Lim Lip Eng

Declassify contract extension agreement

2012-01-31T17:27:00.000+08:00

The government has been urged to buy back highways that have generated huge profits.
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/declassify-contract-extension-agreement-1.27387 (By Sarah Rahim, 4/1/2012)
Segambut member of parliament Lim Lip Eng has requested the government to declassify an agreement for Duke Expressway's proposed concession contract extension.
The extension is being considered from 2040 to 2069. "It should be done to allow for expert review and to safeguard public interest," Lim said. Under the current agreement, toll collections will stop by 2039. Lim opposes the extension as he believes the government can bear the proposed cost of RM1.392 billion for Duke Expressway's upgrade and extension works. "The government has spent up to RM250 million of public funds on the National Feedlot Corporation cattle project. The proposed cost for Duke is about 5.5 times higher than that."
He also showed copies of documents from the Prime Minister's Department on the proposed upgrade and extension works.
There are three proposed extensions -- a 7.1-km stretch from Sungai Buloh to Segambut, a 9-km addition from Jalan Tun Razak to Gombak and a 5.2-km expressway from Kuala Lumpur to a new Metropolis project.
Moreover, Lim informed that the new Metropolis project is yet to materialise. He also revealed that, previously, the Democratic Action Party had suggested that the government buy back highways that have generated huge profits. "On Duke Expressway, the owners should take into consideration their corporate social responsibility." Lim said the government should also come up with a plan to counter potential job losses due to the non-extension of the concession contract.
On Nov 10 last year, Lim asked for a clarification on the contract extension from the Works Ministry during a parliamentary session.
"Until today (Jan 2), I am still waiting for a written answer," he said.

Kidney patients get pleasant surprise from MP

2012-01-30T08:35:00.001+08:00

For you: Lim (centre) and Chua giving shopping vouchers to kidney patients at the centre.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/1/30/central/10303874&sec=central (30/1/2012)
A TOTAL of 40 kidney patients at the Nanyang–NKF Dialysis Centre in Jalan Pahang, Setapak received a pleasant surprise before the Chinese New Year celebrations recently.
They were presented shopping vouchers worth RM50 each by Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng. “I hope these vouchers may ease their financial burden as they do their CNY shopping. My father-in-law used to be a dialysis patient; he was on dialysis for 19 years before he passed away. I understand the hardship the kidney patients go through,” said Lim.
He also encouraged organ donation. “It’s a meaningful pledge. With technology, it’s just one click away as we can go online to register to become an organ donor. In the past 15 years, only 356 Malaysians successfully donated their organs while the list for organ transplant shows more than 14,000 patients in the queue,” said Lim; who has pledged to become an organ donor himself.
Speaking about this charitable giveaway, NKF chief executive officer Chua Hong Wee said, “NKF is grateful to Lim’s kind support and his understanding towards the patients’ needs. We are also grateful to Lim who personally donated RM500 to our organisation. “The money will help ease the burden of our kidney patients. This support and kindness inspires NKF to continue to do what we do best, providing dialysis care to poor kidney patients and educate the public on kidney care.”
Those who are interested to join NKF can call 03 – 7954 9048 ext 208 or e-mail fundraising@nkf.org.my

Police counter report on 'assault by drunk cop' claim

2012-01-25T17:26:00.001+08:00

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187302 (By Aidila Razak 22/1/2012)
Three separate police reports have been lodged in relation to the claim by businessman Khoo Gin Seong that he was assaulted by a drunk plainclothes police officer. The first report was lodged by police against Khoo for causing damage at a restaurant in Bukit Sentosa, Hulu Selangor district police chief Norel Azmi Affandi Yahya said late last night.
"Complainant Korporal 111668 Aziz, along with three other personnel of the Bukit Sentosa police station had about 8.20pm on Jan 20 arrested a Chinese man who was drunk. "The man had broken two plastic chairs using a saw, and broke glasses and a liquor bottle at a Chinese restaurant," Norel Azmi said in response to questions from Malaysiakini. He said the 44-year-old businessman was taken to the Bukit Sentosa police station along with some seized items, where an agreement was brokered between Khoo's wife and the restaurant owner.
Owner Lee Lai Fong accepted RM200 as compensation payment from Khoo's wife, in exchange for no police action against her husband, and a police report was lodged on the agreement.
Police had initially opened investigation papers based on Kpl Aziz's report under Section 427 of the Penal Code, which deals with committing mischief resulting in damage worth more than RM25. The third police report was lodged by Khoo on Saturday morning, alleging that he was assaulted by police and had RM1000 taken from him.
Different versions of the incident
Yesterday, the businessman told the media that he was assaultedby a drunken plainclothes police officer and other policemen in a coffee shop in Bukit Sentosa, resulting in him suffering bodily injuries and a broken denture. Khoo said this was took place after the police officer, named only as ‘Mansur', was irritated by him as he was gambling and drinking noisily at the next table. He said police pocketed RM1,000, which he won in the card game, and took him to the Bukit Sentosa police station where he was detained until the police were paid several hundred ringgit brought by his friends.
DAP MP for Segambut Lim Lip Eng, who called the press conference upon Khoo's request, said police informed him that the businessman's complaint was being investigated under Section 323 and 325 of the Penal Code, which deals with voluntarily causing hurt.

MP slams DBKL over lack of transparency

2012-01-22T12:39:00.000+08:00

Source: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=26715%3Amp-slams-dbkl-over-lack-of-transparency&Itemid=2#.Txq1VWcNDDk.facebook (Written by Douglas Tan, Malaysia Chronicle, 21/1/2012)
Segambut Member of Parliament Lim Lip Eng today slammed DBKL over the lack of transparency by their refusal to reveal the details of the recently approved RM2.3 billion DBKL Budget for 2012.
At an open consultation meeting on Thursday 19th January, with the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad bin Ismail, the mayor informed YB Lim that he was unable to provide a detailed copy of the budget, and that only a “ringkas” (summary) was available. When asked as to why the full budget could not be made available to the public, the mayor remained silent and refused to give an answer.
“This is outrageous,” Lim exclaimed. “Why are DBKL unable to provide us with a detailed copy of the budget? As wakil rakyat, we have the responsibility to report back to our constituencies as to how the money is being spent!”
Where is the People First?
The DAP MP was quick to point out that this went against Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s pledge to ensure greater transparency and accountability, consistent with the principle of “Rakyat Didahulukan”. “Even in parliament, we are given a full copy of the national budget before it is debated,” he said. “How come we are unable to get a copy of the DBKL budget, especially after it has been approved?”
YB Lim lamented that although he was a member of parliament in Kuala Lumpur, DBKL is accountable only to the Prime Minister’s department, and is not answerable to elected representatives. “It insults the intelligence of the people of Kuala Lumpur when a local government refuses to disclose how they want to spend the taxpayer’s money, especially as they are appointed not elected. I call on the Prime Minister to show his sincerity for reforms by forcing DBKL to release their full budget to the public.”
A check on the DBKL website on Saturday 21st January showed that no details of the 2012 budget were available. The 2012 DBKL budget is almost 44% larger than the entire budget of the state of Selangor which is RM1.6 billion.

Robbed and beaten up by drunk cop

2012-01-21T16:36:00.002+08:00

Photo: Lim Lip Eng
Story: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2012/01/21/robbed-and-beaten-up-by-drunk-cop/ (By K Pragalath, 21.1.2012)
A 44 year man today related how he was beaten up and robbed by a police man last night.
Speaking to FMT shortly after a press conference with Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng of the DAP in Rawang, he related his bad experience.
“Last night, at 9 pm a drunk policeman by the name of Mansur started scolding and beating me,” said Khoo Gin Seong who was gambling at a restaurant in Bukit Sentosa, Hulu Selangor. Khoo said he recognised Mansur as a policeman who he claimed frequently got drunk in that restaurant. He said he was then taken to the Bukit Sentosa police station.
“They took RM1,000 from me and a group of policemen started beating me. They also threatened to lock me behind bars if I don’t give up my money. “After that I was beaten up until my dentures broke and my body was in pain,” said Khoo.
At this point, Lim told FMT that Khoo returned home at 11 pm and later lodged a report at 4.30 am at the same police station. “The front desk personnel in the police station were initially reluctant to accept the report.” Lim claimed the investigating officer for the case urged Khoo to settle the case at 9 am. “Khoo declined and informed him that he had alerted the DAP of his predicament,” said Lim.
“Don’t try to charge this innocent man for obstructing police work,” he said because the police, according to him, had a tendency to charge the public for alleged obstruction. “Don’t play tricks because I have witnesses,” said Lim who said that several patrons in the restaurant had witnessed the entire incident.

Related news: Businessman claims assault by drunk cop http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187260

MP slams delay in repairing hall

2012-01-19T09:30:00.002+08:00

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2012/01/18/mp-slams-delay-in-repairing-hall/ (By G Vinod, 18/1/2012)
A DAP MP questioned the Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) delay in repairing a community hall here.
Speaking at a press conference today, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said he had highlighted the pathetic condition of the hall in early November 2010, but repair works only started yesterday. “At that time (in November 2010), DBKL told a press conference that the hall fell under the jurisdiction of the Department of National Unity and Integration. “But City Hall has the authority to act upon any public structure in Kuala Lumpur which could endanger public safety due to its dilapitated condition,” he said.
The 20-year-old community hall, located at a road setback leading towards Jalan Kuching, was badly damaged after an Alam Flora truck rammed into the building in September 2010.
The then Segambut division Barisan Nasional chairman B Jayanthi Devi told English daily The Star that relevant authorities were looking into repairing the structure. “Alam Flora had agreed to pay for the damages,” she was quoted in the report.
Lim criticised Jayanthi for the delay despite making the promise in 2010. “And the repair works just started yesterday. Is it because election is around the corner?” he asked.
Lim also queried the safety of reconstructing the structure as it is located at a roadsetback. “Can DBKL erect a community hall at a roadside which can endanger its occupants? It’s best if the City Hall could reveal its blueprint to the residents here for evaluation,” he said.

Saman: Kayveas berdepan kemungkinan bankrap

2012-01-14T11:21:00.003+08:00

Source: http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/7565-saman-kayveas-berdepan-kemungkinan-bankrap (Hazayani Zakaria, 13.1.2012)
Ahli Parlimen Segambut dari DAP, Lim Lip Eng hari ini mendedahkan Presiden Parti Progresif Penduduk (PPP), Datuk Seri M Kayveas sedang berdepan kemungkinan jatuh bankrap. Beliau berkata, Kayveas dan isterinya, Datin Seri Blanche O' Leary pernah disaman oleh sebuah syarikat kontraktor, Peninsular Concord Sdn Bhd pada tahun 1997 kerana gagal membayar ganti rugi bernilai RM470,000 kepada syarikat tersebut.
"Pada 1 Februari 1997 Peninsular Concord bayar RM470,000 kepada Kayveas dan isteri sebagai 'stakeholder' untuk satu projek. Tapi projek itu terbengkalai dan Peninsular minta balik duit tersebut tapi kayveas enggan bayar balik," kata beliau pada sidang media di pejabat khidmat masyarakat Parlimen Segambut, hari ini.
Pada 28 Julai tahun lalu, mahkamah memutuskan Kayveas mesti membayar balik wang tersebut berserta interest dan tiada perintah mahkamah menyebut kes ini ditangguh. Walaupun Kayveas dan isteri mengemukakan rayuan di Mahkamah Rayuan, namun kes ini masih dalam perbicaraan.
"Kayveas kena bayar balik walaupun telah failkan rayuan. Peninsular Concord pula telah memfailkan notis bankrapsi terhadap Kayveas," jelasnya.
Semalam, Kayveas yang juga bekas Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri mengesahkan bahawa namanya tidak terdapat dalam senarai bakal calon PPP untuk pilihan raya umum ke-13. Menjelaskan perkara itu, Kayveas seperti dilaporkan media berkata, beliau menyerahkan keputusan sama ada bertanding atau tidak kepada Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak yang juga Pengerusi Barisan Nasional. PPP telah mengemukakan hasrat bertanding di empat kawasan Parlimen dan 12 kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri kepada Najib.
Pada pilihan raya umum lalu, PPP diperuntukkan dua kerusi di Perak iaitu kawasan Parlimen Taiping dan kawasan DUN Pasir Bedamar. Di Taiping, Kayveas tewas kepada calon DAP Nga Kor Ming dengan 11,298 undi manakala bagi kerusi Pasir Bedamar, calon PPP Lee Heng tewas kepada Seah Leong Peng daripada DAP dengan 7,914 undi.

