Stop taking over amenities, Ong tells Selangor Government

(The Star) KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor Govern-ment should stop taking over the management of public amenities that were established by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the local community.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat described such a practice is a form of oppression as the NGOs had put in place such amenities for years and it was unfair of the new state government to take over the management.

“I think it is time the Selangor Government stopped all this nonsense. Some of public amenities here were provided by NGOs.

“Not all amenities we have today were provided for by local councils. There is no justification for the local councils to take over such amenities or premises,” Ong, who is also Pandan MP, said after a family day and father’s day celebration at Pandan Lake Club here yesterday.

Even day care centres set up by the NGOs to assist single parents and amenities used by physically disabled people to learn living skills were not spared.

Ong added that if the local councils continued with such practice, it would lead to public uproar similar to the recent ruling by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council to impose RM50 registration fee on pasar malam traders.

The traders had complained to Ong and following a meeting on June 3, the Selangor state executive councillors decided to cancel the fee.

“Such action will certainly create chaos. We would like to ask them where is the justice?

“They continue to take over by force. I think there is no hope for this kind of state government,” said Ong.

Ong also said he would lend support to the Pandan Perdana Nature Lovers Society.

“I understand that the state government wants to take over the management of the cleanliness of the area through the local council after the local community had worked hard to maintain the area.

“This is a form of oppression that we cannot accept,” he added.