Justice of Peace revoked

The Sultan of Johor’s decision to revoke all Justice of Peace (JP) awards in the state is an applaudable effort to save the honour of titles given by the state.

The prestige of state-bestowed titles in particularly the JP must be maintained and the appointments should be confined to deserving individuals for their contributions to society rather than due to political connections.

Sultan of Johor gave a spot-on explanation on why the irrelevancy of JPs in today's society as there were enough legally-qualified magistrates serving in the courts.

Technically, a JP is a second class magistrate. However, many JPs are not legally qualified with some are even illiterate. Therefore, it is time for the people to understand that JPship are no longer relevant or needed to honour individuals for their contributions to society because there are many other titles for that purpose.

All heads of states should take the cue from Sultan of Johor by stop giving out JP awards with immediate effect. This is especially so since most rulers have stopped appointing JPs for many years. Johor has not appointed JPs since 1980, Penang (23 years), Pahang (12 years) and Selangor (11 years).
Lim Lip Eng

Peaceful demo held over eviction notices

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro (By TAN KARR WEI, 26/2/2011)
Batu Estate residents want the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to delay the demolition of their homes. A group of about 30 residents, led by Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and several top PKR members including vice-president N. Surendran, Batu MP Tian Chua, Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah and Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam, held a peaceful demonstration at the DBKL headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut.

The 38 families were issued eviction notices in January and DBKL enforcement officers and representatives from the developer Mayland Development Sdn Bhd arrived at the site on Feb 16. The residents had resisted the demolition and the DBKL said that it would delay the action for another two weeks.

Lim maintained that the DBKL should not have sent out the eviction notices because it was private land and, as a local authority, the DBKL should stay out of the dispute. Lim and Surendran were adamant that it was unlawful for DBKL to use the Emergency Ordinance to evict the residents.

“Why should the ordinance be used to evict these residents when the court has already ruled that they are not squatters?” asked Surendran.

“DBKL is using this to help private land owners and it will set a bad precedent,” added Lim.

The residents also prepared a memorandum to be handed over to Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail and wanted an reassurance that their homes would not be demolished. (DBKL) deputy director-general (development) Zulkifli Ibrahim received the memorandum on behalf of the mayor but could not give an assurance to the residents before discussing it with the mayor. Sivarasa, who also represented the residents in one of the court cases, questioned why the DBKL should receive a three-acre plot of land as compensation for the DBKL flats that the residents would rent.

Related news: Ex-estate workers protest at City Hall http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/157022

Bad roads and potholes are the bane of road-users

Less than perfect: Jalan Duta Kiara in Mont Kiara recently went through some roadwork but the bad patchwork has led to an uneven road.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro (Story and photos by FAZLEENA AZIZ and PRIYA MENON, 21/2/2011)
Almost everyone has a story to tell when it comes to the bad road conditions and potholes in the Klang Valley. Often drivers are caught by surprise as their tyres plunge into a pothole or when a smooth ride turns bumpy as they cruise along city roads. One of the notorious spots is Jalan Ampang, which is marred by uneven patch-up work and potholes. Adding to the problem are ongoing construction projects along the stretch, which brings heavy vehicles to one of the busiest roads in Kuala Lumpur. Other areas such as Ampang, Petaling Jaya, Sentul and Bangsar also have roads that need to be resurfaced and repaired due to the deteriorating conditions. Some are caused by utility companies that do no carry out proper resurfacing work after digging up the roads for repair works. Most councils require a deposit from companies before they are allowed to carry out any roadwork. If the council finds the resurfacing job has not been done properly, resulting in sedimentation on the road, the deposit is then forfeited. It has been reported that RM500,000 per kilometre is needed to carry out road resurfacing.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said the two causes for the bad road conditions in the Klang Valley were the old method of patching the holes as well as underground water leakage. “There are also contractors who take the easy way out to save money,” he said. However, there is not enough enforcement to check on the quality of roadworks. In his constituency alone, there are holes from digging work that have been left as they are for months, especially in Segambut Dalam, Mont Kiara and Hartamas.

