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E3

Sherilyn Pang
Sherilyn Pang

The document discusses flooding issues facing the Balakong Jaya Industrial Park. It notes that 270 factories contribute RM500 million annually to the GDP but flooding prevents greater economic growth. The flooding occurs due to the lack of a proper drainage system, which has been approved in the master plan but not constructed due to an unyielding railway company and factory owner. The local association represents 270 factories and has funds to develop infrastructure, but requires support from authorities to resolve the drainage issues hampering development.

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responsibility of overseeing the essential development of Balakong Jaya. At Balakong Jaya, we have about 270 factories, 90% of which are SMEs that occupy between 1 and 10 acres of lands. These factories are small and large in sizes and are involved in the steel and metal manufacturing, furniture, coach-building and recycling businesses, among others, Ow revealed. In a year, these industries from Balakong Jaya alone contribute about RM500million to the national GDP per annum. But because we are still facing all these flood problems, we are not able to go beyond that, he said, adding that the persisting floods have contributed to more unnecessary problems than the industrialists would have anticipated. Bottle-neck situation According to Ow, the recurring floods stem from the absence of a proper mon- soon drainage system, caused by certain quarters that are reluctant to comply to the pleas of the association. The main reason why this is not solved yet is because there is a land belonging to Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) that is obstructing the construction of a drainage system that has been approved. In order for the floodwaters to flow smoothly into the river, this drain will have to cut across the railway tracks from beneath and continue its flow out of our area, Ow elaborated. Until now, there has not been any response from KTM to allow the construction of the drain on that piece of land, he said. Ow elaborated further that the master layout plan for Balakong Jaya Industrial Park which will effectively develop the entire area had been passed and approved by the Kajang District Council (MPKJ) and the Jabatan Kerja Raya Malaysia(JKR) since 2006. It is now ready to be ex- ecuted. However, the unyielding attitude for self-interest of some entities is deterring progress for the majority. Still, there is also one particular fac- tory owner whom we have been trying to persuade for years to set back his factory so we can construct the monsoon drain according to the masterplan, he continued, adding that the land on which the particular factory was built must be returned to the government to make way for authorised upgradation works. We have written so many complaint letters to so many authorities. The prob- lem has been brought up to the Majlis Perbandaran Kajang (MPKJ), the State and Central Governments, the Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) and the Depart- ment of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia (JPS). But now it seems like there is just no actions being taken, so we have no choice but to bring this issue to a higher authority, Ow said at the time of correspondence. Members ready to cooperate Ow, who is also the chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Balakong said its association members, all 70 of them out of the 270 of whom are factory (and land) owners in Balakong Jaya, are ready to cooperate with the authorities to resolve their dilemma. He also explained that within the association is a certain collection of fund that is kept for the purpose of infrastructure development of the industrial park. Our members have been very devoted in their support towards us to champion this cause. They are relying on us with the money they have put into the coffers of the association. We already have the finances now to carry out all the necessary development in Balakong Jaya, so what are we waiting for?, he expressed. Now, the government is asking for us to speed up our land legalisation process. We are very keen, yes. But right now, we need them to be on our side to support us, so that we can heed their call and move on to the next stage of development, he reveals. All in place, but stuck He said each time there is heavy rain in Malaysia, the industrialists dread the possibility of facing losses, while thousands of others in the nearby residential areas are also affected. It is, therefore, my responsibility to ensure that this gets resolved immediately because so long as this continues, people might lose hope towards this place as they helplessly watch other people advance ahead of Balakong Jaya, Ow pronounced. Everything is already in place. Now we only need to get these people to start moving, he concluded. E 03FEBRUARY 7 - FEBRUARY 20, 2015 Each time there is heavy rain in Malaysia, the industrialists dread the possibility of facing losses, while thousands of others in the nearby residential areas are also affected. Newspaper articles featuring BalakongNewspaper articles featuring Balakong Jaya folk at drainage locationsJaya folk at drainage locations Key location points of BalakongKey location points of Balakong

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E3

  • 1. responsibility of overseeing the essential development of Balakong Jaya. At Balakong Jaya, we have about 270 factories, 90% of which are SMEs that occupy between 1 and 10 acres of lands. These factories are small and large in sizes and are involved in the steel and metal manufacturing, furniture, coach-building and recycling businesses, among others, Ow revealed. In a year, these industries from Balakong Jaya alone contribute about RM500million to the national GDP per annum. But because we are still facing all these flood problems, we are not able to go beyond that, he said, adding that the persisting floods have contributed to more unnecessary problems than the industrialists would have anticipated. Bottle-neck situation According to Ow, the recurring floods stem from the absence of a proper mon- soon drainage system, caused by certain quarters that are reluctant to comply to the pleas of the association. The main reason why this is not solved yet is because there is a land belonging to Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) that is obstructing the construction of a drainage system that has been approved. In order for the floodwaters to flow smoothly into the river, this drain will have to cut across the railway tracks from beneath and continue its flow out of our area, Ow elaborated. Until now, there has not been any response from KTM to allow the construction of the drain on that piece of land, he said. Ow elaborated further that the master layout plan for Balakong Jaya Industrial Park which will effectively develop the entire area had been passed and approved by the Kajang District Council (MPKJ) and the Jabatan Kerja Raya Malaysia(JKR) since 2006. It is now ready to be ex- ecuted. However, the unyielding attitude for self-interest of some entities is deterring progress for the majority. Still, there is also one particular fac- tory owner whom we have been trying to persuade for years to set back his factory so we can construct the monsoon drain according to the masterplan, he continued, adding that the land on which the particular factory was built must be returned to the government to make way for authorised upgradation works. We have written so many complaint letters to so many authorities. The prob- lem has been brought up to the Majlis Perbandaran Kajang (MPKJ), the State and Central Governments, the Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) and the Depart- ment of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia (JPS). But now it seems like there is just no actions being taken, so we have no choice but to bring this issue to a higher authority, Ow said at the time of correspondence. Members ready to cooperate Ow, who is also the chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Balakong said its association members, all 70 of them out of the 270 of whom are factory (and land) owners in Balakong Jaya, are ready to cooperate with the authorities to resolve their dilemma. He also explained that within the association is a certain collection of fund that is kept for the purpose of infrastructure development of the industrial park. Our members have been very devoted in their support towards us to champion this cause. They are relying on us with the money they have put into the coffers of the association. We already have the finances now to carry out all the necessary development in Balakong Jaya, so what are we waiting for?, he expressed. Now, the government is asking for us to speed up our land legalisation process. We are very keen, yes. But right now, we need them to be on our side to support us, so that we can heed their call and move on to the next stage of development, he reveals. All in place, but stuck He said each time there is heavy rain in Malaysia, the industrialists dread the possibility of facing losses, while thousands of others in the nearby residential areas are also affected. It is, therefore, my responsibility to ensure that this gets resolved immediately because so long as this continues, people might lose hope towards this place as they helplessly watch other people advance ahead of Balakong Jaya, Ow pronounced. Everything is already in place. Now we only need to get these people to start moving, he concluded. E 03FEBRUARY 7 - FEBRUARY 20, 2015 Each time there is heavy rain in Malaysia, the industrialists dread the possibility of facing losses, while thousands of others in the nearby residential areas are also affected. Newspaper articles featuring BalakongNewspaper articles featuring Balakong Jaya folk at drainage locationsJaya folk at drainage locations Key location points of BalakongKey location points of Balakong