Post date: Jan 17, 2011 10:40:16 PM
metro@thestar.com.my | Jan 17, 2011
Petaling Jaya City Council’s (MBPJ) Clean Zone programme covering SS2 and Dataran Sunway illustrates mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman’s commitment to making neighbourhoods in the city safe, attractive and vibrant.
Roslan’s bold step to extend the pilot project in Section 52 was endorsed by the state local government executive councillor Ronnie Liu at the launch of the new areas held in SS2 Town Park near the SEA Park police station.
“Our aim to expand the clean zone programme is based on our planning perspective, cleaning operation and maintenance as well as enforcement measures. Section 52 has been accepted as a clean zone and this has prompted the people to want SS2 and Dataran Sunway to have clean environments,” he said.
Roslan said in order to respond to the specific needs of these areas, the people must cooperate with the council to help change the mindset towards seeing the city as their home.
“Section 52, SS2 and Dataran Sunway are complex areas that required the council’s approach in tackling the social, economic, physical and environmental issues in an integrated manner,” he added after a walk-about at the SS2 morning market.
Traders and housewives, who greeted Roslan, felt that the mayor had improved the image of the city council through the clean zone programme and had managed to shore up the local authority’s coffers from RM80mil to RM172mil in 18 months.
Roslan said he was going to channel the council’s earnings to improve roads, open spaces, community and sporting facilities like the plan to add a roof to the SS2 Town Park’s basketball court.
“One of my dreams is to improve the appearance, safety and cleanliness of the neighbourhoods, improve access to the town centres, strengthen economic, employment and business activities and establish the town areas as attractive community hubs,” he said.
Councillor Jeyaseelan T. Anthony said the initiatives expressed MBPJ’s strong commitment to create an attractive and highly liveable Petaling Jaya.
“Accelerating the development and upgrading of parks, playgrounds and open spaces is the cornerstone of this approach. We will create good parks for the community to relax, meet and exercise in,” he said.
Anthony added that he had used his infrastructure allocation to build a basket ball court in Zone 19 (SS20, 21 and 22) to bring the young people during weekends for recreation and interaction as an alternative to video games.
Liu, who was at the clean zone launch, said such programmes become an investment for the community.
“We have a lot to be done in terms of cleanliness especially in PJ Old Town, Sungai Way and Kampung Chempaka. So, we must also see how we can extend the clean zone to these areas,” he said.