Local councils focus on sustainability, safety, infrastructure upgrades and flood mitigation for 2025
IT IS the new year and each local council in Selangor has mapped out plans to meet goals set out for the next 12 months.
These plans are necessary to realise objectives, especially with the state government embarking on ideas prioritising sustainable development and improved services for 2025, which is also Visit Selangor Year.
The improvements in local council services is all the more essential in light of the 25% increase in assessment taxes across the state.
Ampang Jaya council
Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) is gearing up for an exciting year ahead as it has identified high-impact projects that drive sustainable development.
One of it is to address traffic congestion in the municipality.
The construction of a new bridge and upgrading the intersection at Jalan Pandan Indah and Jalan Pandan Mewah in Pandan Indah is one such effort.
The project is expected to significantly improve traffic flow for residents, MPAJ said in a media statement.
Safety measures in hilly areas are also a priority as the council plans to instal landslide monitoring systems at key locations, including at Jalan Wangsa 3, Taman Bukit Jaya, Jalan Bunga Melati 1, Jalan Mega 3 and Jalan Mega 5 in Bukit Antarabangsa.
MPAJ’s eco-friendly initiatives such as plogging and community river clean-ups will also continue.
Targeted for completion this year, the project is MPAJ’s plan to mitigate risks and protect residents in vulnerable areas.
MPAJ will also be placing 100 recycling bins across the municipality as part of its efforts to promote sustainability.
This will be supported by a Drive-Thru Recycling Centre (Adtrec) at Masjid Al-Ubudiah in Taman Tasek Tambahan to make recycling more accessible as well as encourage residents to adopt eco-friendly practices.
MPAJ said its eco-friendly initiatives, such as plogging and community river clean-ups, Trash to Cash programme, used cooking oil collection points and e-waste drop-offs, would also continue.
Meanwhile, tourism development in Ampang is set to receive a significant boost with a plan to establish the Gombak-Hulu Langat (GHL) Geopark Exploration Centre at the MPAJ Convention Centre in Taman Melawati, Selangor.
Tourism Selangor launched GHL Geopark as the first national geopark in the state on Nov 16.
Artist impression of the three-storey bus terminal in Cyberjaya.
The exploration centre is expected to showcase the rich geological and cultural heritage of the geopark.
It will also serve as a platform to promote local geo-communities and products.
There are also plans to upgrade the landscaping at Bukit Ampang’s open spaces to enhance its tourist appeal.
In 2025, MPAJ is all set to energise the community with a lineup of exciting programmes and events that bring people together.
Sports enthusiasts can gear up for thrilling activities like the Mountain Bike Challenge, annual Geopark Ampang Jaya Night Run, Geopark Ampang Jaya Trail Run and football tournaments.
Selayang council
Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) has allocated RM239mil in its 2025 budget, prioritising management expenditure to strengthen and consolidate its operations.
MPS president Shahman Jalaludin said that out of the balanced budget, a total of RM76.2mil would be allocated for priority works, such as urban cleaning (RM21.5mil), solid waste collection (RM29.5mil), park and recreation maintenance (RM8.3mil), drain construction (RM7.15mil) and tree felling and pruning (RM3mil).
The money will also go towards street lamp installation services (RM600,000) and maintenance (RM800,000), LED light installation services (RM2.04mil), security monitoring (RM1.2mil) and infrastructure service facilities (RM2mil).
He said that based on feedback from the assessment hike objection hearing session held last year, matters raised by taxpayers were related to municipal services such as solid waste management, stray dogs, illegal rubbish dumping as well as incomplete basic facilities such as public halls, community centres and recreational areas.
As for the stray dog issue, MPS would add more lorries to its current fleet as well as manpower to tackle the logistics aspect of its wild dog unit, he said.
MPS will look into increasing the number of CCTV cameras at hotspot areas to check for potholes. — Courtesy photo
“We will also work with other agencies including a public university and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to think of humane ways to catch strays, and build a shelter for feral dogs and cats,” he added.
To a question on how MPS would use the RM26mil revenue from the 25% increased assessment tax rate, Shahman said, “Ratepayers who pay their assessment in full will receive free domestic rubbish bins.
“We also plan to improve and upgrade rubbish collection centres in stratified areas, which have a big population.”
He said MPS planned to increase the number of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the municipality to tackle illegal rubbish dumping and monitor potholes in hotspot areas.
“With revenue from assessment tax, we will have more CCTV cameras installed at rubbish dumping and crime hotspots,” he said.
