Need to set up task force - The Star

April 20, 2008 by Yip Yoke Teng

PAKATAN Rakyat MPs in Kuala Lumpur have called for the setting up of task forces to attend to three main issues plaguing Kuala Lumpur folks – cleanliness, hawkers and housing.

That was one of the points raised on the second day of the roundtable conference organised by the Federal Territories Ministry.

Bandar Tun Razak MP Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim told reporters during the tea break of the closed-door conference that they hoped these three problems could be resolved in two months.

“For cleanliness, the task force should find out what is the best way to tackle the problem in the city, assess privatisation arr-angements and look into the cleanliness of drains.

“Hawking is a main problem. There are 70,000 licensed traders in Kuala Lumpur and 100,000 unlicensed ones. The task force has to find a way for them to earn a living without creating public nuisance. Housing is another long-standing matter. Some city folks are still waiting for a place to stay after 20 years,” he said.

He proposed FT Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique to be member of the task force for cleanliness alongside eligible MPs, as privatisation of waste collection would involve discussion with the Federal Govern-ment.

He also proposed that Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai to manage the task force for hawker issues alongside MPs as well as officials from the FT Ministry and Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and the mayor to manage the task force for housing issues with MPs and officials from the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

Batu MP Tian Chua urged City Hall to extend the Draft Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2020's public viewing period from six weeks to six months. The plan is scheduled to be exhibited on May 15.

“The period is too short. The public need time to find consultants, speak to the residents associations and come out with alternatives as the plan has great implications on the development of Kuala Lumpur in the next 50 years,” he said.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said there was room for the MPs to voice problems in their respective areas, but commented that it was rather one-sided as they did not hear the views of Barisan Nasional MPs, including Labuan MP Datuk Yusoff Mahal and Zulhasnan himself, who is Setiawangsa MP.

“It showed the FT Ministry and City Hall's preparedness in listening to our views and suggestions, but nevertheless, we want to see results.

“We want permanent solutions to the matters we raised, not short-term measures,” she added.