BANDAR Sri Damansara is a unique township that is equipped with almost every amenity, including a dynamic post office. We, through the resident’s association, managed to secure this post office in the late 1990s, and our residents have been enjoying the services to date.
I was shocked to find out that the post office located at Jalan Cempaka 12/2 has been closed, and upon checking with Pos Malaysia, I was informed that this was a business decision.
I am simply disturbed by this sudden closure. The residents were requested to use Lotus’s Kepong post office. The reason why the residents of Bandar Sri Damansara wanted the post office was purely to ensure our residents did not have to drive far to secure the services. Today, we have to drive about 5km away to purchase stamps or do any transaction like paying bills, post laju, posting our letters, Road Transport Department matters, and ASN.
The association struggled so much to get the post office in our township, making it a reality in the late 1990s. We were certainly grateful for the kind consideration of Pos Malaysia.
If the reason behind the shutdown is just business, can this happen to the public transport system, water supply services, and power supply too?
Post offices are essential for providing universal postal services, ensuring that everyone, regardless of location or socioeconomic status, has access to mail and package delivery. With more than 70 thousand people in our township, we seek Pos Malaysia to reconsider its decisions for the following reasons:
Communication
They facilitate communication between individuals, businesses, and government agencies through the delivery of letters, parcels, and important documents.
E-commerce
Post offices play a crucial role in the e-commerce ecosystem by serving as pickup and drop-off points for online purchases, contributing to the growth of the digital economy, which we, the residents, have been enjoying all these years.
Mail and package delivery
They are essential for the reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages, which is critical for businesses, individuals, and government operations. We do not want to drive far for this service.
Government services
Many government-related services, such as tax filing, passport applications, and voter registration, are accessible through post offices, making them important for civic engagement for our residents. This is a great boon for our residents.
Financial services
We have ASN account holders who find the post offices provide very good financial services, including savings accounts and money transfers, though we are not so rural in nature. Our young and retired people frequently use these services at our post office.
Community hubs
Post offices are frequently used as community hubs where people can get information, socialise, and get help with various needs. We had a community notice board in the post office, which was very useful for informing our members about the activities of our resident association.
Emergency services
During emergencies or natural disasters, I am confident that our post offices can serve as distribution points for vital information and relief efforts; this could even be the case during a flood or pandemic. Our post office stood with us during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Elderly, vulnerable populations
Our township, which is 40 years old, is fast-moving into an elderly and vulnerable population that may not have internet access or digital literacy skills. Our post office remains a critical means of communication and service access.
In summary, the BSD post office is a critical component of communication, commerce, government services, and community well-being. Their closure and shutdown will undoubtedly cause a great deal of injustice and disservice to our residents. – September 18, 2023
Ravindran Raman Kutty was the former president of Bandar Sri Damansara, an active social worker, and an award-winning communications practitioner