Retiree Tan Lim Beng said the condition of roads were really bad, especially near his house in Cheras. “The roads have been in a bad condition for years and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is not pro-active in solving the issue,” he said. He said on a previous occasion, it was only after he complained to a newspaper about a pothole that DBKL called him to get details of the location and repaired it. He said the various local councils ought to have a special team to monitor and check on the condition of roads in the city and get potholes patched up before the public complained. Fruit and drink seller Mohd Johari Abdullah, 27 feels the authorities needed to do a better job of maintaining the roads in the city. He said the bad condition of roads added to the problem of traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur. “It is worse when it rains because motorists are not aware of deep potholes when they are filled with water. They are dangerous especially for motorcyclists and people driving small cars,” he said. “Potholes and bad road surfaces seem to be a national problem; my friends in Penang have also complained about them,” he added. Mohd Johari also complained that it was bad for his business when companies dug up roads, kicking up dust, and after that failing to resurface the road properly, leaving an uneven road that might cause injuries to pedestrians.

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said 80% of the potholes and uneven roads were caused by utilities and telecommunication companies digging up the roads to install and repair their cables. He said there were so many of such roadworks that it had become an embarrassment to DBKL because the blame was often laid at its door. “The utility companies do not do a proper job of resurfacing and sometimes they do not even ask for our permission before digging up the road. “Most of the time they do the work at night and rush to get it done by morning, so there isn’t enough time to do a thorough job,” he said. Other causes are cement mixers and heavy vehicles from cement plants and construction sites. Construction companies are required to place sturdy bricks on the road to protect it from the wear and tear brought on by the heavy vehicles but some do not ensure this step is done properly. Meanwhile, cement mixers drop blobs of cement on the road, which result in a bumpy ride for other road users and may be a potential road hazard. Fuad said DBKL might have to resort to drastic measures to stem the problem of potholes and uneven roads. “We may have to change the materials used to resurface the road, this may increase the cost by 20% or 30% but we will get better results like Singapore,” he said.

He said the local authority might also revise the charges imposed on errant contractors to ensure future jobs were well done. He added another long-term solution would be to have common trenching that allowed all companies to begin work at a special designated area. Fuad explained there were three types of contractors in charge of fixing potholes. The first are contractors hired through open tenders for long distances of 5km or more. Smaller companies are selected through a ballot system to repair potholes outside the city centre, while DBKL resurfaced roads that did not fall into either category.

No to IPCMC: Lip Eng slams Hisham for disrespecting King and citizens

Source: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com (Written by Selena Tay, 18/2/2011)

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who is the lawyer for two victims of alleged police misconduct, slammed Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein for disrespecting the wishes of the King and the people by refusing to set up an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission. "In disregarding the recommendation of the Royal Commission, the Home Ministry has shown disrespect to the rakyat as the Royal Commission is under the auspices of the Yang Dipertuan Agong who represents the rakyat. The Home Ministry has therefore chosen to ignore the voice of the rakyat," Lip Eng told Malaysia Chronicle.

Despite growing public unhappiness with the police, Hisham - the cousin of Prime Minister Najib Razak - had insisted that the situation was under control and did not warrant an IPCMC. Yet since the Dzaiddin Royal Police Commission was established in 2004 to look into widespread public complaints about police corruption and brutality, there has been litttle improvement and many even argue that things have become worse.

"We cannot let this go on. The police is the enforcement agency and the bad impression or image that the public has of them has got to stop. Therefore, the BN Government must set up the IPCMC immediately and not give lame excuses not to do so. As far as I know, the Home Ministry will not be setting up the IPCMC and this is absolutely wrong as the IPCMC was recommended by the Royal Commission which was set up to look into this matter," Lip Eng said.

