Senator DAP buat laporan polis terhadap Muhyiddin, portal berita

Ariffin membuat laporan tersebut di Balai Polis Tun H S Lee di Jalan Stadium dekat sini tengahari tadi.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/12/20/senator-dap-buat-laporan-polis-terhadap-muhyiddin-portal-berita/ (By Jamilah Kamarudin, 20/12/2012)

Naib Pengerusi DAP, Senator Dr Ariffin SM Omar hari ini membuat laporan polis terhadap Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan laman portal, Antarapos kerana menuduhnya mengamalkan perkauman sempit.

Ariffin yang ditemani peguam iaitu ahli parlimen Segambut Lim Lip Eng membuat laporan tersebut di Balai Polis Tun H S Lee di Jalan Stadium dekat sini tengahari tadi. Laporannya terhadap Muhyiddin itu berdasarkan petikan berita “Kenyataan Ariffin Melayu Punca Rasuah Diselar” pada 18 Disember lalu apabila menyifatkan ia sebagai satu perbuatan bodoh dan sangat tidak bertanggungjawab. Respon itu dibuat Muhyiddin selepas Antarapos dalam laporannya 15 Disember lalu memetik Ariffin sebagai berkata rasuah boleh dibanteras dengan lebih berkesan jika perkhidmatan awam dan polis tidak dimonopoli oleh kaum Melayu sahaja. Beliau ditemuramah portal itu selepas menyampaikan ucapan usul Kongres Kebangsaan DAP Ke-16 di Pulau Pinang minggu lalu.

“Ini merupakan fitnah semata-mata kerana saya tidak pernah menyatakan bahawa punca rasuah dalam perkhidmatan awam adalah kerana monopoli orang Melayu.

“Dalam wawancara bersama wartawan Antarapos saya telah mengatakan bahawa negara kita akan lebih aman dan stabil dengan adanya perkhidmatan awam yang terdiri daripada berbilang kaum, saya juga telah menambah bahawa ini membolehkan pencegahan rasuah.

“Justeru adalah jelas bahawa kenyataan saya telah diputar belit dan digunakan Timbalan Perdana Menteri untuk menuduh saya melakukan perbuatan bodoh dan sangat tidak bertanggungjawab, ini jelas mencemarkan reputasi saya dan lebih teruk lagi mengaitkan saya kepada kenyataan hasutan dan berunsur perkauman,” katanya dalam laporan polis. Sehubungan itu beliau mahu polis mengambil tindakan susulan kerana percaya dirinya difitnah melalui laporan media tersebut yang antara lainnya merupakan satu kesalahan dibawah Seksyen 409 Kanun Keseksaan, dan Seksyen 211 Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia 1998.

Beliau ketika ditemui pemberita berkata pihaknya masih lagi membuat pertimbangan sama ada untuk membawa kes ini ke mahkamah bagi menuntut ganti rugi.

Two new road signs at Persiaran Dato Shamsuddin Naim that point the wrong way

From New Straits Times: Residents, seen here with Lim Lip Eng (second from left), in front of the signboard with the erroneous arrows.

Related news:

Road signs that point the wrong way

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/12/5/central/12405993&sec=central

Wrong road signs create confusion

http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/wrong-road-signs-create-confusion-1.180591

Cops probe SUV owner over green march

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/215478 (By Lu Wei Hoong, 29/11/2012)

A couple, whose SUV served as a makeshift stage for Himpunan Hijau leaders at Dataran Merdeka on Sunday, was called in for questioning today by the police. Jimmy Wong and his wife, who requested anonymity, were questioned for four hours at the Kepong police station.
They were accompanied by Lim Lip Eng, the Segambut MP and a practising lawyer. Speaking to the reporters later, Lim said he believed that the police had called in the couple as part of their investigations into three figures who stood on top of the couple's vehicle during the event on Sunday. "They kept asking about the monk, Malay man and (Himpunan Hijau chairperson) Wong Tack," said Lim.
The trio had climbed on top of the vehicle to address followers during the tail end of Himpunan Hijau's 300km march from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur. At the time, Dang Wangi district police chief Zainuddin Ahmad announced that organisers of the event would be subject to investigations under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

Couple: No regrets

According to Lim, the investigating officer who quizzed the couple could not name the law used to facilitate investigations. “He even said that there was no complainant in the case… This is the first time I come across an investigation without a complainant," lamented Lim.
According to Jimmy Wong's wife, she received a call from her family in Malacca, where the vehicle was registered, that the police was looking for the vehicle owner last night. “The police said they were looking for us because my car was used in an illegal assembly,” she said. Jimmy Wong said that he and his wife did not regret allowing their vehicle to be used during the event, adding that they both admired Wong Tack.
"I didn't do anything wrong... I don't know what's wrong with protesting against Lynas," said Jimmy Wong, a real estate negotiator.

Related news: Cops quiz two over anti-Lynas rally

 http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/11/29/cops-quiz-two-over-anti-lynas-rally/

Barrage of complaints over missing drain covers

Lim Lip Eng (left) says about 10 of the drain covers are missing. Pic by Khairull Azry Bidin

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/barrage-of-complaints-over-missing-drain-covers-1.171592?cache=03%2F7.188446%3Fkey%3DKuala%3Fpage%3D0&fb_action_ids=555967241096723&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366 (By Seri Nor Nadiah Koris, 16/11/2012)

Motorists and other road users have been complaining about the missing drain covers along the elevated stretch of the Jalan Duta highway.

