Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/story/two-thirds-majority-not-necessary-says-opposition (by Ram Anand, 28/2/2012)
Opposition MPs yesterday rubbished Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s statement that the proposed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) Service Commission could only be implemented if Barisan Nasional won a two-thirds majority in the next general election.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said they would support the Bill if it was tabled at Parliament in the near future, provided it upheld the idea of granting autonomy to the MACC. “In principle, I would vote for the Bill to be passed,” he said. Lim said that Najib was serious about his reforms, he should do it immediately and not belatedly.
“I also want to see the MACC be given powers to prosecute, removing the prosecuting powers to the attorney-general (A-G) alone,” he said.
Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said the Opposition would support any move designed to give the MACC greater independence. Asked about other ways the MACC could attain full autonomy, he said the Attorney-General’s Chambers should also be held answerable to parliament and not only the prime minister. “That way, the A-G’s Chambers will also be held accountable if it doesn’t charge someone with graft,” he said.
Both Khalid and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar (pic) questioned if the announcements were an admittance from the government that the MACC did not function effectively. “Pakatan Rakyat will be more than ready to support his reform initiatives. Najib is wrong if he assumes we do not prioritise the needs of the nation before our own partisan views,” said Nurul Izzah in a test message. “We joined the Parliamentary Select Commitee (PSC) despite its weak opposition representation and awful record of implementation to date.” She said that if the prime minister held a negative view of the Opposition in supporting his proposed reforms, it would be “irresponsible of him as a leader for all Malaysians”. “The prime minister’s statement shows a lack of political will and sincerity in addressing graft,” she said.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Two-thirds majority not necessary, says Opposition
Don’t jump the gun on TTDI market issue, says Ahmad Fuad
Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail has urged Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) market traders not to speculate on the redevelopment plans as nothing has been finalised yet. “How can there be when there is not even a letter of intent or an offer letter?’’ Ahmad Fuad asked. “We were asked by the Govern-ment to study the proposal to develop the market,’’ he said.
The mayor said he was unhappy to read media reports quoting him as saying that the market would be demolished as it was obstructing the MRT line. “I have no idea who is creating these stories that the market will be demolished and that I want to take away the traders’ licences,’’ Ahmad Fuad said.
The mayor explained that any privatisation project involved an in-depth study on the plan, design and social impact. “Only after that we will meet the stakeholders with all the necessary information. But in this case, we are still studying the proposal and we have not made any decisions,’’ he said. He added that it was a normal process for the Government to revive developed areas to unlock its value but that the whole process required a lot of looking into.
It was reported in StarMetro on Feb 27 that the TTDI market traders were concerned whether their licences would be renewed since Fuad had called off a meeting with the TTDI Market Traders Association (MTA) on Monday without stating any reasons. The letter from the mayor also mentioned that the MRT station would be built at the TTDI Caltex station, according to its original plan. The matter was further aggravated when the TTDI Residents Association (RA) told MTA chairman Jenny Loo that traders would be at the losing end if they did not agree to the proposed redevelopment plan and that DBKL had every right to ask the traders to leave since the market belonged to the City Hall.
Loo was asked to say yes to the plan but she refused stating that the traders had not given their consent and would prefer to view the proposed redevelopment plan first.
The TTDI RA had sent an e-mail to the residents asking them to give their votes on the modernisation plan of the market.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Motorcylist goes on a tyre-puncturing spree
A MOTORCYCLIST punctured the tyres of 14 cars in Jalan Segambut Dalam, Taman Segambut, in the wee hours of the morning but his act was captured on a resident’s CCTV.
Malaysian Nanban director Ahmad Mydin Sikandar said his neighbour woke him up at about 3.45am and told him that a motorcyclist was puncturing car tyres. “My CCTV recorded the incident which took place at 3.26am on Friday. The suspect, in his 20s, punctured the tyres of four cars parked near front of my gate. “He was wearing a helmet with his face covered by a handkerchief,” said the 43-year-old, adding that the CCTV showed that the suspect moved swiftly from one car to another.
Lee Wan Hua, 60, said his nephew, who witnessed the incident, ran out and chased the suspect, but he fled on a motorcycle. “I alerted my neighbours and we managed to get a glimpse of the suspect via Ahmad Mydin’s CCTV recording,” said Lee.