Worsening relations between the police and the people

After a year-long study, the Dzaiddin Report was submitted to the federal government in April 2005. It contained 125 recommendations, the core proposal of which was the establishment of IPCMC - where the public could air their grievances and complaints. Even then Hishammuddin - who was the Umno Youth chief at that time - had led protests against the formation of the IPCMC. It is believed that that the corrupt and the influential within the force had opposed the IPCMC on fears it would curtail their income from unhealthy sources and underground activities. Umno was also accused of being afraid to antagonise the force, which is one of the ruling party's biggest vote banks, and of closing an eye to the calls of the citizenry for a thorough spring cleaning. DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang has also condemned the government for lacking the political will to stop the police from committing abuses.

Meanwhile, Lip Eng pointed to the deteriorating relationship between the police and the people.

He gave examples in other countries, especially in Britain where it can be seen that the public are very friendly with the police whom they consider as their neighbourhood friends. "On the contrary in Malaysia the rakyat avoid the police and do not want to have anything to do with the police to the extent that sometimes snatch theft cases are not reported. Some people also fear the police victimising them for offences such as not wearing seat belt or helmet," added Lip Eng. The Segambut MP also reiterated that an IPCMC was good news and a win-win situation. "The IPCMC can enable the police to regain public confidence. In fact the police need the IPCMC more than the public," said Lip Eng.

Lip Eng is the lawyer holding a watching brief for Chia Buang Hing, a businessman who claimed that he was assaulted by 4 policemen at the Kota Damansara police station in December 2010. He is also the counsel for a lady shop proprietor who claimed that she was slapped by a police officer during a raid on her shop earlier this month.

Anyone facing charges in court must use main entrance, says official

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news (By YUEN MEIKENG and SHAILA KOSHY, 15/2/2011)
A court official (CJM’s special officer) said those called to court to face charges are not allowed to use any entrance other than the main entrance to enter the courtroom. He said this after five policemen charged with assaulting a businessman in Kota Damansara last December caused a stir in a magistrate’s court here when they entered the courtroom through the staff entrance and not through the main door. Asked how the five accused had been allowed to enter from this entrance and whether they had received preferential treatment because they were from the police, the court official said: “The policemen accused in this case were allowed to use that entrance by the police on duty at the courthouse. “The police have been warned never to do that again,” he said.

Irritated by their entry through the staff entrance, lawyer Lim Lip Eng, who is holding a watching brief for plaintiff Chia Buang Hing, told magistrate Nik Mohd Fadli Nik Azlan that the accused should not have used that entrance. Lim then applied to the court to order them to re-enter the court room via the main door and to leave through the same door. Nik Mohd Fadli, however, said he could not give such an order and rejected Lim’s application.

Four of the accused, constables Mohd Azwan Hassan, Norzali Rosle, Ahmad Saifullah Osman and Alizulhafiz Abdul Ghafar, were charged on Jan 11 with intentionally causing hurt to Chia at the Kota Damansara police station at between 12.30am and 3am on Dec 19. Mohd Azwan and Norzali (both currently suspended) were also charged with causing hurt to Chia at Jalan PJU 3/15 between 11.30pm on Dec 18 and 12.30am on Dec 19. The fifth accused, Lans Kpl Mahadi Adam claimed trial in the same court to a charge of disobeying an order under Section 20 (3) of the Police Act 1967, relating to the incident. Norzali was charged in another magistrate’s court with intending to cause false charges against Chia, 35, for allegedly having drugs and a machete at the Kota Damansara police station at 2.01am on Dec 19. Norzali had, on Jan 28, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In applying for the court to disallow the five to use the staff entrance – located at the back of the courtroom – Lim had argued that all are equal before the law. “Everybody else enters the court through the main door,” he said.

Ricky Tan, another lawyer holding a watching brief for Chia, also argued that the court would set a precedent for others if it allowed the accused to enter via the staff door.

