DBKU takes pride in its 24-hour Service Centre
KUCHING: Kuching City North Commission ( DBKU) remains the only 24-hour Service Centre in the state, responding to everything from blocked drains to traffic issues.
Kuching City North Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai said they take pride in the fact that they can respond to reports around the clock, and as quickly as 30 minutes in emergency situations.
“We don’t want to take jobs away from other agencies but in the event of fi re, one should obviously call the Fire Department,” he stressed.
The commission provides other forms of help, for example, in a few recent fi res, they responded by delivering a ‘ survival kit’ consisting of basic food supplies and other necessities.
Thanks to the 24 high defi nition CCTVs installed in DBKU areas, they sometimes jump into action before members of the public call to complain.
During a media briefing, Community Development and Service head Rudzaimier Malek explained that the CCTVs allowed them to spot incidence such as a cement spill on a road, and dispatch nearby mobile units to clean it up within minutes.
It also allowed them to spot and deal with indiscriminately parked vehicles, and traffic lights knocked down by errant vehicles.
“And because some of our cameras can see the rivers, we can keep an eye on the water level during heavy rain and act if there is danger of it overf lowing,” he
We don’t want to take jobs away from other agencies but in the event of fire, one should obviously call the Fire Department.
told reporters.
Last year, their CCTVs picked up a total of 523 cases which included obstruction (151), emergencies (16), need for maintenance ( 227) and criminal activity (two).
Apart from monitoring areas, the 24-hour Service Centre also accepts reports from various channels such as Talikhidmat, as well as calls to their hotline 082- 446644 or messages to their Whatsapp at 016- 8864466.
Whatsapp proved to be the second most popular method of contact in 2016 at 335 cases. Phone calls topped the list at 1,851 cases.
Rudzaimier said DBKU Ronda or DBKU Bantu vehicles will be dispatched to investigate or give early assistance.
In 2016, the top service requested was drain maintenance ( 340), followed by tree maintenance/ cutting (226).
Reports about stray animals or road kill accounted for 209 cases.
Other reports were for road maintenance, garbage collection and maintenance of traffic facilities, parks and signboards.
While DBKU is happy to assist, Abdul Wahap emphasised that community engagement and responsibility also plays a role.
“If we have to keep going to unblock the same drain, there is something else going on there. The community must be more responsible. We want to have an urban environment but keep the kampung spirit.”
Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai, Kuching City North Datuk Bandar