Segambut member of parliament Lim Lip Eng said he had been receiving complaints from the public over the past two months. Lim said he had forwarded the matter to City Hall (DBKL) but the local authority had refused to take charge.

"Two months ago, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said he would look into the matter," he claimed. Raja Nong Chik, according to Lim, had said that the metal manhole covers would be replaced with concrete ones.

"About 10 drain covers were stolen. The only one left is at the end of the elevated highway."

Lim urged the government to enact an act that would deter thieves from selling the metal to scrap yards.

"Scrap metal is currently sold for at least 80 sen per kg. People who steal drain and manhole covers and other metal stuff should be punished," he said.

Nothing that uncovered drain and manholes could endanger motorists, Lim urged the authorities to act promptly.

Related news: Motorists worry about missing drain covers along Jalan Duta

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=%2F2012%2F11%2F15%2Fcentral%2F12314320&sec=central#.UKSQj-iqN94.facebook

Man who bit cop will plead guilty

VIDEO INSIDE

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/11/06/man-who-bit-cop-will-plead-guilty/ (By Alyaa Azhar, 6/11/2012)

A man who bit a policeman in a scuffle at a roadblock says he will plead guilty as it will save time and money.

A man who bit a policeman in a scuffle said he will plead guilty as it will save him time and money.

Last Sunday, Tan Chong Yean, 28, was pulled up at a roadblock for cutting a queue. Tan did not admit to jumping the queue and the police told him that if he had complaints he can tell the court about it. Suddenly, Tan found himself being kicked and the second time when he was kicked, he managed to get hold of a policeman’s leg. He was then punched and fell to the ground.

“The situation was quite chaotic, there were about four policemen involved and I wasn’t sure who it was who held me, and who it was who handcuffed and pressed me down to the ground. “After I was handcuffed, I couldn’t really move and as the handcuffs were too tight, I asked for the handcuffs to be loosened, but was ignored. I was dizzy by then and found myself biting one of the policemen but I wasn’t sure which part exactly that I bit,” Tan said.

Tan was brought to the Petaling Jaya traffic police station and later to the Tun HS Lee police station and also the Dang Wangi police station. At all three police stations he was denied the right to lodge a police report. The next day he was charged at the Kuala Lumpur magistrate’s court.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said that Tan is going to plead guilty under the Penal Code (section 353) which reads: “Using criminal force to deter a public servant from executing his duty.”

“Although he is unhappy with his predicament, since he lives in Mantin and the case is in Kuala Lumpur, it is only going to cost him his time, money in hiring a lawyer and accommodation. Also, if Tan were to plead guilty, hopefully he would only be fined and not imprisoned. We also hope for eyewitnesses who were there taking pictures or videos to post them on the Internet to illustrate the real situation,” Lim said.

Motion rejected on al-Qaeda's M'sian website

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/213464 (By Hazlan Zakaria, 5/11/2012)

An opposition MP's has failed in his bid to move an emergency motion to discuss a Malaysian data centre's hosting of terrorist group al-Qaeda's Tawhed.net website and forum.
Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia decided in chambers today that "the matter is not urgent as per parliamentary guidelines". He also said there is no urgency for debate as the website is already being monitored and investigated by the relevant agencies.
A copy of Pandikar's written reply was made available to the press by DAP's Segambut parliamentarian Lim Lip Eng.
"The government must explain why our country is very welcoming of terrorists. I will not give up. I will try again," he vowed at a press conference in the Parliament lobby today. Lim had submitted the emergency motion under Standing Order 18(1) last Thursday, based on aStar report on the closure of the website. He also said that the government must explain why it is allowing terrorists into the country, as disclosed by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein last week.
However, Hishammuddin had downplayed the threat to Malaysia, saying that terrorists only use the country for a stopover and that they are kept under surveillance.
Lim argued that the government must come clean on the level of the threat to Malaysia, and that this is why the matter should be debated in the House.

Related news: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/11/05/dewan-tolak-usul-bahas-laman-blog-kumpulan-pengganas/ Dewan tolak usul bahas laman blog kumpulan pengganas

‘False cops’ target Indonesian immigrants

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/11/02/false-cops-target-indonesian-immigrants/ (By Leven Woon, 2/11/2012)

The plainclothes “policemen '' target Indonesia immigrants, robbing homes in Segambut under the guise of police raids.

A group of men impersonating as policemen have been on the rampage in two villages in Segambut. They come to the houses in Kampung Segambut Dalam and Kampung Segambut Bahagia in the wee hours of the morning and ransack the houses.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said many Indonesian immigrants and illegal migrants who reside in the two kampungs have fallen victim to the group. Lim suspects the group to be criminals instead of policemen. At a press conference by Lim, two victims told reporters how the group works.

They conduct raids in the wee hours of the morning and take the valuables in the rooms while the residents were told to wait in the living room. Indonesia immigrant Abdul Wasir Ali said the “police robbers” visited his home at 4am on Oct 24, and he was awakened by the continuous knocks on the door. He said the group of six, who were in plainclothes, said they were policemen and entered his home without his permission. He said he was not told why they raided his home and the “police personnel” also failed to produce any identity documents. His family of five was then asked to sit in a corner of living room, while the group ransacked the rooms and stole the valuables. “My wife tried to resist when she saw them taking away necklaces and cash, but one of the guys was very fierce,” he recounted, adding the he suffered RM2,000 in losses.

