RESIDENTS in the Ampang Jaya municipality want the local council to allocate more funds for the upgrading of infrastructure and facilities in their neighbourhoods.

Representatives from residents associations, Kawasan Rukun Tentangga as well as non-governmental organisations took turns to highlight problems in their respective areas at Ampang Jaya Municipal Council’s (MPAJ) Townhall Budget 2018.

Among the issues raised were damaged infrastructure, lack of public facilities and amenities, unkempt public areas as well as health issues such as the increase in dengue cases and stray dogs.

Kampung Pandan Dalam Lorong J/K/L Residents Association secretary Zahrin Aris said the infrastructure in the village was in dire need of upgrading.

“Take the drainage system for example. Some of the drains are damaged and can no longer support flowing water during a downpour, which results in flash floods in the area,” he said, adding that MPAJ should allocate more funds to repair the drainage system.

Persatuan Kesejahteraan Shahsiah Pelajar dan Ibu Bapa advisor Varatheraju Sinnadurai said the community hall in Taman Dagang Phase 1 had been left to rot.

“The facilities inside are damaged and people are seen going into the abandoned building at night, which makes residents uneasy.

“We want to hold community activities there but the facilities are too damaged,” he added.

MPAJ allocated RM190mil for next year’s Budget, with RM119.92mil set aside for management expenditure while RM70.08mil will be used for development costs.

The bulk of management expenses will go towards emolument (RM48.92mil) as well as services and supplies (RM58.16mil) while waste collection took up a huge chunk of funds in development, at approximately RM50.21mil.

MPAJ expects to collect RM156mil next year with 65.46% (RM102.23mil) coming from assessment taxes, 28.76% (RM44.87mil) from non-tax income and while RM13.40mil from licences and permits.

Council president Abdul Hamid Abdul Hussain said the council would take into consideration the people’s feedback and readjust the Budget according to the council’s and residents’ needs.

“Although the Budget has been submitted to the state for approval, there is still room for adjustments.

“We will also look into the problems in Kampung Pandan Dalam and repair the drains, but we will need to study the entire drainage system in the area to rectify the problem,” he said.