PETALING JAYA: Speak of Subang Jaya city and one is reminded of its robust economy with multinational corporations and a thriving entrepreneurial scene.
But like other parts of Selangor, it also suffered through the Covid-19 pandemic and floods.
Nonetheless, the city overcame the many obstacles thrown at it, thanks to the dogged “never say die” attitude of its assemblyman and residents.
Today, Subang Jaya continues to progress towards community development and sustainability. Its state assemblyman, Michelle Ng Mei Sze, has been working tirelessly to improve the quality of life for its residents.
“With our focus on sustainable and long-term improvement, the community here has witnessed positive changes in various sectors.
“One notable improvement is the introduction of an on-demand van-hailing service called Kumpool, which has revolutionised public transport in the area by increasing accessibility and reducing congestion.
“Unlike traditional bus lines, Kumpool uses vans, which are smaller vehicles that can navigate narrower roads and hard-to-reach areas,” she said.
The initiative has created 200 virtual stops across the city, making it easier for residents to travel.
“The booking-based system ensures that vehicles only run when there are passengers, making it more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.”
But that’s not all. Reforms have also been made in the water system.
“Selangor used to suffer from frequent water cuts, which caused inconvenience and disruption (to daily life) for residents. Through the efforts of the Select Committee on Water Resources which I chair, substantial changes have been implemented.
“The committee pushed for increased river surveillance from once a week to every other day. This resulted in better water quality control.”
The committee also advocated amendments to water pollution laws, significantly increasing penalties for offenders.
“As a result, 37 water treatment plant shutdowns were averted, dramatically reducing the number of unscheduled water cuts,”Ng said.
On mental health, Ng advocated the repeal of Section 309 of the Penal Code. The section states that: “Whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offence shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.”
“Subang Jaya has an alarming rate of attempted suicides by its student population. The efforts to repeal this law took five years but the aim was to create a compassionate society where attempters are offered help and support instead of punishment.
“First responders are now empowered to admit affected individuals to hospitals for treatment,” she said.
The success of this initiative has been made possible with the collaboration of various stakeholders, including NGOs and community groups.
“Mental health organisations such as the Befrienders, Mental Illness Awareness & Support Association and Relate, played a crucial role in providing advice and support during our push to repeal Section 309.
“Community leaders also played a pivotal role in raising awareness and highlighting the need for the reform. My colleagues in the office also deserve to be commended for their unwavering dedication to our cause.”
Moving forward, Ng said the Subang Jaya community can anticipate more impactful projects coming their way.
“We plan to make recycling more accessible. Collaborating with KDEB Waste Management, we intend to collect recyclables along with domestic rubbish and increase the frequency of collections to three times a week.
“We are also working towards making the city more cyclable and walkable by increasing the budget to improve infrastructure,” she said.
To ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the improvements, Ng emphasised the importance of initiatives that would continue even if she were no longer in office.
“This approach guarantees that the changes made will have a lasting impact on the community. Involving them in decision-making processes is a top priority for me.”
Ng said regular engagement with residents’ associations and the Rukun Tetangga allows for direct access to community opinions and preferences when it comes to housing decisions.
“Looking ahead, I envision a greener, more walkable and cyclable city that everyone would want to call home.”