Another Indonesia immigrant Fardaus Yusman said the group identified themselves as from the narcotics department of Bukit Aman police headquarters when they approached his home on Tuesday morning. In the 2.30am incident, the “police personnel” claimed their intention was to search for drugs and repeatedly asked for his co-operation, he said.

Fardaus said he tried to keep an eye on the group when they entered his room, but was asked to move away. “One of them shouted ‘can’t you give co-operation to the police’,” he said. He suffered RM10,000 in losses which included RM400 cash, necklaces and bracelets.

Commenting on the incidents, Lim urged members of the public to scream aloud for neighbour’s help if these “policemen” come to their house.

He also said the public should snap photos of the “police personnel”, since there is no law to prevent them from doing so. The DAP parliamentarian however said it would be hard to pursue the two victims’ complaints as there were no clues to identify whether the robbers were real policemen or just criminals.

Deported Malaysian demands apology

VIDEO INSIDE: Hooi Mei Then was denied entry into Taiwan because she was accused of being a human trafficker, a charge that puzzles her.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/10/25/deported-malaysian-demands-apology/ (By Leven Woon, 25/10/2012)

A clerk who has no criminal record was shocked to learn that she was denied entry into Taiwan when she went there for a trip a few weeks ago. Hooi Mei Theng, 28, was barred by the Taiwanese immigration officers upon arriving there on Oct 7 as she was accused of being a human trafficker. Having been detained and deported by the Taiwanese authorities, she felt humiliated and demanded an apology from them.

DAP Segambut parliamentarian Lim Lip Eng, DAP lawyer Eric Tan and Hooi related the incident to the media after meeting the secretary of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office here this morning.

Hooi was on her maiden seven-day trip to Taiwan with her husband and a friend, and arrived at the Taoyuan International Airport at around 10.40pm. While her husband and friend passed through immigration without any problems, she was however stopped and accused of committing a human trafficking offence in Taiwan in March 2009.

“They claimed that I was on their blacklist and they have banned me for 10 years starting 2009. I asked for clarifications but they only showed a paper that had my name, identification card number, passport number and the accusation that I brought illegal immigrants into Taiwan before,” she claimed.

She was subsequently detained overnight by Taiwan’s immigration authorities and deported back to Malaysia on Oct 8. Puzzled by the deportation, Hooi said she had never faced this kind of situation before when visiting China in April this year, and Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia earlier.

“I have never lost my identification card or passport. I am completely clueless why this happened,” she added.

Hooi later brought her case to the Bukit Aman police headquarters, Malaysian immigration department and Foreign Ministry. She was certified with a letter of good conduct by the ministry on Oct 16.

“I want them [the Taiwanese authorities] to apologise and compensate the RM7,000 hotel fees and other expenses I have paid upfront for the trip,” she said.

A different version

Lim said the Taiwanese embassy’s secretary told them a different story during a meeting.

“He said it was not accurate to say she committed the offence in Taiwan. The Taiwanese authorities only got the information from an international network against human traffickers which they are a member of.

“He said the reason that Hooi was still allowed to enter a few countries was that those nations are not members of the network,” the MP said.

Lim also criticised the secretary’s arrogance for allegedly refusing to reconsider the ban, saying that Taiwan “can afford to lose a tourist like Hooi”. He said such a statement was uncalled for as Malaysians would generally choose developed nations such as the United States or Japan if they were to work illegally.

“If we go Taiwan, the sole purpose is only to spend, not to work illegally,” he said.

He added that the Malaysian’s police assistance was much needed to further pursue the case to clear Hooi’s name.

Residents do not want badminton court

Cordoned off: The portion of green space at the children’s playgound in Jalan Sri Bintang 2 in Taman Sri Bukit Bintang, Kepong.

(Story by S. PUSPADEVI & photo by KIMBERLY YEO, 22/10/2012)

Residents of Taman Bukit Sri Bintang in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur are against any construction work that would take away the green space at the children’s playground at Jalan Sri Bintang 2. They noticed a portion of the playground had been cordoned off two weeks ago and attempts to get details from the workers and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) were futile.

“There isn’t any notice or signboard informing the residents about any upgrading work and we want to know what is going to happen as we live in the area. There is only one playgound here and the green space is very limited,” said Angus Ng, who has been living in Taman Sri Bintang for 12 years. He said if the green area was taken away, there would not be enough space for children to play since there is an existing basketball court in the field.

Bukit Sri Bintang Apartment Management Corporation chairman Victor Low said the area that had been cordoned off measures 35ft x 70ft and could be converted into a badminton court. “We do not need a badminton court as the area is windy in the evenings. The elderly and children will be unhappy if this green space is taken away,” said Low urging the City Hall to stop any work on the field.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said he had written to DBKL’s Landscape Department and their reply via email on Oct 2 stated that the work would facilitate the upgrading of the playground. “The residents have the right to know of any upgrading work that will take place in a public area. I believe this new construction is meant for an outdoor badminton court but I don’t understand why DBKL had failed to erect a notice board to inform the public about the project, as even a private land owner is required to put up a notice before any work can be done,” said Lim, hoping that the Kuala Lumpur Mayor will halt the project as majority of residents were against any encroachment on the green field.

Lim said DBKL should provide more parks and playground in area, as it was necessary to promote a green lung in the neighbourhood.

