Metal railing goes missing

Dangerous path: Morgan showing the metal railing and manhole cover which had been ripped off.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/6/23/central/11526279&sec=central (By S. PUSPADEVI & Photos by P. NATHAN, 23/6/2012)

Part of the metal railing along a pathway in Jalan Udang Kepai, Taman Sri Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, has gone missing and is posing a danger to joggers and the elderly. Without the railing, joggers and the elderly using the path early in the morning might fall down the slope and into Sungai Keroh nearby.

A resident, Megat Merican, 49, said they suspect that the metal railing had been stolen by drug addicts. He said people had witnessed motorcyclists removing part of the metal railing and carting it away. “This is a public facility provided by the local authority and to remove it is an offence,” said Megat, who has been living in the area for about three years. He urged the police to increase their patrolling in the area to nab the culprits.

S. Morgan, 56, a resident of Taman Sri Segambut for 34 years, said they had brought up the matter to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the police on numerous occasions, but so far nothing had been done. “Why are they not doing anything about it?” he asked.

“They should not wait for somebody to get hurt before taking action,” he said. Morgan said manhole covers on the pathway had also been stolen and the surrounding area had not been well maintained. “About 50 manhole covers have been stolen in the past few months. A culvert runs beneath the pathway and each manhole is separated by a five-metre gap. “This is also dangerous for the public,” said Morgan, adding that DBKL should replace the manhole covers with wood as a temporary measure. “Sungai Keroh is also dirty with people throwing garbage into the river. We want the local authority to clean the river because it can cause flash floods during the rainy season,” he said,

He added that City Hall should maintain the area and clear the overgrown shrubs in the area.

A. Murugeshu, special assistant to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who was present at the site, said the local authority should act fast by replacing the metal railing and installing wooden covers as a temporary measure, apart from cleaning the river.

Lim, when contacted, said as the metal railing and manhole covers were a public facility, it was only appropriate for DBKL to take action. He said he would write in to DBKL on the areas concerned and seek their prompt action.