Wishing everyone out there a Happy Deepavali...
"Ghost" bus stops in Subang Jaya
SPAD needs to respond, its been over a month, and they have yet to reply Selangor Times.
Abandoned Homes - the unresolved issue....
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.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Abandoned house causes miseryBy EDWARD R. HENRY
Unhappy neighbours: (From left) Lau, Kanesan, Chong with Leo in front of the dilapidated house that is posing a nuisance to neighbours.
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.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Abandoned house causes misery
By EDWARD R. HENRY
edward@thestar.com.my
Photos by SAM THAM
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.
Cleaning abandoned homes
While MPSJ does go in to clean up abandoned homes for the sake of the neighbourhood, the issue of claiming the cost remains. I personally feel that MPSJ must chase after this payments, for if not, we would be seen to encourage this bad behavior.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Council incurring losses over abandoned homes
Writer: Brenda Ch'ngSUBANG JAYA: Cleaning abandoned or empty homes is eating into council coffers, and the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) is trying to find a way to make irresponsible owners pay.
MPSJ has spent RM47,990 to clean the compounds of over 4,000 homes since 2007.
Cleaning includes the cutting of overgrown grass and clearing of drains to prevent disease-carrying insects or rodents from breeding.
The issue was disclosed at the council’s full board meeting on Wednesday.
effective plan to make people pay up, like maybe getting a court order, to tell residents they can’t get away with not paying,” said MPSJ councillor R Rajiv.
He said these irresponsible homeowners are taking the council for granted by expecting them to clean their yards every time a neighbour complains.
Some houses are even missing doors and roofs, making it uncomfortable for neighbouring residents.
“Most residents fear that these abandoned homes with overgrown grass may serve as a hiding place for robbers,” said Rajiv.
He said although it is expensive to sue all the homeowners, a solution is needed to compel payment.
MPSJ president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi (pic), however, is un- sure if getting the court involved is the right way forward.
“To sue them will cost us more then they owe as the legal fees are high. It just doesn’t make sense,” he said.
The council charges each house a fee of up to RM100 or more for cleaning, depending on the size of compound and amount of work needed.
These cleaning works are done by either council-appointed contractors or MPSJ’s own staff.
According to council protocol, homeowners will be issued a two- week notice to clean up their premises before the council steps in.
However, some homeowners are not contactable, while others rent out their property and are waiting for new tenants to clean up the house.
The council is still brainstorming on the best way to resolve this issue.
Pakatan Rakyat's Alternative Budget 2012
A summary:
The full budget:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cb2FXLsR1gA6jm425draiT7tI0eyC3hTiGzm_cKmsZM/edit?hl=en_US
The full budget:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B1Vvnf4smxr6ODVjOWNlNTgtMTE5OS00N2Y0LTgyYzEtYjEwMzQxNWM1MjFh&hl=en_US
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
