Brief Visit Report to Sri Pulai Flats, Balakong, Selangor on July 21, 2013

At Balakong Sri Pulai Flats (Dato Ho- in the centre) with others

Visiting Team: Datuk Vaithilingam, Dato Siva, Mrs Jasmine, Ms Laura & Denison. Local host Dato Ho (0192218860-former Adun of the area) who runs a community tuition centre with a few NGOs (MIYC & EWRF)

Brief Background of the Flats

Sri Pulai flats has about 660 house units in four levels of walk up flats and 48 shop units. About 60 to 70% are Indian families with the remaining Malay and a very small number of Chinese families. The upper house units in the fourth floor are empty due to frequent robberies (thieves climbing though the roof down into the units). Many families have lost ownership of flats due to inability to repay the loans.

Based  on some simple observation the place looks much better than before in terms of cleanness. Local JMB has taken over the local maintenance.   

Chat with Dr Shankar & Mr Selvakumar

Dr Shanker (0122095218) is the Joint Management Board and local resident’s association chair. Mr Selvakumar (010 5282024) is the proposed RT chair and Chair of the Unity Kindergarten. Both run businesses in the commercial lots and Selva also lives there.

Selva said he has sent in all the details for RT registration. He has got 25 people as local RT both Malays and Indians. They asked for assistance to get this cleared with JPNIN and secure approval as they like their RT to be formally approved as RT and receive regular funding for local activities.

Visit to the National Unity Kindergarten

This was set up by JPNIN after our last visit (Datuk Vaithi, Mr Ganesan and DJ). There is a teacher (Puan Suriana), asst teacher (Cik Siti Nor) and 23 children of whom 7 are Indians. Parents contribute RM20 a month. Many of the Indian children go to a nearby private kindergarten as Tamil class is also conducted. Selva asked if we could assist in this area. Teacher said no funds and even in the case of Islamic class, parents have to fun this.

We were impressed in how the place looked with all the good materials and very professional outlook with 2 well motivated teachers. They seem to relate well with Mr Selva who is the local chair.

They have no electricity and water connection as the earlier bills were not settled prior to JPNIN setting up the kindergarten. Mr Selva brings water from his shop in buckets daily and they have some illegal electricity connection Unsettle bills for water and electricity is about RM4,000 to RM6,000

Dialogue with Dato Ho and local people at Tuition Centre

Many local issues were discussed but the focus was in five areas.  We were told:-

·         There are number of families with children who do not have documentation - formal registration-BC, IC and citizenship. As a result some of the children are unable to go to school

·         There are many families unable to secure Social Welfare assistance. They are poor and needy.

·         They needed volunteer teachers as the space was available for young people to come and study or use the tuition centre.

·         They have ideas for mentor-mentee program. For young people from local universities to come and encourage children and youths.

·         They like to undertake a survey of the families and gather basic info and profile of the basic needs

Further Action

We have requested local leaders to prepare the list of families with documentation issues and in welfare need. Mr Manium(016 97168152) & Mr Subra (014 6492035) get this within two weeks.

Dato Ho and Subra (014 6492035) will assist in undertaking the community survey and profile of every home

Mrs Jasmine will prepare family profile form, make copies and conduct a briefing session

Dato Siva will return with a team to organise documentation collection

Denison & Jasmine will secure the support of the Department of Social Welfare & Ministry of Housing and Local Government to review the social welfare and needs issues

Ms Lora will seek to find some volunteers to strengthen local tuition

Denison agreed to alert network friends and university graduates to undertake some voluntary service at this flats neighbourhood

Denison with alert JPNIN to process the RT formation and conduct a local community leadership session

The target to revisit this neighbourhood in two weeks’ time - possibly August 4 or 11, 2013. Ms Jasmine & Dato Siva will follow up with the assistance of Dato Ho and visit the local local people again.

Notes prepared by Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria

July 23, 2013

Update on Joint Community Project- INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT & URBAN COMMUNITIES

Brief Review 

 

As a follow up to our June 2, 2013 discussions we had six working groups discussing (between June 23 till July 7, 2013) specific areas of concerns. The data is being put together for our review. The issues raised and discussed are not new and so the discussions were similar to previous ones. We have managed to build partnerships and strengthen our networks. A small core team has emerged with some sense of wanting to work together for some common good.

In terms of monitoring delivery and impact various ideas were highlighted but the general principle is not to duplicate what others are currently doing especially by those in some formal positions in Federal, state or local governments or in special appointments.

It is emphasised that the approach adopted is not partisan politics but working with all groups irrespective of political, sub ethnic and religious differences. We affirm the need to build bridges and work with anyone who is in a position of influence and responsibility so as to ensure that the poor, low income and disadvantaged has a better opportunity.

Way Forward

 In terms of the follow up for the immediate we thought of approaching it not from the macro approach of the promises made and the delivery by agencies but by going to the ground to urban low cost flat or house areas and discuss with them on a range of aspects if they are receiving the info and have access to the promises made by Federal, state and local governments. It will undertake case studies in social mobility.

We will do a brief neighbourhood profile of the community and identify the local leaders who are residing in the neighbourhoods. We will identify local grassroots organisations and NGOs working with them. It’s a ‘bottoms up approach’ and not ‘top down’ in monitoring promises, delivery and implementation. It is hearing the conversations from the affected people from the grassroots.

We will review current status including data, info and access to services using 10 indicators :-

·         Registration in pre-school and performance at primary and secondary schools

·         Access to skills training, MRSM, & post-secondary school opportunities

·         Poverty eradication program – ekasih registration & cases to 1Azam programs

·         Micro credit programs like Teku, AIM

·         Employment, unemployment and underemployment issues

·         Housing and local infrastructure issues – lifts, lighting, maintenances, garbage collection, play areas, basic facilities-community halls, place for religious activities, community halls etc

·         Crime, social ills, gang related issues and dysfunctional family issues

·         Participation in youth based activities – games, social clubs, cultural programs

·         Neighbourhood relations with other ethnic and religious communities

·         Participations in local government matters including residence association, RT etc

Local Field Visits

·         Sri Pulai Flats, Balakong on July 21, 2013 at 4.30pm

·         Taman Sentosa, Klang and Simpang Lima Tamil School, Klang on July 28, 2013 at 4.30pm

Notes by Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria (July 21, 2013)