Abandoned squatter houses spoil KL city's image

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the rapid development around Jalan Cheras and Jalan Lombong here, there are still squatter houses and an abandoned hall left standing, disrupting the cityscape.
To make matters worse, there is also a rubbish dump there which not only emanates a stench but has also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes that can affect the health of local residents.
The Wong Loo Sen See Chee Choong temple chairman, How Joon Wai said the situation affected the image of the temple which is a tourist attraction, located about 100m from the abandoned area.
"Every day a lot of foreign tourists come here (to the temple) as it is located less than 10km from KLCC and only 200m from Sunway Velocity Mall, so it is very embarrassing when they come and see such a bad environment like this.
"While we maintain the cleanliness and beauty of the temple, there is no point if the situation outside the temple is otherwise, people who come to worship can also be disturbed," he told Bernama here today.
Housewife Wong Siew Len, 78, said the stench coming from a pile of garbage had caused discomfort to her family and disrupted them from carrying out their daily chores.
"The pile of trash is actually placed in front of my house, so my family is forced to live with the nauseating smell day in day out," she said.
Another resident Helen Wong, 70, said that the abandoned hall in the area was also a source of anxiety as the building had decayed and its structure was not strong and threatened the safety of road users.
"The roof of the hall can collapse any time, imagine if it falls on passersby," she said.
According to Federal Territory MCA Women deputy chief Heng Sinn Yee, it is even more alarming that the old hall is now a nest for drug addicts.
"These problems should not be left unattended or prolonged, I hope local authorities such as Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Alam Flora will take immediate action," she said after receiving the complaint from residents on Wednesday.
Heng said she understood that the squatter housing had been totally neglected for two years while the hall for about 30 years old. — Bernama