Nova 1 Condominium residents want swift action on eroding slope

2012-01-13T12:18:00.002+08:00

Temporary: A makeshift canvas laid by DBKL in late December 2011 before repair works began on Jan 11. (Photo by Carol Leong)

Lim Lip Eng (second from right) thanks City Hall for proceeding with the remedial works. (Pic by Afiq Razali)

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/1/13/central/10244925&sec=central (By Vincent Tan, 13.1.2012)
Residents of the Nova 1 condominium in Taman Sri Sinar, Kuala Lumpur breathed slightly easier on Jan 11, as contractors appointed by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) arrived that morning to shore up an eroding slope next to their residence. According to Patrick Chan Yew Choong, a member of Nova 1’s management corporation (MC), the soil erosion was taking place on the piece of land next to Nova 1.
Residents feared if the erosion continued, it could have negative consequences for the land which Nova 1 was built on. Pointing to the retaining wall which separated Nova 1 from the road, he said further erosion could cause the wall to crack, and give way if corrective action was not taken.
“If the retaining wall goes, then the land which Nova 1 is built will erode too,” said Chan. However, MC chairman Manoharan Dhanaraj said DBKL did not take any corrective action despite repeated enquiries from the residents. “The slope started eroding, then we noticed that the concrete drain had cracked and collapsed back in March 2011. We reported the matter to DBKL in May last year, whereby we were given a report number as well as the contact details of the people handling this case.” “What DBKL did in the last week of December, was to put up canvas sheets to prevent more rain from eroding the soil. We had to seek the assistance of Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng,” he added.
Lim said after discussions with the residents on Jan 4, he took up the matter with DBKL the next day. “On Jan 6, they informed me that they will start work on Jan 9. They sent people down to assess the situation and they started moving in material to repair the collapsed drain walls,” said Lim. Lim hoped the repairs would be completed quickly, to minimise further erosion from the rain.
According to Manoharan, the time estimated for repairs by the contractor was put at three weeks. There were other problems afflicting the slope, such as leaking pipe connectors belonging to a water pipe owned by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), which Manoharan and Chan theorised might have also led to the erosion problems on the slope. “We called Syabas about the leaking pipe connectors and they only replaced it recently. But they only replaced one, and not the other,” Chan said.
Related news: City Hall repairs slope http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/city-hall-repairs-slope-1.31574

MOF: Hotline or Scam-line?

2011-12-10T15:14:00.001+08:00

9/12/2011
Under the 2012 budget, the Federal Government had promised a one-off allocation of RM500 for households earning an income of under RM3000. This is intended to relieve the burden of inflation for these families.
On Thursday 8th December, the mainstream press published a hotline number for the public to call in order to see if they are eligible for the relief and how they can obtain it. However, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng had received several complaints from the members of the public who called the hotline but were unable to get through to the operator.
“They complained to me that when they tried calling, they were told that all the operators were busy. However, after waiting for long periods of time they still could not get through,” he said.
Lim has called the hotline personally and has instructed both of his assistants to call the hotline sixteen times at half hour intervals between 9am and 12pm today, but with no success.
Clearly frustrated, Lim was angry that the public would be so inconvenienced as a result of the non-responsive hotline. “If the Ministry of Finance was really genuine about helping the people, why did they set up a useless hotline?”
Lim called on the Federal government to stop misleading the people, and he hopes that this issue can be resolved quickly.

Shoddy repair job along Jalan Burung Hantu

2011-12-07T09:29:00.001+08:00

Lousy job: The potholes are causing traffic congestion as cars tend to slow down.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/12/7/central/10036165&sec=central (By FAZLEENA AZIZ, 7/12/2011)
POTHOLES have reappeared in Jalan Burung Hantu, three days after Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had patched up the affected stretch. Residents from Bandar Manjalara, Sunway SPK Damansara and Desa Park City were irked by the shoddy work.
Many motorists said their vehicles had been damaged and the potholes were slowing down traffic, thus causing congestion. The residents have been complaining about the bad road condition for about three months.
Chua Chew Huat, 57, from Desa City Park said it was wrong for the authorities to carry out a shoddy job. “Car tyres can get punctured if motorists keep driving on such bad roads. They need to do a proper job,” he said.
Stoney Liow, 58, from Sunway SPK Damansara said he could have done a better job using cement if this was the kind of repair work DBKL carried out. “The potholes have even caused accidents,” he said.
Lai Keun Ban, 55, from Bandar Manjalara, who moved from Malacca a year ago, was disappointed to see such bad roads in the capital city. He said the potholes were getting bigger by the day and accidents were becoming frequent. “The contractor who dug up the road and did not patch up the road properly and DBKL, too, did not do a good repair job. “This is just shoddy workmanship and a complete waste of money,” he said.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said Jalan Burung Hantu did not even have a signboard to indicate its name. “Many complaints have been made about potholes and this is the most serious of all as it is causing traffic congestion. “We are not aware which contractor came to dig up the road and they just left without doing a good job.
“The Kuala Lumpur mayor said DBKL had allocated RM200mil to repair roads next year, which is a waste of taxpayers’ money. “This problem is not caused by the people, so DBKL should go after the irresponsible contractors,” he said.
Related news: Potholes still after shoddy work http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/potholes-still-after-shoddy-work-1.16046

Bukit Segambut Apartment's legal tussle with the developer

2011-12-05T09:20:00.002+08:00

I was explaining to the owners of Bukit Segambut Apartment on the legal dispute with their developer involving strata titles, CF and liquidated agreed damages...

‘Peaceful Assembly’ protest turns poetry recital

2011-12-03T17:05:00.003+08:00

A. Samad Said (left) recites a poem to those gathered in the city centre park, Kuala Lumpur December 3, 2011.

Lim Kit Siang (left), Samad (centre) and Wong sing the ‘Negaraku’ to end the demonstration on December 3, 2011.
Pictures by Melissa Chi
Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/peaceful-assembly-protest-turns-poetry-recital/ (By Melissa Chi, 3/12/2011)
The second KLCC protest against the new assembly law became a poetry recital session instead, with national laureate Datuk A. Samad Said reciting his latest poem, Merindu Ruang to a crowd donned in yellow clothing.
“Make yourself comfortable, it’s going to be a party,” Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Wong Chin Huat told a crowd of about 200 today at the park adjacent to the Petronas twin towers and prominent city building. “We will fight violence with the beauty of literature,” he added.
The crowd was joined by among others, DAP lawmakers Lim Kit Siang, Tony Pua, and Lim Lip Eng.
Today’s demonstration, last half an hour, was the second to be organised by the Freedom to Assemble Campaign, a coalition of over 30 NGOs. A week ago, almost 300 people gathered here to protest the Peaceful Assembly Bill. Both occasions ended with KLCC security personnel requesting the crowd to disperse.
Today, Wong was told that he needed the permission from KLCC’s management to gather in the park. But he told reporters later that they will continue to hold protests every Saturday at KLCC until the law is revoked.
The Peaceful Assembly Bill, which bans street demonstrations, was passed on November 29 on BN votes after the opposition Pakatan Rakyat bloc staged a walkout.
Related news: 200 brave water sprinklers to protest Assembly Bill http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/183114

Second protest held over Bill http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/4/nation/10031441&sec=nation

Mont Kiara residents against proposed development

2011-12-03T16:50:00.001+08:00

Photo by Leow Mei Chern

Photo by Fazleena Aziz

Fighting for a common cause: Residents voicing out their concerns during a meeeting recently.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/12/3/central/10018000&sec=central (By FAZLEENA AZIZ, 3/12/2011)
Residents from the La Grande, Kiaraville and Tiffani Kiara condominiums are protesting against a proposed commercial development nearby in Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur. About 50 residents carrying placards stood in front of the proposed site near Changkat Mont Kiara expressing their disappointment with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for approving the project. Residents said the project, consisting of a 26-storey office block and nine floors of car park on a 0.45ha site near the Soho KL @ Solaris Mont Kiara would aggravate the traffic congestion in the area.
The site is now being used as a car park.
On Nov 16, the residents had attended an objection hearing and voiced their concerns. The residents are objecting against Mont Kiara slowly losing its residential status and becoming a commercial centre. Some residents are planning to get an injunction against the development. Tiffani Kiara chairman Carol Lee said the land status was marked as institutional but had been converted to commercial in 2009. She said DBKL had informed that only Kiaraville had the right to object at the hearing. “However, Tiffani and Le Grande should be included because we are directly affected as well,” she added, Lee said the residents were not allowed to ask technical questions during the hearing.
Le Grande chairman Terry Openshaw said the plot of land was a landfill and piling work in the area would affect nearby condominiums.
Frankie Chow from Kiaraville said with commercial centres like Soho KL, Plaza Mont Kiara and 1Mont Kiara in the area, there was no need for another development. It is a small plot of land and this development will just aggravate the traffic congestion in the already high-density area.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who was present at the meeting, said the residents should be united in their stand to get a positive outcome.

