Relocate consulate, urge residents
THE STAR
Groups of Bangladeshis can be seen at the newly opened back entrance of the high commission.
HUNDREDS of Bangladeshis throng one of the premium addresses in Kuala Lumpur every weekday as their consular office is located in the neighbourhood.
The high number of visitors to the Bangladesh High Commission in Jalan U-Thant, where it has occupied the Rajaratnam Apartment since 2012, has resulted in enterprising individuals setting up stalls selling food and drinks, and freelance petition writers offering their service from the back of their cars.
Taxis also line these roads all day to drop off and pick up passengers.
The state of congestion and litter in the area is upsetting surrounding residents and they have lodged multiple complaints with the authorities including Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
During a check by StarMetro on a Wednesday morning, there were hundreds of the foreign nationals waiting in groups along Jalan U-Thant, Lingkaran U-Thant and the high commission’s back entrance facing Jalan Desa Pandan.
An affected resident, Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman said the area was zoned as residential.
“I understand that the high commission’s tenancy expired last year and the building owner had taken the matter to court.
“The judgement stated that the commission had to submit vacant possession but it had not done so,” he said.
Another resident, who declined to be named, said the residents had written to the Home Ministry, DBKL and Public Transport Commission (SPAD) after the high commission moved in but nothing had changed.
“Although we have never received a formal response from them, we do see DBKL and SPAD enforcement personnel visit periodically but it does not make a difference.
“We were told that the high commission administration had lodged complaints regarding the nuisance outside their premises.
“Sometimes the consulate office operates until late and we do not have peace even after a long day at work.
“This has to stop and the high commission needs to be serious about finding a more suitable location,” said the unidentified resident.
Seow Lun Hoo, whose back wall also faces Jalan Desa Pandan, said the “taxi stand” had shifted to this back road.
“The high commission should provide a proper waiting area for its nationals who have to wait long hours.
“Many wait under the sun, squatting on the five-foot-way while waiting their turn to deal with consul matters.
“Some of them have been seen urinating and even defecating at secluded spots in the vicinity,” said Seow.
Another resident, who only wanted to be known as Law, said the illegal hawkers had contributed to the rat problem in the area and consequently, there had been sightings of snakes because of the rat population.
“Some of these hawkers are using our rubbish chamber to store their trade items including food and drinks supply.
“They remove our rubbish and put it on the road side to make space for their things.
“Every morning, near Lingkungan U-Thant, we can see a hawker peeling a sack of fruits by the drain and juicing them to sell it later when the crowd comes in.
“Alam Flora comes twice a day just to clear up the mess,” she said.
She added that residents were also concerned as their security guards had witnessed fights breaking out among those milling outside.
Tunku Johanez Tunku Anuar said the marketability of the properties in the area had been badly affected over the last three years.
“I live in Villa U-Thant and over the last eight years, I have seen occupancy rate dwindle from 70% to 20%.
“Tenants who moved out cited the congestion leading to the apartments as one of the reasons.
“And there are no new takers for the vacant units because those who come to survey are put off by the situation outside the premises,” he said, adding that many other property owners in the area were in similar position.
“The taxi drivers who wait here are aggressive and do not give way, so we have to weave through between the cars.
“It is also quite dangerous because some of the gathered crowd step out onto the road suddenly.
“I learnt that the High Com-missioner has intention to relocate but has yet to find a suitable location. But the search has been far too long,” said Tunku Johanez.
Titiwangsa MP Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani, who visited the site last week, said there were many vacant commercial units in the city centre that would be good for a consulate.
“Some consulates operate in commercial buildings without problem.
“Perhaps the Bangladesh High Commission can rent a few floors in an office building to cater for volume of people visiting daily.
“There are various problems at the current location that require the attention of Wisma Putra, DBKL, police and SPAD. The authorities should not allow this situation here to persist,” he said.
