WE the residents of Petaling Jaya note with grave concern the recent press reports in relation to the walk-out of 19 councillors from the Petaling Jaya City Council’s full board council meeting on May 30, 2023.
The law is very clear on the role and functions of councillors (which include the mayor). They are appointed to the local authority to “serve” the rakyat and are supposed to represent the interests of their communities in the area.
The law is also very clear that decisions are made by a majority of votes of the councillors present.
We are therefore very concerned that for at least the second time in recent history, our councillors are being forced to uphold the procedures and integrity of the decision-making process, and the interests of the community, by leaving the meeting!
It is even more disconcerting that the walk-out is in relation to the same controversial development on Lorong Sultan.
The state government has, without public consultation, suddenly amended definitions and impacted the calculation of plot ratios throughout the state.
However, residents still depend on their local councillors to ensure that developments are approved according to the local knowledge, needs, and limitations. This is especially true in the older parts of PJ, where we have seen small and narrow roads with limited infrastructure being put under immense pressure by the approval of disproportionately large developments. Those who ultimately pay the price on a daily basis are the residents.
More than any other award the city has won, we are very proud that PJ has a large number of local councillors who genuinely represent their communities and are bravely willing to stand up for residents to ensure that procedures are duly followed, and that the checks and balances in the system are upheld.
We are also very disappointed with the MBPJ council that despite the public and transparent nature of proceedings promised by the law and heralded by the establishment of MBPJ’s YouTube channel, the video of the May 30th meeting has now been removed without any explanation.
If there was nothing wrong with the process, why remove the video? It should be reinstated so that all PJ residents have the right to view and make up their own minds.
We stand in solidarity with the 19 brave councillors who stood up for PJ’s residents and call for the MBPJ council to ensure that all procedures are duly followed in the processing of approvals. – The Vibes, June 6, 2023
Endorsing RAs/RTs/JMBs/MCs/NGOs:
1. Bandar Utama 3 Residents’ Association
2. Damansara Utama House Owners and Residents’ Association
3. Friends Of Taman Aman Petaling Jaya
4. Gasing Indah Residents’ Association, Petaling Jaya
5. Kawasan Rukun Tetangga 17A Petaling Jaya
6. Kawasan Rukun Tetangga Gasing Indah
7. Kawasan Rukun Tetangga Seksyen 6 Petaling Jaya.
8. Kawasan Rukun Tetangga SS24 Taman Megah Fasa 2
9. Maxwell Towers Management Corporation
10. Persatuan Penduduk Petaling Jaya (2017)
11. Oriental Hearts and Mind Institute
12. Perbadanan Pengurusan Meridian Townhouse (SS23/12)
13. Persatuan Penduduk Bukit Gasing 5/66 Selangor
14. Persatuan Penduduk Jalan 5/46 Taman Gasing Indah Fasa 4 PJ
15. Persatuan Penduduk Seksyen 11 Petaling Jaya
16. Persatuan Penduduk Seksyen 22 Petaling Jaya
17. Petaling Garden Residents’ Association (2012)
18. Residents’ Association Section 5 Petaling Jaya
19. Persatuan Penduduk Seksyen 10
20. Tamera Persatuan Penduduk Taman Megah Petaling Jaya Selangor
This statement is also endorsed by:
1. Maria Chin Abdullah, former MP for Petaling Jaya
2. Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan
