Jurugambar ditikam kesal tiada tindakan polis

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/03/31/jurugambar-ditikam-kesal-tiada-tindakan-polis/ (Jamilah Kamarudin, 31/3/2011)

Tindakan seorang jurugambar yang pergi menuntut baki bayaran di rumah pelanggannya membawa padah apabila ditikam dan dikelar di beberapa bahagian badannya pada 6 Mac lalu.

Lee Poh Chai, 37, yang juga pemilik kedai gambar di Jalan Ipoh, di sini, ditikam dengan pisau pemotong kertas dibahagian lengan dan pinggang kanannya selepas pelanggannya itu enggan membayar bayaran album gambar ulang tahun kelahiran anak lelakinya yang pertama berbaki sejumlah RM 462.

“Pada 20 November tahun lalu, lelaki itu datang ke kedai saya dan mahu gambar anaknya diambil dalam studio untuk dimuatkan dalam album. “Lelaki itu yang berpuas hati dengan hasil kerja saya membayar wang pendahuluan RM50 daripada jumlah RM512 yang dikenakan dan menyuruh saya datang ke rumahnya di Pandan Perdana untuk mengambil baki bayaran. “Seminggu kemudian saya datang kerumahnya dan beliau menjelaskan bayaran tersebut melalui sekeping cek,” katanya ketika ditemui di Pusat Khidmat DAP Segambut di sini hari ini. Namun Lee mendapati dirinya ditipu apabila pihak bank menghubunginya memberitahu bahawa cek yang digunakan itu cek tendang dan bukan milik pelanggan tersebut. Pelangganya itu yang mengakui kesilapan tersebut selepas dihubungi Lee pada mulanya berjanji akan menjelaskan bayaran akhir dengan meminta nombor akaun Lee, tetapi menukar fikiran beberapa hari kemudian dan enggan membayarnya atas alasan tidak berpuas hati dengan hasil kerja Lee. Setelah beberapa kali cuba menghubungi dan menuntut bayaran, Lee akhirnya mengambil keputusan pergi ke rumah pelanggannya itu pada hari kejadian. “Beliau yang berang melihat kehadiran saya di perkarangan rumahnya terus mencapai pisau pemotong kertas dalam keretanya lalu menikam dan mencederakan saya,” katanya.

Beliau yang cedera sehingga menerima jahitan kira-kira 25 jahitan kemudiannya membuat laporan di balai polis Pandan Indah pada keesokan harinya. Namun Lee mendakwa setelah hampir sebulan berlalu, sehingga kini masih belum ada apa-apa siasatan dijalankan malah tiada seorang pun pegawai polis yang datang mengambil keterangannya. “Saya mengenali wajah dan tahu alamat rumah lelaki itu. Tapi saya kesal kenapa masih tiada tindakan mahupun tangkapan dikenakan terhadap individu yang mencederakan saya,.“Saya takut jika lelaki itu sekali lagi datang dan menyerang saya atau mengapa-apakan kedai saya jika tiada jaminan daripada polis,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Ahli Parlimen Segambut Lim Lip Eng mempersoalkan tindakan polis walaupun situasi yang dihadapi Lee merupakan satu kes jenayah berat. “Mengikut Seksyen 324 Kanun Keseksaan sesiapa yang menembak, menikam, atau memotong dengan apa-apa senjata dengan niat mahu membunuh akan dihukum penjara sehingga tiga tahun atau denda, atau sebatan. “Tetapi saya dapati dalam laporan Lee ini tertera cop bahawa ia hanya sah untuk kegunaan tuntutan sivil dan bukannya jenayah, mungkin ini yang menjadi masalah,” katanya.

Sehubungan itu, Lim berkata pihaknya telah menulis surat kepada Ketua Polis Selangor Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah pada 17 Mac lalu bagi meminta penjelasan namun tiada respon. “Saya kesal dengan pengurusan polis yang boleh membiarkan kes jenayah ini berlaku…saya mungkin akan panjangkan perkara ini kepada Ketua Polis Negara nanti,” katanya.

Lack of security in business area

Safety concerns: Business operators say there should be more police presence in the area.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro (By JASTIN AHMAD TARMIZI, 29/3/2011) Businessmen in Bandar Menjalara, Kuala Lumpur. are concerned over the increasing crime in the area. Bandar Menjalara Businessmen Association (BMBA) secretary Tomy Yong said security in the area had become a concern for the businessmen as problems such as snatch theft, break-ins, robbery and car theft occurred frequently. “There is no police to monitor the area. “We used to lodge a police report after a crime is committed but now we don’t even bother because there no action is taken. “It has been 30 years and there is still no police station in the area,” he told reporters. Yong said in October last year, some residents noticed a mobile police station near the business area. “We understand that the mobile police station has been parked there for the past six months. However, their presence is not felt as we hardly see any policemen patrolling the area. “They should be patrolling the areas with high crime rates. “There has been a plan to build a police station in the area in 1992, but for almost 20 years nothing came out of it. “We hope that they can build it as promised or at least relocate the mobile police station to the heart of the business area so it can help prevent crime,” added Yong.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who was also present at the press conference, said the Segambut constituency was under the jurisdiction of the District Police Headquarters (IPD) of Sentul. “There were three mobile units under the IPD Sentul which has so many areas under its jurisdiction. “How are they going to monitor all those areas with only three of them? he asked. “When I raised this in the Parliament, the answer given was the IDP Sentul has only three and they will decide where to place them. “I will follow up on this matter and try to get the authorities to at least relocate the mobile police unit to the middle of the business area as well as try to get them to build a permanent police station,” he said.

The business operators also complained about the parking problem in the business area.

A shop owner, Foo Yik Cheong, said they had sent complaints to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) many times but there was no reply. “We then informed the Housing and Local Government Ministry. “The last letter received from the ministry was on March 2 instructing the DBKL to reply to our complaints. We are still waiting for a reply. Lim said he would bring the letter to the minister to ask him to help in the issue.

28 elected reps charged since 2001

Source: http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=59118 (Husna Yusop, 23/3/2011)

A total 28 elected representatives have been charged in the criminal courts for various offences since 2001, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said. Of those charged, one was an independent assemblyman, 17 from Pakatan Rakyat, while 11 were from Barisan Nasional, he said in reply to a question from Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut). “Of these, 33 cases have been prosecuted, one is at mention stage, 13 have entered trial, two are at hearing stage and two have been sentenced. Nine of those charged have been acquitted and discharged, and 10 were being appealed,” he added.

Reading out their names upon Lim’s request, Nazri said of those in the opposition block, 10 were from PKR namely Sri Muda assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei, Kota Damansara assemblyman Mohd Nasir Hashim, Batu MP Tian Chua, Gombak MP and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali, Subang MP R. Sivarasa, Permatang Pauh MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and former Kota Baru MP Ramli Ibrahim. This block also includes former PKR reps Padang Serai MP N. Gobalakrishnan, Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu – who have since left the party to become independent representatives.

Three MPs from PAS who also ran afoul of the law were Kuala Krai MP Mohd Hatta Ramli, Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohd Ghazali and former Jeli MP Mohd Apandi Mohamad, while their coalition partner DAP had four – Pandamaran assemblyman Liew Tian Khiew, Batu Lintang assemblyman Voon Lee San, PJ Utara MP Tony Pua and Kg Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San.

As for BN representatives, Nazri said they were seven from Umno, three from MCA and one from Gerakan. “They are Sg Panjang assemblyman Datuk Seri Khir Toyo, Sabak Bernam MP Abd Rahman Bakri, former Labuan MP Suhaili Abdul Rahman, former Semenyih assemblyman Datuk Ahamad Kuris Mohd Noor, Lenggeng assemblyman Mustafa Salim, former Jelai assemblyman Datuk Omar Othman and former Tapah assemblyman Datuk Azman Mahalan – all from Umno,” he said. MCA representatives were former Labis MP Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, former Selayang MP Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy and former Mengkibol assemblyman Ng Kim Lai, and from Gerakan, Serdang assemblyman Yap Soo Sun.

Related news: 28 elected reps brought to court since 2001 http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles

RM52.8mil spent for 89,000 flood victim families

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/parliament (22/3/2011)

The Federal Government has provided RM52.8mil to assist almost 89,000 families from six states affected by floods late last year. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said that RM27,983,057 was spent to relocate the flood victims and to provide them food and other daily necessities. To help minimise the cost of moving back into their homes, he said the Government had given RM500 to each family.

Replying to a question raised by Lim Lip Eng (DAP–Segambut), he said states affected by the floods were Johor (16,455 families or 67,000 victims), Malacca (2,325 families or 9,098 victims), Negri Sembilan (715 families or 3,083 victims), Pahang (381 families or 2,663 victims), Sabah (903 families or 3,389 victims) and Sarawak (615 families or 2,949 victims).

To another question from Datuk Mahfuz Omar (PAS–Pokok Sena), he said any delay in providing financial aid could be due to the tedious process of identifying flood victims eligible for aid. He said this involved the affected families registering themselves with their respective village heads, who would then relay the information to the district office for verification.

Related news: Govt spent RM28m on flood victims http://www.nst.com.my/nst/Article

Robbery at school puts parents on alert

Photo by Sin Chew Daily

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro (By JASTIN AHMAD TARMIZI, 21/3/2011)

PARENTS waiting to pick up their children from school have been warned to be extra careful due to a spate of recent robberies involving parents. The robbers prowl outside the school compound pretending to be parents waiting for their children and pounce on parents before they could shut their doors after fetching their children.

In one incident, Celine Sook, 45, picked up her eight-year-old daughter from SJK (C) Khai Chee in Jalan Segambut and when she was about to close the car door, a robber struck, demanding money. “It happened about a week ago at the school carpark area located just outside the school at around 7pm. I usually come late because of the jam after school at 6pm. Most parents come at that time so I have to wait and I cannot get into the carpark area even if I leave early. “There were about four cars left in the area but most of them were empty. I had just left my car to bring my daughter from the school gate to the car. “After letting her into the car I got in and was about to close the door when a man stopped me from closing my door and demanded all my money,” she said at a press conference. “I offered to give the man my handbag but the robber refused and entered my car and sat in backseat where my daughter was sitting. I stepped out of the car and shouted for help.” Sook said a few passersby came to her aid and when the robber saw them coming he ran off. “The robber then ran to his car and sped off. He left an umbrella in my car that had a machete hidden in it. I have lodged a police report but they have not caught the man,” added Sook.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who was also present at the press conference said it would be better if the authorities could start mobilising traffic policemen in the school area after school hours.

Headmistress Liew Ah Ching urged parents to pick their children inside the school compound if they ever came late after school dismissal. “They should not leave their children there for too long. But if they come late they should ask their children to stay in the school compound as we have CCTV surveillance in the school compound,” she said.

It's utter rubbish, says PM

Isa's appointment 'not hurting stocks'

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/14pmd/Article (16/3/2011)
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday described as baseless and irrelevant allegations of jitters in the stock market caused by the appointment of Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad as Felda chairman. "It has no bearing on the share price movements," he said in a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat to a question from Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut).
Lim had asked the prime minister to give the rationale for appointing Isa as Felda chairman despite his credibility being allegedly affected when he was found to be involved in money politics by Umno, and whether the good name of Felda would be affected, thus causing jitters in the stock market.

Najib said Isa's appointment was based on his vast experience in administration, management, leadership and people relations. "His experience in administration, politics and community development meets the criteria for the appointment as Felda chairman, a post where he is directly involved in matters pertaining to the development of Felda and its settlers. "At the moment, none of the Felda subsidiaries are listed on the stock market." Nevertheless, he said, Felda's business partners in the country and overseas continue to support its business activities.
"The demand for Felda's primary commodity, for example palm oil, is strong and competitive in the international market." -- Bernama

Related news: Isa’s appointment will not hurt Felda’s stock http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/3/17/parliament/8286363&sec=parliament

Action sought against errant developer

Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin (third from right) and Lim Lip Eng (right) meeting residents at a protest. — Picture by Hazreen Mohamad

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/3ttdx/Article (By Dawn Chan, 14/3/2011)
Appalled by the defiance of a developer who ignored a stop-work order at a construction site, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said City Hall will reinforce the order and look into the possibility of taking legal action. He said after a peaceful protest by residents on Sunday.