A resident of Jalan Segambut Hilir, who was also affected, said her niece realised that her tyres were punctured when she was going to work at about 5.30am. “She woke me up and asked if I could drop her off at work and that is when we noticed that another car of ours was punctured as well,” said Lim Wee Kee, 50, an enforcement officer with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). She said the crime rate in the residential area had increased tremendously over the past one year. Residents also reported that two houses in the neighbourhood were burgled a few days ago. “We are hoping that the police would do something about the increase in crime in the area,” said Lim.
Segambut Barisan Nasional chairman Jayanthi Devi Balaguru, who visited the affected residents, said she hoped that the police would set up a police beat base in the area and patrol the area, especially after midnight. “Residents should also set up a residents association since the present one has been inactive for years,” said Jayanthi.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said based on complaints from the residents, he had submitted a proposal to the district police headquarters in Sentul for a police station to be built in the area, but did not get any response. “I have also requested for a meeting between the residents of Taman Segambut and the police, but there was also no response. “The crime rate in this area has increased over the years and it is time for the police to act. “If there is no budget for a police station, then a mobile police beat should be set up to combat crime,” he said. He added that the Jinjang Utara police station, the nearest to the area, was located about 5km from Taman Segambut.
The residents do not know the motive of the suspect in damaging the vehicles. Some believe that the suspect was high on drugs or was doing it for fun.
TTDI market traders left in the dark - Part 2
Traders at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail market are concerned whether their licences will be renewed as Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail had called off a meeting scheduled today. TTDI Market Traders Association chairman Jenny Loo said she received a letter from the KL mayor on Feb 23 stating that the meeting had been called off without stating any reasons. “We are eager to meet the mayor and find out what is going on,” said Loo, adding that the letter had also stated that the LRT station would be built at the Caltex station, according to its original plan.
The matter was further aggravated when the TTDI Residents Association (RA) said traders would be at the losing end if they did not agree to the proposed redevelopment plan of the market. “A committee member of the RA had said DBKL had every right to ask the traders to leave since the market belonged to the City Hall. As such, I was asked to say yes to the plan,” Loo said. She added that the RA had e-mailed TTDI residents asking them to give their votes on the modernisation plan of the market.
The e-mail stated that the RA is proposing to have a new and modern market to include more facilities, a multi-storey carpark linked to the MRT station and longer operating hours. It also mentioned that the RA was not supporting a major redevelopment plan to turn the market into commercial lots or serviced apartments but wanted a traditional market. When redevelopment takes place, traders will be temporarily relocated to the open car park between Sinaran Condominium and Bangunan AHP.
“How can I agree to the plan when the traders have not given their consent? We have not even seen the proposed redevelopment plan. “We are not confident with the RA as there is no transparency at all. To what extent are they going to modernise the market?” asked Loo, adding that this had resulted in traders speculating if the new market would be privatised. Loo said they wanted to preserve the concept of a traditional market and would only welcome refurbishing plans such as improving the existing wiring system, increasing parking bays and disabled-friendly features, constructing a multi-storey carpark and a skybridge linking the MRT station to the market. “Maintenance of the market should also be improved apart from landscaping the area,” she said, adding that the new market should not adopt the concept of Tesco or Giant. There are more than 200 members in the TTDI Market Traders Association. “We want to meet the mayor to give us the clearer picture,” Loo added.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said he would welcome refurbishment plans provided that the traditional market concept remained.
It was reported in StarMetro on Feb 22 that the TTDI Market Traders Association sought an urgent meeting with the mayor following reports in the media quoting Fuad as saying that the market would be demolished as it was obstructing the MRT line and the site would be used for a mixed-development project.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
TTDI market traders in the dark
The TTDI Market Traders Association wants the
“Why are we kept in the dark? We do not know what the status is now. The mayor was quoted by two newspapers on Feb 14 that the market would be demolished and the area would be redeveloped into a mixed commercial area, as it was obstructing the MRT line. “It is not true that a majority of TTDI residents want the market to be destroyed as claimed by the mayor in his press statement. We have so far collected 10,000 signatures from residents and traders opposing the demolition of the market,” TTDI Market Traders Association chairman Jenny Loo told reporters at the TTDI market yesterday. “So far, the mayor has not met us to discuss how we feel about the matter. Everything has just been via the media,” said Loo, adding that traders and residents are unhappy with the fact that their opinions were not being taken into consideration.
