Use allocations for recreational facilities such as parks effectively

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Kuala Lumpur City Hall to use the 2010 allocation of RM58.67 million to develop recreational facilities such as parks effectively.

Dr Tan looks at the KL City Hall's 2010 allocation for development of parks, football fields and planting of trees. He visited the wild vacant land in Jinjang South this morning.

The 2010 KL City Hall budget is RM2.1 billion including RM 1.1 billion operating expenditure and RM 1.0 billion development expenditure like RM RM58.67 million to develop public parks, toilets, playgrounds, park equipment, public vacant land, football fields and planting of trees.

Last year, the City Hall allocated RM100 million for maintenance of public parks and related facilities and RM15 million for creating new parks. Where did the money go? This caused controversy.

We have reminded the City Hall to give full account of various expenditure such as the 2010 development expenditure of RM 1.0 billion. It must improve the tendering and the supervisory systems.

It can use the allocation for recreational facilities to beautify the public vacant land at Jalan Jambu Jerteh, Jinjang South. To prevent irregularities, it must improve supervision of projects.

The Jalan Jambu Jerteh vacant land was beautified by the City Hall over 20 years ago. A few years later, a company encroached on the land, fencing it up and putting cars and other things in the enclosure. It destroyed the place. Apparently, this company had political backing. Despite public complaints, City Hall could do nothing. The public were disappointed.

Recently, the political backer of the company is no longer in power. The company reluctantly vacted the vacant land, leaving shrubs behind.

The City Hall has surveyed the vacant land to apply for it to be gazetted. We have requested the City Hall to rehabilitate the vacant land.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw