BROKEN and clogged drains are common complaints in Petaling Jaya. Often, members of the public have to complain for the umpteenth time before the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) shows up to repair their broken drains. It would be reasonable for the public to wonder why they even need to complain before drains are repaired. [...]

THERE’s a rumour making the rounds that the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will close down the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya (PJ) because the premise was not approved for a church. For certain, the land that DUMC is located on is not designated for a “religious institution” that would permit the [...]

ONE might think that as a Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor, getting answers from local authorities and government departments would be relatively easier. It is, in fact, one of the biggest challenges I face. Indeed, even when I receive “answers”, they are seldom satisfactory and instead pose more questions, which, then again, go unanswered. [...]

I HAD previously raised the issue of leasehold titles in Petaling Jaya (PJ) possibly being invalid and house owners being entitled to freehold titles based on historical records. The Section 4 Rukun Tetangga committee subsequently held a signature campaign and wrote to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for an appointment to resolve the [...]

STREET hawkers who ply their wares off mobile vans are a common sight these days around Petaling Jaya (PJ). During the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ)’s April full board meeting, the issue was discussed in brief. The matter of how street hawkers were taking up valuable parking space was raised and reported in The Star [...]

In the previous instalment of Ampersand, I touched on a resident’s right to object to a development project, even if they were not an owner of a neighbouring land as defined under the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA). Basically, all developments are subject to the National Physical Plan and National Urbanisation Policy. These two [...]