floods in the city to the rubbish-filled rivers and clogged drains.
The Sultan ordered both MBDK and the Selangor government to take immediate steps to alleviate the flood problem and increase cleanliness level in the city.
Abd Hamid (right) exchanging documents with AADK deputy director-general (operations) Khairul Anwar Bachok (left) after the MOU signing for the Tekad programme, witnessed by Selangor Palace representative Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi.
Floods in the city
MBDK had its hands full this year dealing with the annual floods in areas such as Meru and Kapar, fallen trees in Taman Bayu Emas and complaints of neglect in cleanliness of drains in several residential areas.
On Nov 28 and 29, more than 300 people were evacuated after their homes were inundated in Meru and Kapar.
Two relief centres – one in SK Sungai Binjai in Meru and another in Kampung Bukit Kapar community centre – were activated to house the flood victims.
On Dec 1, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari announced a RM500 financial assistance to ease flood victims’ burden.
Each head of households who had registered at the temporary relief centres and took shelter there were given financial aid.
All affected victims at the relief centres returned home on Dec 1.
MBDK Environmental Services Department allocated over RM500,000 to clean up monsoon drains in three areas in Meru.
MBDK Enforcement Department officers removing illegal advertisements tied to a road sign in Klang.
Upgrades and enforcements
Sustainable transport through the Smart Selangor free bus service in Klang saw tremendous increase in ridership.
MBDK Town Planning Department’s public transport unit saw the free bus service as a catalyst to revive some commercial areas and to allow senior citizens to be more mobile and active.
In February, the city council allocated about RM3.3mil for the service’s annual operations.
As at end of November, the routes saw a strong growth in ridership. Up to Nov 30, MBDK’s four free bus routes ferried 331,431 passengers.
In April, strategic tourism plans were drawn up to promote 350 historical landmarks through the Klang Royal City Heritage Trail initiative.
It was to preserve Klang’s unique heritage attractions and restore lesser-known historical sites in the city.
MBDK’s efforts aligned with the Visit Selangor Year 2025 campaign.
Children looking at the animals in the Cat Park shelter.
The city council also introduced the Public Sector Conducive Ecosystem (EKSA) at Meru Market Complex to help create a more positive experience for market-goers and traders.
EKSA, an office system, was used for the first time to spruce up a wet market and improve management and product displays.
The market also had a RM1mil rejuvenation work done.
Separately, MBDK’s Enforcement Department had up to Dec 15, removed 10,384 illegal banners and bunting on trees, lamp posts, traffic lights and road signs.
Most of the illegal advertisements were on property and transport rental, household renovations, and moneylending services.
Unlicensed moneylenders’ posters also saw 29 phone numbers referred to the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for further action.
Meanwhile, Selangor folk were up in arms over the increase in assessment tax rates (subject to a 25% cap) starting Jan 1.
Residents were dissatisfied as they said the basic duties of the city council to clean drains, cut grass, sweep roads and even painting road lines were neglected, which exposed road users to danger.
In the fight against drug abuse, MBDK became the first local authority to provide a written commitment on the implementation of the Drug-Free Workplace (Tekad) programme when it signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) in December.
Under Tekad, department heads are to make it top priority to address issues of drug and substance abuse in the workplace to create a safe working environment.
From 2016 until now, 10 MBDK employees were found to have been involved in drug abuse. They have undergone rehabilitation.
