KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — Parliamentarians and political leaders are pushing for more action by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to better maintain the state of public housing in the city.
This comes after an office chair thrown from the 21st floor corridor balcony of Sri Pantai Public Housing's Block 102 landed on 15-year-old S. Satiswaran, killing him instantly.
Umno Lembah Pantai division chief Datuk Seri Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal, accompanied by deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Loga Bala Mohan and several other representatives from DBKL and MIC, was at the victim’s home this morning to offer condolences to the grieving family.
“What happened yesterday should not have happened. I will appeal to DBKL to find methods to inculcate into the residents the practice of not leaving unused items outside their unit corridors," he said.
“An example must be made of those who so casually chuck objects from such high vantage points. I will also ask DBKL to consider installing some form of barriers along the corridor balconies,” he said.
Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar was also present. She could be seen comforting Satiswaran's mother S. Kasthuri Bai in the family home.
“This is the culmination of what we have feared for so long. Over the past several years we have been visiting Sri Pantai once every few months, to check on things.
“This is one of the worst-maintained public housing in KL, with residential refuse irregularly taken out and public utilities in disrepair. But the biggest menace is and always will be people throwing garbage from the upper floors," Nurul Izzah said.
“I cannot begin to imagine how heartbreaking it must be for the mother. I will continue to press DBKL to better maintain Sri Pantai along with other public housing in KL.
“In particular it would be wise if safety nets could be installed on the lowest floor, covering the common areas as much as possible. That way if garbage is still being thrown, the nets can at least cushion the fall,” she said.
