By Sherilyn Pang
BUKIT Gasing covers a land area of approximately 11 square kilometres from PJ Sections 1 to 19, excluding Sections 3 and 4. It is home to more than 80,000 people, half of whom are senior citizens, and has a registered voter count of 44,000.
Nestled in the heart of Bukit Gasing is PJ Old Town, a much-loved township built during the British era of the 1950s and developed as an independent satellite city to Kuala Lumpur.
The oldest part of town has kept its charm amidst the newer bustle of city life, and two-term state assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran has devoted himself to providing the best and most innovative solutions to the people there.
Selangor Journal (SJ): What is the main industry in your constituency?
Rajiv Rishyakaran (RR): Bukit Gasing is a mature township with a fair amount of office and commercial buildings compared to most other constituencies in Selangor. What’s more interesting is the fact that due to its historical background, Bukit Gasing is a place where one can find traditional businesses, from food to hardware shops, run by senior residents. These bustling commercial areas contribute greatly to the state government’s revenue. More than 15 years ago, it used to boast a substantial amount of industrial activities.
However, these industries started relocating to other constituencies due to the appreciation of the land value. In turn, more people from the corporate and office sectors started moving in.
SJ: What is the main attraction in Bukit Gasing?
RR: We are blessed with the Bukit Gasing Forest Reserve that offers a natural environment to the township. We have large parks for sports and recreational purposes such as Taman Jaya and Padang Astaka. People love the parks. Altogether, there are 40 neighbourhood parks within the 11sq km area. At the same time, the potential of the place actually attracts many companies to set up their headquarters and offices here, thus contributing to the thriving atmosphere.
And most certainly, we are the centre of good food, with lots of options for traditional cooking to keep people coming back. Being the oldest part of PJ, one can find almost anything under our roof, so it is a merge of the old and the new.
SJ: What are the concerns raised by your constituents and how do you address them?
RR: Right now, the main problem on everyone’s mind is the economy. How are we going to bounce back from this Covid-19 pandemic? Potholes, drainage issues, or broken equipment are not exclusive to Bukit Gasing, but thankfully, we have less of them compared to many other parts of Malaysia. Our residents are demanding about getting things done the right way so they would highlight these issues instantly.
SJ: What are your achievements so far in your constituency?
RR: Bukit Gasing is an affluent township with residents who set a high standard for the services they expect from the local government. As such, they concern themselves with transnational issues like the climate change, which is why I had launched this campaign called the ‘100 Youth Ambassadors Climate Action’ to spread awareness about the problem. We are recruiting ambassadors, young and old, to join us and promote green and sustainable practices to the public to fight climate change.
Ultimately, the pandemic is still the biggest problem now and we are focused on helping people get through it by ensuring that the welfare of the people is not neglected. We contribute food aid and facilitate the transition to distance learning for students.
We also organised a laptop donation drive to help underprivileged students own laptops. Thankfully, many people responded to our call and came forward to donate their used devices which are still in good condition to fulfil the needs of these students. Additionally, we are assisting people to obtain business licenses so that they can run a side business to survive in these times.
We are also the first in the country to bring down the price of the Covid-19 test kits to enable more people, especially from the B40 group, access testing. Our RM70 for the Antigen Rapid Test Kit (RTK-Ag) initiative was unprecedented. We managed to pull it off and now, more state constituencies are following suit.
SJ: What are some of your problem-solving methods?
RR: When problems arise, we consult closely with the relevant government departments. It is imperative to figure out practical solutions for the government to cope with the issues as well. I would discuss the solutions with the departments concerned and try to accomplish what the people expect of us. Some problems take a long time to solve, while some only require one or two phone calls, depending on the circumstances of the cases and the ability of the relevant department to solve them.
In terms of funding for solutions, many things can be achieved by making the right arrangements and planning. We don’t always have to spend the government’s (allocated) funds to achieve an objective. Most of the time, there are other ways to achieve our goals. I am happy when I can solve problems and help bring positive change for the betterment of the people.
That is the fulfilling part of this job. Bukit Gasing may not be perfect, but we have been relatively peaceful.
This article first appeared in the Selangor Journal monthly March edition, published on March 1, 2021.
