THE Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) announced today that it will undertake a clean-up and improvement project for the vicinity of the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves.

The initiative will involve cleaning and repairing sidewalks and drains on the temple’s land.

In a statement today, MPS revealed that it conducted a site visit to the vicinity of the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves.

The visit, prompted by social media reports highlighting the poor condition of infrastructure and cleanliness, especially just outside the temple compound, took place on January 14. Community leaders and representatives from the Gombak District and Land Office were present during the visit, said MPS.

It added that during the inspection, it was identified that the affected areas also included those not under its jurisdiction, and some were road reserves.

“In preparation for the upcoming Thaipusam celebration, MPS will take one-off action to repair and clean up the area, including fixing drain covers, cleaning the surrounding area, and improving the walkways.

“Under the National Land Code, MPS also requests the temple to carry out maintenance activities after the Thaipusam celebration,” MPS said.

The council also urged relevant authorities to maintain roads in areas outside government-owned land.

In a recent viral video, a social media user highlighted the poor condition of areas just outside the temple, including uncovered drains and broken pavement tiles. The walkways outside the temple were also found to be unmaintained.

Batu Caves is a major tourist attraction and is set to host the Thaipusam festival next week, expected to attract close to a million visitors over several days.

Last week, MPS announced an allocation of RM160,000 to manage waste outside the temple compound during Thaipusam

Workers hired by the local council will work round the clock to dispose of rubbish leading up to the festival on January 25. MPS anticipates around 400 tonnes of waste to be generated over this period. – January 16, 2024.