RECENTLY, I had the pleasure of participating in several workshops involving people with disabilities organised by Beautiful Gate Foundation. The speakers took the trouble to paint a world of constant struggle with many things that able-bodied persons take for granted, be it from traversing steps to visiting a public restroom. The challenges aren’t limited to [...]

IF we think the price of development is traffic jams, we are mistaken. That isn’t the only price people have to pay for so-called progress in the city. The question is, will PJ residents continue to pay the price for development in their city or can measures be taken to avoid these hidden costs?

WHEN residents talk about development in an urban environment, the discussion primarily focuses on ensuing traffic problems for the existing neighbourhood. Developers would, in turn, talk about how they are bringing in much needed economic activity into the area to justify the project. Any discussion without a base framework to start from would invariably lead [...]

ONE of my investigations as a Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor has been into the mystery of how the council could allow a 24-storey building to go up when the project only had a planning permission for 22 storeys. I usually begin any investigation by requesting information through official means. Since councillors don’t always [...]

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 [...]