EC ready to use indelible ink

2011-12-02T18:13:00.001+08:00

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/182994 (By Hazlan Zakaria, 2/12/2011)
The Election Commission (EC) is ready to adopt indelible ink usage during elections, pending the final approval from the National Fatwa Council.
"EC secretary Kamaruddin Ahmad Baria told us they are ready and can use indelible ink. "They are waiting final approval from the National Fatwa Council to ensure that the materials used in the ink comply with syariah (Islamic law)," Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng told reporters after a meeting between DAP parliamentarians and Kamaruddin in Putrajaya today.
Among the issues include halal content of the ink and whether it interferes with the process of ablution. However, fellow MP Teresa Kok, who joined Lim, said Kamaruddin told them at the meeting, lasting over an hour, that voting abroad is still under careful study by the commission and implementation will not be anytime soon. Both overseas voting and indelible ink usage are part of 10 interim recommendations that the bipartisan parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform had tabled and were endorsed by the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, on the final day of its sitting for this year. Agencies such as the EC, which were named as implementers, have two weeks from today to give the timetable for the execution of the recommendation or list out to the PSC the hurdles to be overcome.
Electoral roll irregularities also raised
During the meeting, the DAP also raised several complaints with the commission on electoral roll irregularities and difficulties faced by voters who want to amend their voting records at post offices. Kok said the EC secretary pledged to accept the hundreds of voter registration forms, which had been stranded after the EC, without notice, implemented a new regulation requiring all new voter registrations to be accompanied with photocopies of the MyKad. “It is a huge relief for us, as we have hundreds of forms that were stranded,” said the MP.
Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai told reporters at the same press conference that he brought up the case of a 24-year-old voter who tried to change the address in his voter registration at two post offices, to no avail as the staff on duty were unable to find his records, and in he ended up registering as a new voter. Tan said that the EC admitted at the meeting that it was their mistake, since some of the more than 600 post offices nationwide authorised to handle EC business were not given access to the up-to-date electoral roll.
Lim said the EC also admitted that the current crop of postal workers are not adequately trained on EC procedures, relating instances where postal workers themselves were unable to tell voters how to fill in the forms.
'Last training session was five years ago'
“Kamaruddin admitted to us that the last training session for postal workers was five years ago and since then, there has been a staff turnover, seeing many new postal workers. But he promised to hold more training sessions for post office staff.”
Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Loon, who was also at the meeting, had complained about two men aged 83 and 52 who found that they were listed as “deceased” in voting records. “They blamed the National Registration Department for this. The EC had recorded that the duo were ‘orang dah mati’ (already deceased),” Fong said.
Concern whether the use of indelible ink would contravene Muslim restrictions from permanently marking their skin and body was raised by Independent Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, when debating the PSC report. Ibrahim worried that the ink could render Muslims unable to perform their ablutions, as water may be prevented from reaching the skin by the layer of ink, thus making them unable to perform prayers during the 24-hour period that the ink is applied.

TTDI Market has no heritage value

2011-12-02T17:56:00.002+08:00

MAKING WAY FOR DEVELOPMENT: Ahmad Fuad said City Hall wants to maximise the use of the land which is valued at RM60mil
Photo & story from: http://www.mmail.com.my/content/86900-ttdi-market-has-no-heritage-value (By MEENA LAKSHANA, 2/12/2011)
The 25-year-old wet market in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) that is slated for demolition does not have an heritage value. Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said this following objections from residents and traders on the proposal to have the market make way for new development.
This sparked an uproar among traders and residents who wanted the market spared and upgraded instead. The traders, who were relocated there from the former Central Market in Jalan Hang Kasturi, argued the market should be maintained for its sentimental value and history.
Stressing City Hall had not decided on the development at the market site, Ahmad Fuad said it would provide better facilities for both traders and customers. “The market has no heritage element. We want to maximise the use of the land, which is valued at RM60 million. The revenue we receive from the proposed development, when completed, would trickle down so we can provide proper facilities to traders and their customers. “Under the proposed development, there would be an extra 200 parking spots available for the public.” The mayor said City Hall was losing out on land capitalisation, as the market’s 300 to 400 traders were only paying RM10 in monthly rent for the past 30 years. Ahmad Fuad said the proposed development involved service apartments that would be linked to the proposed Sungai Buloh-Kajang Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station nearby. He said City Hall had, however, imposed conditions on the developer for it to monetarily compensate traders or provide them an alternative business site. “We have already identified a 0.5-acre plot of land nearby but the developer has to get back to us with their decision.”
When contacted, TTDI Market Traders Association president Jenny Loo said City Hall should explain details of the plan to them. She said the market was being patronised by residents from Sungai Buloh, Hartamas and Kota Damansara. TTDI RA chairman Mohd Hatim Abdullah said they opposed the proposed development, pending its details. He said City Hall had yet to meet residents on the proposed development.

RM200m for better roads, funds for resurfacing of tracks in KL next year will also be increased

2011-12-02T17:49:00.003+08:00

AHMAD FUAD: Not all roads fall under City Hall’s jurisdiction

GAPING HOLE: Lim (2nd from left) indicates to the dangerous pothole at a parking lot behind Hong Leong bank at Jalan Segambut Utara
Photos & story from: http://www.mmail.com.my/content/86824-rm200m-better-roads (By MEENA LAKSHANA, 1/12/2011)
Kuala Lumpur City Hall will allocate RM200 million for road maintenance and resurfacing works next year. Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said the council was taking seriously the rapid deterioration of roads around Kuala Lumpur in deciding to increase the allocation. “This year we assigned a total of RM117 million for road maintenance, out of which RM56 million was for road resurfacing,” he said during a press conference at City Hall headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut yesterday. “Next year, we are allocating an additional RM83 million for the exercise. Half of the (RM200 million) allocation will be specifically for road patching,” he said. Although City Hall were criticised by residents for the poor quality of roads in the city, Ahmad Fuad said not all roads fell under their jurisdiction. He said about 60 per cent of roads in the city which are in dire conditions were caused by utility companies conducting upgrading works at midnight without City Hall’s knowledge. Ahmad Fuad said the council had already informed the utility companies involved to use a new method called horizontal directional digging in their upgrading works.
“This technology uses a machine that digs underground sparing the entire stretch of road from damage,” he said. “Most utility companies complained it is three to five times more expensive than the conventional method. So far, only Gas Malaysia Berhad utilises the technology with Maxis about to start.”
Ahmad Fuad said City Hall also proposed to utility companies to set up a fund for road resurfacing works. “For the time being, only Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) had such a fund,” he said.
Ahmad Fuad said other contributing factors to bad road conditions included the rainy season, spillage of diesel and concrete on roads, as well as illegal digging of roads. He said out of 49 roads identified for resurfacing this year, a total of 37 roads were completed. This included Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Petaling, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Sentul, Jalan Damansara, Jalan Kepong, Jalan Pantai Baru, Taman Sri Petaling and Jalan Damansara. He said 10 other roads were in the midst of completion and City Hall was in the process of appointing contractors for the two remaining roads namely Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz and Jalan Genting Klang.
MP claims City Hall using old ways to resurface roads
Kuala Lumpur City Hall should do away with outdated technology in repairing potholes around the city. Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng claimed City Hall’s present contractors used outdated technology to resurface damaged roads. “They should embrace new technology. Nowadays, City Hall were using steam rollers to patch up roads, which required a longer time,” he said after a press conference to highlight three large potholes at a parking lot behind Hong Leong Bank at Jalan Segambut Utara earlier this week. Lim said he received an average of three complaints on potholes daily at various locations in his constituency. “This shows the quality of roads in KL is inferior and resurfacing work is of substandard quality,” he said.
Lim pointed out the biggest of the three potholes in Jalan Segambut Utara measured five feet in diameter (152cm) and six inches (15cm) deep. “The potholes were here for three months and getting wider by the day and Jalan Segambut Utara is not even a busy street,” he said. Lim said complaints were lodged with City Hall but no action was taken to patch the holes. “The contractors just covered it with sand,” he said.
When met, Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said the potholes at the parking lot are not under City Hall’s jurisdiction. Refuting claims it was using dated technology to resurface roads in the city, Ahmad Fuad said materials used for resurfacing roads took precedence over the type of technology used.
Related news: Utility firms may have to pay deposit http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/utility-firms-may-have-to-pay-deposit-1.13816

Potholes a menace to motorists

2011-12-01T09:10:00.003+08:00

Pic from Sin Chew Daily

The huge pothole in Jalan Segambut Utara poses a danger to motorists. Pics by Salhani Ibrahim

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/potholes-a-menace-to-motorists-1.12631 (By VEENA BABULAL, 30/11/2011)
Three large potholes in a free parking lot behind the RHB bank in Jalan Segambut Utara is a menace to motorists of the business district. The largest of the holes was found to measure about 1.5m in diameter and 15cm deep. Streets found that the holes were so large that motorists entering the car park would try to avoid one hole but would inevitably end up in another. Some unsuspecting motorists ended up in all three holes as the cars parked there had blocked the view of the holes. The parking lot as well as the surrounding roads of Jalan Segambut Tengah and Jalan Segambut Pusat were also riddled with potholes.
Cheryl Chia, a visitor, said the problem was compounded by insufficient parking space in the business area. "Car owners using the parking lot which has ample parking space risk getting a flat and their undercarriage damaged. Motorcyclists can also fall and hurt themselves badly as the road is slippery and full of puddles now," said the 52-year-old housewife.
Segambut member of parliament Lim Lip Eng said based on the complaints received, the holes appeared at least three months ago. Since then complaints about the three gaping holes have accounted for most of the complaints he has received on potholes. "I have informed City Hall numerous times. However, besides temporarily covering the holes with sand, no follow-up action by City Hall has been taken," he said.
"I find it strange that the holes would appear at the parking lot and back alley of shops since heavy vehicles do not ply there. Most potholes appear on busy roads and in residential areas," he said, adding that the building material used for the construction of roads in the city was generally of inferior quality. The patch-up jobs were shoddy, Lim claimed.
"Potholes seem to be re-appearing so often that I wonder whether the contractors are doing the patching job according to proper specifications," he said, adding that he received at least three complaints on potholes daily.
Lim claimed that he could not reach the call centre on weekends and public holidays, contrary to media reports on its working hours.
When City Hall call centre was launched last year, reports stated that members of the public can contact it 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Lim said the service provided by the call centre lags behind that of other countries, citing

United Kingdom

as an example. Complainants there have only to log on to the council's website and register their problems and it would be followed up immediately. He urged mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail to consider his suggestion of setting up a 10-member squad team to respond to complaints on potholes as well as survey the roads in search of potholes to patch.

Related news: Motorists irked by huge potholes http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/12/7/central/9990531&sec=central

Lawyers stage protest march

2011-11-30T09:18:00.002+08:00

Malaysian Bar president Lim Chee Wee spoke to the crowd of lawyers & NGOs at the Lake Garden before the Walk For Freedom march (Photos by Lim Lip Eng & Ooi Leng Hang)
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/30/nation/10003037&sec=nation (By REGINA LEE, 30/11/2011)
The idyllic Lake Gardens here saw a different scene when hundreds of lawyers gathered to protest against the Peaceful Assembly Bill. Led by Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee, they marched about half a kilometre to Parliament House to hand over a memorandum and their own proposed amendments at noon yesterday.
Joining them in the Walk to Freedom were civil society activists, including Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.
Lim said the Attorney-General had consulted the council several weeks ago over the drafting of the Bill. “But the version that was tabled was very different,” he said.
The PKR representatives in the march included MPs Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang), Loh Gwo Burne (Kelana Jaya) as well as Seri Andalas assemblymen Dr Xavier Jeyakumar and officials N. Surendran and Latheefa Koya.
The DAP representatives included MPs Lim Lip Eng (Segambut) and Wong Ho Leng (Sibu) while PAS was represented by Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa and central committee member Hanipa Maidin.
Constitutional law committee chairman Syahredzan Johan said the provisions were “ridiculous”.
As they marched towards the Parliament building, another group, calling itself Pertubuhan Putra Malaysia, appeared at the opposite side of the road to protest against “free sex” and homosexuality. Numbering about 100, they wore yellow T-shirts and carried banners condemning sexuality rights festival organiser Seksualiti Merdeka. They attempted to drown out the lawyers’ chants of “freedom of the people” and “freedom of assembly” with their own cries of “anti-sodomy” and “no free sex”. Seksualiti Merdeka founder Pang Khee Teik was spotted among the lawyers and made no fuss over the other group’s protest.
The crowd began to disperse at 1.30pm, about 20 minutes before a downpour. Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman said no untoward incident occurred during the protests, adding that the crowd of about 500 were cooperative. “They complied with police instructions,” he said, adding that they only led to traffic complications in the area.
Related news: More than 1,000 march against Assembly Bill http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/182663

