Ten neighbourhoods in KL receive an ‘A’ for keeping clean

KUALA LUMPUR (August 7): The Kuala Lumpur Cleanliness Blueprint was launched three years ago by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), and have awarded ten neighbourhoods a grade of ‘A’ for their efforts to maintain a clean and safe community, reported The Star.

Bangsar Baru (Lembah Pantai), Bandar Manjalara (Segambut), Medan Idaman Business Centre (Wangsa Maju), Laman Rimbunan (Kepong), Desa Tasik (Bandar Tun Razak), Wangsa Delima (Sitiawangsa), Kampung Melayu Kepong (Kepong), Jalan Universiti (Lembah Pantai), Taman Sri Kuching (Segambut) and Jalan Setiapuspa and Mont Kiara (Segambut).

Introduced in 2015, the rating system aims to empower communities, to partner with the local authority to keep the neighbourhood clean.

The daily quoted DBKL Health and Environment senior deputy director Abdul Rahman Ahmad who said specific areas within the 11 parliamentary constituencies in Kuala Lumpur would be selected for the cleanliness campaign.

Five elements determine the scoring of an ‘A’ grade — solid waste management and sanitation (40%), improving infrastructure (20%), environment (20%), empowering the community and application of the concept of the Local Agenda (LA) 21 programme (20%), reported The Star.

“We have done well since we started the campaign in 2015, and a trial run in 2012 for two pilot projects.

“There is certainly awareness from the community, but the only problem is community involvement, which is lacking a little.

“Getting the stakeholders involved is our biggest challenge to-date. No one wants to take the lead, to become a ‘champion’ in this,” Abdul Rahman said.

According to Abdul Rahman, the Bukit Bintang community led by Simon Leong have displayed exemplary efforts in keeping the area clean and green. 

Leong serves as chairman of Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee.

“We need more people like Leong, who takes the initiative and leads the community to take charge of cleanliness in their area.

“The only problem is that many are reluctant to take the lead.

“We don’t have many problems with residential areas, but the stakeholders in business areas are either indifferent to our efforts or simply don’t want to take responsibility,” he added, speaking to The Star.

This blueprint serves as DBKL’s Key Performance Indicator (KPI) and benchmark for cleanliness and beautification.

The different grades are – Grade A (clean), Grade B (moderately clean), Grade C (lacking) and Grade D (dirty).

The project comprises four stages and is slated for completion in 2020.

“We hope that by 2020, we have more responsible communities comprising residents, business communities and stakeholders who understand their role in community development,” he said.