Residents of Section 16, Petaling Jaya, Selangor are calling on the city council to take tougher action against gastrobar owners who continued to play music late into the night.
They called for the gastrobar to close because their sleep was affected and pleas to the owner to turn off the music were unsuccessful.
About 25 affected residents of Section 16 had also signed a petition of complaints against Gastrobar for causing noise in their neighborhood.
A resident who requested anonymity said the problems started about two months ago when the recently opened gastrobar played music at 11:30 p.m.
“The noise was so loud that I could hear it from inside the house.
“One of my worst experiences was at 1:15am when I felt the gastrobar playing music and the awning and windows vibrating,” she complained.
A resident complained about the noise through the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MBPJ) e-aduan portal on July 16 and July 18 after her requests to the gastrobar owner to turn down the music were ignored. He added that he had filed a formal complaint.
“We filed a police complaint and authorities checked the premises, but the loud music continued after they left.
“MBPJ officials also checked the bar and issued a subpoena, but the matter remained unsolved after a month,” she said.
Cake artist Marina Miou, 41, said her family was affected by the noise.
“My son-in-law’s and son-in-law’s rooms face the restaurant, so you can hear the noise when you go to bed.
“Sometimes it can last until 3am and you can clearly hear the music beat at night when you switch off the TV.
“I’m a light sleeper, so music disturbs me, especially on weekends,” she said.
When contacted, Section 16 councilor Chang She Yun confirmed that MBPJ had issued a subpoena to Gastrobar.
“The council is also in the process of investigating and monitoring gastrobars,” she said.
The Gastrobar owner, who declined to be named, said he was in the process of soundproofing the place.
“We have no information about residents complaining. Only one complained to us,” he said.
A MBPJ spokesperson said the council had canceled the ‘Kad Akuan Premis’, which had allowed recreational activities at the facility, on Aug. 19 when contacted.
Kad Akuan Premis is a card that allows the holder to perform entertainment activities for a period of 3 months pending entertainment license approval.
“The facility violated licensing guidelines to operate beyond the permitted 1:00 a.m.
“At the same time, the council also issued an arbitration for the crime,” he said.
However, the spokesperson added that the owner was allowed to operate the restaurant because the establishment had a temporary establishment license.
When StarMetro visited the complainant’s home at 10:30 pm on August 12, they heard music coming from inside the house.
On the same day, three staff members from MBPJ’s Department of Health Service and Environment were also present to measure the noise level of the complainant’s house.
MBPJ followed Department of the Environment (DOE) guidelines for environmental noise and control, according to one of the board members.
“In the Suburban, Urban Residential and Mixed Development categories, the permissible level after 10pm is 60 decibels.
“Initial investigations found the bar was over 60 decibels and a final report will be submitted to the department for further consideration,” he said.
