BY YASMIN AHMAD KAMIL

Dumping ground: Rajiv says MBPJ has cleared the land near Jalan 18/19 in Taman Kanagapuram several times but the problem persisted. Photo: MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI

A PIECE of land near Jalan 18/19 in Taman Kanagapuram, Petaling Jaya, is in a sorry state with rubbish strewn around it.

Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran said the land was earmarked for a Tamil school by the Education Ministry (MOE) but people had turned it into a dumping ground instead.

He said there were no signs of construction and there had not been any development application sent to Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

He added that the lack of monitoring had led to the land becoming an illegal rubbish dumping ground.

Rajiv said MBPJ had cleared the area several times but the problem persisted.

“The ministry has not started the school project but it must take responsibility for the land,” he said, adding that there were still families living on the land, which used to be Kampung Muniandy.

When contacted, Petaling District Land Office assistant district officer Mohd Farid Shaharir confirmed the land belonged to the Federal Government and was reserved for a Tamil school.

Rajiv said he had written to Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan and was waiting for a reply.

He said residents hoped the area would be temporarily hoarded up or fenced off to prevent irresponsible people from dumping more rubbish at the site.

“The council has cleaned the area many times but people continue to throw rubbish here,” said Petaling Jaya councillor Raja Fairuz Raja Mazlan, who is also on the council’s committee monitoring illegal dumpsites.

She said it was costly for the council to continuously clean up the site.

She urged the landowner to hoard up the land.

Councillor in charge of the area, Tony Cheong Siew Thong, said the rubbish dumped here included tree branches and construction waste.

He said there were 12 houses currently occupying the land.

“There is a drain cutting through the land and it is in need of upgrading but the Education Ministry’s approval is required for the work.

“MBPJ is in the process of installing closed-circuit cameras in the area,” he said, explaining that the move would help them monitor illegal dumping.

In reply to a texted query, Kamalanathan said he was in the process of getting the information and would share it once he obtained it.