The caring hearts of Kajang

The Star, Saturday December 29, 2012

 

I have never asked for anything in return. I do social work because I want to help people and it makes me happy. - WENDY YAP

 

WENDY Yap, Persatuan Rumah Caring Kajang founder 

A well-known figure in Kajang, social worker Wendy Yap has been volunteering her time and dedication to serve the needy since her 20s.

In May 2004, she founded Persatuan Rumah Caring Kajang to lend a helping hand to senior citizens, the mentally challenged, single mothers with children, young unmarried mothers and drug addicts.

Rumah Caring has been occupying two units in Taman Muhibbah, Kajang, for nine years. It is currently home to 28 residents aged between 13 and 94, including six with minor depression and mental development problems.

Her selfless act has earned her recognition in the form of two awards — Best Social Worker Award in 2001 and F&N Outdo Yourself Award in 2009.

However, 2012 was a difficult year for Yap as Rumah Caring was ordered to move out by the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj). Two of its neighbours have complained that the home was “very noisy”.

Despite an appeal, support from nine other neighbours and support letters from four politicians, the council’s decision could not be overturned. MPKj has given Rumah Caring until May 14 to vacate.

Yap is now at her wits’ end on how to keep Rumah Caring at its current premises. Her New Year wish is none other than a miracle that will save Rumah Caring from the eviction.

Datuk Yap Pian Hon, Serdang parliamentary liaison officer 

Datuk Yap Pian Hon, who is the former Serdang MP, still keeps a close eye on the townships that fall under the scope of the parliamentary seat.

As the Serdang parliamentary liaison officer, Yap highlights issues and speaks out against decisions that he feels are incapable of solving the problems at hand.

He also draws from his vast experience of serving as elected representative and offers suggestions to tackle the issues.

In 2012, Yap continued to make his voice heard.

Among others, he pushed for the opening of 1Malaysia Clinic and polyclinic and called for the state government to resolve the water shortage in the state.

Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abd Rahman, Kajang Municipal Council president 

Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) president Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abd Rahman has spoken out on several issues concerning the municipality.

For example, on the issue of stalled development projects because Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) claimed that it does not have the capacity to provide treated water, Hassan announced that development projects in the Kajang municipality would go on with or without Syabas’ approval.

The president is also quite fair when it comes to allowing journalists to attend the monthly council meetings.

During one of the council’s monthly public complaints monitoring meeting, councillor Muhmad Hamidi Mohd Nazir raised the question whether the press was allowed to sit in and Hasan Nawawi decided in favour of journalists.

Another similar incident occurred last year when a journalist from a Malay newspaper was ordered to leave the MPKj fullboard meeting by councillor Mohd Sany Hamzan.

Mohd Sany claimed that the journalist was being unfair in his reporting of a recent event at a mosque.

“He only interviewed Dusun Tua assemblyman Ismail Sani and did not bother interviewing me even though the event was organised by the council and I’m the councillor for that zone.

Hassan Nawawi came to the reporter’s defence, stating that the publication had been quite fair in their reports.