Selayang council monitoring strays in Bandar Tasik Puteri after residents injured

The Star

29-05-2025

SELAYANG Municipal Council (MPS) has stepped up operations on stray dogs in Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang, following two recent incidents.
On May 2, a teenager was injured after falling while fleeing a pack of stray dogs.
Then on May 10, a woman was bitten while exercising near her home.
'We have approached this issue with prudence after the first case,' MPS deputy president Az'har Samsuri said during the monthly full board meeting at Menara MPS in Bandar Baru Selayang, Selangor.
'MPS has increased patrolling to monitor for stray dogs in the area.'
He said the local council could not confirm if the dogs which chased and/or attacked the residents had been caught.
'We don't know for sure if the dogs in the incidents are wild or have owners.'
Between May 5 and 20, MPS carried out 14 operations which resulted in the capture of 40 dogs.
The animals were transferred to a shelter in Rawang.
Az'har said MPS encountered challenges during enforcement, including public interference.
'Some stray dogs that were in cages were released by the public,' he said.
'Some council officers were also provoked in the course of carrying out their duties.'
He added that some MPS officers encountered feeders who claimed to represent non-governmental organisations but did not show proof of affiliation.
'There are those who support this person feeding strays, and those who don't because feeding attracts more strays.
'We are trying to manage both sides,' said Az'har.
Some individuals, he said, had been feeding strays irresponsibly by leaving food on the road.
'This in turn attracts more dogs into the residential areas.'
On another matter, Az'har said MPS collected RM62.16mil in assessment tax this year, achieving 92.78% of its RM67mil target and recovering RM3.97mil in arrears.
He said digital payments made up 79.32% of April's collections, with over RM2.3mil in transactions recorded through the MyMPS portal.
These included assessment tax, business licences, stall rentals, permits and compounds.
Az'har said preparations were also underway for Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2026 as the MPS Stadium has been selected for the women's football event.
'MPS will be ready for Sukma by the end of the year,' he said in reference to new parking bays under construction, for over 300 vehicles, behind the stadium.
The stadium has undergone major upgrades in the past two years, including a RM7mil field refurbishment, RM800,000 scoreboard, new public announcement system and improved floodlights.
The municipal council also welcomed former MPS deputy president Datuk Cheremi Tarman as the new Orang Besar Daerah Gombak following his recent appointment to the post.
He has been appointed councillor for Zone 2 and will serve on MPS' finance, infrastructure, community and One-Stop Centre (OSC) committees.
Cheremi had previously served as Shah Alam mayor.