Bukit Lanjang state assemblyperson Lum Weng Keong has promised to investigate the problems of the clogged drainage and sewage systems at the Kampung Kayu Ara longhouses in Damansara, Selangor

"Let me investigate the matter before I make any statement," he told malaysiakini when contacted today.

Lum said the problems could be due to the development taking place in the area and also the geography of the land.

He added the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) and private sewage management company Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) were responsible for the area but denied that services to the area had been stopped.

"Maybe something had interrupted it but I will check on the matter," Lum said.

Residents of the longhouses had complained that their sewage and drainage systems have been clogged for more than two months, resulting in health problems.

They also claimed that the authorities and developers had also ignored their plight despite them having lodged several complaints.

The longhouses in Kampung Kayu Ara is home to 100 over Indian and Malay families clumped together in the working class area. The families have been waiting for alternate housing in the form of low cost flats for the past three years.

The former rubber estate now belongs to developers Puncakdana Sdn Bhd, which is creating a low and medium cost project in the area set to be completed in September this year. The longhouses were provided free by the developers.

Frequent visitor

"We organised several gotong-royong in the area and we are also compiling a report with the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council on the situation," Lum said.

Contrary to allegations that he has not been to the area, Lum said he has been visiting Kampung Kayu Ara regularly.

"I have been so many times that I can't even remember. I go there twice a month or even twice a week sometimes," Lum said.

However, residents in the area claim that Lum only visited the area once during the 1999 elections.

When contacted, Puncakdana project manager Jonathan Liew told malaysiakini that the company received only one complaint so far.

"This person complained to us that the drains were clogged but when we responded, he did not reply. In fact I do not even know whether he is a resident there or not," Liew said.

The manager added that the company was only responsible for 10 acres of the area which was used for the project and that it could not respond to all complaints as the area is big.

'Unhappy residents should move'

"It is unfair to push everything to us as the existing sewage system and pipelines were already there before we came," Liew said.

He added that people there who face constant problems with the systems should find ways to move out.

"It is unfortunate but they are unlucky to be in an area of development where everything is not yet in order," Liew said.

He also said that on the advice of the state government, Puncakdana had agreed to lower the price of alternate housing for the residents from RM42,000 to RM25,000.

Liew added that Puncakdana has cleaned-up the area many times and they even paid for a sewage management plant in the area.

"We are doing them a favour," Liew said.