Residents of BSD bring down illegal ads

Monday September 15, 2008
Residents bring down illegal ads
By JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ


AFTER putting up with the many illegal banners and advertisements in their area for years, the residents of Bandar Sri Damansara tore them down themselves yesterday.

The initiative by the Bandar Sri Damansara Residents Association (BSDRA) was supported by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) which lent a helping help in tearing down the ads and banners.

About 20 residents and 10 MBPJ enforcement officers gathered at the area as early as 8am to discuss and delegate different groups to different areas of the township.

Do it together: One of the residents going up a ladder to bring down an advertisement on lorries for rent.

However the bulk of the activity was centred along the commercial areas of Persiaran Perdana and Persiaran Margosa where most of the ads were unscrupulously pasted or nailed to trees, lamp posts and TNB junction boxes.

They managed to remove more than 200 big and small ads.

BSDRA president Ravindran Raman Kutty said the residents had been putting up with the problem for 15 years although the MBPJ held cleaning up operations from time to time.

He said the banners and ads had been an eyesore not only to people who lived in the area but also to those visiting it.

“We clean it up but by tomorrow a fresh batch of ads will be up. We suggest that the MBPJ look into the matter seriously. The council should summon the owners by tracing them via the numbers advertised on the banners.

Cleaning up: MBPJ officers helping to dismantle the illegal ads.

“The problem can be curbed only if action is taken against these people,” he said.

Also present at the event was MBPJ councillor Chan Chee Kong.

He said the initiative by the residents was a good example on how to care for the neighbourhood.

“Such activity creates good awareness and sets an example for other residents associations,” he said.