However, counsel Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar, who represented the five policemen, argued that Lim had applied for the order because press photographers were outside the main entrance to take pictures of the accused.

Related news: Lawyer livid over 'special treatment' for accused cops http://malaysiakini.com/news/155996

Dogs Adoption Drive

Canine welfare project Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) is urging animal lovers to start off the Year of the Rabbit by giving a puppy or dog a second chance in life.

“We have so many rescued dogs and puppies in desperate need of homes and we hope that people will come forward to take them in,’’ said MDDB adoption coordinator Christine Lai. Lai said MDDB also had several lost dogs that were yet to be claimed by their owners.

MDDB will have its adoption drive on Saturday (12/2/2011), from 12.00pm to 7.30pm, at Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng’s service center at No 22A Jalan Jambu Mawar off Jalan Kuching, Taman City, Kuala Lumpur.

“Those wanting to seek directions to the service center can call 019-3576477, 012-3739007,’’ said Lai.

MDDB is looking forward to finding homes for several adult dogs and some 20 puppies. “We need to urgently find them homes as only then can we take in more rescues,’’ said Lai. Lai also said MDDB was in dire need of dry and canned dog and puppy food as well as dry and canned cat and kitten food.

“We are running very low on cat and dog food and our supplies will last us barely a week,’’ she added. Those wanting to donate food as well as pet shampoo and other necessities can drop them off at the adoption drives.

Details visit www.malaysiandogsdeservebetter.blogspot.com or the Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better page on Facebook.

Related news: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/2/10/central/8023143&sec=central

Woman identifies cop who had taken RM20,000 from her shop

Picture taken from Malaysiakini.com

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news (By RASHITHA A. HAMID, 10/2/2011)
A pregnant store owner identified a policewoman whom she claimed had taken RM20,000 from her shop. Chow Soo Meng picked out the policewoman, who was among nine others in the parade, within 30 seconds. This was Chow’s second identification parade after she had fingered five officers as being among those who assaulted her on Saturday.

The 36-year-old mother of two said she immediately recognised the policewoman. Chow arrived at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters at about 12.05pm yesterday and left a few minutes later.

She was accompanied by Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng.

“I want them to return my cash as they don’t have any right to seize it,” she said.

During the incident, Chow said at least 10 men and a woman tried to enter her convenience store at Jalan Perkhidmatan, Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh, at about 6.30pm on Feb 1. Chow claimed that when she refused to let them in as they did not show any identification, the group cut through the shop’s grille before barging in and handcuffing her. She also claimed the police refused to let her know what her offence was but instead slapped her twice and removed the CCTV system from her shop.

Meanwhile, Federal CID director Comm Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin said at a press conference that police were not being defensive in cases of personnel misusing their powers. He said they were looking into such cases seriously and urged those not satisfied to contact him personally. “There is a special body to look into such matters,” he added.

Related news: Pregnant woman identifies female cop in 30 seconds http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/155567

Police can use "reasonable" force to disperse illegal assembly

Source of video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryf0wY7yWqo (malaysiakini.tv)

Source of news: http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=57330 (8/2/2011)

Police can use "reasonable" force in dispersing an illegal assembly, ruled a sessions court judge when dismissing a civil suit brought by three participants against the Malaysian government, the Royal Malaysian Police and several others for police brutality. It was one of three reasons given by Bandar Baru Bangi Sessions Court judge Mohammed Mokhzani Mokhtar today in the civil suit filed by Kajang municipal councillor Tan Boon Wah, and two brothers, Ho Chee Loong and Ho Chee Hui. The three were seeking damages for alleged police brutality inflicted on them when they participated in a 2007 protest over a barrier built by highway concessionaire Grand Saga Sdn Bhd. Others named in the suit are then-Kajang OCPD ACP Rosli Mohd Nizam, police lance-corporal Azman Atan and several IPD Kajang policemen.

