Petty issues can be big issues for Subang Jayans

Wednesday, 1 September 2010

Petty issues can be big issues for Subang Jayans

Happy Birthday SJ Echo! It has been a great 3 years. I have gone 3 years older too! As I looked back, I am tempted now to start where I began. Subang Jaya 3 years ago and Subang Jaya today, by observation did not see much change.
I truly blame this on the JKP and the appointed councillors. Until today, only one councillor, Rajiv has been writing in SJEcho with the expected frequency. As I am not in the know, I have posed a question in the last issue for any one councillor to explain their role to the public.
I do hope when I pick up this SJEcho issue, we would b able to understand their roles in general a bit more. At times, I cannot understand why councillors and the Jawatankuasa Penduduk do not take an active lead in meeting with their residents frequently and engage them. The normal plethora of answers would be, “Do you know how difficult our job is?" "If you think you can do better, why not take my place?" "You think you so smart? So pandai?" "You all ah, complain only...give chance lah?"
Heck, no, will I give you an inkling of a chance. Not when every day I have to pass the following things as I walk Subang Jaya. I see clogged drains. I did my part complaining to MPSJ. They sometimes come, sometimes forgot. I see the housing areas barricaded like some detention camp. Reminded me of the scene in the documentary I saw in Astro, "Emergency in Malaya" where many were confined in new villages.
The typical areas I visit are Taipan, SS14, SS15, SS13, SS16 and parts of USJ. In all areas, the typical scene greets you. Filth at the backlanes. To the councillor looking at SS13, 14, 15 and 16, since 2008 there has not been improvement at all in the cleanliness of the business areas.
There is a new strain of disease brought by rats as I have read in the newspaper and in these areas, rats thrive. Once there was this councillor who pledged to have rats dealt with severely but nothing has improved.
The area behind Carrefour and the entrance of the KTM is filthy. Mobile stalls have been put up. Did MPSJ give license? Or should we ask for an investigation? The drains are clogged and Carrefour's delivery area is smelly as with the refuse chamber greeting you as you come to the entrance of the KTM station.
SS16's road leading from the KTM to Empire Gallery is half patched and the roads are a danger for cyclists. The lightings at night on this stretch have remained unlighted for a long time.
Over in SS14 and SS15 the business areas are filthy. Do check their toilets. Some would make you puke. And here we are saying we are doing all we can for Subang Jaya and that everyone must do their part.
Large rats still reign in SS15...and you know what, I am seeing rats playing along the grass islands in between the 2 busy roads flanking Public Bank SS15 and the Thai Thong Building in SS17.
There is still no pedestrian crossing between SS17 and SS15. Bus stops remain unlighted and smeared with notices and rust. No one cares. Yet we promote public transportation. Pedestrian walkways are broken and uneven and no one bothers. Try walking these.
Pedestrian bridges remain unlighted and rust has shown. Recently we had read of a fatal incident, a stabbing at the pedestrian bridge in Bandar Sunway. This should not happen if the police can also patrol these and not just in their new shiny polis bergerak van and spanking new police pondok in SS15 market.
There is a lack of planning in placement of pedestrian bridges. One is from SS14 to the Buddhist and Hindu Temple across the heavy highway. Another is from SS18 to SS19.
SS13 is filthy. The stalls near the birdy park (Millennium square) have rats. These should be relocated to SS15. This is unsightly and not good for hygiene. Crows are aplenty too there. The SS13 side, near the sports complex where the pasar malam is, is also dirty on most days. Plastic bags of rubbish and litter. Terrible!
In Taipan, the backlane where Victoria Station is still has a huge hygiene problem. Washing and preparation of food is still ongoing. More drain covers have started to crack and break.
There is a concern for the betterment for Subang Jaya but I now fear that the rhetoric by some councillors leave much to be desired. I do wonder as to what use SJEcho does in getting the community to send comments to SJ Echo on councillors. I have some friends telling me, after submission, they have been sent sms asking them if they could do better. What rubbish!
First you volunteer but you do not know what you want. Then when appointed, you taichi here and there. For you, why don't you do us a favour and just do your work and explain to us. Do not ever forget your role and position exists because of the need to represent and ably do what is right for the community.
The community gave you the opportunity for this and has the same to also remove you. These do not exist because you are the leader of the community by appointment. Your decision should not just stem from the collective view of the council.
I will be going to the ramadhan bazaar now for some of my favourites. Hopefully along the way, I do not get knocked down by cars due to lack of pedestrian crossings or trip on uneven walkways or fall into uncovered drains which I could not see as the light poles are there but no lights.
I do want to wish all my Muslim friends and foes alike, a blessed Hari Raya. "Selamat Hari Raya"!
There are times when we must really look at our surroundings and ask ourselves. Have we looked in the mirror today? Do you like what you see?