Ramli Ismail, who is the adviser to the traders association, said Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin had previously mentioned that stakeholders would be included in future discussions and their views on the development of the site taken into consideration. “Why is the mayor saying this now? The traders will not budge from the market and we will stand by this decision, from the beginning till the end. “Most of the residents have objected to the redevelopment plan, saying that this market has existed in the area since 1985. “Where else can we can get a wet market now?” said Ramli, adding that TTDI market had undergone a great deal of development to reach its present status.
Ramli said the association had recently received a letter from the KL mayor requesting for a meeting to be held on Feb 27 at the TTDI Community Hall. According to Ramli, the letter did not mention the agenda for the meeting. KL Prima Consult Sdn Bhd, the developer of the project; Tetuan RSP Arkitek Sdn Bhd; TTDI Market Traders Association; and TTDI Residents Association have been invited to attend the meeting. “After we visited the DBKL information centre, we found out that the market is not in the way of the MRT line. So what is happening?” asked Ramli.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who organised the press conference at the market said the traders and residents should be given the chance to voice their opinions on the matter. “They are very confused with the situation as the mayor had not been accessible at any point in time to meet with them to discuss the issue at length. “The traders and residents have the right to know whether the market will be demolished,” said Lim.
It was reported in The Star on Jan 6 that Raja Nong Chik had confirmed that DBKL had received an application to redevelop the site of the market, but no decision had been made on the proposal. Raja Nong Chik had also mentioned that stakeholders would be included in future discussions and their views on the development of the site taken into consideration.
DBKL received an application from WCT Sdn Bhd and Perdana Padu Sdn Bhd to redevelop the market site. On New Year’s Eve, about 100 traders and residents had staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the TTDI market against the demolition of the market.
Related news: Traders quiz market makeover http://www.mmail.com.my/story/traders-quiz-market-makeover
Sunday, February 19, 2012
KFC apologises to assault victim at i-City outlet
Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/189562 (18/2/2012)
KFC Malaysia management today met and apologised to customer Danny Ng, who was assaulted by a staff member at its i-City outlet in Shah Alam. In a statement today, deputy president Alan Au said the fast food chain also extends its “sincere apologies to all our customers present that day... for the unsatisfactory services rendered by our staff and the inconvenience caused”.
Ng and his family met with the KFC management this afternoon and accepted the apology.
“We deeply regret the occurrence of this incident and would like to assure you that it was related to the quality of service provided and not due to any other reason whatsoever,” Au said. He also thanked customers for sending “treasured” feedback on the issue and assured them that all steps have been taken to “avoid the recurrence of such incidents”.
The incident, recorded on video by an eyewitness who uploaded it on the Internet, stirred racial sentiments, with some viewers accusing Ng of hurling racial slurs against the Malay KFC staff. Ng has since denied this, explaining that he had scolded the staff because he had waited in line for about one hour for his fried chicken only to be told that there was none left.
The KFC staff member, who is as yet unidentified, had called Ng a “pig” and told him to cook his own chicken, subsequently punching Ng. Ng had lodged a police report on the incident, and police are probing the case.
Malaysiakini attempted and failed to locate the KFC staff member, who has been suspended from duty.
Related news: KFC makes peace with punched customer http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2012/02/18/kfc-makes-peace-with-punched-customer/
KFC apologises to i-City outlet assault victim http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/19/nation/10766350&sec=nation
Friday, February 17, 2012
Cops probe BMC protest brutality - five years later
Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/189464 (By Lee Long Hui, 17/2/2012)
Police had finally opened a file to investigate the complaint by a Bandar Mahkota Cheras (BMC) resident who alleged he was assaulted by plainclothes officers during the demonstration at the
Ho Chee Loong, who lodged a police report one day after thedemonstration, has been summoned by the authority for an identification parade at Kajang police district headquarters today. However, he was told that all the relevant officers were absent due to “tiredness” after an operation they had carried out last night. The police district headquarters had postponed the identification parade to tomorrow at 11am. Ho was accompanied by his counsel, Lim Lip Eng, and younger brother Ho Chee Hui today.
Speaking at a press conference later, Lim said that Ho only received an SMS from the investigating officer of the case at 9am this morning to “kindly remind” him to attend the identification parade. Hence, he slammed the police for being unprofessional on this matter.