The protest, participated by 40 people, was one of several by Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents against the concessionaire between 2006 and 2008 over a three-foot tall concrete barrier blocking a slip road to their township, and forcing residents to use the highway to enter and exit the area. The road was finally opened in May 2008.

Speaking to the media after the judgment, counsel Lim Lip Eng gave the three grounds for the dismissal of the suit, which saw 12 witnesses after it was first filed on Oct 15, 2007 and closed last November. "The judge ruled that that indeed there was a illegal assembly by the residents, and that the residents who took part in the illegal assembly refused to obey the instructions from authorities, especially the police. "So, as a result, the police had to take necessary action by using reasonable force on them," said Lim, who added that the plaintiffs have one month to appeal. He also pointed out that despite many arrests, criminal charges had yet to be made against any participant in the protests.

Meanwhile, Chee Loong said that despite losing, he felt proud of his actions. "I feel proud as our road is now open. I tell the rakyat that if there is a problem, we must be brave to stand up and claim our rights," he said.

However, Tan, who is also Mahkota Cheras Free Access Road Action Committee president, expressed disappointment with the decision. "We had video evidence showing the two brothers being beaten by a police officer. But the court decided in favour of the government. "I wish to stress that the constitution says Malaysians have fundamental freedoms, and we can have peaceful assemblies," said Tan, adding that they had brought no weapons that day, and the police did not give them time to disperse.

Related news: Abuse suit against police dismissed http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/14jgtan/Article

Excited over Segambut PPR

The proposed site for the low-cost housing project in Sungai Udang, Segambut. Residents hope the apartment blocks would be a safe distance from the high-tension power cables passing near the area. — Picture by Syazana Rose Razman

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/Article (By Noel Achariam, 6/2/2011)
KUALA LUMPUR: Residents living in Segambut can now apply for low-cost housing (PPR) units in the area.

Segambut member of parliament Lim Lip Eng said City Hall was planning to build them at Sungai Udang in the constituency. Lim said the budget for the PPR project had been included in City Hall's Budget 2011. "We had asked the city council for a PPR in the area and now they have finally approved the budget for it. We are urging all residents in Segambut, who can't afford proper housing, to come forward and apply." Lim said that the housing scheme would be the first such PPR project in his constituency. "Segambut and the Bukit Bintang constituency do not have any PPR," he said after meeting residents at the proposed site in Segambut. Lim said residents could get the forms for rental of the apartments at the City Hall parliamentary office in Taman Tun Dr Ismail or at City Hall's headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut. When asked how many blocks of apartments would be built, Lim said he was unsure, but said that they would be 10 storeys in height, with a total of 560 units. They would be completed in three years.
Resident Hazmir Ekdan, 29, who rents a flat for RM400 a month, welcomed the idea of a PPR in the area. "My wife and I have been renting a home for many years and it would be good to get a PPR unit here. Who knows, we may be given the chance to own a unit one day." Another resident, P. Munusamy, 48, hoped City Hall would give priority to residents living in the area to rent the flats. "They should do this before allowing others to rent the units."
Mohd Zaki Yacob, 49, hoped City Hall would build the PPR away from the high-tension power cables located next to the proposed site. "There should be an adequate buffer zone between the cables and the apartment blocks for the safety of the residents."
Other areas identified for low-cost housing are Kampung Wira Jaya, Setapak (544 units), Kampung India Settlement, Kampung Pandan (480 units) and Setia Jaya, Setapak (400 units). City Hall will be spending RM301 million on these housing projects.
Those applying for these low-cost housing units must be Malaysians, with the husband and wife having a joint income of not more than RM2,000 a month. The couples must be working in Kuala Lumpur and the applicants must not own any houses or land within a 35km radius from the city. The rental per month will be RM124.

