BUKIT BERUNTUNG: While they have seen some improvement, the residents here blasted the Hulu Selangor District Council for not tackling many of their major complaints.

During a meeting with the council, the president of the residents association said they might take to the streets if their grouses were not looked into.

Augustin Maria Dasan chaired the meeting with council president Tukiman Nail.

Dasan began gently by saying: "We would like to thank the Bukit Beruntung police station for their quick action in shutting down the illegal scrap metal shops in our area and the council for cutting the grass on some of the road dividers. We would also like to congratulate Indah Water Konsortium for working on the septic tank problem."

Then he criticised the council over the poor condition of the roads, saying that the numerous pot-holes could be deadly.

The response from the Hulu Selangor Roads Department representative failed to sooth tempers.

He said the matter was not critical, and it would be attended to soon.

"They don't use these roads. They do not live here. Many accidents have taken place. The roads are bumpy. Even if you slow down, the impact is great because of the uneven surface. Our car suspension systems wear out fast. Aren't we paying taxes ? Why can't we have safer roads?" said Dasan.

District health director Dr Cheong Beck Koon said his team was trying curb the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes.

He said they faced an uphill task because many of the roofs of the flats were broken, creating ideal breeding grounds.

"We can fog areas that are accessible, but sometimes our men put their lives in danger climbing on the rooftops to fog," he said.

"And if there is an outbreak in the city, the people here are also affected because many travel there daily."

He also addressed concerns over water safety, saying that samples were tested from time to time and they have been found to be up to health standards.

Tukiman appealed to the residents to be patient.

"We are working on these problems in stages. I appeal to the residents to be patient."

But the residents' patience is wearing thin.

"We have waited for many years, and if matters aren't resolved, we will hold street demonstrations to make the authorities understand our sufferings. Most of us have invested our retirement funds in houses here and we feel cheated.

"The lack of maintenance has caused property value to depreciate," said Dasan.