TTDI market relocation sparks protest

2011-11-29T09:23:00.002+08:00

The TTDI market attracts shoppers from all over the Klang Valley. It is also notable for being among the cleanest wet markets in the city. Pic by Nurul Shafina Jemenon
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/ttdi-market-relocation-sparks-protest-1.12118 (By NOEL ACHARIAM, 29/11/2011)
The Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) Residents' Association (RA) and TTDI Market Traders Association are saying no to the demolition or relocation of the market. Instead, they want the 25-year-old complex upgraded. The associations also want a pedestrian bridge and a multi-storey car park built for the convenience of the shoppers and commuters, in line with the development of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT station, near the Caltex petrol station.
TTDI Market Traders Association deputy chairman Mohd Zaini Zainal Abidin said they had heard two years ago that the market would be demolished to make way for development. It was only last month that it was confirmed that a development proposal had been submitted to City Hall. "We want this market to be retained. Not a single one of us will agree to any new development here. We had stated so when there was a proposal for an MRT station here. Together with the TTDI RA, we will submit a proposal to City Hall for the construction of a pedestrian bridge to connect the market, and a multi-storey car park on the parking lot adjacent to the market. This way, it is a win-win situation for both market goers and those wanting to board the MRT "Building these could be a form of corporate social responsibility, and the connectivity could boost MRT ridership," he said.
Currently, the market has 150 parking bays catering for an average of 1,000 visitors daily from all over the Klang Valley.
The market, he added, was in dire need of upgrading. The areas needing attention are the public toilets and leaking pipes. The last enhancement work to take place was about five years ago, when the walls on the first floor were given a fresh coat of paint. The market's traders were relocated here from the former Central Market in Jalan Hang Kasturi. TTDI Market Traders Association advisor Ramli Ismail said the market must be maintained for its sentimental value and history. "We must think about how difficult it was for the traders to shift here back then, and how they have worked hard to make their business grow. "It is not fair to them. We will be sad if this market ceases to exist here. Where would the shoppers, who have been coming here for so long, go?" he said.
Also present were TTDI RA chairman Mohd Hatim Abdullah, TTDI Market Traders Association president Jenny Loo and Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng. Lim said he was informed of the proposal by a private developer to redevelop the land on which the market sits by Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail. "However, he told me it has neither been approved nor rejected. He said the opinions of the traders would be taken into consideration before a decision was made. The views of residents should also be taken into account. I will support the majority's view," he said.
Jenny Hong, who has sold soya bean milk and tau fu far at the market for as long as the market has stood, was unhappy about the proposal to demolish the market, which she said was a second home to her. "I have formed a special bond with the residents and visitors. We have become friends after so long," she said.
Fishmonger Ng Kean Leong, whose grandfather started the business in Central Market back in 1987, said there was no need of re-development in the already high-density TTDI. "More importantly, I cannot imagine not doing business here. My family was in Central Market and here for a very long time," said the 27-year-old.
Lawyer M.Idris, who has lived in TTDI and shopped at the market since 1986, said: "This market needs to be upgraded, not moved. It is a meeting place for TTDI folk, and where families go to shop. "It is nice and clean, and it caters for not only TTDI folk, but also Damansara Heights, Seri Hartamas and Kota Damansara folk."
Related news: TTDI traders hope for integration with MRT line http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/11/29/central/9990877&sec=central

Pile of waste by the road an eyesore

2011-11-28T13:30:00.003+08:00

Long trail of rubbish: One side of Jalan 1/42 that has become a garbage dump.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/11/28/central/9985070&sec=central (By CHOONG MEK ZHIN, 28/11/2011)
For years residents of Kampung Segambut Luar and Kampung Segambut Permai have been living near a rubbish dump. The dump in Jalan 1/42 can also be seen from Jalan Kuching that runs parallel to the road.
Pensioner Khairuddin Karim, 56, said the rubbish collection truck came on schedule once every three days but within that short span of time, a big pile of garbage would have accumulated at the spot.
One of the main worries of the villagers is that the pile attracts stray animals and rodents. “At night, a large group of stray dogs scavenge for food at the pile of rubbish and in the process garbage gets scattered everywhere. Rodents are also attracted to the pile,” he said. Khairuddin said they feared the pests could cause diseases. He also highlighted the problem of clogged drains which could caused flash floods.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said about three years ago, there used to be large metal rubbish bins where the dump was located. “However, some residents claimed that these bins were taken by scrap metal collectors,” he said, adding that about 100 households used the spot to dump garbage.
Lim hoped DBKL would provide some new communal bins to keep the area clean. “The pile of rubbish is an eyesore and creates a bad impression of the city as well,” he said.

Group protests against Assembly Bill

2011-11-27T09:57:00.001+08:00

Peaceful demo: The group protesting at KLCC park yesterday.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/27/nation/9986218&sec=nation (27/11/2011)
KUALA LUMPUR: A group gathered at KLCC park to protest the proposed Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011. Dressed in yellow and carrying yellow balloons, the group assembled at the park at about 2pm yesterday and chanted slogans against the proposed Bill. They were told to disperse by the police and KLCC security personnel at about 2.45pm.
Also present were Klang DAP MP Charles Santiago and Segambut DAP MP Lim Lip Eng.
Campaign organiser Wong Chin Huat deemed the Bill unconstitutional. “We are here to illustrate that we as Malaysians can gather peacefully without disrupting public order,” he said.
On whether the amendments to reduce the advance notice period from 30 days to 10 days was acceptable, Wong said it was not. “There are countries where organisers only need to give notice to the police a day before a gathering. An acceptable period should be one or two days,” he added.
Meanwhile, a group of people gathered at Dataran Merdeka for a candlelight vigil at about 8pm. They marched to the Bar Council about 200m away and dispersed 30 minutes later.
Related news: 400 protest at KLCC against 'unconstitutional' bill http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/182520
NGOs protest Peaceful Assembly Bill in KLCC park http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ngos-protest-peaceful-assembly-bill-in-klcc-park/

UUCA amendment just ‘window-dressing’, says Pakatan

2011-11-25T11:39:00.001+08:00

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/uuca-amendment-just-window-dressing-says-pakatan/ (By Clara Chooi, 24/11/2011)
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers poured cold water today over Putrajaya’s plans to lift the ban on students in politics, saying it was a window-dressing move aimed to woo young voters. Several MPs pointed out that the unexpected announcement made by Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Parliament this morning had come with several disclaimers — that students must be aged above 21 to become political party members; that politics would remain prohibited from campuses; and that the government would still appeal a recent court ruling declaring the ban unconstitutional.
“The bottom line is — nothing has changed,” said DAP’s Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng. “On the one hand, you said you will amend the law, on the other, you say you will appeal the decision. On the one hand, you say they can become political party members, on the other, you say politics are not allowed in campus. “Only one word to describe this — oxymoron,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
PAS’s Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad agreed, and accused Najib of attempting to woo young voters with the “window-dressing” move. “Only one thing is for certain...they are doing this for the sole reason of winning over young voters. To me, there is no two-ways about it — they should just completely abolish the law,” he said. When tabling a motion to lift three Emergency declarations this morning, Najib said the government would soon amend Section 15 of the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) to allow students aged above 21 to become members of political parties. He stressed however that the government would still appeal the recent court ruling declaring the section unconstitutional and that politics in campuses would still be strictly prohibited.
In a majority 2-1 judgement earlier this month, a three-man panel of judges ruled that Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) had breached Article 10 of the country’s highest law when it disciplined four students involved in a political campaign last year under Section 15(5)(5)(a) of the UUCA.
“This is what I call a great confusion. With elections looming so close, Najib and his team are trying out this window-dressing move, pulling wool over the people’s eye to hoodwink them into thinking the government is their saviour,” said Dzulkefly. He added that universities presently have their own respective by-laws and constitutions, which he said was enough to govern its operations, including student movement.
PAS’s Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar said the government’s decision to appeal the decision would contradict its plan to amend Section 15 of the law. He said Putrajaya should not proceed with the appeal to prove its sincerity in amending the law, adding that Najib, in his speech this morning, had not detailed if the proposed amendments would grant students total freedom to participate in politics, including holding positions in political parties. “What is important to me is that students and academicians be given full opportunities to discuss openly ideas and matters of national importance both inside and outside the campus... it is not just about allowing them to join political parties,” he said. Dr Dzulkefly said the government needed to allow greater freedom to students and academicians in order to breed more intellectuals in society. “We want alert-minded intellectuals, enterprising graduates, morally upright, intellectually superior... you cannot have that in an environment that breeds bigotry. Bigots are not intellectuals,” he said.
PKR’s Subang MP R. Sivarasa concurred and pointed out to the declining state of Malaysian universities, saying local institutions do not provide an “atmosphere of open, critical thinkers”. He also accused the government of practising double standards, saying that while politics was banned in local campuses, Umno has student clubs formed in foreign institutions.

Rottweilers’ owner fined

2011-11-18T09:27:00.002+08:00

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/18/courts/9926137&sec=courts (By MAIZATUL NAZLINA, 18.11.2011)
KUALA LUMPUR: A senior citizen was fined RM1,500 in default two months’ jail after his three Rottweilers attacked a tractor driver at a fish pond.
Pond caretaker Cheah Soo @ Ah Peng (pic), 67, was sentenced by magistrate Zulkpli Abdullah after he admitted to a charge of being negligent by not preventing an animal in his possession from being a danger to humans. The offence, under Section 289 of the Penal Code which carries a jail sentence of up to six months, fine of RM2,000, or both, took place at the pond in Orkid Desa Phase 2, Sungai Besi, Cheras, here at about 3.20pm on Sept 18.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Haderah Siri urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence in view of public interest. She said the victim, Ting Soon Teck, could have died from the attack. “Ting had to have multiple stitches on his hands and legs and was advised by his doctor to rest for eight months,” Haderah said. She added that he lost his income during the period.
Pleading for leniency, counsel Lim Lip Eng said Cheah suffered from various ailments and his wife had had a stroke. Lim said Cheah, who stayed in a squatter area, had already paid the RM300 fine to City Hall.
City Hall had since taken away the dogs and Ting had also forgiven his client, Lim added.
The tractor driver was attacked by the dogs when he was making a payment at the counter after fishing there.

Taxi driver sues cop and Govt

2011-11-10T16:27:00.002+08:00

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/10/courts/9869668&sec=courts (10.11.2011)
A taxi driver has filed a negligence suit against the Government and a policeman for wrongfully firing a gunshot and injuring both his legs while he was taking a nap in his cab.
Yeow Leong Kang, 42, is claiming RM214,000 in damages, interests, costs and any other relief deemed fit by the court over the shooting incident. He has named Detective Lance Corporal Norhesham Mohd Nor from the Cheras district police station’s narcotics criminal investigations division and the Government as the defendants.
Yeow filed the lawsuit at the Sessions Court registry through his lawyer Lim Lip Eng yesterday.
In a statement of claim, Yeow said that Detective L/Kpl Norhesham had negligently fired a shot without any warning. At the time he had parked his taxi beside a bus stop near the Jalan Pudu post-office at 4.30pm on Sept 23 last year. He is contending that Detective L/Kpl Norhesham had failed to ensure the safety of the public. He said he was taken to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for treatment and discharged after three days. He claimed that he suffered humiliation as he was shot by the police in a public place and this also caused him to suffer tremendous psychological and mental stress, pain and loss of dignity.
In the lawsuit, he claimed that Detective L/Kpl Norhesham had visited him at the hospital and apologised to him repeatedly and admitted that he had wrongfully shot him. Yeow made a police report at the Pudu police station over the incident on Dec 10 last year.