Lawmakers want faulty KL traffic info system scrapped

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/lawmakers-want-faulty-kl-traffic-info-system-scrapped/ (By By Clara Chooi, Assistant News Editor, 16 October 2012)

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers today demanded Putrajaya scrap its RM365 million Integrated Transport Information System (ITIS), an eight-year-old traffic monitoring system that the Auditor-General’s Report 2011 has highlighted for wastages and described as “unsatisfactory”. In the report released yesterday, it was revealed that despite the project’s implementation since 2005, a significant 70.6 per cent of road users were not aware of its existence and its hotline number, while 65 per cent have never used ITIS online to obtain the latest traffic information.

ITIS kicked off operations in 2005 with the co-operation of KL City Hall (DBKL), the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA), Transport Ministry and the Public Works Department (PWD) as a system to monitor traffic, accidents, roadworks and other activities occurring on roads and highways in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley.

Citing a parliamentary reply on June 18 this year, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng told a press conference here that it had already been revealed that only 46 of the 140 Variable Message Sign (VMS) display units under the ITIS are currently functional. Under ITIS, real-time information of traffic conditions are meant to be disseminated via the VMS to help reduce traffic congestion within the city. “The federal territories minister told the Dewan Rakyat that the main cause of the malfunction and breaking down of the VMS is because the components have achieved their economic age and there are no replacement parts available in the market,” Lim said. He pointed out that the ministry had also revealed that despite this, an annual allocation of RM1.5 million has been granted to DBKL to maintain the ITIS. “So for eight years, they have paid RM12 million... they are paying them every year to purchase spare parts that no longer exist,” he said.

Lim also cited the Auditor-General’s Report as revealing that the government had allocated RM36.87 million to DBKL to purchase a building for ITIS but City Hall had instead used RM8.49 million to rent premises for the system. “My question is: was the remaining allocation used for other purposes or was it returned to the government?” he asked. He pointed out that the report had also revealed that DBKL’s tenancy agreement was for a 30-year period, indicating a possibility that the RM1.5 million maintenance allocation for ITIS may continue for the same period.

“We want to know if the government plans on discontinuing ITIS due to these concerns raised... or do they plan on proceeding with the faulty system, at the risk of squandering more taxpayers’ monies?” he said.

Agreeing, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar pointed out that the ITIS project, which involves some 255 CCTVs and 728 automatic incident detection cameras, had on its launch in 2005 been meant to help the authorities with crime fighting. But, she said, after five years of implementation, the authorities, including DBKL, had repeatedly refused to update lawmakers on the system’s failures and status of the allocations. “This is another clear reason why we in Pakatan reject the system of awarding projects via direct tender,” she said.

Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai said the system should be scrapped entirely as it had purportedly failed to fulfil its objectives. “Today, road users rely more on obtaining traffic information from radio stations instead of using the ITIS,” he said.

Related news: PR MPs point out flaws in ITIS system http://www.thesundaily.my/news/517467

Nazri: Police, MACC not probing Copgate

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/210046 (By Aidila Razak, 27/9/2012)

Police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission are not probing claims that former inspector general Musa Hassan (below) was involved in underworld activities.
In a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut), Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said that this is because no reports were lodged on the matter with both the agencies.
"However, if a report or complaint is made, the enforcement agencies will conduct investigations in accordance with the law," he said.
Lim had asked the prime minister if the government had probed former Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) chief Ramli Yusuff's claims that Musa had links with underworld figures BK Tan and Goh Cheng Poh while Musa was still in service.

In an immediate reaction, former Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) chief Ramli Yusuff rebutted Nazri saying he had indeed lodged several reports on the matter. “I lodged a few reports, but (they were) conveniently ‘NFA’ed (marked ‘no further action’) by the AG’s Chambers,” Ramli toldMalaysiakini in an email today.

However he did not elaborate on the details of the said reports or when they were made. The former top cop also countered Nazri’s claim that an investigation could not be carried out without a police report having been made, saying that the case had already been widely reported in the media and action was thus warranted.
“No need to lodge a police report, because it is being widely reported. The police or MACC should initiate action if it involves serious allegations without waiting for reports to be lodged. When I was in service, we opened up a lot of investigation papers based on ‘first information reports’ lodged by our officers,” said Ramli. "That's why we insist to have a tribunal," he added.

'High level collusion'
Malaysiakini earlier this year reported that several whistleblowers-whose information led to the arrest of Johor kingpin Goh aka Tengku Goh in 2007-had been forced to implicated six police officers investigating the case. These officers were charged with fabricating evidence in 2007, but eventually all were acquitted, the last in mid-2011. Ramli on Feb 29 had alleged that attorney general Abdul Gani Patail, Musa and Goh had colluded to "fix" him and the six police officers.
Malaysiakini had posted a special report in 2007 on the scandal, piecing together information on the goings-on involving the top echelon of the police force.
Musa Hassan has denied protecting Tengku Goh or conspiring with Abdul Gani to frame Ramli and his men, calling the allegations a tactic by those with an ulterior motive to create confusion.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein when asked in March following the exposes said the government would investigate if there is proofof the claims.

Related news: No probe into ex-IGP, underworld links as there was no complaint, says Nazri

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/no-probe-into-ex-igp-underworld-links-as-there-was-no-complaint-says-nazri/

Nazri: No probe into ‘copgate’

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/09/27/nazri-no-probe-into-%E2%80%98copgate%E2%80%99/
No probe into ex-IGP http://www.thesundaily.my/news/501821

Worsening crime at Medan Putra Business Centre

The third last paragraph of this news article should be: He added that the participation of MPs only would not benefit the people at large.

