Anwar's debut walkabout marred by vandalised banners
Rahmah GhazaliPublished: Jan 9, 2010 11:01 AM | Updated: Jan 9, 2010 2:11 PM
Although today was Anwar Ibrahim’s debut walkabout as the Selangor economic advisor, his visit to a low-cost housing area was marred by the vandalism of a number of banners welcoming the opposition leader.
Although today was Anwar Ibrahim’s debut walkabout as the Selangor economic advisor, his visit to a low-cost housing area was marred by the vandalism of a number of banners welcoming the opposition leader.
Two banners spotted at the entrance of Desa Mentari were found to be defaced, where Anwar’s face was apparently torched and spray painted with “liar” and other vulgar words.
However, the banners were taken down by indignant residents just before Anwar arrived at the low-cost housing area.
Anwar, who was appointed state economic advisor last month, today visited three low-cost housing areas - Desa Mentari, Lembah Subang and Batu Caves - to get an on-the-ground assessment of the living condition of Selangor’s low-income earners.
During his visit to Desa Mentari, Anwar talked to over 300 residents about their problems.
Community leader Rosli Muda told the state economic advisor that residents in the flats did not received the 20-cubic metre of free water as promised by the state government in Pakatan Rakyat’s election manifesto.
“The excuses given (by the state government) do not make sense. We are all low-income earners and (paying water bills) would only burden us even more.
“Why can’t we get the water subsidy when owners of terrace houses and bungalow can get it?” lamented Rosli.
He also expressed regret that the 28,000 residents in the area do not have proper facilities such as a mosque, school and community hall.
According to him, there was a community hall but it was turned into a police beat station during the previous BN administration.
“I can’t understand why they gave our community hall to the police. Don’t the police force receive their allocation from the federal government?” Rosli asked.
Meanwhile, resident S Vignes from the Tamil School Action Committee urged the state government to build a Tamil primary school in the housing area.
He said Desa Mentari has 10,000 children and a school in the area would ease the burden of the children having to travel too much.
“Most of the children in our area would usually stop studying at 15 because of financial constraints. But if we have a school here, the parents could save cost on transportation,” he said.
Anwar inspects low-cost flats
Anwar promised that he would look into their complaints, adding that Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Kelana Jaya PKR division chief Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud would help him keep track on them.
“I would ask the menteri besar (Khalid Ibrahim) to have water accounts issued individually so that water could be automatically available free for the residents,” he said.
Anwar said the state government will begin laying foundation for the building of a new mosque in the housing area in March.
As for the Tamil school, he said state cabinet members Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Yaakob Sapari are looking for a piece of land nearby as the low-cost housing area did not have enough space.
Anwar said he will get a report on the matter within one month and “guarantee” the residents that the matter would be resolved.
He revealed that the state government has yet to consider the issue of a community hall but he will make sure that it will benefit all residents regardless their backgrounds should one is built.
Earlier, before meeting the residents, Anwar paid a visit to two apartment blocks in Desa Mentari and had a close look at their conditions, especially the lifts and dumping areas.
Anwar’s assistant Rafizi Ramli said the ‘aktiviti turun padang’ (meet-the-people activity) could help speed up the development programme for the low-income residents.
“He knows the problems faced by the people but he nevertheless prefer a hands-on experience so that he could tackle these problems more effectively,” said Rafizi.
Two banners spotted at the entrance of Desa Mentari were found to be defaced, where Anwar’s face was apparently torched and spray painted with “liar” and other vulgar words.
However, the banners were taken down by indignant residents just before Anwar arrived at the low-cost housing area.Anwar, who was appointed state economic advisor last month, today visited three low-cost housing areas - Desa Mentari, Lembah Subang and Batu Caves - to get an on-the-ground assessment of the living condition of Selangor’s low-income earners.
During his visit to Desa Mentari, Anwar talked to over 300 residents about their problems.
Community leader Rosli Muda told the state economic advisor that residents in the flats did not received the 20-cubic metre of free water as promised by the state government in Pakatan Rakyat’s election manifesto.
“The excuses given (by the state government) do not make sense. We are all low-income earners and (paying water bills) would only burden us even more.
“Why can’t we get the water subsidy when owners of terrace houses and bungalow can get it?” lamented Rosli.He also expressed regret that the 28,000 residents in the area do not have proper facilities such as a mosque, school and community hall.
According to him, there was a community hall but it was turned into a police beat station during the previous BN administration.
“I can’t understand why they gave our community hall to the police. Don’t the police force receive their allocation from the federal government?” Rosli asked.
Meanwhile, resident S Vignes from the Tamil School Action Committee urged the state government to build a Tamil primary school in the housing area.
He said Desa Mentari has 10,000 children and a school in the area would ease the burden of the children having to travel too much.
“Most of the children in our area would usually stop studying at 15 because of financial constraints. But if we have a school here, the parents could save cost on transportation,” he said.
Anwar inspects low-cost flats
Anwar promised that he would look into their complaints, adding that Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Kelana Jaya PKR division chief Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud would help him keep track on them.
“I would ask the menteri besar (Khalid Ibrahim) to have water accounts issued individually so that water could be automatically available free for the residents,” he said.
Anwar said the state government will begin laying foundation for the building of a new mosque in the housing area in March.
As for the Tamil school, he said state cabinet members Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Yaakob Sapari are looking for a piece of land nearby as the low-cost housing area did not have enough space.Anwar said he will get a report on the matter within one month and “guarantee” the residents that the matter would be resolved.
He revealed that the state government has yet to consider the issue of a community hall but he will make sure that it will benefit all residents regardless their backgrounds should one is built.
Earlier, before meeting the residents, Anwar paid a visit to two apartment blocks in Desa Mentari and had a close look at their conditions, especially the lifts and dumping areas.
Anwar’s assistant Rafizi Ramli said the ‘aktiviti turun padang’ (meet-the-people activity) could help speed up the development programme for the low-income residents.
“He knows the problems faced by the people but he nevertheless prefer a hands-on experience so that he could tackle these problems more effectively,” said Rafizi.
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