MBSJ councillors ask for deadline extension

WITH the deadline for Subang Jaya Smart Vibrant Community Grants (SJSVCG) 2023 applications approaching, the city’s councillors are appealing for a deadline extension to allow those whose applications were previously rejected, to revise and resubmit their proposals.

They are also urging Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) to be more transparent in the vetting process and to provide clarity on the application requirements.

“It is a question of integrity and lack of details in the grant applications,” said Zone 2 councillor Lee Jen Uyin.

“Applicants complained that the application guidelines were vague on certain aspects and asked why their applications were rejected if they had fulfilled what was required.

“Many of them had their applications rejected at the first stage, so they didn’t get to present their proposals.

“All applicants should be given a chance to present so the vetting committee can better understand their proposals,” said Lee.

Since the SJSVCG was just introduced this year, he said hiccups could be expected but hoped that MBSJ would fine-tune the application process and vetting system.

Zone 16 councillor George Yap suggested that MBSJ councillors be allowed to sit in as observers during the SJSVCG committee meeting and selection session, to which Subang Jaya deputy mayor Mohd Zulkurnain Che Ali verbally agreed to.

The SJSVCG 2023 application was one of the issues raised at MBSJ’s full board meeting on Thursday.

SJSVCG offers grants totalling RM3mil for community-oriented projects that fall under any of the six criteria, which would improve and uplift the city.

It is open to resident groups, non-governmental organisations and educational institutions to carry out a project or activity that involves community participation towards making Subang Jaya a sustainable city.

The initiatives should be based on concepts involving communication, education and public awareness, services, research and study or networking.

The grant offers between RM8,000 and RM50,000 per project. The application deadline is July 31.

MBSJ Corporate and Strategic Management Department director Muhammad Azli Miswan, whose department is handling SJSVCG, said the committee was scheduled to meet after the full board meeting, and would discuss issues raised by the councillors.

“Applicants need to understand the rationale for this programme, which must have a positive impact and can benefit local communities in the long term,” he said.

“Some groups from educational institutions are taking this opportunity to apply to fund their own projects that are unlikely to benefit the local community, or for irrelevant aspects such as staff allowance and accommodation.”

Muhammad Azli said the programme should be something sustainable that could benefit a community under MBSJ’s areas, such as a community garden or training for people with autism.

“We have to be mindful of how the funds are used because these are ratepayers’ monies. Not all grant applicants will get the full amount they applied for.

“We rejected a number of applications for various reasons. Some projects were profit-oriented, had high financial implications, only had one-off impact or were overlapping with state government initiatives,” he elaborated.

After the meeting on SJSVCG was held, Muhammad Azli said the July 31 application deadline would remain.

Meanwhile, Mohd Zulkurnain announced that a number of MBSJ staff would be involved in the upcoming state elections, with four senior officers including himself serving as returning officers.

Four community halls under MBSJ’s purview will be used during the state elections and will be temporarily closed until Aug 31.

The four halls are: Stadium MBSJ Serdang Jaya, Dewan Serbaguna MBSJ Puchong Indah, Dewan Serbaguna MBSJ Kinrara BK5 and Dewan Serbaguna Kompleks 3K Subang Jaya.