Majlis korban di Segambut Luar

2011-11-07T13:34:00.002+08:00

Pagi ini, saya bersama-sama penduduk-penduduk di majlis korban anjuran Haji Khairuddin dengan PAS Segambut.

Segambut MP's Deepavali open house

2011-11-07T13:26:00.002+08:00

On 5th November 2011, with limited publicity, some 200 turnout at DAP Segambut MP's Deepavali open house in Kampung Kasipillay.

Too many massage centres worry Desa Sri Hartamas folk

2011-11-04T14:52:00.003+08:00

Large signs: Some outlets offer special prices during lunch break

Many signs: The numerous signboards along the walkway.

In the backlanes too: There are about 30 massage and foot reflexology centres operating in Desa Sri Hartamas.

Promotions: All sorts of discounts.

Photos by CHAN TAK KONG
Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/11/4/central/9770201&sec=central (By STUART MICHAEL and JASTIN AHMAD TARMIZI, 4.11.2011)
The mushrooming of massage, foot reflexology and spa centres around Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur, has not gone down well with the residents in the township. There are over 30 massage and foot reflexology centres in the area, however, a check with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) revealed that only 10 outlets, or one-third of the total had been issued licence to operate while the rest are deemed illegal.
DBKL deputy director-general of socio-economic development Datuk Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz confirmed that only 10 outlets were licensed to offer foot reflexology, massage and spas in the Desa Sri Hartamas. Amin said DBKL had stopped approving licences under the Health Establishment Licensing Bylaw WPKL 2003 for massage and relexology centres since 2009 to curb the sudden increase in the number of such centres in Kuala Lumpur. “We have not issued any licences since July 2009. We will not approve any applications as there are already too many in Kuala Lumpur. Even if people apply we will reject their applications,” he said. When asked about what action will be taken against these illegal centres, Amin said they would continue issuing compounds to those who operated without licences. “In the city, there are already too many of these massage centres. We cannot force them to stop their operations but we can only compound them for not having a licence as many of them operate without licences and if they still continue to operate we can bring them to court. “However, these operators are very stubborn as some of them still continue to operate. They are not afraid of us. “Many of them have been fined several times but they still continue to operate without licences. We will have to continue with our raids more regularly,” he said, adding that DBKL carried out raids twice a week to check on these premises around Kuala Lumpur. “We try to monitor these centres including those with licences. We have done raids with the police to try to stop these massage centres that offer sexual services. “We have to do this to ensure that they do not misuse their licences for vice activities. If the licensed centres are found offering sexual services, we can compound them or take their deposit and even revoke their licence,” he said.
However, Amin said based on investigations carried out from early this year up to September, no licensed premises had been found to be offering sexual services. “Consumers also have to be aware of a massage centre’s condition and surroundings. “Do not visit a suspicious-looking centre,” he said, adding that consumers should be able to differentiate illegal and licensed centres as licensed centres were required to display their premises licence to prove that they were operating legally.
Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said the police would carry out spot checks on centres offering sexual services. “If the public has any complaints about centres they suspect were operating without licence, they can report to us and we will conduct checks and take action,” he said.
A Desa Sri Hartamas resident who only wanted to be known as Cheong, said he noticed a sudden increase in the number of massage, foot reflexology and spa centres operating in the township. “I love living here, it’s a peaceful community with a pleasant environment but now more and more massage centres have set up business here,” said Cheong, who has lived in the area for the past five years. “It is absurd to have so many massage centres concentrated in just a small area. There are more than 30 such centres here now,” he said. Cheong said he and many other residents were concerned about this phenomenon in their area because they had reason to believe that some of the massage centres also offered sexual services. “I was informed that some of these centres offer sexual services instead of just the normal hand, foot or body massage. This is very disturbing.
“I know this from friends who patronise these centres. I fear the negative impact such activities might bring to this township. These outlets are so close to our homes,” he said. Cheong said DBKL and the police should conduct a survey and check the legality of these centres or conduct raids to prevent vice activities. “Some parents also fear that the proximity of these centres to their homes would provide their children with easy access to vice activities as the centres are located amid family restaurants, convenience stores and other businesses,” said Cheong, who has contacted Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng to inform him about the issue. Lim confirmed that he was aware of the problem and would be bringing up the matter with the KL mayor.
A random check by StarMetro found about 30 massage centres, spas and foot reflexology centres operating in Desa Sri Hartamas. Many of the foot reflexology centres have banners placed outside their outlets stating the price of the various services offered. A foot massage costs between RM20 and RM40 while a body massage is from RM50 to RM70.
Most of the centres are located in Jalan 23/70a, 24/70a, 28/70a, 30/70a and 31/70a. The interior of some of the massage parlours we visited were dimly lit and the cubicles were partitioned with curtains or other impermanent structure to offer customers privacy. A cubicle normally contains nothing but a small mattress and dim lights. Then there are centres with scantily dressed female staff compared with those which provide their employees with uniforms.
To evade the authorities, all these centres are equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTVs) at the entrance to the lift area, corridors and to the main door. Some of these centres have even employed individuals who lurk outside these centres to warn the operators in case of raids by the authorities.

Ex-ISA detainees now being probed for money laundering

2011-11-03T16:12:00.000+08:00

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/180389 (3.11.2011)
Eight Immigration Department officers suspected of being involved in a human smuggling syndicate are now being investigated under the Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
However, the Home Ministry offered no explanation as to why the officers, freed after being detained for more than a year under the Internal Security Act (ISA), were not being probed under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 for the crime they were originally accused of.
Also, no reason was given as to why these officers were now being investigated under the terrorism financing law in the written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) who asked for the rationale in freeing the officers and the legal action taken under the anti-trafficking law.
"The eight Immigration Department officers were released based on the evaluation and the reports from the police as well as the prison authorities that they are no longer a threat to national security," Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.
"As of now, they are being probed under the Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 and once investigations are concluded, the investigation papers will be presented to the Attorney-General's Chambers for follow-up action," he said.
The eight officers were released in August and the reason, Hishammuddin said, was because they "had shown awareness and remorse over their mistake, and had promised never to repeat it".

Three MPs thrown out

2011-10-31T19:08:00.000+08:00

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/31/three-mps-thrown-out/ (By Tarani Palani, 31.10.2011)
Three MPs were kicked out of parliament house for disobeying the Speaker’s order to sit down.
Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa was told to get out when he remained standing and continued to demand an answer to a question he posed to the Minister of International Trade and Industry, Mustapa Mohamed, who finished his winding up speech without responding to the former. Er wanted clarification on a piece of information alleging that Malaysia was interested in trading with Israel. Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia repeatedly asked him to sit down, but he was defiant. “Why didn’t the minister answer?” he said. “It’s just a yes or no. I just want to know if Malaysia has economic ties with Israel”
Pandikar Amin eventually ordered Er out after several failed attempts to get him to sit down.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng told Er not to leave. A clearly livid Pandikar then showed the door to him as well.
The Speaker said there was no room for questions after a minister had finished his speech. However, he allowed both the DAP reps back into the house 25 minutes later.
Er told reporters that he was not satisfied with the Speaker’s decision as he was merely trying to seek clarification. “I have got documents, including a customs document from an NGO, which shows that Malaysia wants to have economic relationship with Israel,” he said. “I just wanted to clarify if the information was accurate.”
Earlier, Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan (Independent) was shown the exit when he continued to shout at his DAP counterparts, alleging that they had not kept their promises on the Kampung Buah Pala issue. He was sent out a few minutes before lunch break and was allowed back into the hall after the break.

Developer says no more work being done as contruction completed

2011-10-31T10:33:00.001+08:00

Easy to get lost: Poor signage at Solaris Dutamas has become a bane for both tenants and visitors.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/10/31/central/9796783&sec=central (By JASTIN AHMAD TARMIZI, 31.10.2011)
CLAIMS made by the tenants and owners of commercial units in Solaris Dutamas Kuala Lumpur about their problems with the joint management of the retail and office has been refuted by the developer and management of the development.
The developer and management of Solaris Dutamas, Sunrise Bhd community and customer development general manager Anne Tong denied that there was still construction works and flying debris as claimed by the stakeholders. “It is impossible that at this stage there is still construction works and debris as the development is already completed. “Whatever works done in the development at the moment are the renovation works within Publika, which is the shopping mall within the Solaris Dutamas development. “Some of the works are by the individual retail outlets done by the tenants or shop owners themselves,” she said during an interview which was also attended by Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, in respond to the claims made by the stakeholders.
However, Tong admitted that there were problems with the signage in the development which was also one of the problems cited by the stakeholders. “We understand that the signage here can be a bit difficult. However, we have engaged a consultant from Singapore to work on upgrading the ‘wayfinding’ signage for the development. As this is an ongoing exercise, changes will be gradual,” she said. Tong added with regards to the high parking rates and claims, that the revised rates would not encourage more customers and they would resort to other malls claimed by the stakeholders were incorrect. “The revised parking rate is fixed at RM1 for the first three hours and RM2 per hour for the subsequent hours not RM1 for the first hour. “We believe this price is reasonable as it is comparable to other shopping malls in the Klang Valley and it is relatively cheaper than several shopping complexes nearby,” she said adding that the parking rate is maintained at RM1 per entry during the weekends to attract and encourage more shoppers.
When asked about the claims by stakeholders that their units are not given proper publicity, Tong said they could not allow the business operators to hang their own buntings and banners along the corridors and the car park as it would affect the outlook of the development. “Just like any other shopping areas, we cannot let them place their buntings and banners as the outlook and appearance will be affected. “We have to maintain and control this,” she said adding that they have also given publicity for many of the outlets in Solaris Dutamas by featuring them in the Sunrise news bulletin without charging them.
Some 200 tenants and owners from Block C and D signed a petition recently to the management of the development and organised a press conference with Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng to highlight the issue. Most of them said there are several things that have hampered their business in the area with one of the most pertinent problem was the delay in the completion of Publika shopping mall and the commercial units claiming there was debris flying around that was affecting their business.
The tenants and owners claimed that the construction was still going on although the works at Solaris Dutamas should have been completed two years ago. They are also unhappy that their units are not given proper publicity and are treated as a separate entity from Publika that has received numerous advertisements and articles in the local media.
Deciding to take matters into their own hands, the business operators printed their own buntings and banners along the corridors and the car park. However, they were told they could not do that and the security guards had gone around collecting the banners and placing them in the carpark to be picked up by respective owners.

