Story by Victor Seow
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
THANKS to the initiative of Sungai Pinang assemblymember Lim Siew Khim, the Taman Jelutong Jaya Community Hall has been turned into the Sungai Pinang Youth Community Centre to be more purpose-driven and be able to serve the local community in more meaningful ways.
Speaking to the press during its official launch on Dec 15, Lim commended the joint efforts and cooperation of the local community who were determined to turn the once “black area” into one which is people-friendly and beneficial for common use.
“We are now conducting free tuition classes, ukulele lessons and also art lessons in this community centre. Just a year ago, this place was dirty, dark and smelled bad. No one even wanted to be near it as it was then a place where drug addicts hid or gathered,” she said.
“The complete makeover has resulted in a place which is people-friendly and where various healthy activities can be carried out. Negative aspects which were once associated with this place will be a thing of the past once the local community maximises its use,” added Lim.
The event coincided with an early Christmas Dinner organised for the folks of Taman Jelutong Jaya at Lorong Perak.
Also present were Sungai Pinang penghulu Khalid Zakaria and committee members of the West Jelutong Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK).
“The folks here are mainly from the lower income group. They are acutely aware that only be means of education, they can uplift their social station. Besides this youth centre, free tuition classes are also provided at the Jalan Sungai People’s Housing Project (PPR), Mutiara Idaman 1 and at my service centre,” she added.
At the time of writing, more than 100 students of Taman Jelutong Jaya are reaping the benefits of free tuition classes conducted at the youth centre.