Sri Petaling rotting with rubbish

The level of cleanliness in Bandar Baru Seri Petaling has been an ongoing subject of debate among residents in the area, especially as the area has been going through rapid development recently.

One such resident, who identified himself as Fong, said that Seri Petaling has been his home for the past 25 years. During these years, Fong said that the level of cleanliness in this area has been deteriorating tremendously to a certain level, where it’s ‘sick and disgusting’.

When Komunitikini visited the area recently, the level of cleanliness especially in the hub of the township, which was located along Jalan Radin Anum was not an eyesore.

Piles of uncollected garbage, which consists mostly of organic and commercial wastes, can be seen on the roadside. Some of the organic wastes have begun to decompose, and the stench has become unbearable.

Mrs Tan, who owns a stall nearby, said that rubbishes are not collected for days and sometimes even weeks, thus explaining the foul stench and rotting wastes.

“When we made complaints, the DBKL (City Hall) came and cleared up the area. And then it’s back to square one,” said Tan.

Another main concern for the residents is the rising population of pests such as cockroaches and rats in the area.

“The uncollected rubbish has become a “food source” for these rats, which are as big as kittens,” complains Siew Ying, a resident here.

“The rats have become such a nuisance, and they come out searching for food even in the broad daylight.”

During the course of the short interview, Komunitikini spotted rats going in and out of it’s hiding near the drain, collecting what seem to be leftovers from the uncollected garbage. The drains are also clogged, thus emitting unpleasant smells.

A recent report in a local English daily stated that the matter has been brought to the attention of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall. In the report, DBKL vowed to monitor closely the level of cleanliness of the township.

Located to the south of Kuala Lumpur city centre, Seri Petaling was first developed in the early 1980s. The large area, which was once a rubber plantation, was more commonly known as a landfill site from the mid 1980s to the mid 1990s. However, garbage disposal in the area was ceased and the land was transformed into a playground and car park area for the prominent Commonwealth Games in 1998.