Housing schemes, buildings and shophouses in various states of completion and dilapidation – covered with moss, overgrowth and graffiti – dot the quiet landscape.

Hulu Selangor assemblyman Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan said many of the projects had been abandoned for more than 10 years.

He singled out Bukit Sentosa, which was to have become a hive of economic activity that was meant to help transform Hulu Selangor into a commercial hub.

“It was supposed to be an industrial area for businesses related to the transport and retail sectors,” he told FMT.

Nadzari wants the commercial projects revived in Bukit Sentosa so that job opportunities will be created not only for the people of Hulu Selangor, but others from beyond.

He said it would also keep the younger generation from leaving the district for the cities.

“There will be more opportunities for the youth and there will be less migration.”

The abandoned housing projects, meanwhile, need to be revived for the sake of the purchasers.

“The state government must find a way to help the purchasers who have waited a very long time for their homes.

“Some of the purchasers have died waiting, while others are servicing bank loans for homes that will not be built.”

Nadzari said he had raised the issue of abandoned projects with former menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim at the state assembly in 2014.

“I don’t know how seriously the state government views the matter. The state administrator should be proactive and come up with a solution for the purchasers.

“I will raise this issue again with Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali.

“If he is sincere, he should answer the questions on the abandoned housing projects.”

Nadzari said such abandoned projects could also be found in Kampung Koskan, Batang Kali, Bukit Sentosa, Sungai Buaya, and Taman Rasa.

More than half of the abandoned housing projects in the country are located in Selangor, according to the urban wellbeing, housing and local government ministry.

Its minister, Noh Omar, has blamed Selangor’s high land premium for the large number of abandoned projects in the state.

A resident, who wished to be known only as Ramli, complained the abandoned projects in Bukit Sentosa were an eyesore.

“We don’t know what is being done to revive the abandoned projects here. We hope that no illegal activities are taking place in these buildings.”

Khadijah Ismail, who lives near Hulu Rening, urged the authorities to do something about the housing project in her neighbourhood.

“The project has been abandoned for years. It doesn’t affect us but it is very unsightly with shrubs growing everywhere.”