Raja Nong Chik said the developer had continued to work illegally, defying a stop-work order that was issued about a month ago. The developer twice destroyed barriers erected by City Hall to prevent them from entering the construction site from Jalan Datuk Sulaiman 1 in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. "Our stand is firm. The developer cannot do as they please and what they have been doing is illegal. "We will look into imposing a penalty against the developer for damaging the barrier constructed by City Hall," he said.
Raja Nong Chik was commenting on the issue of the developer using Jalan Datuk Sulaiman 1 as an access road into its construction site near the border of Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Sungai Penchala. A check on the developer's website revealed that the housing project encompasses three-storey semi-detached houses on the 1.2ha site.
Residents of Jalan Datuk Sulaiman zone are upset that despite being given an alternative road, the developer continued to use Jalan Datuk Sulaiman 1, which led to congestion, deteriorating safety and security in the area.
Raja Nong Chik said there is a second alternative road for the developer to access the construction site and will be completed in three months. "We have asked the developer to be patient and gave a stop work order a month ago. "City Hall put up barriers but the developer removed it twice. It is a matter of a three-month delay, then they can go ahead and develop the land without being bothered by anyone. "On Tuesday (today), City Hall will once again put up barriers to prevent them from entering the site. The City Hall branch office here will monitor the situation closely. We will be firm against irresponsible developers who give us a bad name. "We want to be fair to everybody. It is a matter of being a responsible developer, and not driven by profit at all cost. "Breaking the law and angering the residents is not the way. Worst still, the developer refused to communicate with the residents and were verbally abused by the developer," said Raja Nong Chik. He added that the developer had gone to the extend of threatening City Hall officers. The developer also illegally widened the back lane of the houses of Jalan Datuk Sulaiman 1 to use it as an access road.
Residents claim the developer had built drains to channel water from the construction site to the existing drains of the neighbourhood.
Segambut Lim Lip Eng, who was also present, said he had raised this issue twice, once last late year and earlier this year with Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail but no action was taken. "I will follow the development of this case closely to ensure Raja Nong Chik acts against the developer as he promises," he said.
A resident who wished to remain anonymous said Raja Nong Chik had repeatedly promised to solve the problem in the past. "I hope he honours his words and takes action against the developer," he said.

Related: Government will not tolerate irresponsible developers, says Nong Chik http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/3/14/central/8260302&sec=central

Ministry removes 'dangerous defence weapon'

The barbed wires at 10 blocks of flats owned by the Defence Ministry will be removed. — Picture by Lim Poh Chin

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/gobarbi/Article (2011/03/13)

The Defence Ministry is removing the barbed wires at the 10 blocks of flats owned by the ministry, following the safety concerns raised by Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng last week.

Army public relations director Col Fadzlette Othman Merican told Streets that a unit had been tasked to ensure that the barbed wires, which could injure the residents, be removed. "The exercise to remove the barbed wires has started. They were installed to protect the housing scheme because some units were not fully occupied. "We wanted to prevent the theft of fixtures such as lights and fans," she said.

It was reported on March 7 that the residents were uneasy with the presence of barbed wires surrounding Blocks A, B, C, D, K, L, M, N, P and Q of the 40-year-old housing area.
Lim, on a walkabout, pointed out the barbed wires, that were approximately 0.6m high, surrounding the derelict three-storey walkup flats. Instead of barbed wires, Lim said the ministry should put up barricades which would not be a danger to the residents. He said he had received a complaint from a couple whose child was injured after tripping over the barbed wires at night.
The ministry purchased 380 flat units in 1975. They housed army personnel, who moved out in 2009. Five more blocks with a total 216 units are occupied by the public, and two blocks rented out and converted into PKNS's office.

Unhappy with proposed MRT station

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro (By TAN KARR WEI, 12/3/2011)
The locations of several proposed MRT stations for the Sungai Buloh-Kajang line is likely to create more problems instead of solving them. One such station is the proposed Bandar Utama station, which will be built near the Media Prima broadcast centre at the junction of the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) and Persiaran Bandar Utama. Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua said the area was already packed with cars and having a station there would worsen the congestion.

“There is no park-and-ride facility and there will be cars waiting for passengers by the main road,” said Pua, who held a joint press conference with Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah near the site at Persiaran Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya.

