Teratai folk want traffic jam, maintenance issues tackled

IT WAS a shock to many when the March 2022 landslide in Taman Bukit Permai, Ampang Jaya occurred as it is not an area that is typically associated with soil erosion.

This is mostly because parts of Teratai, the state constituency in which it falls under, comprises ex-mining land which explains why the landscape is flat in most places.

However, there are also parts on higher ground such as Taman Bukit Permai and Taman Saga.

Since then, the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) and councillors tasked to oversee the area have been taking proactive measures to prevent future incidents.

For example, slopes in Taman Bukit Permai are being fortified, at a cost of RM1.4mil, to prevent further incidents.

MPAJ is also carrying out slope stabilisation works at four high-risk areas in Ampang Jaya which are expected to be completed in September.

Stadium MPAJ in Pandan Perdana is one of the newer infrastructure projects in the Teratai constituency.

The slope stabilisation project totalling RM5.9mil is funded by the Selangor government.

Other than the landslide incident, the Teratai constituency is generally problem-free.

At most, typical day-to-day issues such as traffic congestion and infrastructure maintenance are key talking points among locals.

KRT Flat Pandan Perdana chairman Rausi Suaidi, who has lived in Pandan Perdana since 1995, said everyone got along with each other.

“The infrastructure is mostly good, with only a few areas needing improvement,” he said.

“The Pandan Perdana lake could use some public toilets.”

He also hoped for a wet market catering to the non-Chinese community to be introduced in the area.

Rausi added that a plus point living here was the greater connectivity to and from the area, with the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2), Ampang–Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh), Sungai Besi Highway (Pandan interchange) and Duta–Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) within easy reach.

“The only gripe is that many of the residential roads leading out are narrow and they get congested during peak hours,” the 65-year-old added.

Taman Muda is a foodie’s destination with a wide variety of hawker stalls and restaurants wooing visitors near and far.

The Teratai and Pandan Indah state seats are parked under the Pandan parliamentary constituency.

Teratai has seen four different assemblymen over the past four terms.

It has not had an incumbent assemblyman since the state constituency was created in 2003.

The seat was won by Gerakan’s Yap Soo Sun during the 11th General Election (GE11) in 2004 but has been held by DAP since GE12 in 2008.

During the last general election in 2018, DAP fielded former Kajang Municipal councillor Bryan Lai Wai Chong who obtained 34,453 votes.

He won with a majority vote of 29,425 against Barisan Nasional’s Ben Liew Pok Boon who garnered 4,784 votes, PAS’ Irman Wahab (5,028) and PRM’s Jenice Lee (529).

The 2023 state election will see a straight fight between first-timers – Perikatan Nasional’s Datuk Chew Han Keai and Yew Jia Haur from Pakatan Harapan.

Chew is a businessman with experience in design and brand strategy while Yew is an MPAJ councillor and Federal Territories DAP public complaints bureau chairman.

If elected, Yew said he hoped to propose policy changes allowing for the redevelopment of old properties.

“There are many low-density residential buildings that can be rebuilt to accommodate more people,” he said.

“There must be a proper mechanism to make this happen.”

Chew, whose expertise is in design and brand strategy, wants to use his business acumen to bring improvements to Teratai.

“I’ve had roles in marketing and strategic planning for businesses. Mainly, my role was to elevate a company’s brand to another level.

“I hope to begin some tourism initiatives in Teratai if elected,” he said.

Teratai has 79,579 registered voters and is predominantly made up of Chinese voters.

It has 21,190 Malays (26.63%), 49,039 Chinese (61.62%), 6,489 Indians (8.159%), and 2,857 others (3.59%).