The Sun: Owners allege overcharging by TNB

2011-10-25T16:19:00.000+08:00

Solaris Dutamas tenants, owners face multiple problems with retail area

2011-10-25T15:13:00.002+08:00

In unison: Tenants and owners have joined forces to voice their problems. (Photos by DANIL ROSLAN)
Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/10/25/central/9748626&sec=central (By PRIYA MENON, 25.10.2011)
TENANTS and owners of commercial units in Solaris Dutamas Kuala Lumpur have joined forces to voice their problems against the joint management of the retail and office. Some 200 affected tenants and owners from Block C and D have signed a petition to the four different management offices of the development. They organised a press conference with Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng recently to highlight the issue.
Most of them said there are several things that have hampered their business in the area. One of the most pertinent problem was the delay in the completion of Publika shopping mall and the commercial units. According to them, works at Solaris Dutamas should have been completed two years ago but the construction is still on going.
Spidy Aktifan, a tenant said, it was dangerous for people walking around with construction debris flying around.
Basil Joseph, the owner of Comida restaurant, said he had started a comments form for his customers and most of the 200 forms are about the condition of the place. “Once customers declined to come into the restaurant because the front was dirty and dusty from all the construction work,” he said.
Another tenant Florence Lambert said many of her customers found it difficult to find parking spots inside the building. The lack of signages also makes it difficult for people to find their way to the retail units. “Most of the time, I have to go down to the carpark and bring them up. We put so much effort to make it look nice and it is a shame if we cannot welcome our customers properly,” she said.
The parking rates have also increased to RM1 for the first hour followed by RM2 for every subsequent hour. The stakeholders feel that this would not encourage customers who will resort to other malls because of the high rates. They are also unhappy that their units are not given proper publicity and are treated as a separate entity from Publika that has received numerous advertisements and articles in local media.
Deciding to take matters into their own hands, the business operators printed their own buntings and banners along the corridors and the car park. However, they were told they could not do that. During the weekend, security guards would go around collecting the banners and place them in the carpark to be picked up by respective owners. They were upset with the management, who have turned a deaf ear to the cries, despite their efforts to improve the situation.
Lim said the developer and management, Sunrise Bhd, had been sold off to a government linked company several months ago. “I will try to speak to the former owners and see if they still have control over Solaris Dutamas and request that they meet up with stakeholders. If that fails I will write in to the new owners requesting a meeting,” he added.
One of the tenants who started the idea for the meeting, Leong Hoo-Yin, said all the affected parties are also looking at setting up an association to deal with the problem professionally.

Dewan Rakyat: New coins, banknotes to tackle counterfeiting

2011-10-25T10:32:00.001+08:00

A picture of Lip Eng carrying the Auditor-General Reports at the Parliament after it was released. ORIENTAL DAILY PIX
Source: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/187285 (24 October 2011)
Bank Negara Malaysia decided to issue the the new third series of the Malaysian coins and the fourth series of the ringgit banknotes with improved security features to overcome counterfeiting.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai told the Dewan Rakyat the move would help Bank Negara Malaysia to reduce the cost of producing the new coins by 49% a year through the use of base metals and other technical specifications.
"The appointment of suppliers for the new series of Malaysian coins and banknotes is made through an open tender," he said in response to a question by Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) who wanted to know the government's rationale in producing the new series of the Malaysian coins and banknotes.
He said all the contracts for the supply of the new series of Malaysian coins and banknotes had been tendered to international companies of high reputation and credibility.
"The supplier which has been selected to supply the coins is Poogsan Corporation, South Korea, and the coins are minted at the Bank Negara Malaysia mint in Shah Alam.
"The suppliers for the new series Malaysian banknotes are Crane AB, Sweden; Giesecke & Devrient GmbH, Germany; Oberthur Technologies, France, and Orell Fussli, Switzerland," Donald added.
On the decision by the United States of America to limit its debt rate, he said it did not give any impact on Malaysia. – Bernama

Dustbin lids act as covers for manholes

2011-10-18T08:41:00.003+08:00

No cover: A resident showing how dangerous the manhole can be without the proper lid. Looking on is Lim (second left, in white shirt) and other park patrons. (Photos by PUTRI NUR ELLIS)
Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/10/18/central/9709900&sec=central (By PRIYA MENON, 18.10.2011)
Joggers risk serious injury at a park in Taman Manjalara Kepong because 11 manholes only have dustbin lids as covers.
Yab Fong Yoon, 63, said many senior citizens jog at the park in the mornings and it could be dangerous for them. “The park is full from 6.30am to 8.30am and some of the lights are faulty so you can hardly see anything,” he said.
Liam Tiam Soon, 68, a regular at the park, said he feared for the lives of the children who could fall into the manholes. “There are no guards in the park so no one can keep an eye on the people,” said Liam.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said he brought up the matter at a meeting between Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail and the MPs in August.
There are two other issues that needed immediate attention — a faulty man-made waterfall and a broken platform at the edge of the pond. “The mayor promised to carry out repair work and instructed the directors to deal with the matter within a month,” he said. Two weeks later Lim received a call from a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officer asking him to list out the problems in the place. Lim in turn urged DBKL to visit the park to see the extensive damage for themselves.
They fixed the fountain and removed the platform permanently. “However, they have failed to replace the missing manhole covers and it has been already been three months, ”Lim added. He said he would ask Fuad about the matter again.

Malaysia and China to recognise mutual varsity degrees

2011-10-14T12:24:00.000+08:00

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/14/parliament/9693744&sec=parliament (14.10.2011)
MALAYSIA and China have agreed to certify Bachelor’s degrees, Masters and doctorates awarded by higher learning institutions from both countries. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the decision was based on the Malaysia-China Mutual Recognition Agreement signed on April 28.
“Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s and PhD holders certified by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency would automatically be recognised in China,” he said in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut). Lim had asked the ministry to state which higher learning institutions from China and Taiwan had been given the accreditation. Khalid said the accreditation of higher education programmes between Malaysia and Taiwan was still being discussed.
Meanwhile, those who had borrowed from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) will see their administrative loans reduced from 5% and 3% to 1% if they convert their study loans to the ujrah system.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung said as of Sept 30, 565,427 borrowers have converted their conventional study loans to the Islamic loan system and 435,160 qualified applicants had been asked to convert their loans to the ujrah system.

'Stealthy EC rule changes hampering voter registration'

2011-10-12T12:07:00.000+08:00

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/178304 (Hazlan Zakaria, 11.10.2011)
The DAP today questioned the "sudden changes" in rules for voter registration by the Federal Territory Election Commission (EC), describing this as “unreasonable” and a hindrance to its efforts to register new voters. The most recent rule change, without notice, led to the rejection of more than 500 new voters by the the Federal Territory EC because their forms were not accompanied with copies of their identity cards.
“This is very unreasonable,” said Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who explained at a press conference at Parliament House today that it would be difficult for them to follow up with all the 500 registrants to chase for copies of their identity cards.
Forcing them to do that is unfair, said Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who joined Kok at the press conference. “Our job was to help get those who want to register as voters fill in the forms for the EC. Verification and getting the voters' credentials is their job, not ours,” he said.
The need for a copy of the MyKad was never a requirement before, said DAP leaders, adding that this sudden rule change "is an ambush by the commission" as it was the fourth in the last six months and done without prior notice.
“There was no prior notice,” said Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, who was also at the press conference. As the party often opened its registration booths in many places other than its service centres, the leaders argued that requiring them to attach a copy of the MyKad for each person registering as a voter would require them to lug around a photostat machine, which would make the job of their volunteers all the more difficult. Earlier, the EC had sent back forms submitted by the DAP, asking for a statement to be attached to each form, a time-consuming process that had to be repeated for each registrant. Later, Tan explained, the party was told that the EC had changed its voter registration form, which forced party volunteers to fill up the forms all over again - which was further hindered by the smaller columns in the new forms.
The latest rejected batch was sent after complying with all the previous requirements, only to be rejected out of hand for another unannounced rule change.
Related news: EC urged to inform asst registrars of policy changes http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/12/parliament/9680006&sec=parliament

Myanmar nationals top asylum seekers’ list

2011-10-11T09:08:00.002+08:00

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/10/nation/20111010200839&sec=nation&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter (10.10.2011)
KUALA LUMPUR: Myanmar nationals are the largest number of asylum seekers in Malaysia, the Dewan Rakyat was told Monday.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said until Aug, 7,582 of the total 10,850 asylum seekers were Myanmar nationals.
Statistics by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Kuala Lumpur showed there were 94,843 'persons of concern' where 83,993 were refugees and 10,850 were asylum seekers.
"Of the total, 67,145 were men and 27,698 women with Mynamar nationals the majority with 7,582 asylum seekers," he said in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) here. Lim asked about the number of refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia and laws that guarantee their welfare and safety while in detention.
Nazri said although Malaysia did not sign any agreement on refugees, no illegal immigrants holding UNHCR cards had been arrested on humanitarian grounds. Malaysia is not signatory to United Nations Convention Relating to The Status of Refugees 1951 and Protocol Relating to The Status of Refugees 1967. "Malaysia has allowed the refugees to stay here temporarily until they are relocated to a third country," he said.
However, since Malaysia did not sign any agreement on refugees, the government could not guarantee their welfare and safety. - Bernama

The many hats of a politician

2011-10-10T16:51:00.001+08:00

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/10/focus/9666012&sec=focus (By PHILIP GOLINGAI, 10.10.2011)
Having to settle a broom fight between two 60-something neighbours, play private investigator and exorcise ghosts are but some of the more interesting tasks asked of an MP.
POLITICIANS tweet. They do it mostly to gain a point or two over their political rivals. But their tweets also give an insight into the life of a politician.
One politician whom I follow on Twitter is @limlipeng – Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng. Occasionally, Lim will tweet about the “innocent but ridiculous” requests he gets from his constituents.
@limlipeng tweeted: “A parent wants me to run background check on his soon(-to-be) daughter-in-law. Grr ...” “These parents from Jinjang asked me to find out the marital status of their 20-something son’s future wife (who is 10 years older than him),” the DAP politician explained. “They heard rumours that she was a divorcee or was staying with another boyfriend and they wanted me to do PI (private investigator) work for them.” Lim told them that their son was an adult and they could not control him for the rest of his life.
Who do you call when you live in a condominium facing a stretch along busy Jalan Kuching that is accident-prone and believed to be haunted? Ghostbuster Lim. “I’ve received at least three complaints from people living in that condominium. “They told me that a particular spot is accident-prone because a ghost appears in the middle of the night to frighten motorists,” the Segambut MP said at his service centre facing Jalan Kuching. “They told me to ‘cleanse’ the road but I’ve not done it yet.”
Lim also tweeted about settling a broom fight between two 60-something neighbours over a parking lot in front of their luxury homes in a gated community in Desa Park City. “They quarrelled using vulgar words in Cantonese. “One ‘auntie’ could not take the verbal abuse and she took a broom to whack the other ‘auntie’. And the son – who saw his mother being beaten – told the assailant that he would kill all her family members,” he said. The assailant lodged a police report about the death threat and the man (a senior government officer) ended up in a Jinjang lock-up. He called Lim to settle the case, who managed to get the case withdrawn by asking the man to apologise to his neighbour.
The Segambut MP’s job also involved negotiating a former VIP’s loan shark debt. “I received a call from a Datuk who lives in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. “When we met at a nearby coffeeshop, he showed me photographs of him with prominent leaders, including national and foreign dignitaries taken about 20 to 30 years ago,” he said. “He said he helped a friend who was in deep financial trouble to borrow money from some Ah Long. However, his friend ran away and could not be traced. “The Datuk gave me the names of five Ah Long and asked me to negotiate with them to delay payment of the debt (about RM80,000) for about two weeks.” The Segambut MP tweeted: “Two of the five Ah Long agreed to extend payments owed by a Datuk in TTDI to end of the month. This is the best I can do for him.”
Once, Lim was approached by a 50-something woman who claimed to be a journalist with a “critical link” to a case involving a prominent Taiwanese politician who killed a political rival in Taiwan 10 years ago. “I met her and she showed me photographs of her with Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian, Taiwanese Cabinet ministers and high-ranking bosses of Sin Chew Jit Poh (Chinese daily). “She wanted me to organise a press conference to highlight that Taiwanese hitmen were pursuing her,” he said. Lim told her that he would only organise a press conference if she lodged a police report. However, the woman refused, alleging that Malaysian police were in cahoots with the Taiwanese killers.
Twitter is also a medium for the MP to interact with his constituents.
@nizran77 tweeted: “@limlipeng: Besides looking for potholes in @ttdiTV, can you add: Remove Massage + Ah Long ads? Annoying!” Lim replied: “It’s on my list.”
“Any weird request that you’ve not tweeted about?” I asked Lim. He grinned.
There are times when the happily-married MP has to entertain “dirty calls”. And it is not about dirty drains, but rather female admirers who want to vividly describe their sexual acts with their ex-boyfriends.
That and receiving life-threatening calls all seem to be part of a YB’s job.

