Kajang councillors want action on MPKj officer
Saturday November 1, 2008
Story by GEETHA KRISHNAN
THREE Kajang municipal councillors want the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to investigate an alleged irregularity involving a council officer.
The case in Bandar Sungai Long, Kajang, concerns a hardware store that has encroached into the river and road reserve lands with the alleged sanction of a Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) officer.
Councillors Lee Kee Hiong, Tan Han Kuo and Carmen Leong told a press conference yesterday that the MPKj only acted when they highlighted the case recently.
They claimed the alleged officer was reluctant to take action although many complaints had been lodged with the MPKj.
The the store has been extended into the main road, narrowing it into one lane. The encroachment into the river reserve, meanwhile, has caused the erosion of certain parts of the Sungai Long riverbank.
A major landslide occurred there two years ago, swallowing part of the road opposite the Evergreen Condominium. Repair works were only recently completed after repeated delays.
According to Evergreen Condominium Residents Association president Leow Yung Kit, the store owner’s inconsiderate action was threatening the safety of residents and road users.
Leow said that the local authorities should take immediate action before a disaster occured.
Lee said that when the case was first highlighted, a RM25,000 compund was issued to the store owner under Section 70A of the Road, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
“Because the owner has refused to comply with our directive, the MPKj is now issuing a stop work order to protect the riverbank from further erosion,” she said.
“As you can see, a stairway built by the authorities is partially buried under sand. Such nonsense cannot continue,” Lee said.
According to MPKj engineering department technical assistant Subeha Mohd Saleh, the store owner has been told to temporarily cover the area with plastic sheets and, at the same time, to engage a consultant to design a proper bund for the store without encroaching into the river reserve.
Lee said the store owner was given temporary permits for two storage cabins till Dec 31 but it had built the illegal extensions.
“We are giving the owner 30 days from Oct 31 to tear down the extensions. If he fails to comply, under Section 72 of the Streets, Building and Drainage Act, we will demolish them,” she said.
Hulu Langat Drainage and Irrigation Department technician Azhar Ramli said the owner was instructed to submit a report to the department for further action by the Land Office but it had yet to comply.
“We cannot take any action before receiving the report,” he said, causing an uproar and protest among residents present at the press conference.
Lee said the council would take the necessary action to ensure that the safety of residents and road users was maintained.
Story by GEETHA KRISHNAN
THREE Kajang municipal councillors want the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to investigate an alleged irregularity involving a council officer.
The case in Bandar Sungai Long, Kajang, concerns a hardware store that has encroached into the river and road reserve lands with the alleged sanction of a Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) officer.
Councillors Lee Kee Hiong, Tan Han Kuo and Carmen Leong told a press conference yesterday that the MPKj only acted when they highlighted the case recently.
They claimed the alleged officer was reluctant to take action although many complaints had been lodged with the MPKj.
The the store has been extended into the main road, narrowing it into one lane. The encroachment into the river reserve, meanwhile, has caused the erosion of certain parts of the Sungai Long riverbank.
A major landslide occurred there two years ago, swallowing part of the road opposite the Evergreen Condominium. Repair works were only recently completed after repeated delays.
According to Evergreen Condominium Residents Association president Leow Yung Kit, the store owner’s inconsiderate action was threatening the safety of residents and road users.
Leow said that the local authorities should take immediate action before a disaster occured.
Lee said that when the case was first highlighted, a RM25,000 compund was issued to the store owner under Section 70A of the Road, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
“Because the owner has refused to comply with our directive, the MPKj is now issuing a stop work order to protect the riverbank from further erosion,” she said.
“As you can see, a stairway built by the authorities is partially buried under sand. Such nonsense cannot continue,” Lee said.
According to MPKj engineering department technical assistant Subeha Mohd Saleh, the store owner has been told to temporarily cover the area with plastic sheets and, at the same time, to engage a consultant to design a proper bund for the store without encroaching into the river reserve.
Lee said the store owner was given temporary permits for two storage cabins till Dec 31 but it had built the illegal extensions.
“We are giving the owner 30 days from Oct 31 to tear down the extensions. If he fails to comply, under Section 72 of the Streets, Building and Drainage Act, we will demolish them,” she said.
Hulu Langat Drainage and Irrigation Department technician Azhar Ramli said the owner was instructed to submit a report to the department for further action by the Land Office but it had yet to comply.
“We cannot take any action before receiving the report,” he said, causing an uproar and protest among residents present at the press conference.
Lee said the council would take the necessary action to ensure that the safety of residents and road users was maintained.
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