BY GRACE CHEN

TAMAN Melawati residents are hoping that the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) to ensure waste separation is carried out properly in their area.

“We are more than ready to separate our trash but the council trucks do not come with separate compartments.

“So all the rubbish which residents have separated is mixed up in the lorry,” pointed out Taman Melawati Crime Prevention and Safety chairman for Zones A, B and C Razman Hakimi Abdullah when met during their family day held at the SMK Taman Melawati field.

To show their support for recycling, residents set up a row of stalls selling preloved items.

Photos of bigger items which could not be lugged there were hung up and buyers were required to collect them at the sellers’ houses.

Razman also expressed dissatisfaction with the way the council had handled ongoing development projects in Taman Melawati.

He noted the population in Taman Melawati was expected to increase from 35,000 to 80,000 and wanted measures put in place to control the ongoing development as they were worried the natural environment would be affected.

Razman cited the Joran Waterfall located near the Klang Gates Dam in Gombak as an example.

“Many of the projects currently are taking place without much consideration for the natural environment,” he said.

Another issue Razman highlighted was the worsening traffic congestion. During peak hours, residents report it can take an hour to travel 500m along Jalan Taman Melawati.

Residents are also uneasy over the way traffic is being directed from Jalan Lingkaran Tengah 2 (MRR2) into Jalan Taman Melawati to accommodate a new mall which is located right at the entrance of the road leading into the housing estate.

“MRR2 is a main thoroughfare. The traffic coming in is travelling at a very high speed.

“We are afraid for our children’s safety,” said Razman.

He added MPAJ had rejected an application for the construction of a barrier wall to enable pedestrian access to the housing area from the main road.

“The basis for their rejection was that those working in the commercial centre would not have access to the mosque.

“If only the council had engaged us in a dialogue, we would have told them about our plans to make a small gate to let people through,” said Razman.

The barrier was to have been a corporate social responsibility project by a developer and all construction and material costs would be fully borne by them.

When contacted, MPAJ secretary and deputy president Hasrolnizam Shari advised residents’ associations to identify locations where the community can bring their separated waste for disposal.

“The council will then instruct the trucks to pick up the separated waste from these points.”

Hasrolnizam added traffic congestion was partly due to the increased number of students attending SK Taman Melawati and SMK Taman Melawati.

The schools not only cater to those in the area but also Bukit Antarabangsa, Keramat and Ukay Perdana.

Harolnizam added there are plans to build a new school in Ukay Perdana.

He asked residents to be patient as in two years’ time, the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) would connect Ukay Perdana in Ampang, Selangor and Bandar Sungai Long in Kajang.

With regard to the barrier wall, Hasrolnizam said the council was willing to discuss the matter further.

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