PR denies urban electorate as fixed deposit

2011-10-10T13:43:00.001+08:00

Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/content/84071-pr-denies-urban-electorate-fixed-deposit (By ASRUL HADI ABDULLAH SANI, 10.10.2011)
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Federal Territory lawmakers in Kuala Lumpur have denied urban constituencies have become the Opposition's stronghold after 2008. The parliamentarians believe the electorate must not be taken for granted and admitted Barisan Nasional (BN) will go all-out to regain the seats in the upcoming snap polls, speculated to be early next year.
Segambut DAP MP Lim Lip Eng said the 2008 results should not be used as backdrop for the 12th general election. “It is possible for them to capture the seats. We cannot take Umno lightly. I always tell my party members to never take BN lightly because anything can happen in politics," he told The malay Mail. “Overnight, the vote can swing to the other side. The best preparation we can do is to do our best and not just give lip service. This is important because BN will come down hard this time and will use every resource available."
PKR Batu MP Chua Tian Chang said PR must work hard to inform the public to counter BN's election machinery. “I won’t dare to say it (federal territory seats) is fixed deposits because urban voters are very knowledgeable. So if the prime minister wants the seats back then he do something substantial,” he said. Tian said the PR was able to win in the last election because the public wanted a proper check and balance in the country's administration.
Lembah Pantai PKR lawmaker Nurul Izzah Anwar also stressed the seats wouldl be determined by issues and not a leader’s popularity. “The level of PR’s continued success hinges upon two key issues. Our promise to implement minimum wage and BN’s hesitance in do so immediately and the implementation of goods and services tax which is in the order of bills to be tabled in parliament but not addressed in BN’s budget,” she said.

Illegal structures outside restaurants torn down

2011-10-07T13:33:00.001+08:00

Taken down: DBKL personnel using a bulldozer to bring down the structure put up in front of an outlet in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/10/7/central/9647883&sec=central (Photo by RICKY LAI & story by CHRISTINA LOW, 7.10.2011)
OWNERS of seven restaurants and bars in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, were caught by surprise during a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) raid yesterday. Most of the restaurants in Lorong Rahim Kajai 14 had not even opened their outlets for business when the DBKL officers visited the outlets. The enforcement officers told the operators to bring down the illegal extensions in front of their shops.
BoatHouse owner Adeline Lim said DBKL officers came to their outlet on Tuesday night and confiscated the tables and chairs placed along the corridors without notice. “They also told us to dismantle our extensions where our patrons usually sit and dine,” said Lim. Her business partner, Yenni Law, said DBKL should have given them more time to remove the structures instead of coming by early in the morning before she could even hire contractors to remove it. “We were not given enough time and it was unfair take it down this morning,” she said. Law said she had been running BoatHouse for the past seven years without any problems until late last year. “The officers say that the restaurants are noisy but we do not even play loud music. “Perhaps the DBKL should measure the noise frequency in each outlet before coming to a conclusion,” she said.
The Pier operator Albert Liew said DBKL did inform him not to place tables and chairs outside his restaurant a few months ago. He was caught by surprise when he arrived to open the restaurant for lunch and saw DBKL’s bulldozer tearing down his neighbour’s structure. Liew said his losses for the day would amount to about RM10,000.
Sid’s Pub owner Geoff Siddle said DBKL’s action was improper as they did not even issue any notice to remove the structures. “We are not like mamak stalls where tables and chairs are placed all along the road. We only have two tables and four chairs outside and yet all were confiscated on Tuesday night,” he said. Siddle said the officers chased his customers away while they were still dining outside the restaurant. “We applied two years ago to DBKL to put tables outside but never got a reply,” he said.
About 50 DBKL officers from the licensing and enforcement department were involved in the raid. The officers also did not allow Siddle to place potted plants outside his shop because they said it obstructed the walkaway. “We are a neighbourhood restaurant and bar but we are not even allowed to beutify the area with potted plants,” he said. Siddle said he and another outlet as well as a represenattive from the residents association would meet the Kuala Lumpur mayor on the issue soon. Other outlets involved were Fourty Two East, Chip & Dale, Deutshes Gasthaus 2 and Tom, Dick & Harry’s.
A DBKL spokesman at the site said the action was taken after receiving complaints of noise from the residents. Furthermore, the shops were said to have violated the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, Section 46(1)(a) by erecting extensions and causing obstruction to the public.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said DBKL should have given the operators more time before taking down the structures. “Some owners also complained that DBKL is practising a double standard. “They do not summon or confiscate stalls operating illegally along the road side but act against those who have licences instead,” said Lim who will be be meeting DBKL on the issue.
DBKL could not be contacted for comments at press time.

262 tear gas munitions used on July 9 protesters

2011-10-06T15:19:00.003+08:00

Photo & article from http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/177860 (By S Pathmawathy, 6.10.2011)
More than 262 tear gas canisters were used to disperse the Bersih 2.0 rally participants on July 9, a written reply given to Parliament says.
Replying to a question from Segambut DAP parliamentarian Lim Lip Eng, the Home Ministry said 226 tear smoke shells (TS shells) - which are fired with tear-gas launchers - and 36 tear smoke grenades (TS grenades) - which are hand thrown - were used against the protesters. "The costs of the TS shell and TS grenade are RM79.76 and RM135 (each), respectively," Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said. The government spent a total of RM22,855.76 on the ammunition, he said. "Both the tear gas types is made in the United States by ALS Technologies Inc," he added.
Lim had also asked on the total participants arrested during the rally and their breakdown according to gender, race and age, as well as the action taken against them. "A total of 1,509 - 1,412 males and 97 females - were arrested. "From of the total, 1,435 were Malays, 21 Chinese, 29 Indians and 24 others," said Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
Action taken? Unknown
Over half or 761 of the those nabbed were between the age of 11 to 35, while 645 individuals were age 36 to 60. The remaining 103 were above the age of 61. The reply, however, fail to state the action that was taken against them after arrest.
On Tuesday, the government said that it had spent over RM2 million to deploy over 11,000 police personnel to clamp the Bersih 2.0 rally. The amount spent on handling the rally in Kuala Lumpur included deployment of personnel from police contingents nationwide to aid the KL contingent, Hishammuddin had said.
Bersih 2.0 had led more than 10,000 people from across the nation to march the streets of the capital in their demand for electoral reform. The authorities have since been fiercely criticised for their mishandling of the rally while dozens of photographs and videos alledging police abuse had been spread online.
Related news: RM23,000 in tear gas hurled at Bersih marchers http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/rm23000-in-tear-gas-hurled-at-bersih-marchers/
RM22,885 spent on tear gas during Bersih rally, says ministry http://www.thesundaily.my/news/168188
262 rounds of tear gas fired during Bersih 2.0 http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/7/parliament/9646808&sec=parliament

10 'Bersih T-shirt' councillors given a discharge

2011-10-05T18:11:00.001+08:00

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/177767 (Nigel Aw, 5.10.2011)
Ten councillors from the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) were this morning given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the Kajang magistrate’s court on a charge of “displaying a pictorial and written statement through a shirt for the interest of an unlawful organisation, that is Bersih 2.0".
The 10 had donned Bersih T-shirts during a council meeting on June 29 and were charged a week later, under Section 74(1) of the Societies Act 1966, with displaying symbols or propaganda of an unlawful society.
When contacted, the group’s lawyer Lim Lip Eng said magistrate A Akhiruddin @ Boy Acho made the decision after deputy public prosecutor Mohd Azahari Harun asked for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal. “When we came to the court, the DPP told the magistrate that he had instructions from the Attorney-General’s Chambers to apply for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal,” said Lim. This, he said, comes a week after he sent a letter to the AG's Chambers, calling for the charges to be dropped. "I objected, as I wanted a discharge amounting to acquittal because the charge was defective. They wore the Bersih T-shirts on June 29 but Bersih's illegal declaration was only effective on July 1."
'DPP refused to explain discharge'
Lim said he challenged the DPP to explain the defect but was told that there was no need to argue as the case would no longer go on.
"From the reaction and answer of the DPP, I feel it is political prosecution," said Ng Tien Chee, one of the 10 councillors.
Another, Lee Kee Hiong, was still upset despite the decision. "We are unhappy. We should have been acquitted and discharged, not given a discharge not amounting to acquittal... the DPP should have been a gentleman," she said.
The other eight are Zulfikar Ali Ariffin, Ong Seng Peng, Lee Learn Eng, Tan Boon Wah, Razaly Hassan, ST Chandra Mohan, Chan Jeong Hon and Mohd Mohiddin Mohd Misbah. Also part of the legal team was Mohamed Hanipa Maidin.
Lim, who is Segambut MP, said initially 11 individuals were supposed to be charged but Cheong Seow Foon could not make it to court and was told he would be charged at a later date. "It's very ridiculous... he was not charged after that," said Lim.
Today's decision comes after the a sessions court in Kuantan last month discharged two individuals for wearing Bersih T-shirts, but also refused to acquit them.
Related news: 10 MPKj councillors given a discharge not amounting to acquittal http://www.thesundaily.my/news/167012

Customs confirms USD24mil ring exists

2011-10-04T17:35:00.004+08:00

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/177658 (4.11.2011)
The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has confirmed the existence of a RM24 million diamond ring which the prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor, was said to have purchased.
However, in a written reply to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng in Parliament today, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz clarified that the ring was not sold after it was brought into the country. “The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Comission (MACC) has referred the matter to the JKDM and JKDM has confirmed that there was no such purchase of the ring. “After a few days, the ring was returned to the company which owns it," he said.
In July, former PKR central committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin had claimed that a ring, 'Natural Fancy Gray Cushion Cut Diamond' priced at RM24,458,400 had been flown in via the KL international Airport. Producing a Customs Department information system printout, he said that the item was purchased through fine jewellery company Jacob & Co based in New York and brought into Malaysia by one Jeremy Beh Sin Tee. He added that the document showed Rosmah's name in the receiver's column of the Customs form, which he claimed to be evidence implicating her in the purchase.
Rosmah has vehemently denied the allegation, which she described as another series of “slanders” against her. “This is nothing funny, this is slander... what have I not experienced? I have experienced all,” she had said.
Despite the denial, opponents of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak have jumped on this and the issue has often been played up at political ceramah.