Call to probe SPM trial exam leak

Related news: Kertas percubaan SPM bocor di FB http://www.sinarharian.com.my/semasa/kertas-percubaan-spm-bocor-di-fb-1.84829#.UFKbaNTZ77Y.facebook

Forget books, answers are on Facebook

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2012%2F9%2F14%2Fnation%2F12027188&sec=nation#.UFLM5U3mmVk.facebook

Call to probe SPM trial exam leak http://www.thesundaily.my/news/491673

Raya open house for Segambut residents

(Photos by DAP Segambut)

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=%2F2012%2F9%2F11%2Fcentral%2F12000850&sec=central#.UE8DYZjaDss.facebook (By JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ, 11/9/2012)
Residents of Taman SPPK in Segambut were still able to enjoy Hari Raya delicacies recently when Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, together with the Segambut PAS branch, held a joint Hari Raya Open house.

The event, which kicked off at 3pm, saw several hundred visitors enjoying the array of food served. Among the delicacies served were lemang, rendang and ketupat. There were also dishes such as cendol, satay, curry mee and otak-otak.

In the spirit of the festivity, Segambut PAS members were responsible for the preparation of the ketupat and lemang, as the team spent the previous night preparing the dishes. Segambut PAS secretary Wan Shafareen Wan Abdul Halim said it was something that the team did every year and people looked forward to it. “We started cooking after the evening prayers the night before and it was a team effort. Everyone was involved and we are glad that people enjoyed the food,” said Wan Shafareen. Also present was Segambut PKR vice-chairman Maswan Darjoh.

Lim, clad in a deep purple baju Melayu, played host at the event. He said the main issues in the area were security concerns and traffic congestion due to the international school in the vicinity. He added the peak hour traffic was bad and he had a meeting with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to voice out their concerns but there had not been any answers yet.

“The residents want a traffic warden to be placed near the school during peak hours,” he added. I have raised this issue in Parliament and will wait for the answers when the Parliament session resumes,” he added.

Dangerous crossing at Lembah Kiara Recreational Park

Not safe: A group of children playing along the stream in the evening.

Preventive measure: A small note on a random tree near the stream advising the public not to play at the stream.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/8/25/central/11910933&sec=central (By CHRISTINA LOW & photos by GLENN GUAN, 25/8/2012)

DESPITE a huge signboard put up to inform joggers at the Lembah Kiara Recreational Park in Kuala Lumpur not to use its suspension bridge, some are still doing so and risking their lives.

“It is okay, the bridge is not that high, if it collapses, I will try and hold on to the ropes on the bridge,” said a runner when met during StarMetro’s visit to the park recently. The runner is just one of many park users who continues to use the bridge as the signboard does not specify the danger they faced.

Another park user, who wanted to be known only as Lim, said she walks there every morning and evening to check on the condition of the bridge for herself. “All we know is that it is dangerous but we do not know more than that, that’s why people are still using it,” she said. Lim, a resident of Taman Tun Dr Ismail, frequents the park every day and has assumed the role of a park ranger, ensuring children did not use the bridge and hurt themselves. “Recently, a couple with young children, complete with stroller, wanted to use the bridge but I warned them about the danger,” she said.

A structural engineer, known only as Koh, said the bridge posed danger to its users. “The stay wires on both ends of the bridge have snapped and are dangling. These wires help keep the bridge in place and it can collapse any time,” said Koh. Koh’s wife said the National Landscape Department (JLN) should have specified the dangers on the signboard. “Now the board serves no purpose,” she said.

Besides the bridge, the park is generally in a bad state, with its water fountain not in working condition and a water lily pond becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The trees and grass are also overgrown with the drains along the running path clogged with dead leaves.

Lim also pointed out a stream in the park with murky water where children are often seen catching small fishes. She said residents believed the toilet’s septic tank was out of order, causing some of the discharge to flow into the drain and the stream.

JLN has put up notices on trees near the stream informing the public not to use it but many could not see as these were just too small.

In April, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng visited the park and said there was a lack of maintenance of the park by the authorities. When contacted yesterday, Lim said although JLN had conducted minor repairs on the bridge, it was not ready for use and as such still closed to the public. “Kuala Lumpur City Hall has said it is no longer their job to maintain the park as it is now under JLN, “ he said.

Lim said he would raise the issue in Parliament next month.

City Hall to solve flood woes in Segambut

Kuala Lumpur mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib (center) and Lim (left) checking the damage caused by the recent flood.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/city-hall-to-solve-flood-woes-in-segambut-1.128731 (Story by NOEL ACHARIAM AND SHEILA SRI PRIYA, 24/8/2012)

