Saturday, October 31, 2009

Vacant shoplots turned into dumping grounds



Not a pretty sight: A couple was found to be living in one of the vacant shoplots.

SEVERAL vacant shoplots in Pusat Bandar Country Homes Rawang have been turned into garbage dumping sites.

According to shoplot owner Anantha Mohan, the situation has affected other businesses in the area.
He added that for the past three years, more than 20 vacant shoplots were being used to dump garbage and you could even find old furniture in some of the lots.

The lots were also infested with mosquitoes and attracted strays.

‘’So far the owners had not cleaned up the mess. “You can also find some of the doors and shutters left open,” said Anantha.

He added that despite numerous complaints, the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) had not responded to the problem.

‘’It looks more like a rubbish dump than a shoplot.

“Customers who come to our shoplots complaint about the stink and the unhygienic condition,” he said.
Newly-appointed MPS councillor Gunarajah A. George, who visited the shoplots recently, said some of the window panes and shutters were missing in some of the vacant lots.

“That is why some people dump their garbage there,” said Gunarajah, adding that he discovered that a couple was living in one of the shoplots which is in a messy and deplorable state.

“It is unhealthy and highly inconvenient for neighbouring shoplot owners,” he said.

MPS assistant enforcement officer Paramasivam Chelliah said shoplot owners who failed to keep their premises clean could be charged under the Section 74 of the Local Government Act that carried a maximum fine of RM1,000.

“We will have our enforcement team visit the vacant lots next week,’’ he said.

Traders move to new site



THE relocation of the Bandar Country Homes night market to about 200m away from the present site went on smoothly with the help of the police, Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) enforcement officers and JKP (Residents Committee) volunteers.

Trouble was expected on Sunday from the previous contractor of the night market but with the police and MPS present, the relocation went on smoothly. Last Saturday, the contractor had painted the lots and told some of the traders that he was still in charge even though the night market has been taken over by the JKP.

The contractor used to collect RM3 from each legal trader and RM6 from illegal traders. With about 600 traders in the area, the contractor used to collect about RM1,800 every Sunday.

In business: The night market traders at the new site.

The problem started when the contractor started to collect about RM40 from each lot in order to get licences from MPS but the licences were not given to the stall owners.

According to a market traders’ representative known as H. Zainon, this happened last year and the traders had submitted a petition on the matter to Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim on May 6.

Councillor Gunarajah R. George, after taking over the area, put a stop to the contractor and the market is now handled by the Residents’ Committee. He also pushed for the relocation of the night market.

Zainon said he was happy the new councillor went all out to ensure the traders were not cheated and funds were managed properly.

Gunarajah said 40% of the night market traders did not have licences and that a booth had been set up for them to apply for licences from MPS. “The police and MPS enforcement officers ensured everything went smoothly,” he said.

“Previously, the night market was located on Jalan KB 1 and about 300 residents from Kota Bidari could not use the only access road. “The night market also disrupted activities at the Arul Migu Sri Subramaniam temple and Zhong Yuan temple as events could not be held on Sundays,’’ he said.

Zhong Yuan temple president David Ha said with the relocation, worshippers could now easily access the road leading to the temple on Sundays.

Arul Migu Sri Subramaniam temple secretary S. Karthigesu said it was impossible to hold any events on Sunday at the temple previously due to the entrance being blocked by the night market traders.



Not a pretty sight: A couple was found to be living in one of the vacant shoplots.

SEVERAL vacant shoplots in Pusat Bandar Country Homes Rawang have been turned into garbage dumping sites.

According to shoplot owner Anantha Mohan, the situation has affected other businesses in the area.
He added that for the past three years, more than 20 vacant shoplots were being used to dump garbage and you could even find old furniture in some of the lots.

The lots were also infested with mosquitoes and attracted strays.

‘’So far the owners had not cleaned up the mess. “You can also find some of the doors and shutters left open,” said Anantha.

He added that despite numerous complaints, the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) had not responded to the problem.

‘’It looks more like a rubbish dump than a shoplot.

“Customers who come to our shoplots complaint about the stink and the unhygienic condition,” he said.
Newly-appointed MPS councillor Gunarajah A. George, who visited the shoplots recently, said some of the window panes and shutters were missing in some of the vacant lots.

“That is why some people dump their garbage there,” said Gunarajah, adding that he discovered that a couple was living in one of the shoplots which is in a messy and deplorable state.

“It is unhealthy and highly inconvenient for neighbouring shoplot owners,” he said.

MPS assistant enforcement officer Paramasivam Chelliah said shoplot owners who failed to keep their premises clean could be charged under the Section 74 of the Local Government Act that carried a maximum fine of RM1,000.

“We will have our enforcement team visit the vacant lots next week,’’ he said.