Chee Loong and Chee Hui and Tan Boon Wah (left) were among some 21 protesters detained during the demonstration on Jan 21, 2007 against the hike in toll rates at five major
According to Lim, the investigating officer admitted that the case has been prolonged for so long because the Attorney-General’s Chambers wanted the police to further investigate, following the civil suit. But Lim rebutted this statement, saying that the priority of this criminal case is higher than the civil suit. He also slammed the police for lying because the authorities only asked Ho to record his statement on Feb 8 this year, which means that the police had never investigated the case before that.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Hunger striker mulls protesting at MB's house
Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/189210 (By Koh Jun Lin, 15/2/2012)
The lone protester who wanted to set himself ablaze over a botched logging contract has called off his plans for now, and is mulling over protesting in front of the Pahang menteri besar’s residence instead.
Gan Ee Seng, an investor in Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd, who had been on hunger strike since Monday, would not rule out self-immolation if he is still unsuccessful. “I want the people of Pahang and
He initially announced that he would that he would go hungry for as long as he could to urge the Pahang government to abide by acourt order to pay its dues of over RM63 million to the company, failing which he would kill himself. However, he was sent to hospital yesterday after paramedics failed to measure his blood pressure.
Gan also vowed that when he protests in Kuantan, he would not be protesting alone.
Hunger-strike protester taken to hospital
Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/189097 (By Koh Jun Lin, 14/2/2015)
A lone protester on hunger strike was taken to the
Gan Ee Seng, an investor in the logging company Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd, had gone without food for more than 24 hours. However, he has vowed to return to his protest site in Padang Kota Damansara, Selangor, when he is discharged.
Several Pakatan Rakyat MPs had earlier visited Gan, who was lying on a piece of cardboard, barely able to speak. He had to be helped up for a drink of water.
“I support the peaceful protest but I totally disagree with any form of protest that would harm anyone, including the protesters themselves. So I’ll try my very best to ask Gan to stop the suicidal attempt,” said Segambut MP Lim Lip
According to the company’s managing director Lee Sin, Gan has a history of hypertension, diabetes, and has undergone angioplasty (a surgical procedure to widen blood vessels).
Gan is protesting the failure of the Pahang government to comply with a court ruling to pay his company RM63 million. Yesterday, he had threatened self-immolation if there is no response. Asked why Gan is the only protester when there were 10 during the last hunger strike, Lee replied: “We don’t want to protest. We have done it before and it was useless.”
Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai and Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah, who were also at the protest site, slammed the Pahang government for failing to meet its legal obligations. “Malaysian investors seem to have lost confidence in the Pahang government. This is why they cannot attract any more industries except (the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant and Bukit Koman gold mine),” said Tan.
Seruan Gemilang Makmur was involved in a logging scandal after being awarded a permit to clear 8,000 acres of land, said to be owned by Umno Pahang, but was later exposed by Malaysiakini to be state land. The company then filed a suit against Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob and the state government and was awarded RM37,127,471.61 by the High Court in Kuantan, plus eight percent interests a year from Dec 31, 2000.
The Court of Appeal later ruled that Adnan Yaakob had wrongly been named as respondent, but upheld that the sum owed to the company must still be paid.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
KFC fracas: Conflict resolution, Pakatan-style
Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/188873 (Terence Netto 12/2/2012)
COMMENT What looks like the evolving sequel to the fracas at the KFC outlet at iCity, Shah Alam, is providing a foretaste of what the Pakatan Rakyat module of conflict resolution for inner-city disputes would look like should they take power in the upcoming general election.
A video uploaded on YouTube of a fight that broke out after what appears to been a nerve-wracking imbalance between the demand and supply of fried chicken at a KFC outlet had the potential to engender a racially-inflamed postlude. The 27-second video went viral on the net. With its potential to spawn racially-charged comments, there lay the seedbed for sectarian misunderstanding and conflict.
Fortunately, this prospect was forestalled by the peace-making aplomb of two Pakatan MPs.
Into the threatened breach stepped Lim Lip Eng (Segambut) and Khalid Samad (Shah Alam), bearing mediating initiatives of fact-finding - indispensable, as always, for conflict-resolution - and an offer for a negotiated settlement after their intercessory efforts made things obvious that the dispute had no more inflammatory nub than an imbalance between supply and demand and the consequent frazzled nerves leading to fists thrown in fury.