Related news: New flats to be built in Segambut http://thestar.com.my/metro/story

Woman identifies five cops in assault case

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/nation (6/2/2011)

A pregnant store owner has identified five officers as being among her assailants. Chow Soo Meng, 36, a mother of two who is eight months’ pregnant, picked out the five among 11 policemen in an identification parade at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters here yesterday. She also identified one of them as the person who had slapped her and taken RM20,000 from her. However, Chow said a female police officer who was also responsible for the missing cash was not in the line-up.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng who accompanied Chow urged police to do a thorough investigation.

“We have asked the Selangor police to take over the investigations which is being conducted by the Petaling Jaya police now,” he added.

According to Chow, at least 10 men and a woman who claimed to be policemen tried to enter her convenience shop at Jalan Perkhidmatan, Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh, at about 6.30pm on Monday. Chow claimed that when she refused to let them in as they did not show any identification, the group cut the grill, barged in and handcuffed her. “They refused to let me know what offence I had committed but instead slapped me twice,” she said, adding that the men then took several cartons of cigarettes, liquor, cell phone SIM cards and RM20,000 from her handbag. She also alleged that they removed the CCTV system from her shop.

OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed later said his officers went to the shop to investigate claims that drugs were being sold there. ACP Arjunaidi denied his men had stolen money from the woman but had instead seized RM15,900 as part of the investigations. He said the money was in police custody and they were investigating if it was proceeds from ill-gotten gains. “We will investigate her claims that she was slapped. If there is truth to her allegations, I will take action against those responsible,” he said.

Related news:

Pregnant shop owner admits dealing in contraband, not drugs http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=57216

Five cops in slap-and-rob case identified http://malaysiakini.com/news/155255

Woman wants case transferred to Selangor police HQ

Plainclothes cops slap and rob pregnant woman

Source: http://malaysiakini.com/news/155163 (By Aidila Razak, 2/2/2011)
A pregnant woman was on Monday slapped and robbed by plainclothes police officers who broke into her shop in Sungai Buloh - and they then arrested her.
This morning, Segambut parliamentarian Lim Lip Eng received a distress call from 36-year-old Chow Soo Meng, who is eight months pregnant. She told him the police had stolen about RM20,000 in cash and several other items. "The police took several types of cigarettes, six bottles of hard liquor, mandarin oranges and three cartons of canned drinks," Chow (top) said in her report lodged at the Kepong police station. She said the officers, from the Petaling Jaya Narcotics Department, also took 30 mobile SIM cards and removed the closed-circuit TV camera recorder from her shop.

None of the items have been returned
She said when she asked for the return of the RM20,000, the officer who arrested her refused to do so and told her not to make an issue of it or risk being rearrested, Lim told Malaysiakini when contacted. The MP, who met with Chow this afternoon, said she had locked the grille door to her shop as she was alone from about 5pm on Monday, when about 10 men came about 6.30pm and demanded to be let in. "When she refused to do so, they started yelling and cursing at her and they cut open the grille. They then handcuffed her and took her to the Damansara Utama police station," he said. There, she was made to take a drug test before being taken to the Customs Department in Kelana Jaya and told that she had not paid the duties on the liquor and cigarettes. "She was asked to return to the Customs Department office in Kelana Jaya on March 2," Lim added. Chow said officers at the Kepong police station had also discouraged her from lodging her report, but relented when she insisted. In her police report, Chow said the police had suspected that she was keeping narcotic drugs in her shop.

Investigations begin

Four officers from the Sungai Buloh station went to her shop this afternoon to begin investigations (top photo). It is learnt that the matter has been passed to the Sungai Buloh station, since the incident took place in that police district. Lim plans to visit the Damansara Utama police station on Friday morning to ask for Chow's complaint to be transferred to the Selangor contingent police headquarters. He and Chow will also request that investigations be conducted by a team that is not from the Petaling Jaya police district, whose officers were allegedly responsible. The investigating officer was not available for comment.

Related news: Pregnant woman claims cop abuse http://thestar.com.my/news/2011/2/3/nation & Police deny robbing pregnant woman http://malaysiakini.com/news/155206