A tree for every house

31/03/2007 The Star  By VIVIENNE PAL AT THE PETALING JAYA CITY COUNCIL (MBPJ) FULL BOARD MEETING

THE STATE government has insisted that the back-to-basics programme continue in all local councils, said Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Roslan Sakiman.

The programme aims to improve the service and delivery systems of the local government through addressing basic issues such as drainage problems, illegal dumping, as well as potholed and badly patched roads.

“We have complaints that rubbish collection is still not up to par so Alam Flora, please do something about it,” he addressed Alam Flora officials who were at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) monthly full board meeting on Thursday.

Roslan also urged Alam Flora to look into clogged drains, especially in view of the current rainy season, as well as attending to drains with broken embankments.

Although complaints on potholes have lessened, Roslan instructed that uneven roads be resurfaced.

Following a separate directive issued by the state government, MBPJ will lead all local authorities within Selangor in launching the One House One Tree campaign.

The initiative will be officiated by the Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo in Ara Damansara on April 15.

Under the state-wide campaign all Residents Associations, Rukun Tetangga and Residents Committees (JKP) will be roped in to support the initiative.

The initial stages will see the campaign carried out in new housing estates with trees supplied by the respective developers.

“Developers will contribute a tree per house, so for the launch, 50 trees will be planted in tandem with the 48 new home owners in the area,” said Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) landscape department director Zuraidah Sainan.

“Where condominiums and apartments are concerned, the trees will be planted in the nearest open space.”

She said the department is in negotiations with Forest Reserve Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) to obtain seedlings of the petaling tree to be planted in these areas.

Meanwhile, food stall and restaurant owners will soon be required to display a list of foreign workers' names in the premises.

The mayor said the move would be in force in the near future to put a stop to the hiring of illegal foreigners in the city.

The council will be organising a competition for the best-looking building in conjunction with City Day in June.

Although matters are still being finalised, the plan has already been approved and the competition will be carried out from April to June.