Dusun Tua’s orchards beckon fruit lovers

The Star, Friday March 29, 2013

Among the townships in Dusun Tua are Bandar Mahkota Cheras (BMC), Bandar Sungai Long, Taman Suntex, Taman Cuepac, Pansun, Kampung Sungai Raya and Kampung Jawa.

True to its name (dusun means orchard in Malay), there are many orchards here and attracts visitors who want to feast on durian, mangosteen and other local fruits.

Situated here are the Dusun Tua National Youth Skills Institute, Sungai Long Golf & Country Club, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman campus in Bandar Sungai Long, and an orang asli settlement in Kampung Pansun.

Pansun is also spelled as Pangsun and there is also Kampung Kuala Pansoon in Hulu Langat.

BMC residents association chairman C.Y. Lim said the main problem here is traffic congestion.

“The congestion at the busy junction of Persiaran Bandar Mahkota Cheras 1 and the Grand Saga Highway affects motorists. It is a problem we face everyday.”

Lim said BMC is a new township, not more than 10 years old.

“More than 90% of BMC residents are Chinese. There are many eateries in the area offering a variety of cuisine to choose from. There are also many reflexology centres here.”

It was a bittersweet victory for road users and those who had campaigned for the Cheras-Kajang Highway to be free when the KL-bound Batu 9 and the Kajang-bound Batu 11 toll plazas along the Grand Saga Highway were abolished in March 2012.

One of the reasons that residents living in townships along the highway want the highway to be toll-free is to reduce congestion in their neighbourhood, caused by motorists who want to avoid paying toll.

Bandar Sungai Long resident Joe Liew, 36, chose to move here because of the greenery.

“However, now with rapid development, there are less green areas and monkeys, squirrels, monitor lizards and other animals now have nowhere else to go but into residential areas.

“The only positive aspect is that we now have bus services here.

“There is also an increase of foreign students,” she said. adding that residents were also worried about the increasing crime rate.

“There are many break-ins here and our Rukun Tetangga has set up a gated-and-guarded scheme,” she said.