Residents within some areas in Kuala Lumpur are calling on authorities to act against irresponsible persons throwing construction debris and garbage from high-rises, leading to head injuries to passers and damage to vehicles.
The irresponsible act of throwing rubbish from the top of a flat in Jalan Kenanga, Kuala Lumpur resulted in a lady sustaining a head injury.
On 25 September, Yip Yoke Cheng, 48, was giving directions to a resident when she was hit by a broomstick that was thrown out of a window by a resident in Block C as she was passing by the Sri Sarawak flats.
“I was taken to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital by an ambulance, but I had to wait more than two hours to get treatment,” narrated Yip, who is from Loke Yew flats.
“The doctors told me the wound was already infected,” she said, adding that it took around three hours for doctors to clean the deep gash on her head which required 24 stitches.
Upon lodging a police report at the Pudu police station as well as the DBKL Zone 2 branch, Yip was told that the police could do nothing about it.
“The DBKL officers said people always throw things from their units and there was nothing they could do about it because they did not know from which unit the broomstick had fallen from,” the single mother of three said.
“I am highlighting this matter to raise public awareness to ensure such mishaps do not recur in the future.”
Leong Chee Yin, the representative of Loke Yew flats residents, revealed that garbage thrown out of windows of flats was a regular occurrence.
“Every day someone dumps rubbish such as diapers, food, and even sanitary pads from their windows at both the Loke Yew and Sri Sarawak flats,” he said.
“A resident got killed about 10 years ago because a knife had been carelessly thrown out of the window. The authorities say they cannot do anything because there is no video evidence; we have CCTVs in the area but they do not work.”
“All Yip could do is to file a claim with DBKL for the cost of hospital fees, and maybe for loss of wages during the period she was unable to go to work,” he added.
Lindawathi K. D. Jayasingha, a resident of Sri Sarawak flats Block C, said those living at her block are known for throwing dangerous objects.
“It happens throughout the day from morning to night, where the residents at my block throw glass beer bottles and bottles of oil or other sharp things,” she said.
“Once a big knife was thrown out the window but luckily it hit a car and not a person.”
She noted that she had reported the incidences to the police as and when they happen, adding that it is the safety of the children that she feared the most.
The issue of irresponsible throwing of rubbish from high-rises was brought to light by Cheras MCA deputy chief Teoh Chee Hooi, who underscored the need for proper monitoring within the area.
“It comes down to the awareness of the residents in both Loke Yew and Sri Sarawak flats.”
“CCTVs also need to be installed to catch the culprits in action,” he said, adding that residents should also be educated on proper methods of rubbish disposal.
Mangalesri Chandrasekaran, Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email mangales@propertyguru.com.my