According to Shahman, 2025 will see meet-and-greet meetings with taxpayers (hari turun padang) as a major event.
“Our approach is to meet with residents to listen to their concerns about urgent infrastructure that need fixing.
“We will find two or three places with unresolved issues and resolve the problems with relevant agencies,” he elaborated.
Petaling Jaya council
Petaling Jaya will see significant upgrades in 2025 with RM28mil allocated for improving public infrastructure and facilities.
Among the targeted areas to improve the city’s liveability are roads, drainage systems, street lamps and green spaces.
Mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon said Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) intended to address community needs based on feedback from residents and councillors.
“We want to improve the quality of our public services,” he said.
Planned upgrades include drainage works at Jalan PJU3/22 and part of Jalan PJU3/27, while a new project will see drainage and drain cover maintenance taking place at 18 zones across the city.
A filepic showing several trees that fell onto the walkway in SS2 Petaling Jaya during a storm.
Street lamps at Jalan SS3/5, Jalan SS3/14 in SS3, Jalan Pasar 1/21 in Section 1, Jalan 51A/219 and Jalan 51A/225 in Section 51A are to be upgraded too.
MBPJ has also allocated RM3.9mil for the improvement of sports facilities, walkways and drainage systems at eight open spaces and two sports fields.
These open spaces are Jalan BU4/1, Jalan Cecawi 6/19C, Jalan PJU3/18B, Jalan SS23/7, Jalan SS4C/22, Jalan 51A/224 (Flat Baiduri), Jalan PJS3/44 and Jalan PJS6/3B.
The sports fields are located at Jalan SS2/50 and Jalan SS20/5.
Mohamad Zahri said RM400,000 was set aside for tree management in 2025.
“We are taking proactive steps by managing risky trees at an early stage,” he said, adding that the trees in Section 52 and residential areas of Section 14, Section 16, Section 17 and SS2 were part of the effort.
Additionally, RM13mil has been allocated for landscape maintenance at 38 locations.
“This will cover the upkeep of shade trees, grass cutting, cleaning and disposal of garden waste in public parks and other open spaces,” said Mohamad Zahri.
Klang council
Drainage networks in Meru and parts of Kapar are to be upgraded in 2025 as an effort to mitigate floods.
Klang mayor Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain said the city council’s plan was to reduce the risk of floods for properties in the area.
Taman Bayu Perdana in Bandar Parklands, Klang, faces flash floods during downpours due to clogged drains.
“This is needed in response to the severe flooding last year that impacted residential and commercial properties in Meru and Kapar,” he said.
The new drainage network plan will see high volume of surface runoff being directed away from the area, and reducing the risk of future flooding.
Abd Hamid said Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) allocated RM113mil for infrastructure upgrades and drainage, besides RM85.9mil for cleanliness and domestic waste management.
Kajang council
Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) will focus on solving the pothole problems plaguing many areas in the municipality.
Its president Nazli Taib said MPKj’s Engineering Department would have a three-men unit, in shifts, going on daily rounds to patch up small potholes immediately using simple tools and methods.
“The unit is different from the Road Gang – our road repair team – that responds to public complaints and is better equipped to repair big potholes,” he said.
Muhammad Nor Hakim Kamaruzaman is among the stall operators at Medan Sate, Kajang. MPKj is launching an online campaign called ‘Enjoy Kajang’ to highlight interesting foods such as satay, which Kajang is famous for.
On the issue of stray dogs, Nazli said MPKj would work with the land office to identify suitable site for animal welfare NGOs to run a temporary dog shelter.
In line with Visit Selangor Year this year, MPKj will launch an online campaign called “Enjoy Kajang” – an initiative designed to inform people of interesting foods and places to visit.
The local council will also work with PLANMalaysia for its Kajang town planning project covering some 46ha, with the focus on redevelopment while preserving heritage buildings.
Sepang council
Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) has 10 major projects totalling about RM50mil for completion by the end of 2025.
MPSepang deputy president Muhamad Shah Osmin said the increased revenue of RM41mil from the assessment rates would help fund the projects.
“Big projects include the building of a three-storey bus terminal in Cyberjaya, community complex in Kampung Dato’ Abu Bakar Baginda and a community hall in Taman Arked,” he said.
“There are also plans to carry out landscaping work at Taman Cempaka in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, upgrading the football field in Taman Putra Perdana, replacing underground cables for light installation in Jalan Dagang Mas as well as installing LED streetlamps in Salak Perdana and Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi,” Muhamad Shah added.