SEEKING SOLUTION: Recent flood caused by clogged drain and faulty pumps

City Hall will be taking immediate action to remedy the flood issue that hit the Segambut area on the third day of Hari Raya. Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib said City Hall will take full responsibility for the flash floods that inundated the Segambut area, affecting 1,400 families. "We understand the plight of the people here. We will take the necessary steps to help curb the problem and look into adequate compensation for the people," he said after visiting the flood-prone area in Segambut yesterday. He also stressed that City Hall does not want to keep on paying compensation and not solve the flood issue.
"We are worried that the area will continue facing floods if the issue is not resolved. We will try and reduce flooding here before the rainy season starts next month," he said. Phesal said two incidents had caused the three-metre-high floods in Segambut on Tuesday afternoon. "The first incident occurred because of a clogged drain beneath the construction site of an elevated highway at Jalan Dutamas Raya. City Hall is building a highway to ease the traffic congestion in the Segambut area. "The construction debris that got caught in the drain was one of the causes of the floods. We have instructed the developer to clean up the drain immediately," he said.
He said the other incident happened at one of the water pump stations in the area. "Two of the water pumps had malfunctioned during the flash floods. The station was upgraded last October from manual to automatic. The station is still under the maintenance period and we have instructed the contractor to rectify the problem and station a person to monitor the pumps until the maintenance period is over," he said. Phesal also said as a precautionary measure, City Hall will have more than one contractor on standby to monitor the pumps. "We will get the residents to be in charge of contacting the contractor when there is heavy rain. We will also give out the contact number of more than one contractor," he said. Phesal was commenting on the residents' frustration when they couldn't contact the contractor on the day of the floods because his mobile phone was switched off.
Areas hit by the floods were Segambut Dalam, Segambut Masjid, Segambut Bahagia, Segambut Gate, Segambut Luar, Kampung Pasir and Segambut Permai. On the long-term measures that will be taken to ease the flood situation in Segambut, Phesal said City Hall is currently designing a large storm drain to channel water from Taman Segambut  (SPPK) to Sungai Toga. The drain is expected to cost RM3 million and will be completed between nine months and a year. "We have already instructed the developer to speed up the design of the storm drain. We expect to finish the design in the next two months," he said.
Phesal said  City Hall will also be upgrading the Kampung Benteng retention pond, which is expected to be completed in March next year. "We will be enlarging the capacity of the retention pond to handle the high volume of rainwater. The water from Kampung Benteng will be released into Sungei Keroh and diverted to the Jinjang retention pond," he said.

Phesal said  City Hall will be calling for a town hall session with the residents. "We will soon inform the residents of projects that are taking place in the Segambut area, so that they can contact us if in an emergency. We will also be replacing the carpets at the surau that was affected by the floods and City Hall will be sending our officers to help clean up the area," he said.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng thanked the mayor for visiting the residents here. "We are very pleased with the mayor's visit. We hope that the flood problems will be addressed promptly," he said. Lim also distributed 300 bags of rice to the flood victims on Tuesday.

Mohd Haizain Mawi, 38: It was the third day of Hari Raya and our festive mood was shattered with this incident. We are now cleaning up our houses and it will take us a few days to dry our belongings which we managed to salvage. We do not want promises but fast solutions. We want City Hall to also keep us updated through town hall sessions.
Hassan Kasim, Segambut Bahagia UMNO branch chief: Our village was hit by the worst flood on Wednesday even though it rained less than an hour. The water rose quickly and the villagers could not remove their valuables to higher ground. Residents' cars were stuck in the floods and  their belongings were damaged. However we are glad that the Kuala Lumpur mayor decided to turun padang despite his day off to listen to our grievances.
Azahri Kassim, 48: I have been living in Kampung Segambut Bahagia Village for the past 20 years. I believe there are plans to build two retention ponds here. However, the floods can be avoided if a third retention pond is built on the higher grounds at Mont Kiara. The water flowing here from the more developed areas on higher ground is the cause of the floods. Our village is located on low land which was on former tin mine area. We received 300 bags of rice from Segambut Member of Parliament, Lim Lip Eng, and we are grateful for the contribution.
Muhamad Adam, 58: My son just got married and his new wedding room set was damaged in the flood. My school going children's books and bags were also damaged. Four snakes made their way into the neighbour's house. Luckily, there was no fatality but we fear the worst when we see dark clouds. We are now paranoid.
Segambut Member of Parliament, Lim Lip Eng: I thank the new Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib for his quick response to the residents' plight.

Related news: Segambut folk want KL mayor to resolve flash floods problem

 http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/8/24/central/11903499&sec=central

Wait over for apartment residents

(Photo taken from http://www.nanyang.com.my/)

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/8/15/central/11847628&sec=central (15/8/2012)

After seven years of waiting, the Certificate of Fitness has finally been issued to Prima Tiara 1 and Prima Tiara 2 apartments in Taman Seri Sinar, Kuala Lumpur, last month.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said the delay in the issuance was due to the developer’s failure to pay the compulsory contribution due to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and its accumulated interests, “I highlighted the issue to DBKL in February and asked them to speed up the process, Finally, the CF was issued on July 17. “I feel it is not fair for DBKL to make the houseowners wait when the defaulter are the developers. Perhaps, DBKL could issue the CF first and take legal action against the developer instead.

Prima Tiara 1 Joint Management Body chairman Daniel Chong Tiam Kwai said he was relieved that the wait was finally over.

“I am happy, but for DBKL to make us wait for something that was not our fault is not right. I am sure there are many others caught in similar situation and are helplessly waiting for the CF. I hope DBKL can review their procedures to be fair to all,” he said.

Timely lifeline for Bukit Kiara

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/8/1/nation/11771954&sec=nation (By VIJENTHI NAIR, 1/8/2012)

KUALA LUMPUR: Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung has ordered a halt to all construction in Bukit Kiara until further notice. He has also promised to work closely with Friends of Bukit Kiara (FoBK) and other NGOs and concerned members of the public to repair the damage done by the construction of a fence to demarcate the park.

Chor announced the stop-work order when he, together with National Landscape Department representatives, met concerned members of the public and NGOs here. “Although 80% of the fencing work is complete and much damage has been done, we will work from now on to preserve (the forest) as well as repair the damage. More public engagement sessions would be held on the development of Bukit Kiara to make it a big-scale public park over the next 25 years.”

