THE main talking point among the people in Sungai Buloh currently concerning the state assembly is the lack of infrastructural improvements and upgrades that are very much needed in both the Kota Damansara and Paya Jaras constituencies.
The traffic jam caused by the narrow Jalan Welfare in Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh spills over as far as the junction opposite the Sungai Buloh railway station. There is an urgent need to widen Jalan Welfare but this can only be done by land acquisition by the government.
Alternatively, a flyover can be built at the former Jalan Baru junction to reduce the congestion in Jalan Welfare, which is presently the only main access road to Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh.
The Jalan Baru junction was closed about 15 years ago and has not been reopened. This is the main cause of the congestion in Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh, which is home to the largest SME hub in Selangor.
In one of the election rallies, PSM candidate for Kota Damansara A. Sivarajan brought up the issue of the long delay in constructing the access road from Jalan Sungai Buloh-Subang (near the new EPF HQ building) to Taman Bestari in Subang, close to the Petaling District office.
This will reduce the congestion on this road which will only get worse when Kwasa Damansara is developed.
The congestion from Jalan Sungai Buloh to Bukit Rahman Putra also needs to be resolved. The jam during peak hours is due to the uphill traffic light junction near the MBSA office.
Alternatives such as building a roundabout, making U-turns, adjusting the traffic light timing, or restricting heavy vehicles during peak hours should be tried.
Jalan Hospital is also congested and adjusting the timing at the junctions or widening the road could ease the situation. Many of the housing estates and new villages in both constituencies have poor road conditions due to a lack of resurfacing for many years.
Due to increased vehicular use, the roads become potholed or bumpy.
Despite being a bustling township, Sungai Buloh’s municipal and insanitary problems have worsened. Complaints to the elected state representatives or the office staff fall on deaf ears as election promises on improvements to serve the people are quickly forgotten.
Something needs to be done about the two abandoned apartment buildings near the railway station that are an eyesore, and if the project cannot be revived, it is better to demolish them.
The land issue concerning Kampung Bersatu in Seksyen U19 has not been resolved despite promises by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government since it came to power in 2008.
15 years and three elections later the residents’ application for the temporary occupation licence or conversion to leasehold status has not been successful.
Another important issue concerns the relocation of the Greenlane horticultural nurseries opposite Kota Damansara.
It is regrettable that the plight of the horticultural operators has not been highlighted in the Selangor state assembly or in Parliament for an effective resolution of the problem by the elected representatives.
It simply boils down to this: If those elected or the political parties do not help the people who voted for them, then the voters will not help when you need them. It’s as simple as that! – Aug 3, 2023
V. Thomas is a Focus Malaysia viewer.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