“The Bandar Utama MRT station is expected to be the busiest in the northern part of the alignment, servicing about 46,900 passengers daily and is the fifth busiest of the 35 proposed stations. “Why is the MRT station located 1km away from the bus terminal even though high ridership is expected? Instead, it is located along the busy LDP,” said Pua. He added that the MRT would be not be beneficial without a proper bus system to complement it. Pua said in Singapore and Hong Kong, people did not rely fully on the MRT as the bus system also played an important role. “There are better alternative locations to look at. The proposed site for the KL Sentral station is also not located within the present KL Sentral station but near the National Museum. “The distance is even further than to the KL Monorail, which people were already complaining because of the long walk,” he said. Sivarasa said a public meeting was held for stations in his constituency without the MP and assemblyman. “During a meeting in the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), we asked the rationale of putting stations where they are and were told some were meant for another two lines that have not been finalised. “How are we going to understand the rationale when there is no information on the other lines? The proposed stations should not be independent of the other two lines. “We appreciate the project is being carried out but it should not be rushed,” said Sivarasa. Nurul Izzah said the Klang Valley MRT was the largest infrastructure project for the nation and suggested it be put on hold so all feedback and views could be taken into consideration. Pua said the tenders for the project’s sub-contractors was supposed to be announced next month while the deadline for public feedback was May 14, raising the question of what would happen if there was a variation from the original plans if the public was not satisfied with the station locations.

Lim Lip Eng said based on feedback from Taman Tun Dr Ismail residents, most did not want the station in their area and they also called for it to be located away from the LDP to avoid congestion and parking problems.

“The Land Public Transport Commission has only held meetings with the Taman Tun residents while the Bukit Damansara residents are holding their comments until a meeting is called for in their area,” he said.

Bandar Utama City Corporation director Datuk Teo Chiang Kok said an integrated transportation hub had always been part of their master plan. He said ideally, 1Utama and The Curve should have their own stations but the distance between the two locations would be too near. “We have a bigger population and ridership from our shopping malls and offices so it makes sense to have it here,” he said. The 1Utama open carpark serves as a transportation hub, with major bus and coach services like RapidKL, Aeroline, Genting Express and LCCT Skybus operating out of Bandar Utama. “We have also proposed for a joint venture with MBPJ to build two levels of basement carpark below the Central Park next to 1Utama. “We are willing to build it and go on a shared revenue basis with the council,” he said. He said many people were lobbying for underground stations and it should be considered. “It would be more expensive to go underground but we should also look at the long-term gains because the stations are going to be here for a long time. “To mitigate the extra cost, the land around the stations can be developed for retail,” he said. Teo said it was technically possible to build an underground station that could be shared by both shopping malls.

Related news: Halt MRT project, say Pakatan MPs http://malaysiakini.com/news/158335

Relocate pubs to restore peace to TTDI

On top is the reply from DBKL to my complaint on 15/7/2011.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story (10/3/2011)

I AM a resident living in Villa Flora Condo. I am annoyed over the problems caused by the pubs operating along Lorong Rahim Kajai 14 in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), Kuala Lumpur. The patrons who visit these pubs normally double-park their cars along the road, causing residents of Villa Flora and Sri TTDI condo difficulties entering their homes. There is also a van selling food located at the junction opposite Hong Leong Bank which also obstructs traffic.

I shudder to think of an accident occurring here which may cause the loss of many lives as people are standing all over the place having their food here. The noise is also unbearable, especially on weekends. The patrons of the pubs usually get rowdy and I can hear them shouting until the wee hours of the morning, disturbing the residents’ sleep.

I hope some action will be taken to overcome this nuisance. If necessary, the pubs should be ordered to close down to restore tranquility in TTDI. I hope the TTDI residents association and the relevant authorities can do something about this.

Annoyed resident

Kuala Lumpur

Defence Minister Zahid: Order for combat ships part of ongoing agreement

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/parliament (9/3/2011)

There was no open tender for the acquisition of the Second Generation Patrol Vessel Littoral Combatant Ship as it followed the privatisation agreement signed between the Government and Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) more than 15 years ago, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said 27 of the second generation patrol vessels would be built through the agreement signed on Dec 11, 1995. “This was to develop the national maritime industry and to extend the development of technology and heavy industry.

