CHILDREN raised in run-down environments similar to the Taman Putra Damai public housing project (PPR) in Lembah Subang, which is in a squalid state, adapt to sub-optimal settings that can undermine their educational performance.
Lembah Subang PPR Residents’ Association head Abu Taib Wirid said the children required a conducive environment for better brain development and learning experience.
“Over here, the children are faced with overwhelming challenges that children in better neighbourhoods do not come across. Here, the children are confronted by stench from garbage, vandalised apartments and cannibalised motorcycles,” he said.
Abu alleged that the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had neglected public housing by leaving the vandalised flats and playground in a state of disrepair.
“Children living in the apartments need a good playground to run around. Most of the playground equipment are broken. Even the volleyball court has been turned into a carpark. MBPJ cannot leave the children to face such adversity,” he said.
He said residents want MBPJ to install new playground equipment and have the area fenced up with gates for the children’s safety.
“We also want the council to rebuild the volleyball court as this will provide a place for the teenagers to enjoy a game and exercise. Once rebuilt, the court must be fenced up and bollards placed to discourage people from parking their cars there,” he said.
He added that the residents wanted a good environment.
On safety issues, he said MBPJ should assign enforcement officers to patrol the flats 24 hours daily to curb vandalism and theft.
Petaling Jaya mayor Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad said the human factor in Lembah Subang would be looked into.
“For this low-cost housing, I need some time to come up with an action plan to get the facilities up and running. We must come up with a strategic plan to prevent vandals from damaging the equipment again,” she said.
Source: The Star Property
