Tony Yew demonstrates with bricks the solution to the problem posed by the SS18 LRT station at the recent residents’ protest near the station. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Robin Augustin, October 30, 2015. – See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/citynews/greater-kl/article/ss18-residents-protest-barrier-to-ss14-posed-by-upcoming-lrt-station#sthash.pkJM3d1p.dpuf
Residents of SS18 in Subang Jaya want Prasarana Malaysia Bhd to address a number of issues related to the new SS18 LRT station, which are making their daily lives difficult.
At a protest with about 30 residents near the station yesterday, SS18 residents spokesman Tony Yew said the group had been trying to resolve the issues with Prasarana and the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) for the last eight months.
Yew said the main issue was the construction of a barrier stretching over a kilometre along Persiaran Jengka, separating SS14 and SS18.
He said residents and schoolchildren in SS18 were now prevented from crossing over to the shops and two schools, SK Subang Jaya and SM Subang Jaya, in SS14.
“There is a pedestrian crossing at the LRT station, but it is inconvenient to use that crossing, especially for the senior citizens and the disabled.”
“For one, there is a security fence to deter outsiders from parking in the neighbourhood to take the LRT.
Yew said this meant that anyone who wanted to use the pedestrian crossing would have to walk at least 100 metres to one end of the fence to enter and backtrack to the LRT station.
Inside the LRT station itself, Yew said, presented another set of problems.
“There is only one escalator and one lift on one side of the station – the SS18 side. On the SS14 side of the station, there are only stairs.”
“How do you expect the elderly and the disabled to walk down the eight flight of steps to get to SS14 and then climb up the same steps to get back to SS 18?” asked Yew.
Schoolchildren, residents and workers at the nearby shops alike had resorted to climbing over the barrier to get to the other side, he said.
Yew said the residents want Prasarana and MPSJ to build elevated pedestrian tables at both ends of the security fence, which are entry points to SS14, so that everyone could cross over easily and safely.
“We are even prepared to fork out the money to build these elevated pedestrian tables, but of course we need to go through the proper channels to do this,” said Yew.
He said the next meeting between residents, Prasarana and MPSJ was scheduled for November 30, but the residents were tired of the long wait for the problem to be resolved.
“We have suffered all these months, how long more must we wait?” said Yew, adding that it was irresponsible of Prasarana to build the station without taking into account the needs of the local community.
Meanwhile, Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh said she had communicated the residents’ requests to Prasarana and was awaiting a response.
She said she would again raise the issues at the November 30 meeting.
“I ask all residents’ associations and neighbourhood watches, when conveying requests for their neighbourhood, to ensure that they are reflective of the community’s needs,” she said.
When contacted, Prasarana declined to comment and said a statement would be issued soon.
MPSJ has yet to respond to The Malaysian Insider’s queries at press time.– October 30, 2015.
selangoronline.com 
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