SHAH ALAM, May 10 — The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) has made it compulsory for developers to install fences and drain covers in new housing areas to reduce the risk of accidents and drowning incidents.
Deputy Mayor Safriah Md Adzhar said the requirement has been imposed for construction projects in hotspot areas as a precautionary measure in the event of unforeseen incidents.
The local authority has also appointed contractors to install drain covers in other high-risk locations or areas identified as no longer safe for use.
“We have identified several hotspot areas and instructed the (MBSA) Engineering Department to install safety ropes as a temporary mitigation measure before repair works are carried out.
“Sometimes fences are damaged or tilted, so we need to take immediate action while waiting for the repair process, which may take some time,” she told the media after the SUKMA 2206 Torch Run at Dataran Kemerdekaan Shah Alam today.
On Monday (May 4), Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said that safety audits of high-risk drains would be carried out following two recent drowning cases involving children in the state.
Previously, it was reported that the body of Khairil Izani Khaizalullinudin, 10, was found on the banks of Sungai Buloh in Ijok, about 10km from where he was reported missing after being swept away.
Meanwhile, the body of Nur Qaseh Deandra Mohd Qayyum, nine, was found in Sungai Langat, around 11km from the location where she fell into a drain in Bandar Mahkota Cheras.
In another development, Safriah said MBSA welcomed the Federal government’s recommendation to reduce rental rates for premises and business stalls managed by local authorities.
All information relating to the matter had been submitted to the Selangor Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) for further action and coordination at the state government level.
“We have been informed that UPEN will coordinate this matter involving all local authorities in Selangor. The implementation mechanism will depend on further directives issued,” she said.
On Tuesday (May 5), Putrajaya directed that rental rates for business premises owned by government agencies and local authorities be reduced, effective this month, to ease the burden on small traders.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the move was made following rising goods prices that have placed pressure on traders and hawkers.