Chor also said the delay in gazetting Bukit Kiara was because more than 64 of the 187ha land had been leased to two corporations.

Former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife Tun Jeanne Abdullah, who is Landscape Malaysia chairman, were also present.

Related Story: Be vigilant to protect the green oases in our urban landscape

Nature lovers do their bit for Bukit Kiara

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/7/16/nation/11669378&sec=nation (By VIJENTHI NAIR, photos By RAYMOND OOI, 16/7/2012)

KUALA LUMPUR: Nature lovers walked the talk by turning up in large numbers at Bukit Kiara to call for the green lung to be gazetted. Signatures were also collected for a petition during the one hour walk organised by the Friends of Bukit Kiara at 8am yesterday. The petition, among others, wants a stop to all construction work at Bukit Kiara. It will be submitted to Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung.

In October last year, the National Landscape Department started putting up a 3.5m-high fence along a 4.7km stretch as part of an upgrading project to demarcate the park and increase security for visitors. The construction, which is still ongoing, caused an estimated 3,000 mature trees to be felled, trails to be damaged and has affected water quality in the area.

Selangor Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) chairman Henry Goh said the gazetting was promised by the Federal Territories Ministry back in 2006 and is still pending. “There is a proposal to construct arboretums, buildings and cement lanes, as well as shop lots and a food court within the forest. “We are not against development but it should not be done at the expense of nature,” said Goh, who took part in the walk.

Others included MNS president Prof Dr Maketab Mohamed, Trails Association of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor (Traks) president Scott Roberts, Global Environmental Centre (GEC) River Care Programme coordinator Dr K. Kalithasan, The Star group chief editor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai and Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng.

Chor had earlier explained that clearing work being done at Bukit Kiara was to ensure it stays a green lung reserve. He said the security fencing was built by the Landscape Department to protect the park from illegal encroachment.

He was also quoted as saying the paths were cleared to bring the equipment and material for the fencing. However, some residents had expressed concern that the clearing work was a prelude to commercial development.

Related news: Construction works in Bukit Kiara causing much damage to the hill http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/7/16/central/11668920&sec=central

Danger lurks in Taman Sri Kuching playground

Exposed live wires pose threat to public

TROUBLE WAITING TO HAPPEN: Lim shows the switch box that has been neglected for a year. In the centre is Yap — Pix: Shahir Omar 

IN A MESS: The playground in a state of neglect

Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/story/danger-lurks-playground (by Ikram Ismail, 6/7/2012)

Residents of Taman Sri Kuching in Segambut are worried about wires jutting out from a Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) switch box at a playground near Jalan Selingsing 3.

The switch box fell off from its trap more than a year ago and nothing was done to address the problem. The playground was poorly maintained and has turned into a haunt for foreigners who sit around consuming alcohol at night.
A resident, Yap Yee Siam, 65, said the problems started after the switch box dropped from its trap. “A group of foreigners playing football had accidentally hit the switch box,” he said. “Since then, I consealed the box with canvas to prevent water from seeping through.”

Yap said residents fear for children’s safety while at the playground. “Many do avoid the fallen switch box but accidents can happen,” he said.
Yap said TNB staff visited the playground several times but there is no initiative to repair or replace the switch box. “In the morning, there are rubbish and beer bottles strewn all over the area,” he said.
Yap hoped the authorities will look into it to prevent any untoward incidents. Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng visited the playground yesterday and said he would check with City Hall.

ITIS electronic signboards in the city out of order

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/6/30/central/11563477&sec=central (By S. PUSPADEVI, 30/6/2012) (Photo from Sinchew Daily) 

About 70% of the variable message sign (VMS) system installed to inform motorists of the traffic situation and the alternative routes to take in Kuala Lumpur are not in working condition. The Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry via Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has paid about RM12mil to Integrated Transport Information System (ITIS) to maintain the VMS systems since it started operations in 2004.

“However, out of the 146 VMS units installed, only 46 are in working condition,” said Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng. He said he had raised the matter to Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin in Parliament on June 18. Lim said Nong Chik had replied in a written statement on the same day stating the reasons for the dysfunctional units, which included road-widening and construction work, theft of electric cables and faulty VMS main components.

The statement said DBKL was given an allocation of RM1.5mil per year just to maintain VMS, which include replacing of cables and VMS components, and that DBKL is now upgrading the existing system to provide better information to commuters.

“RM12mil spent in the last eight years is an alarming figure. I assume that the ministry is unable to repair the system since no spare parts are available in the market. Shouldn’t the system be assessed and tested out first for at least two years before sealing the contract? For the last eight years, they have been using taxpayers’ money to maintain the system,” he told reporters at his office.

“I would like to know the terms of the agreement and I hope the KL mayor will make a decision to terminate the contract with ITIS, as this involves taxpayers’ money,” he said.

ITIS is a transport information system designed to improve the planning and flow of the city’s traffic system to ensure better management. Other benefits of VMS include the technology to capture real-time traffic information for incident management and long-term transport planning, alleviate traffic congestion and delays during rush hour as well as emergency situations.

Blueprint to tackle traffic congestion in KL?

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/6/29/central/11568325&sec=central

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng asked the incoming mayor of Kuala Lumpur Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib: How are you going to come up with a blueprint to tackle traffic congestion in KL?

