THERESA Ratnam Thong, a new councillor with the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), is no stranger to Subang Jaya. In fact, she thinks her position is an extension of what she had been doing previously.
The only difference is that now she has been given the mandate to do so. Previously, she acted as a liaison committee member between the MPSJ and residents through the Residents Committee (JKP) Zone 1 to see to people’s grievances and ensure that services promised were provided.
But, with the recent re-zoning of the JKPs by the MPSJ from 29 to 24, each councillor now heads a particular zone.
Thong has been made the chairman of Zone 1, which covers Subang Jaya and Wangsa Baiduri.
“More guidelines have been developed on how we operate as a JKP,” she said.
“For this term, we are permitted to invite existing members to remain. There should be about 15 members who need to represent residents associations (RA), Rukun Tetangga (RT), the neighbourhood watch, or the business community.
“The majority of our members are staying on,” she said. “However, those who are not will work on sub-committees that will focus on various issues.
“I’m also looking at bringing in a police representative to sit in our JKP.”
Almost every other day, Theresa has to be at the MPSJ to attend meetings or look into issues. She said the administrative aspects were still new to her and she needed to be mindful of the procedures.
In the council, she sits on the finance and assessment, health and urban poverty eradication and the youth, culture and meet-the-people committees.
“I’m glad to have been roped in to the finance committee, since financial matters are something I’m familiar with,” she said.
Theresa is a certified professional facilitator and assessor with the International Associa-tion of Facilitators.
She is also the vice-chair for the association, which marks the first time an Asian has been appointed to the position.
Theresa has been running her own company with husband Terence for the past 25 years and she helps facilitate workshops, meetings, and dialogues.
“I’ve two types of routine nowadays,” she said. “If I have facilitating work, then I’ll be up by 5.30am, and then get back home by 6.30pm. Then, it will be time to respond to emails due to my international work and to attend to issues concerning the Lafite Apartments Management Corporation (MC).”
Previously, she was the chairman for the Lafite Apartments MC but has since handed over the post to a new chairman following her appointment as councillor.
When she is not facilitating, then she is up by about 7.30am to 8am to prepare for meetings at the MPSJ.
“Of late, new issues have started to crop up in Subang Jaya,” she said.
“For example, the influx of foreign students residing in houses that are converted into hostels. Residents have voiced their concerns on the time that these students keep.
“Then there is the perennial problem of traffic - an old but nagging issue.
“Once the new high-rise buildings are completed, and on days when Subang Parade is having sales, can the existing infrastructure cope?” she asked.
Theresa is hoping for more people to participate in resolving issues that are within her control.
“During a recent visit with the MPSJ, I saw rubbish strewn all over the place. No proper disposal bins are in place, and we are thinking of asking the council to make it mandatory for shop operators to properly dispose of waste or pay fines.
“I also hope to bring back the previous practice of checking for problems with the council and Alam Flora,” she said.
Theresa tries to squeeze in whatever little time she has left for cooking, which is her passion, and to go to church on weekends, and catch up with friends. “I also try to make it to Seremban at least once a month to visit my parents,” she added.
