Alam Flora can clear the mess
Brickfields stakeholders call for effective solid waste management
ANY attempt to turn Brickfields into a breezy, clean township will only be successful if the Government accords Alam Flora more power to carry out its work, say stakeholders.
In a three-hour meeting with various representatives from the area on Sunday, there was a general consensus from all parties that in order for Brickfields to be rubbish-free and to ensure effective solidwaste management in the area, Alam Flora must be given more power to carry out its duties without fear or favour.
The meeting, organised by Alam Flora, was chaired by its CEO Mohd Zain Hassan. Mohd Zain wanted to get feedback from the community on how the waste management company could resolve the town’s perennial problem with garbage management and collection.
Dr Christoper Nicholas, a longtime resident of Brickfields said Alam Flora must be given the power to carry out its duties. “It must have power of enforcement or else we are all wasting our time being here (at the meeting),” Nicholas said.
“Those who throw rubbish into drains and litter indiscriminately must be punished,” said Brickfields Business Council Society secretary A. Karupiah. “They must be fined on the spot, or else people are never going to learn,” he added.
T. Kamaraj, manager of Wisma Harapan, a school for autistic and Down Syndrome children, expressed his frustration over the illegal activities and trade in the area that are causing a lot of problems in the community.
“What is the point of you (Alam Flora) being here when you have no power? We are wasting our time,” stated Kamaraj.
Malaysian Association for the Blind deputy executive director Godfrey Ooi agreed that the waste-management company should be given more power to carry out its work and for people to take it seriously.
“It is difficult for the blind community here. As it is we are constantly walking into brick walls and lamp posts and parked cars and now we are also literally walking into rubbish thrown on the streets,” said Ooi.
Mohd Zain thanked the community for their feedback while conceding that the company has no power to penalise litterbugs. He however promised to look into their grouses.
“Yes, I agree we are toothless,” said Mohd Zain.
“And when my officers tell people not to throw rubbish on the streets, we do get scolded all the time and are often told to mind our own business. But giving us more power is a matter for the Solid Waste Management and Pub-lic Cleaning Corp (PPSPPA) to look into,” added Mohd Zain.
Some of the problems that were highlighted by the residents during the meeting included moving the rubbish collection time to at night, removing garbage from roadsides as well as other matters.
About 100 people turned out for the dialogue session which was held at the Brickfields Rukun Tetangga centre.
The meeting was called after Starmetro reported that the stakeholders in Brickfields, commonly called Little India, complained that the iconic landmark which has been the pride of the Indian community for over a century was losing its charm due to neglect.
They claim that Government agencies like DBKL, Alam Flora and MRCB contractors and even the police are not doing their job to maintain the tourist landmark despite numerous complaints made.