Lim started the mediation ball rolling by organising a press conference a few days after the incident occurred and a couple after the video had gone viral on the net. The press conference saw the injured party to the fracas tell his story. To his credit, Daniel Ng did not affect the aura of the much-wronged victim in his narrative of what happened.
After Ng’s version hogged the headlines on the web news portals, the video maker came out with her side of the story. Her version strengthened the growing hypothesis that a shortage of fried chicken and the nervous anxiety that had occasioned was the cause of the fight at KFC’s iCity outlet in Shah Alam, and not racially-tinged thrash talk that could have accompanied the hubbub.
Thanks to the two Pakatan MPs, the stage has been set for an amicable resolution of the dispute. Facts on the cause of the dispute have been affirmed, as a consequence of which tempers are calmed and cyber commentary restrained.
The ‘Allah’ imbroglio
This module of conflict pacification and resolution follows the one whose outlines had congealed when the dispute over Christians’ use of the term ‘Allah’ occurred a little over two years ago, following a High Court decision that upheld a Catholic Church publication’s use of the term.
As the dispute flared in the public arena, Pakatan leaders, led by Anwar Ibrahim, went into a huddle and emerged with the finding that Muslims do not have an exclusive right to the term; Jews and Christians could also use the term. However, this did not prevent assorted politicians hitting the demagogic trail, venting their spleen at the court decision even as incendiary elements torched church buildings and property.
But Pakatan’s principal leaders like Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat and Anwar steered by the course of submitting facts to a candid public and allowing the latter to decide whether they want to be inflamed by superstition or enlightened and becalmed by fact.
Pakatan MPs Lim and Khalid have emulated this module in their intervention in the KFC outlet dispute, with results that are looking every bit as promising as antecedent overtures in the ‘Allah’ imbroglio did in early 2010.
Of course, this is going to deprive Hasan Ali of grist for his inflammatory mill, though that does not seem the case with Perkasa types, as its secretary-general has already found fault with the comments posted on the web on the KFC dispute.
Character is destiny, as the Greeks say, but the destiny of a post-BN
As suggested by the better angles of the Malaysian spirit, to use a phrase from Abraham Lincoln, that destiny as prompted by MPs Lim and Khalid in their KFC mediation effort is set to flower in a Pakatan ascendancy.
TERENCE NETTO has been a journalist for close on four decades. He likes the occupation because it puts him in contact with the eminent without being under the necessity to admire them. It is the ideal occupation for a temperament that finds power fascinating and its exercise abhorrent.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Fate of poster suspects now in DPP’s hands
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/9/nation/10702384&sec=nation
Police have handed over investigation papers on posters deriding Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Bersih 2.0chairman Datuk S. Ambiga to the DPP office.
Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Wan Abdul Bari Khalid said they were awaiting instructions from the DPP's office on whether to charge the 10 suspects in connection with the posters found last week.
“We have completed our investigations and submitted the papers today because the office was closed on Monday and Tuesday due to the public holidays,” he said yesterday.
The posters were found pasted at bus stops in Taman Tun Dr Ismail on Saturday.
They carried images of Lim, with a swastika in the background and a caption accusing him of being a racist, and of Ambiga, who was labelled a gay sex advocate.
The suspects were arrested with the help of CCTV recordings in the area.
Their statements were recorded and they have since been released on police bail.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
This is a minor issue… Investigations on derogatory TTDI posters completed
Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/story/investigations-derogatory-ttdi-posters-completed (by G. Prakash, 8/2/2012)
The police have wrapped up investigations into the case of derogatory posters of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Bersih 2.0 chief Datuk S.Ambiga and national laureate Datuk A. Samad Said found in Taman Tun Dr Ismail last weekend.
Brickfields district police chief ACP Wan Abdul Wan Abdul Khalid said 10 people were released in connection with the derogatory posters last Saturday as they had completed investigations on the case.
“This is a minor issue. We have recorded the suspects statements and completed our investigations. We even submitted the investigation papers to the deputy public prosecutor’s office for further action and the suspects are eligible for bail and thus released.”
On a suggestion by Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng urging the release of footages of suspects to deter others from repeating the act, Wan Bari said there were no reasons to release footage or photo-fits of suspects as they had already been detained.
"Photo fits of suspects were usually released if we were unable to find the suspects," Wan Bari said.
