Due to that, some 220 households there have accumulated a host of problems ranging from lack of sewerage services, rubbish collection, grass cutting services and even street lighting.

However, with no basic services or maintenance provided in the area, the owners of the bungalows, double-storey and single-storey houses there only pay quit rent of RM40 to RM50 a year to the Kajang Land Office – they are 'exempt' from paying assessment.

This is something they tolerated fore mere than two decades, though they have raised the matter to the authorities, including the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKJ) Unfortunately, no one bothered to listen to their plight.

Yet, what the residents could not stomach was when they were given a letter from MPKJ early this year giving approval to a developer to build an access road along Jalan 6 for a new housing estate called Taman Kasih located about 300 metres away from theirs.

The letter also stated that the approval was for laying the pipes along the roads in question to channel water for Taman Kasih.

"How can an approval be given for these projects when the council itself have an agreement stating that the adjacent Jalan Sungai Sekamat, which is wider, should be used for the access road for the new housing estate instead of Jalan 1 and Jalan 6,"asked its Residents Association chairman Lt Col (Rtd) Akbar Khan Muhabat Khan ?

"All this while the council was least interested in knowing about the residents' problems, yet they had the audacity to not only give the developer the approval but expect us to give them co-operation on the matter."

He said they had warded off the developer's workers and enforcement officers from laying the pipes and digging the roads on several occasions.

"Although they grudgingly stopped, we were threatened," claimed Akbar, adding that they were concerned for the safety and well-being of the neighbourhood.

Akbar said the residents are quite tired of having to face sewerage problems that they have now made some realignment with the sewage flowing into the drains and rivers.

Another resident, Ismail Kamari, who's also the association's treasurer, said once the access road is completed, they expect more than 200 cars to ply their neighbourhood as Taman Kasih has about houses.

"There will be traffic congestion during peak periods in our area and once there is a jam, motorist will find short cuts through Jalan 3 and Jalan 4 to get out," he said.

Besides, the residents said it is unimaginable how their neighbourhood could be left without any party managing it.

"Obviously some party failed to follow procedures. Since we sense that some hanky- panky transactions have taken place, we urge the Anti-Corruption Agency to investigate."

In a meeting yesterday attended by some 50 residents at a makeshift shed near a surau, they submitted a memorandum on their problems to the Kajang State Assemblymen Dr Shafie Abu Bakar who promised to raise the matter at the State Assembly meeting next week.

"The immediate needs would be to approach Indah Water Konsortium to seek their services to address the sewerage problem in the neighbourhood," said Shafie.