The story below is highlighted in The Star, is a very real problem. One challenge is to what extend can local councils enter private homes to clean up, but the bigger challenge is also cost. To what extend does local councils "manage" this homes. It is not just a one off clean up, but regular maintenance is needed. Also, in serious cases, where door, walls, fences, roof needs to be fixed, that's going to eat up cost too.
Unless Parliament amends the law to allow local councils to take over ownership? or at least during this maintenance period, allow the local councils to rent out the property to recoup the cost of repair, and having a tenant will keep the place decent thereafter.
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ABOUT 100 families in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, have signed a petition to urge Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to take action against the owner of a vacant house which has been attracting rats and snakes.
A decade ago fire destroyed the first floor of the double-storey house at the T-junction of Jalan 17/3 and Jalan 17/4. The occupants have since left the house vacant.
Immediate neighbour, Loo Hon Kong, 80, said the property had become a garbage dump, a resting place for vagrants and a haven for illegal activities.
“There’s so much noise made by drug addicts at night. I had called the police on several occasions, but the patrol car would just go pass the house without taking any action. Sometimes the police will scold me for calling them,” he said.
Unhappy neighbours: (From left) Lau, Kanesan, Chong with Leo in front of the dilapidated house that is posing a nuisance to neighbours. Loo said the house was accessible from the back alley where the fence had fallen off.
Another resident C. Leo said the house had been vacant for 10 years.
“The immediate neighbours had approached the house owner to buy the property but he had declined and the same time, nothing is being done to solve the problem faced by the neighbours,” he said.
Housewife Chong Yoke Ying said a snake had entered her home twice and she believed that it slithered from the dilapidated house that was overgrown with grass.
Residents S. L. Lau and S. Kanesan suggested that MBPJ clean up of the house compound.
“We also want the council to track down the owner to seek a solution to the problem faced by the neighbours.
MBPJ president Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman he said he would refer the matter to the council’s Health department director Dr Chitradavi Vadivellu for immediate action.
“I would visit Section 17 to see the problem and ensure action is taken,” he added.