Hate posters at TTDI taken down
Source: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/288185 (By Radzi Razak, 8/2/2012)
Hate posters bearing the face of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and National Laurete Datuk A. Samad Said has been taken down from around Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) today.
Segambut Member of Parliament Lim Lip Eng said Pakatan Rakyat Segambut, TTDI residents and a special task force from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) worked since early morning to take down the derogatory posters, as well as ah long stickers from around the suburb.
Thousands of posters dubbing Guan Eng as "anti-Malay", and posters of Ambiga together with poet and national laureate A. Samad Said that read "Vote Ambiga, Vote for free sex" were plastered around the suburban neighbourhood on Feb 4.
The posters were stuck on bus stops, public telephone booths, beneath billboards and plastered over old posters along Jalan Datuk Sulaiman and Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi since early Saturday morning.
Lim said there were complaints from Wangsa Maju, Pandan Indah, Pandan Jaya and Kota Damansara residents about the same derogatory posters. Lim also said that the police have arrested 10 people in connection with the derogatory posters on Saturday. They have since been released on police bail.
He thanked the police for their swift action but wanted the police to release the CCTV footage of the incident as a warning to future perpetrators to no repeat this kind of crime again. He believes that CCTVs which were installed in TTDI last October, under the 'pioneer safe city' initiative by the government must have captured footage of the culprits.
"To those culprits, I respected their views but this is not the way to express their view. If they have problems with Lim Guan Eng, Ambiga or other people, they can hold a peaceful rally to voice out their opinions," he said.
DBKL advisory board member, Dr Idris Ahmad who was also present said he believes that the culprits involved wanted to incite racial sentiments and create havoc in the multi-cultural society of TTDI. "The way I see it, I am sure the man or organisation that sponsored the posters is very rich, as the volume and quality of the posters are very good," he said.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Wish list for improving quality of urban life
(By Noel Achariam, 1/2/2012)
New Straits Times: Streets took a survey among the following community leaders to find out their wish list for City Hall:
Lim Lip Eng, Segambut MP
"I hope that City Hall will look into providing free shuttle buses for the public, linking the main rail stations, car parks, shopping areas and businesses in the city.
"The move will be able to reduce traffic congestion and promote public transport.
Lim also called for the city council to establish a potholes patrol team to monitor all major roads in and around the city.
"City Hall officers would be best suited to patrol the various areas on motorbikes to spot the potholes and take the necessary action," he said.
Lim also wants City Hall to come up with a policy that looks into expanding urban green areas.
"We would like to see more green areas. We would also like City Hall to take stern action against environment polluters," he said.
Lim also wished City Hall an early success on the implementation of the
Read more: Wish list for improving quality of urban life - Central - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/wish-list-for-improving-quality-of-urban-life-1.39972#ixzz1lahBNx57
Sunday, February 5, 2012
10 nabbed over Lim and Bersih posters
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/5/nation/10680611&sec=nation (5/2/2012)
“We have recorded their statements and are taking the necessary action on this matter,” said Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid. He was not able to give details of the time the vandals were arrested, saying he had just returned from abroad and had yet to get more information on the matter. All the 10 men had been released on bail, he added.
The posters depicted images of Lim, Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevaasan and national laureate Datuk A. Samad Said, who is Bersih 2.0 co-chairman. The posters depicting Ambiga and Samad displayed the words lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans and a caption that suggested a vote for Ambiga is a vote for free sex. The posters depicting Lim carried a Nazi swastika symbol and a caption that he is a racist.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, whose constituency covers TTDI, said neighbours woke him early yesterday to tell him about the posters. “I was also informed about them via Facebook, Twitter and e-mails,” he added.
DAP unfazed by Guan Eng, Ambiga 'hate' posters
DAP says the "hate" posters against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and public figures Ambiga Sreenevaasan and A Samad Said, found in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) this morning, will only make the people despise the perpetrators more.
“We forgive them whoever are responsible. The more they do it, the more people will despise them,” said DAP MP for Segambut Lim Lip Eng. Lim through his Twitter reported that the offensive posters were "posted all over TTDI this morning".
One set depicts Guan Eng calling him ‘anti-Malay’, while the other depicts Bersih chairperson Ambiga and poet and national laureate Samad Said and reads “Vote Ambiga, Vote for free sex”.
