Call for civics classes on public safety to be conducted for flat dwellers

KUALA LUMPUR: Not only chairs, even cupboards and live cats have been thrown to the ground from the upper floors of high-rise flats.

Sardine cans and soiled diapers have also been discarded by flat dwellers out of their doors or windows. Such are the irresponsible acts with no sense of civic-mindedness.

Last Monday, a 15-year- old boy, S Sathiswaran, died after he was hit by a chair thrown out of a unit of the Seri Pantai People’s Housing Projects ( PPRs) flats in Pantai Dalam.

Social activitist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said civics classes should be made compulsory to help educate flat dwellers on the importance of public safety.

He said massive and sustainable awareness campaigns also had to be organised at lowcost flats to inform residents on the consequences of their irresponsible acts and the need for change.

“This is important as the throwing of things from the upper floors at People’s Housing Projects ( PPRs) flats have happened frequently and, from what has been reported, even sardine cans, soiled diapers, live cats and cupboards have been thrown from the upper floors,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Referring to the incident that killed Sathiswaran, Lee said it had brought out the ugly side of Malaysians who had no regard for public safety and the environment, and showed the irresponsibility of some flat dwellers.

He said the authorities must play their part to provide more basic amenities for garbage disposal and practise a good maintenance culture so that facilities such as lifts were always functioning.

The installation of closedcircuit television ( CCTV) cameras would also help monitor activities in high- rise f lats as well as deter acts of vandalism and littering, he said.