Ahmad Phesal: DBKL isn’t solely responsible for handling traffic woes in the city. There are too many highways leading into the city, which brings in the traffic. In Vancouver, Canada, all the highways are built outside of the city, so we need to see the connectivity of all the links.

Metal railing goes missing

Dangerous path: Morgan showing the metal railing and manhole cover which had been ripped off.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/6/23/central/11526279&sec=central (By S. PUSPADEVI & Photos by P. NATHAN, 23/6/2012)

Part of the metal railing along a pathway in Jalan Udang Kepai, Taman Sri Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, has gone missing and is posing a danger to joggers and the elderly. Without the railing, joggers and the elderly using the path early in the morning might fall down the slope and into Sungai Keroh nearby.

A resident, Megat Merican, 49, said they suspect that the metal railing had been stolen by drug addicts. He said people had witnessed motorcyclists removing part of the metal railing and carting it away. “This is a public facility provided by the local authority and to remove it is an offence,” said Megat, who has been living in the area for about three years. He urged the police to increase their patrolling in the area to nab the culprits.

S. Morgan, 56, a resident of Taman Sri Segambut for 34 years, said they had brought up the matter to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the police on numerous occasions, but so far nothing had been done. “Why are they not doing anything about it?” he asked.

“They should not wait for somebody to get hurt before taking action,” he said. Morgan said manhole covers on the pathway had also been stolen and the surrounding area had not been well maintained. “About 50 manhole covers have been stolen in the past few months. A culvert runs beneath the pathway and each manhole is separated by a five-metre gap. “This is also dangerous for the public,” said Morgan, adding that DBKL should replace the manhole covers with wood as a temporary measure. “Sungai Keroh is also dirty with people throwing garbage into the river. We want the local authority to clean the river because it can cause flash floods during the rainy season,” he said,

He added that City Hall should maintain the area and clear the overgrown shrubs in the area.

A. Murugeshu, special assistant to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who was present at the site, said the local authority should act fast by replacing the metal railing and installing wooden covers as a temporary measure, apart from cleaning the river.

Lim, when contacted, said as the metal railing and manhole covers were a public facility, it was only appropriate for DBKL to take action. He said he would write in to DBKL on the areas concerned and seek their prompt action.

Pakatan Rakyat brought aid to Segambut Estate fire victims.

Siasat siapa menyamar identiti Menteri Kesihatan dalam tender nombor WWW15

RM56,000 of smoke in Bersih’s eyes

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/06/12/rm56000-of-smoke-in-bersihs-eyes/ (By Patrick Lee, 12/6/2012)

Nearly RM60,000 was spent on tear gas aimed at Bersih protesters this year.

A total of RM56,092.85 worth of tear gas was fired at protesters during the April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally.

In a written statement to Segambut MP (DAP) Lim Lip Eng, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that 909 tear smoke shells (TSS) cost RM47,677.05, while the 58 tear smoke grenades (TSG) cost RM8,415.80. Broken down further, a TSS would cost RM52.45 each while a TSG would cost RM145.10 each.

The total number was nearly three times the amount spent to disperse protesters during the 2011 Bersih 2.0 rally, or RM22,885.76.

Back then, a TSS cost RM79.76 while a TSG cost RM145.10 each, with 226 and 36 shots fired respectively. Last year’s tear gas canisters were manufactured by the US-based ALS Technologies, a detail that was left out this year.

JPJ diberi 48 jam perjelas isu WWW 15

Keh Yew (tengah ) bersama ahli cawangan menunjukkan surat rasmi yang dihantar kepada JPJ Wilayah Persekutuan, semalam.

Source: http://www.sinarharian.com.my/semasa/jpj-diberi-48-jam-perjelas-isu-www-15-1.54647 (WARTAWAN SINAR HARIAN 8 Jun 2012)

DAP Cawangan Taman Segambut mendesak Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) Wilayah Persekutuan memberikan maklum balas berhubung nombor pendaftaran WWW 15 milik Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Seri Leow Tiong Lai yang didakwa diberikan secara percuma.
Pengerusi Cawanganya, Hoo Keh Yew berkata, menteri itu melalui kenyataan di sebuah akhbar pernah mendakwa bahawa nombor pendaftaran itu diberikan secara percuma kepadanya. “Banyak kekeliruan timbul, tapi bila kami datang sendiri ke Pejabat Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Wilayah Persekutuan hari ini (semalam), jelas pada papan tanda besar itu terdapat nama menteri itu bersama nilai deposit tender yang dibayar,” katanya pada sidang media semalam.
Menurut Keh Yew, menteri itu sebelum dilihat memberi kenyataan tidak konsisten di media berhubung pembelian nombor pendaftaran WWW 15 bernilai RM24,200 untuk kenderaan rasminya. “Jika benar nombor itu percuma, siapa  yang mohon harga tender RM24,200 itu dikecualikan dan sekiranya dibayar siapakah yang telah membayar deposit,” katanya.
Katanya lagi, satu surat rasmi diberikan kepada JPJ Wilayah Persekutuan semalam dan diberi tempoh selama 48 jam untuk menjawab soalan yang dikemukakan dan jika gagal laporan akan dibuat ke Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM).

Pertanyaan Nombor Pendaftaran “WWW 15”

DAP Segambut mohon JPJ WPKL jawap sama ada deposit tender untuk WWW15, iaitu 50% daripada harga tender, telah dibayar.

Prayer for Datuk Ambiga

A special Hindu prayer gathering was held yesterday in Jalan Ipoh for the well-being of Bersih co-chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.