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.

Ceramah Umum Isu Semasa Parlimen Segambut