The alarming state of SS15’s backlanes and drains has sparked calls from the community for collective action to reclaim the city’s oldest commercial hub.
Residents, business owners and regular visitors agree on one point: SS15 cannot be left to slide further into neglect.
“It’s heartbreaking. I grew up coming here for food and tuition classes. Now when I walk these lanes, the smell is unbearable, and the rats run freely,” said CK Lim, an accountant and a long-time Subang Jaya resident. “We keep our homes clean to fight dengue, but what about here? The risk is just as high.”
Shop operators also admit change is necessary. “We want more customers, but if the backlanes look like dumps, who will want to come?” asked Amir, who runs a small eatery in SS15. “Some businesses don’t take responsibility for their waste, and it makes everyone look bad.”
For younger Subangites, the decline is both shocking and disappointing. “SS15 is supposed to be the heart of Subang. It should be vibrant, not smelly and dangerous,” said Saras, a foreign college student studying in SS15 who frequents the area. “We need proper enforcement and also cooperation from the shop owners.”
Community leaders stress that enforcement alone will not solve the problem. “It has to be a three-way effort – the council, the business community and the residents,” said a local Rukun Tetangga chairman. “If even one party ignores their responsibility, SS15 will continue to rot.”
The vision, however, remains hopeful. Residents imagine an SS15 with clean five-foot ways, flowing drains, and backlanes safe enough to walk without fear of rats or foul smells.
“SS15 deserves better. Subang Jaya deserves better,” said Lim. “But it will only happen if everyone steps up.”
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