Section 52 picked as the city’s Clean Zone in competition

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TRADERS and visitors in Section 52, Petaling Jaya, think that the cleanliness in the area has improved but there is still room for improvement.

The area, popularly known as PJ New Town, was identified by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) as a Clean Zone, which will compete with the Clean Zones of other local councils under a contest initiated by the Selangor government.

Each council was given one year to transform its dirtiest area into the cleanest and they have until next June to do so.

Reminder: A total of nine Clean Zone signage have been put up around New Town.

A check at the Clean Zone on Monday found that the back lanes were quite clean even though the shops were old with many occupied by restaurants. Garbage was either packed up in plastic bags or disposed of in the litter bins. However, some drains still had stagnant water.

“I have only been here six months so I cannot compare the current state with how it was in the old days, but so far, I find it satisfactory,” Kopi-Oh! Restaurant owner Ng Taw Heng said.

He also urged the council to look into the area’s security problems and install more street lights.

Several traders shared Ng’s views but some of them, like Ong, who had been in the area for more than 30 years, said he did not see much of a difference.

“I have not seen them doing anything drastic to make this area cleaner, but the parking problem is getting worse by the day and the most frustrating part is that many of the bays are occupied by MBPJ employees,” he said.

Room for improvement: Patrons generally are satisfied with the cleanliness but feel that there are several areas that could be worked on.

Three patrons at a busy restaurant here felt that the cleanliness had been improved but hoped that more would be done.

“Check the drains — many are still clogged – and there are still illegal posters and haphazard parking to deal with. The council still has a lot of work on its hands,” Allan said.

A group of art college students, however, gave their thumbs-up to the effort.

“It’s good enough, we have no complaints,” Hafiz Mohd Zain, 18, said.

However, some highlighted the clogged drains and said something should be done about it.

An MBPJ spokesman said a task force involving the health, engineering, planning, greening and enforcement departments had been formed to make the Clean Zone a success.

Check the drains: The lanes are quite clean but the council needs to check the clogged drains.

“The effort encompasses many aspects, not only cleanliness. For instance, the engineering department will be repairing and upgrading the roads, drains and even hawker centres while the planning department is looking into making this entire area disabled-friendly.

“Many buildings here are old so they may also be repainted.

“The Greening and Ecology Department has just appointed a contractor to work on landscaping while enforcement has been beefed up with more spot checks on restaurants and rounds to catch litterbugs,” she said.

She added that four meetings had been held while the order for new litter bins had been placed.

Nine Clean Zone signs have been placed at various sites and it was earlier reported that the council would add another 500 bins around the city.