“It has created many jobs and business opportunities for the vendors,” he told Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) who questioned the tender process before the contract was given to BNS. He also enquired about the cost to build the ship.

According to an international market survey referred to by the minister, a vessel with similar ability was priced between RM1.5bil and RM2.7bil, but the Government had yet to finalise the actual cost.

Replying to Lim’s supplementary question on the rationale behind the acquisition of the vessels, Ahmad Zahid said it was a necessary move. “Our neighbouring countries are also in the midst of increasing their naval capabilities, so Malaysia should not be left out,” he said.

Related news:

Agreement used to buy vessels http://www.bernama.com/bernama

'Balik tadika', Zahid tells Segambut MP http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/158013

Interlok

Menteri Pelajaran Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata pada 27 Jan 2011 bahawa novel Interlok kekal digunakan sebagai teks komponen sastera bagi mata pelajaran Bahasa Malaysia Tingkatan 5 dengan pindaan dibuat kepada bahagian yang dianggap sensitif oleh masyarakat India.

Saya berpendapat novel Interlok tidak harus dipakai kerana ia telah menyinggung perasaan kaum India dan juga kaum Cina.

Terdapat banyak lagi novel sastera boleh dipilih oleh Kementerian Pelajaran, mengapa Kementerian masih hendak memilih Interlok walaupun ia menimbulkan kontroversi yang tidak terhenti-henti.

Tujuan utama pelajar-pelajar Tingkatan Lima dikehendaki membaca buku teks sastera Bahasa Malaysia adalah salah satu usaha dan komitmen Kerajaan bagi memastikan rakyat berbilang kaum di negara ini dapat memafami kebudayaan antara kaum serta menjalani kehidupan seharian dalam suasana harmoni. Tetapi novel Interlok mendatangkan hasil yang terbalik.

Oleh demikian dan demi memupuk dan memperkukuhkan perpaduan di negara ini, adalah wajar untuk Kerajaan menggantikan Interlok dalam semangat muafakat dengan novel lain yang dapat diterima oleh kalangan rakyat berbilang kaum dan agama di Malaysia.

Uneasy about barbed wires

Danger lurks (Photo by M. RAJAN of http://thestar.com.my): The overgrowth covers the barbed fence used to deter outsiders from wandering into the PKNS flats.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/5bard/Article (By Dawn Chan, 6/3/2011)
Families living at the Selangor State Development Corporation flats in Jalan Kuching are wary of going for a stroll or letting their children run freely around their neighbourhood. For about two months now, the presence of barbed wires placed at areas surrounding 10 blocks of abandoned flats owned by the Defence Ministry purportedly to prevent public access, has the residents living at the 40-year-old housing area worried.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who highlighted the issue on Friday, said rolls of barbed wires, measuring approximately 0.6m high, surrounds the derelict three-storey walkup flats.

The ministry owns 380 flat units. It used to house army personnel before they moved out in 2009. Since then, its been abandoned and in a state of neglect with overgrown lallang and broken windows. The manhole covers and other metal fixtures have been stripped off its structures.
Lim, who visited the area, said, in 2009, he wrote to PKNS about the flats and was told that the Block A, B, C, D, K, L, M, N, P and Q had been sold off to the ministry in 1975. Five more blocks consisting 216 units were sold to the public, two more were rented out and converted into PKNS's office. Therefore, the ministry is responsible for the upkeep the 10 blocks owned by the ministry while the remaining blocks are maintained by PKNS. Two years ago, Lim said, he wrote to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi asking if there were proposals to do something about the abandoned flats but it went unanswered.
"I hope the ministry will take away these barbed wires, as it is endangering the residents and the public. The street lamps are not lit at night at these unoccupied blocks." He said the ministry should put up barricades which are not dangerous to the public before any untoward incident happens. He added that he received a complaint from a couple whose child was injured after tripping over the barbed wires at night.
Lim said City Hall, under its Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, is empowered to get the Defence Ministry to do something about the situation. Under Section 85(1)(b), Lim said City Hall has the right to get the ministry to remove the barbed wires to keep the area free from threats that endanger public safety. "If the ministry does not comply, it faces a fine of not more than RM2,000 and further fine of not more than RM200 for each day the barbed wires are not removed. "City Hall can also step in to remove the barbed wires and bill the ministry for the removal work," he said, adding the billing is not subjected to any appeal or review in court.

