DBKL to exercise more control of community halls

KUALA LUMPUR (March 11): The Federal Territories Ministry has initiated a move to legalise and standardise all multipurpose and community halls within the Federal Territory for better safety measures.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) Kepong branch community development and urban well-being regional manager Ahmad Ibnu Sina Termizi was quoted telling The Star that these halls do not have a proper system in place to run.

“For example, certain organisations are asked to collect funds to repair the damage at some halls,” he said, adding that there are 20 halls around the capital, ranging from those built on DBKL land, reserve land and government land.

Some community representatives attended a meeting to discuss the takeover and informed DBKL that the activities carried out in these halls consist of mainly dance classes, Al-Quran recitals and badminton matches.

Persatuan Warga Berida Jinjang Kepong and Batu Caves chairman Hai Ah Hong said: “It is good that they are informing us about this issue. We were worried at first that they would take away our halls, but DBKL will provide us better ones.”

Gabungan Persatuan Penduduk Kepong chairman Loh Kok Wai urged DBKL to fix the structural damage on some of the halls which have existed for many years.

Kepong Community Service Centre head Yee Poh Ping said 20 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are in charge of updating DBKL with information regarding the halls.

“The NGOs need to state the current activities that are being held at their halls, and the amenities that need upgrading,” he stated, adding that he hopes DBKL will allow the associations and NGOs a free  hand in managing the halls.