KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 — The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will assign its enforcement personnel at the Saloma Link to keep homeless and vandals away from the new landmark in the capital.
Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad said problems pertaining to homeless people and vandalism often occurred at the tourist-focused areas that required enforcement action.
“We established several beautiful places in Kuala Lumpur but eventually that’s where (homeless) hung out. We need to address this problem as soon as possible and bring the homeless to the transit house,” he told reporters after the ‘Kenduri Rakyat’ event in conjunction with the Federal Territory Day celebration here yesterday.
The Saloma Link, a 370-metre pedestrian bridge connecting Kampung Baru and the newly-opened area near the Petronas Twin Towers (KLCC), was reported to have become a ‘victim’ of vandalism with rubbish thrown everywhere and turned into a new ‘nest’ by the homeless, only days after it was opened to the public early this month.
He said about 100 enforcement personnel would be assigned, on shifts, to monitor and patrol the pedestrian bridge as well as the nearby areas such as Jalan Saloma, Jalan P. Ramlee and Kampung Baru, apart from the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
Khalid said the damage had been repaired and urged the public to appreciate and use the public facilities well.
Meanwhile, in another development, Khalid also urged more private and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to come forward and participate in the People’s Housing Project (PPR) and Public Housing (PA) adoption programme in the capital.
He said thus far, seven PPRs and PAs were involved in the programme including the PA Negeri Sembilan and the PA Perak in Sentul.
The programme which began in December last year, aimed at providing comfort to the people living in the PPRs and PAs, thus addressing the social problems often associated with the areas.
“We encourage developers (and the private sector) with a project in Kuala Lumpur to participate in the programme where they will work with the resident committee members to create a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative and organise activities include tuition classes, motivation programmes as well as to provide facility such as multipurpose hall,” he said.
— Bernama
