Ipoh has been declared the country’s cleanest city by the Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government on August 14, 2017. Notwithstanding this distinction, rubbish and illegal dumps are aplenty, nullifying the beauty of the city. The attitude of Ipohites is partly to be blamed.
A car park, in between Taman D.R. Seenivasagam and Waller Court Flats, in downtown Ipoh, is slowly but surely becoming an illegal dumpsite with rubbish strewn all over the place.
If left unchecked there is a possibility that the spot will become a mosquito-breeding ground, in view of the wet season now. The uneven ground has resulted in many water puddles, a favourite target for mosquitoes.
Muhammad Farid, 38, a Waller Court Flats resident, told Ipoh Echo that the car park has been in such a deplorable state for the past six years.
“We’ve made several complaints to Ipoh City Council but to no avail. What worries us most is the mosquitoes.”
Parents would park their cars there while waiting for their children studying at the Coronation Park primary school nearby.
Housewife Salbiah Ahmad, 40, whose children study at the school, parks her car at Taman D.R. Seenivasagam instead.
“The irresponsible finds it convenient to dispose rubbish such as garden waste, used furniture, plastic bottles and polystyrene containers over the years. City Council should clean the place. If they can conduct gotong royong at other locations why not here?”
The car park was built for the Waller Court Flats occupants. However, due to safety reasons, they prefer to park their cars elsewhere.
S. Bhavani, 45, expressed fears that the car park would become a target for the unsavoury element.
“People pass through the car park daily to get to Taman D.R. Seenivasagam. City Council should not neglect their responsibility. They should visit the area and see things for themselves,” she remarked.
The council’s inaction is hurting the public, especially parents who use it for the convenience of their school-going children.
Nabilah Hamudin