“We urge TTDI police to announce openly who the culprits are, because the police should be able to easily identify them through the many CCTV recently installed in TTDI under Najib's transformation programme,” tweeted Lim.
The MP said in a statement later today that the posters were found at bus stops, public telephone booths and plastered over old posters along Jalan Datuk Sulaiman and Jalan Burhanoddin Helmi in the
Escaped cops' notice
He said it was a surprise that the police had not known about the exercise of putting up the posters, that took place along two main roads in the area and that must have taken a considerable amount of time. “A quick count of the posters measuring 1ft by 2ft confirmed that quite a substantial amount of money had been spent on this exercise,” he added.
Lim slammed the perpetrators for such an act in a multiracial neighbourhood and on the eve of Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday tomorrow.
“I suspect that the purpose was to create discord and suspicion. “I strongly urge the police to investigate and nab the culprits involved as this neighbourhood is one that is proud of the diversity of its residents and any racial discord intended shall not be tolerated. “It would be a shame if these posters are to remain any longer than the time they have been up,” he said.
Related news: DAP MP slams anti-Guan Eng, Ambiga posters
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dap-mp-slams-anti-guan-eng-ambiga-posters/
Friday, February 3, 2012
Lip Eng hits back at mayor over budget row
Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/story/lip-eng-hits-back-mayor-over-budget-row (by Ikram Ismail, 2/2/2012)
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng (pic) has denied claims he did not show up at a public seminar organised by City Hall in mid-December to discuss details of expenditure for City Hall’s 2012 budget. He was responding to a claim by KL mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail after Lim alleged City Hall had denied Kuala Lumpur MPs full details of how the council’s RM2.3 billion budget was to be spent. Ahmad Fuad had claimed on Wednesday Lim should not make demands now as he had been given a chance to have his say but did not show up at the forum.
Lim hit back at the mayor, saying he was present at the seminar. “I was there in the afternoon until the seminar ended and the mayor should acknowledge my presence.”
Ahmad Fuad had, in The Malay Mail report yesterday, claimed the only MPs who attended the function was Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and Batu MP Tian Chua.
Lim said he could not recall which other MPs attended the seminar. “I am just asking for basic treatment. The same type of
Mayor says he has no hidden agenda behind City Hall's 2012 budget
Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/story/mayor-says-he-has-no-hidden-agenda-behind-city-halls-2012-budget (by Azril Annuar, 1/2/2012)
KL mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail today took a swipe at Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng after the latter alleged City Hall did not disclose the full details of the city's 2012 budget when it was unveiled last month.
Lim had earlier accused Ahmad Fuad of refusing to disclose full details of the the budget to the public and KL’s members of Parliament. "We are KL's MPs who have debated the national budget in Parliament. So why can't we look at the detailed city budget?", Lim questioned. Lim claimed that during a meeting between several KL MPs and the mayor that was held prior to Chinese New Year, the MPs had asked for a copy of the budget. However, he said Ahmad Fuad refused to entertain their request and only allowed them to view the summarised hard copy version. Lim also accused Ahmad Fuad of not consulting with the public and the MPs before the budget was approved.
Responding to Lim's allegation, Ahmad Fuad said Lim failed to attend a seminar which was organised by City Hall last year despite being invited to attend.
Ahmad Fuad told The Malay Mail that the city council had engaged with around 200 to 300 citizens and consulted, explained and discussed the tentative budget and invitations were sent to "everyone including Lim". "We called for a seminar, we invited around 500 people and around 200 to 300 showed up. The only MPs who bothered to attend was Nurul Izzah (Lembah Pantai) and Tian Chua (Batu). So why is he bringing this up? Why am I being accused that I did not consult the public or the MP?
"He did not show up. He accused me of having an agenda? What agenda? I have to report to the Ministry (
He said that during the seminar, City Hall representatives explained to the public on how revenue for the city was generated and how the city plans on spending the budget allocated. Public concerns were also taken note of and it was included in the budget. Ahmad Fuad said his plate was full as City Hall has to be audited and there are procurement procedures which he has to oversee in addition to attending monthly meetings with the chief-secretary to the government.
"Why does he (Lim) want special treatment and have a 'special meeting' just for him when other concerned citizens can come to the seminar. We even advertised it. "Maybe he trusted us so much that he feels that KL is in good hands," Ahmad Fuad said.
