Sri Petaling residents lament that upgrade of facilities still lacking in most areas MORE than 100 angry Sri Petaling residents gathered to protest the planned assessment rate increase. Some were seen obtaining a standardised objection form from Sri Petaling Residents Association (RA) chairman Tan Tai Tong while others held placards expressing their unhappiness over the increase. The protest was also attended by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, as well as representatives from neighbouring RAs. Tan said the assessment hike was unfair as for the past 30 years, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had not done much. “Since our commercial centre was built in the 1980s, little has been done to upgrade the facilities, so how can you justify the increase?” asked Tan when addressing the protesters who had gathered at Jalan Radin Anum 1, yesterday. Taman OUG RA chairman Wong See Tin said after 40 years, his housing area still had no proper sports facilities or a community hall. “On top of that, we have to manage our own security, with our monthly fees going up from RM60 to RM100, “ Wong said. Taman Desa RA William Chan speculated that the eleventh hour increase was a prelude to other hikes, such as quit rent. Bukit OUG RA chairman Charles Ho expressed worry over the residents’ ability to pay the increased assessment rates, especially since many were retirees. “When Bukit OUG was developed over 20 years ago, most of the residents were already approaching middle age. Now, most of them are in their twilight years,” he said. Taman Bukit Desa RA representative B.H. Yap said DBKL should not have problems raising funds. “DBKL should look at how it manages its budget. When you award contracts to maintain cleanliness in a neighbourhood, do they actually monitor whether they are doing their job properly?” “Sometimes, the cleaning contractor does not turn up, prompting DBKL to send a replacement; that costs money,” said Yap. Kok told the crowd that she and other Kuala Lumpur MPs had met with Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor over the matter. “Tengku Adnan said he would arrange for us to meet the mayor, Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib. “In the meantime, we must use all available avenues, including sending written objections to the rate hike,” she said.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:10:18 +0000