PJ Residents Fight Dengue with Gotong Royong

Damansara Bistari flats residents with brooms getting ready for gotong royong clean up — Damansara Bistari flats residents with brooms getting ready for gotong royong clean-up of the surrounding areas.

More than 180 Damansara Bistari flats residents in SS2, Petaling Jaya carried out a gotong royong clean-up to eliminate potential Aedes breeding grounds and to keep their surrounding areas clean on Sunday 17 April 2016.

The residents were divided into groups, some being tasked with clearing rubbish and litter and sweeping fallen leaves, while others cleaned clogged drains and picked up discarded materials like old furniture.

MBPJ provided a garbage truck and workers to collect the trash. Workers also conducted tree trimming and carried out fogging.

The gotong royong clean-up, participated by Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor Jamaliah Binti Jamaludin, was organised by Persatuan Penduduk Blok A dan B Damansara Bistari jointly with the service centre of ADUN Damansara Utama and MBPJ.

MBPJ councilor Jamaliah Binti Jamaludin joins the residents in a gotong royong to clean the surrounding areas — MBPJ councillor Jamaliah Binti Jamaludin (in orange shirt, second from right) joins residents in a gotong royong to clean up the surrounding area.

Persatuan Penduduk Blok A dan B Damansara Bistari chairman Abdul Samad Abdul Rashid said the gotong royong was conducted to clear the areas of rubbish and any potential mosquito breeding places for the Aedes mosquito. He urged the residents to be responsible in keeping the environment clean and safe.

Samad said besides cleaning up the surroundings and getting rid of the Aedes mosquito breeding grounds, the activity also foster greater community bonding among its residents.

Flat residents Norhayanti (left) and Faridah (right) are excited to be part of the community helping to clean up the area for a safe and clean living environment.

Norhayanti, 30, an operator and Faridah, 37, an office worker, both residents of the flat for more than 10 years took part in the cleanup. They said they were happy doing their part to help keep the areas clean and said such activity be held on regular basis.

Another resident Devi Shamugam, 46, a cleaner, who has been staying in the flat since 2006, said she was glad to be part of the gotong royong clean up of the surrounding areas. She said from her experience as a cleaner, the place gets dirty again the next day after it is cleaned.

“People have the habit of throwing rubbish everywhere. I hope everyone will be more civic conscious and think about the responsibility of keeping the surroundings clean. No one will be happy living in a dirty place,” she said.