'Election promise' with a difference

Voters in Sungai Sedu will thumb their noses in Selangor's Telok Datuk state assemblyperson Ei Kim Hock, should he contest the polls, and all because of a stinky problem.

For several years now, they have been trying to get the three-term MCA representative to close the Sungai Sedu landfill in Banting, Selangor.

The stench is so pervasive that it can be smelt for a radius of up to 5km, complained residents, who have had enough of what they allege to be the authorities’ failure to manage the dumpsite properly.

If the landfill is not closed, many in the community are bent on ensuring that Ei will not represent them again. In immediate comments, however, he dismissed their complaints.

The landfill was opened eight years ago, but the air quality began deteriorating about three years ago, according to residents interviewed.

Officials are said to have claimed that only a few hundred tonnes of rubbish are brought from Kuala Langat and Kajang daily, but residents alleged that lorries from Putrajaya and Serdang are also sighted every day.

"Babies have a difficult time drinking their milk. Children vomit after they eat. We cannot eat in peace. Some of us have a scratchy sensation in our throats," said A Jayamani.

Relatives and friends are put off from attending functions in the area because they cannot stand the smell.

Local community organiser Abdul Razak Halidi claimed that the indifference of the authorities goes beyond matters related to the dumpsite.

Abdul Razak once headed the Kuala Langat PKR division, but left the opposition party last July.

He listed other issues that Ei has allegedly failed to address - the poorly condition of the Kampung Sungai Sedu Indian cemetery which is also running out of space; situation of residents of Sungai Sedu estate; lack of adequate infrastructure and street lamps; and bad drainage.

"In our memorandum to Ei on Jan 15, we listed 10 issues for him to answer. He had the cheek to address only half of the issues and completely ignore the other half," Abdul Razak said.

"If, as an elected representative responsible to the rakyat, he cannot fulfill his responsibilities, then he should resign. Step down!"

When contacted, Ei brushed off the complaints and said the residents were being unrealistic.

He also said they have failed to realise all that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government has done over the past three terms for the Telok Datuk state constituency.

While the BN leadership will decide whether he is to defend his seat, likely against DAP’s Philip Tan, Ei said he is "keen" to continue.

On the dumpsite, Ei said the state government has already identified an alternative site in Mukim Tanjung 12 and that preparatory works are underway.

"There is no constituency that is without problems. I accept that there are problems in this area. These need time to be properly tackled," said Ei.

"The government has been doing work all this time and has never stopped doing its work. There will always be claims we only do our work at the last minute. But we are confident that BN will win because only the BN can deliver."

Disputing this, resident A Janarthani said "people are unhappy" with Ei.

"People have identified him as the source of the problem because we have gone to him numerous times over the dumpsite, but he has failed to address this," she said.

"The local MIC and IPF (branches) have been trying to garner support for Ei (from the Indian community), but people are getting very fed up."

Citing the absence - until a few weeks ago - of street lamps most parts of Sungai Sedu, she said it is clear that improvements are only being brought in over the last leg of Ei’s term.

Janarathani also said about 20 residents - who have formed an action committee to lobby for closure of the landfill - will lodge a report at the Kuala Langat district police station over alleged inaction of the authorities.