Meeting between Kuala Lumpur parliamentarians and DBKL

Source: http://komunitikini.com/kl-selangor/kuala-lumpur/dbkl-urged-to-drop-dubious-outdoor-contract (by LEVEN WOON on 25 Aug, 2011)
Cheras Member of Parliament, Tan Kok Wai (DAP), today asked Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to revise its decision to enter into a privatisation agreement with Katchi Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a company owned by the previously engaged inefficient contractor. He told Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail that the owner of Katchi is a shareholder of Ritz Sdn Bhd, whose contract was terminated by DBKL in 2010, for failing to build 1,300 bus and taxi shelters for the council as agreed, and for failing to pay DBKL an annual contribution for being able to sell advertising for the shelters.
The new contract requires Katchi to build 650 shelters within a year and the company is in return granted the right to place two “media units” and 100 advertising billboards in KL. “The fact that the shareholder from the previous company is the owner of Katchi proves that there is only a superficial change in the contract,” he claimed, during a meeting between Kuala Lumpur parliamentarians and DBKL today.
He noted that there is also a dubious term in the contract, under which Katchi is only obliged to pay DBKL RM1,868 per shelter yearly, when the shelters are fully deployed. “If they are unable to build 650 shelters, like the last time (under Ritz), does it mean they don’t need to pay?” he asked. He also claimed the company has not secured bus shelter sponsorship nor does it have the experience to undertake a privatisation project such as this. Ahmad Fuad, in response, said he would deliberate on the issue. It is known that DBKL is due to sign the agreement in two weeks.
On another note, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok cried foul to the council that the NSK hypermarket in Old Klang Road is breaking council by-laws on operating hours by staying open 24 hours a day. She said petty traders around the area have suffered a great drop in sales because of this.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Fuad gave instructions that officials of not lower than the director rank answer all letters of inquiries from the MPs. This was in view that many questions posed by the MPs in letters were treated lightly by the council, said Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng.
According to Lim, the mayor also agreed to fix a period of one month as the response time to reply questions posed by MPs during meetings.
Lim also expected no redevelopment of the wet market in Taman Tun Dr Ismail as the proposed MRT station opposite it has been scrapped.
The Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun’s representative asked about the application status of squatters in Kampung Kerayong, who would like to shift to the Kampung Muhibah council flats. Fong was one of four absentees at the meeting; the others were Bandar Tun Razak MP Khalid Ibrahim, Setiawangsa MP Zulhasnan Rafique and the late Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohd Ghazali.

TNB withdraws appeal on RM100,000 order for damages

Source: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/115028 (17/8/2011)
PUTRAJAYA: TNB Distribution Sdn Bhd has withdrawn its appeal against a decision of the Temerloh High Court to order the company to pay about RM100,000 in damages and costs to a consumer for disconnecting power to his shop. Counsel Hadi Mukhlis, who represented TNB Distribution (TNBD), a subsidiary of Tenaga Nasional Bhd, informed a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal today that he had served a notice of discontinuance of appeal on the respondent, Leong Kai Heong, 54.
Justice Datuk Seri Abu Samah Nordin, however, told the parties that the court could not decide on the matter as the appeal had not yet been set before it. The other members of the panel were Datuk Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin and Datuk Mohtaruddin Baki.
However, the panel proceeded to hear Leong’s application to strike out TNBD’s appeal which had been fixed for hearing today. He had made the application on the grounds that the memorandum of appeal and the appeal record filed by the company were defective. After hearing submissions, the court dismissed the application and ordered Leong to pay TNBD RM1,000 in costs.
The High Court had, on June 12, 2008, allowed Leong’s claim and declared that TNB’s action in disconnecting electicity to Triang Wan Chon Trading in Pahang was illegal. Judge Datuk Abdul Halim Aman ordered TNBD to pay RM11,326.50 in special damages and RM80,000 in general damages and costs. He also dismissed the company’s counterclaim for special damages amounting to RM47,659.33, exemplary damages, interest and costs.
Leong’s counsel Lim Lip Eng told reporters outside court that TNBD had paid his client damages.
Leong filed suit on June 29, 2004 after power to his shop was disconnected on two occasions. He was told he owed TNB RM47,659.33 for meter tampering. – Bernama

Council fails to hand over keys to MCA members

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/8/14/nation/9299660&sec=nation (By OH ING YEEN, 14/8/2011)
Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) officers failed to return the keys to a building involved in a property tussle despite a letter by MCA members asking them to do so by noon yesterday. Serdang MCA chairman Datuk Liew Yuen Keong, deputy chairman Datuk Hoh Hee Lee and MCA members waited for about 45 minutes before giving their statement to the press. Liew claimed that MPKj’s failure to hand over the keys was tantamount to contempt of court. “It shows the council is not sincere in returning the keys to us despite the court’s decision. This (seizure of the building) is politically motivated,” he said, alleging that the council had been used as a “tool for political gains”.
On Friday, the Shah Alam High Court had allowed an injunction applied by MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha to stop the council from locking or entering the building, located at Jalan Indah 1/1, Taman Indah, Batu 11, Cheras. The injunction, which further sought for the council to return seven sets of new keys to the building as well as the items inside that were seized, was allowed pending full hearing of the trial. In a subsequent letter from MCA’s lawyers to MPKj, it was stated that the council was to deliver the keys at noon yesterday.
Batu 11 MCA branch chairman Lim Teong Hui said MCA would continue to allow the community to use its premises for activities. “The electricity and water bills will be paid by MCA and we will allow the community to use it free of charge. They only need to pay for the classes they attend,” he said. Liew said MCA lawyers later contacted those representing the council, who promised “to deal with the matter in a few days’ time.”
When contacted, Lim Lip Eng, the lawyer representing MPKj, said the date and time to return the keys and seized items were not stated in the injunction. “I received the letter on Friday,” he said. “However, in the injunction, it is only stated that the council has to return the items within the time set by the court. “We will wait for the court’s decision and for the MCA lawyers to inform us of the time and date.
“We will abide by the law,” he said.
Council corporate communications head Shariman Mohd Nor said he would check with his officers on the matter.