Making Subang Jaya Truly Number One

Subang Jaya residents are highly discerning, yes? We are demanding, yes? We want the very best for our city, correct?

And rightly so. The Subang Jaya pride is strong. We have the potential to be one of the best cities in the country. From infrastructure to community spirit, we have what it takes to be number one. But why are we not?

For every nice mall and cafe we host, we have hundreds of broken drains. We are well connected via LRTs and highways, but we have a thousand rats capable of powering a few hundred Cinderella-pumpkin carriages.

The harsh reality is that the basics of running a city is not met. Until we reach the gold standard, Subang Jaya is all about unrealised potential. Will our garden waste be collected on schedule, three times a week as promised, without us lodging complaints? Will trees be pruned periodically, before the branches terrorise pedestrians and motorists? Will equipment in public parks and playgrounds be routinely serviced and maintained?

Or do we have to lodge more complaints to SISPAA? Because we are very good at that. In 2024, MBSJ received about 30,000 complaints, making it one of the highest among local councils in the country. The 2025 figures were not made public, but can you hazard an educated guess if we improved?

Take a walk in SS15, Subang Jaya’s first commercial centre. As you head to your favourite bubble tea shop, stay attentive, as you may trip from uneven walkways at storefronts, or from a rusting manhole cover.

Fresh from your sugar high, let’s head to the back alleys. Here, you will be transported into a whole new world, where the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is in full swing. Drains are either broken or clogged, making it a paradise for rats. No matter how many Ops Tikus is carried out, the rat problem will not be resolved if the root cause is not addressed.

And early this year, there was an enforcement blitz against shops that built illegal structures along the back alley. Most of these structures covered the drains, making it impossible for cleaners to access the drains. There was some hype and publicity, and some of these structures were demolished.

But what happened since? How about the remaining illegal structures? Why did enforcement stop?

My understanding of the law is that the perpetrators will be slapped with the demolition bill, in addition to penalties. Therefore, while the initial cost is borne by MBSJ, the city council is reimbursed. Is it a cash flow problem, while waiting for the lawbreakers to pay up?

As for broken drains, I believe MARRIS funds from the Selangor state government could be utilised for this purpose. Perhaps MBSJ or our ADUN has applied for the funds, and it is being processed. Yes, bureaucracy can result in delays. But surely the application was made years ago, and not recently? Because these are legacy issues, and the drains did not just crumble this year.

For Subang Jaya to achieve its ultimate potential, we need everyone to be empowered and proactive. When we see an issue, the community comes together to demand for the very best. In this aspect, the collective spirit is strong in Subang Jaya. Community leaders, from Rukun Tetangga chiefs and local NGO heads to mosque, temple and church elders, are closely knit and form a strong network.

We speak to each other regularly, and share views on what’s happening on the ground in our respective neighbourhoods. We are aware if our police or Bomba friends need our support. And we want to make our city a better place to live in.

Subang Jaya deserves better than broken drains, rat-infested alleys, and endless complaints. We are not just another city in Selangor; we are a community of professionals, families, students, and leaders who care deeply about our home. The question is not whether we have the potential; the question is whether we demand that potential be realised.

The pride of Subang Jaya is not in our malls or highways, but in our people – discerning, demanding, and determined. If we continue to accept mediocrity, then mediocrity will define us. But if we insist on excellence in the basics — clean streets, safe walkways, functioning drains, well-kept parks — then Subang Jaya will not only be a city of promise, it will be a city of fulfilment.

The time has come to move from complaints to accountability, from unrealised potential to lived reality. Subang Jaya can be number one, but only if we, its residents, refuse to settle for anything less.