By Ida Nadirah Ibrahim
IN December 2021, Selangor was hit by one of the worst floods in its history. For Kota Kemuning state assemblyman V. Ganabatirau, who oversees one of the most populated state seats under the Shah Alam parliamentary constituency, the flood was one of the greatest challenges he had to face throughout his 10 years serving as a people’s representative.
Despite the difficulties, along with the state government, the state representative stepped up to the plate and worked tirelessly to help those affected by the disaster.
“In the 2021 floods, about 60 per cent of the area in my constituency was flooded. People remember Taman Sri Muda as the worst hit, recording about 9,000 homes affected and 17 fatalities.
“But other areas in Kota Kemuning were also inundated, including Kampung Bukit Lanchong, Lanchong Jaya, Alam Indah, and Kampung Baru Hicom.
“The state government was on the front lines and had coordinated emergency response efforts efficiently. Since then, we have been on the alert every day,” he told Selangor Journal in a recent interview.
While facing the crisis he described as a dark history during his tenure, Ganabatirau, who also serves as the Socio-economic Development, Social Welfare and Workers Empowerment Committee chairman, said he was also dealing with a number of other issues in the constituency.
From urban development and traffic congestion to healthcare access, Ganabatirau was managing one of the most complex constituencies in the state. And while he has done his best, the former Kota Alam Shah state assemblyman said that there is still a lot to be done.
“Many think that Kota Kemuning is in Section 31 but it isn’t. Being under the purview of two local councils, MBSA (Shah Alam City Council) and MBSJ (Subang Jaya City Council), the area is vast, bordering Sungai Kandis and some parts of it include Kampung Bukit Naga, Bukit Rimau, Jalan Bukit Kemuning, Pinggiran USJ, Kampung Baru Hicom … there are three traditional villages in the constituency, namely Kampung Bukit Lanchong, Kampung Bukit Naga and Kampung Baru Hicom.
“Kota Kemuning is not a ‘rich’ area … there are a lot of B40 (low-income) households and low-cost residential houses, and it is home to a multi-ethnic society with a number of schools and houses of worship.
“I believe some of the pressing issues that need attention are the worsening traffic condition, the lack of public health clinics to cater to the large population, and the need for more secondary schools,” he said.
A tough job
In the upcoming state election, Ganabatirau expressed his intention not to run for the state seat. Instead, he plans to focus his efforts on the parliament constituency of Klang, which he was elected as a member of parliament in the recent 15th general election (GE15) as he believes he can have an even greater impact on the lives of his constituents.
“If it is up to me, I do not intend to run for the state seat as I would like to focus on the parliamentary constituency, as there is a lot to be done. However, I leave it to the party leadership to decide.”
While he does not plan to continue overseeing the Kota Kemuning state seat, Ganabatirau expressed his commitment to working towards a better future for all those who call the constituency home and hoped that his possible successor would render the best service.
“I hope whoever replaces me will be able to continue delivering the best service to the people because I must admit, it is not easy to be able to fulfil the needs and demands of all parties.
“Some of the matters that require continuous attention include the improvement of infrastructure, road and drainage maintenance, and flood mitigation, to name a few,” he said.
From major disasters to everyday issues, the difficulties Ganabatirau faced during his term have only strengthened his commitment to making a difference in the lives of those he serves and putting the needs of his constituents first.
As he prepares to move to new challenges, Ganabatirau feels he has done his best for his constituents in the most transparent manner and with utmost integrity, and he hopes that it will be emulated by others that come after him.
This article first appeared in the Selangor Journal monthly May 2023 edition, published on May 13, 2023.