Related news: Child trips over barbed wire fencing at abandoned flats http://thestar.com.my/metro

1st time ever Pakatan Rakyat allowed to do voters registration drive in a police station!

Election Commission Voters Registration at Pondok Polis Bukit Damansara

Date: 5th & 6th March 2011 (Saturday & Sunday)

Time: 10am to 5pm

Place: Outside Pondok Polis Bukit Damansara (opposite CIMB)

Who can register: Any Malaysian citizen with age 21 and above

Batu Estate residents call off hunger strike

Photo taken from http://malaysiakini.com/

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro (By PRIYA MENON, 2/3/2011)
A PLANNED hunger strike by the residents of Batu Estate yesterday was called off after Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) agreed not to use the Essential (Clearance of Squatters) Regulation 1969 under the Emergency Ordinance to evict the residents. Some 35 people turned up at the DBKL headquarters yesterday with banners accusing DBKL of siding with the developer.

Together with them were PKR vice-president N. Surendran, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, Batu MP Tian Chua and Port Dickson assemblyman M. Ravi.

The residents said they would resort to a hunger strike if mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail or Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin did not give them a positive response on the issue. “We came here last week with a memorandum and the mayor said he would contact Surendran at 4pm with a decision but he failed to do so. “We did not know what else to do so we decided we would go on a hunger strike,” said resident R. Vijayaveeran.

After several minutes, DBKL enforcement officers came down to meet the residents but were sent upstairs again with a request from the residents for a meeting. Finally Director-General Datuk Salleh Yusup agreed to a discussion without members of the press.

“He (Salleh) met with all the residents who attended the protests today and agreed to their requests. “They will allow the residents to discuss the matter with the developer without interference from DBKL,” Surendran informed the press. He said it was unfortunate the residents had to overcome so many obstacles before their grievances were heard.

Tian Chua said this was a partial victory for the residents and the developer needed to come up with an amicable settlement.

Lim highlighted that Salleh declined to provide minutes of the meeting or a written agreement on the issue. “He said that he could only do this much at his level and if orders came from ‘above’ he would have to change it,” added Lim.

Later, during a press conference with members of the media, Salleh confirmed DBKL’s decision to cancel the demolition orders that were to take place tomorrow. He said the local authority would wait for a court order once both parties had settled their differences. “I feel that their requests are valid; they have requested that we allow them to continue discussions with the developer and we have agreed,” he said. When asked about the use of the Emergency Ordinance, Salleh said it was stated in the ordinance that developers could request the local council’s assistance for a fee.

Related news: DBKL grants Batu Estate residents reprieve http://komunitikini.com/kl-selangor

Fathers of murdered youths send memo

Source: http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=58148 (By Charles Ramendran, 28/2/2011)

The fathers of three youths who were murdered in Masjid Tanah, Malacca on Jan 25 turned up at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters today to hand over a memorandum citing their dissatisfaction over investigations into the case. Businessman Chong Kim Siak, 52, painter Lan Soon Hing, 49 and former livestock farmer Tai Keng Teng, 56 questioned how police could consider the case solved when they had only nabbed one suspect – a 16-year-old teenager who is expected to be charged on March 2.

Accompanied by Kota Melaka MP Sim Tong Him, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, the men, who arrived Bukit Aman at 11am, said they are baffled as to how a 16-year-old boy could singlehandedly commit triple murder.

"They want Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar to intervene and re-open the case. Malacca police have told them that the case will not be pursued further unless there are new leads. "The fathers of the victims want to know why police released the other nine suspects who were apparently at the crime scene on the day, and who were later arrested. The police have not given a reasonable explanation to the victims' families," said Sim.

Chong Say Keong, 17, Lan Ee Shen, 19 and Tai Shi Yong, 18 were found dead next to their motorcycles with stab wounds on Jan 23 at Kampung Binjai, Masjid Tanah. They were apparently set upon by a group of youths after an argument. The memorandum was received by police media centre deputy head DSP N. Venugopal, who assured the victims fathers that he will pass it on to the IGP.