Whistleblower unhappy with reply on the 'Rosmah' ring
Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/177696 (4.10.2011)
The explanation in Parliament on the RM24 million diamond ring brought into the country is unsatisfactory, as it does not explain the "mystery" surrounding its import, says former PKR central committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin. “I am not satisfied (with the reply by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz); and it does not answer the mystery behind the ring,” said Badrul, who was the whistleblower in the ring that he alleges had been ordered by the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor.
Badrul, who heads a youth group called Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), says the parliamentary reply proves that he has a case in lodging a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Jul 13 to investigate the matter. “So MACC after this reply should have enough evidence to prove that the document (that I had furnished them) is authentic, otherwise they would not have questioned the cargo company officer A Krishnan till the wee hours of the morning in their investigation,” he said in an email today. SAMM and Badrul, who is also known by by blog name Chegubard, lodged a report with the MACC in Penang on July 13 on the alleged purchase of the diamond ring by Rosmah. Badrul had said then that based on information received by the group on April 16, the “Natural Fancy Gray Cushion Cut Diamond” ring tagged at RM24,458,400 was flown in via the KL International Airport. “The item was purchased through a fine jewellery company - Jacob & Co - based in New York, and brought to Malaysia by one Jeremy Beh Sin Tee," Badrul had said then, and that the Customs document stated Rosmah as the receiver of the item.
In a written reply to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng in Parliament today, Nazri said that the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has confirmed the existence of the controversial diamond ring. However, Nazri said the ring was not purchased after it was brought into the country, and added, “After a few days, the ring was returned to the company which owns it."
'Imelda of Malaysia'
Badrul pointed out that the Customs document also stated that the item was tax free, and demanded MACC to investigate the reason behind this. “Did Rosmah's husband - Najib - use his power as finance minister to obtain the tax-free status?” he had said at the time. He has likened Rosmah to the spendthrift former Filipino first lady Imelda Marcos, saying that such luxury living contradicted the fact that ordinary Malaysians were suffering from the rising cost of living.
“What about a bracelet worth RM1.65 million that was sold by the same company (New York jeweller Jacob & Co that is behind the diamond ring) that is being worn by Rosmah?” Badrul asked today. “This coming Monday, SAMM will distribute 25,000 brochures about the ring and other spendthrift habits,” he added.
Related news: US$24m ring returned after ‘a few days’, minister tells Parliament
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/us24m-ring-returned-after-a-few-days-minister-tells-parliament/
Nazri: No case on Rosmah’s RM73m ring
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/04/nazri-no-case-on-rosmahs-rm24m-ring/
RM77mil diamond ring returned to sender, says Nazri
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/5/parliament/9630528&sec=parliament

DAP MP protests unchecked powers in new medical Act

2011-10-04T08:48:00.001+08:00

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dap-mp-protests-unchecked-powers-in-new-medical-act/ (By Clara Chooi, 3/10/2011)
The Dewan Rakyat today passed the Medical Device Authority Act, which grants absolute power to authorised enforcement officers to conduct raids and seizures over unregistered medical devices without producing a warrant. The Act also stipulates the authorities will not be bound to pay damages or relief costs or be liable to court action for such seizures, unless a raid was conducted “without reasonable cause”.
During debate in Parliament today, Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) urged Putrajaya to withdraw and review provisions in the bill, arguing that it grants too much enforcement power to the Health Ministry and its agents. “Section 57 gives blanket immunity to officials to raid or seize any medical devices. And no one can initiate any legal proceedings before any court,” he told the House.
The bill was tabled by Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai for the second and third readings today, before being passed by majority vote. Under the Act, “medical device” refers to “any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, appliance, implant, in-vitro reagent or calibrator, software, material or other similar or related material intended by the manufacturer to be used on human beings” for various purposes such as “diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment or alleviation of disease” and other reasons. The law compels all manufacturers, importers or distributors to register their medical devices with the newly formed Medical Advice Authority (MAA), following safety standards set by the Conformity Assessment Body, an independent regulatory agency formed under the Act. Unregistered devices are also banned from being advertised and any person who violates this provision will be liable to a fine not exceeding RM3,000 or a maximum three-year jail term, or both.
Speaking to The Malaysian Insider later, Lim said he was not opposed to the requirement for all medical devices to be registered in order to meet safety standards. “But the wide scope of powers granted to health officials could be open to abuse and the manufacturers or retailers are offered no protection,” he said. He pointed out that any negligence by health officials would be overlooked as no court action could be initiated to question their decisions.
According to Section 48 of the Act, the health minister may, in writing, authorise any public servant to exercise enforcement powers. Section 50 states that the authorised officer “shall have all or any of the powers of a police officer of whatever rank in relation to police investigations in seizable cases as provided for under the Criminal Procedure Code”. While Section 51 stipulates the officer should obtain a search warrant from a Magistrate, Section 52 states the said officer could also conduct the raid without a warrant if he has reason to believe that any delay in obtaining the warrant could adversely affect the evidence. The Act also allows any “aggrieved” persons to appeal to the minister, who has the power to confirm, reverse or vary the decision of the MAA.

‘Charge brother’s attacker with manslaughter’

2011-09-30T16:10:00.001+08:00

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/30 (By Teoh El Sen, September 30, 2011)
Ng Wai Keong, a disabled person who wandered the streets around Pudu crawling on his arms, died after being assaulted by a man who refused his request for a cigarette. Speaking at a press conference here today, the deceased’s brother said the suspect who allegedly attacked Wai Keong, 59, with a huge cane was only charged for “causing hurt with a weapon”.
“How is it possible that my brother was beaten to death but the person responsible was not charged for murder or manslaughter? “You say that his cause of death was inflammation of the lungs, but how did he end up in the ICU if he wasn’t attacked in the first place?” asked Ng Wai Cheong, 51, a contractor. “I want a heavier charge against the person who killed my brother,” he said, adding that the charge should at least be under Section 304 of the Penal Code for manslaughter. He said that several witnesses saw the attacker leave the scene and then return to continue attacking his brother. “There were many witnesses, maybe 100 people saw what happened but the police didn’t even try to interview them. I had to find the witnesses myself to identify the attacker. Why don’t I become the police and wear three stars instead?” he added.
Everybody liked ‘Hong Kong Boy’
Wai Cheong said that his brother was well-known in the area and everybody called him “Hong Kong Boy”. “He is harmless and the people there take care of him well eventhough he does not work. His nickname came about because he was very smart as a young boy before his mental illness set in when he was in his 20s,” he added. Wai Cheong said his brother, who had four other siblings, lost his legs in an accident four years ago. Wai Keong had been wandering the streets since his house was destroyed in a fire several years ago. He lived alone but Wai Cheong visited him every week.
An FMT survey in the area revealed that Wai Keong was well-liked in the area and was given food or drinks whenever he asked.
Recounting the day he found out about the incident, Wai Cheong said he had wanted to look for his brother in Pudu but was informed that he was taken in an ambulance to the hospital the night before. “At first I thought it was an accident and I went to a few hospitals but could not find him. At last I found him warded in the ICU of Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He didn’t look good, he was in a coma, and was not breathing at all. The doctor said there was little hope for him,” he added. Six days later on Sept 8 Wai Keong died but his family was never told of his cause of death.
Lawyer: Review the charge
DAP lawyer Keppy Wong said the police had later informed them that Wai Keong’s cause of death was from inflammation of the lungs and not due to the injuries from the asault. “Given the scenario that the victim was assaulted, the police must reclassify the investigation papers and review the charge to 304 for manslaughter. We’re talking about a life lost here,” said Wong, who is acting for Wai Cheong. “It appears that in this case the investigation was not done properly. The confidence of the people in the police and courts must be given priority. This cannot be accepted by the public when a death had occurred,” he added. Wong said that the post-mortem report should be made available so that the family could get a second opinion from other pathologists. “We would also be writing to the Attorney-General’s Office,” he added.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai were also present at the press conference. “The case must be reopened and reinvestigated,” said Lim. “When there was a cat or dog abuse, there was a public outcry. Now a human life had been taken, we must voice out to the authorities to bring justice.”
It was reported that in the early hours of Sept 3, Wai Keong had stopped to ask a man for a cigarette near a night club in Jalan Sungai Besi. The 34-year-old man had refused and an argument ensued, during which the man, believed to be drunk, took a cane and repeatedly assaulted Wai Keong.
Contacted later, a police spokesperson confirmed that the suspect, known only as Ah Seng, had been charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code but said that the decision to ammend the charge was with the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Wrecked car affecting traffic towed

2011-09-26T13:27:00.001+08:00

Lim hired a tow truck to tow the wrecked car to a City Hall parking area near the Segambut commuter station. (Photo by Sin Chew Daily)
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/4ran/Article/ (2011/09/23, By Veena Babulal)
KUALA LUMPUR: City Hall's delay in the removal of an abandoned car in Jalan Segambut has irked Segambut folk. Motorists using the road which is an artery to the city, Jalan Duta, Jalan Ipoh and Mont Kiara want to know why City Hall did not remove the abandoned car on its flyover near the Segambut commuter station.
The car believed to be involved in an accident on Sept 10 had been there for five days before Segambut member of parliament Lim Lip Eng hired a tow truck to remove the vehicle. The car was then pulled to a City Hall parking area near the commuter station. Lim resorted to taking matters into his own hands on Sept 15 after complaints lodged with City Hall by himself and residents on Monday (two days after the car was first spotted) were not addressed.
Mohd Ishak Sidin, 40, said the abandoned car had caused the jam in Jalan Segambut to worsen. "It used to take us two hours to ply the Jalan Segambut during rush hour in the evenings. But the abandoned car increased the journey two fold. It was especially bad during the evenings, it took me four hours to reach home from the flyover, which is barely 1km away," said the resident of Mandy Villa Apartment at Segambut Bahagia. "The car blocked more than two thirds of the lane of the dual carriageway near the commuter station where traffic flows from the Duta roundabout and Jalan Ipoh towards the city," he said adding that the damaged car and traffic cones took up between 6m and 9m length of the road. "It also caused a backlog of traffic to Jalan Kuching and Jalan Duta as the road ahead after the flyover at the Segambut KTM commuter station narrows into a single carriageway."
Khairuddin Karim, 55, also said that he could not understand why the police who conducted road blocks near the bridge could not tow the vehicle or inform City Hall about it.
City Hall was unavailable for comment.

Online order gone wrong, factory owner cheated

2011-09-26T13:16:00.002+08:00

Conned: Tan showing the inferior material he received from China that he ordered through a website. (Photo from Guang Ming Daily)
Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/9/26/central/9529321&sec=central (By JASTIN AHMAD TARMIZI, 26/9/2011)
A factory owner was cheated when he bought goods worth almost RM500,000 from a website recently.
Tan Chong Chew, 48, whose factory manufactures thermoplastic road marking material in Kota Damansara, said he ordered four containers of hydrocarbon resin for making road marking from three companies in China only to receive fake and inferior material. “My company has been importing this material from China for almost 10 years from one supplier. The usual supplier had to stop production for maintenance of the factory for a few months. “We cannot stop production as there is a demand here so we had to source from other suppliers,” he said. Tan said he had asked the companies to send specimens of the material before making the purchase. “The specimen they sent was genuine and we paid a 30% deposit to confirm the order and paid the rest once the goods were on board the ship. “When we received the product, they were not the material we ordered,” he said, adding that the material he received was inferior such as bitumen. Tan said after receiving all the goods, he tried to negotiate with the suppliers, however, the three companies denied sending the wrong product. “Two of the companies agreed to compensate assuring me they would deduct from future purchases and told me to place another order,” he said. Tan said he went to China twice to complain to the authorities only to find that the address given by the suppliers were non-existent.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who accompanied the victim at the press conference, urged people to be more careful when buying products on the internet. “We have to always check with the relevant authorities and confirm whether it is a genuine supplier before making a purchase,” he said. “I will try to highlight this case to the Chinese embassy in Malaysia and the police,” he added.

Security threat to expo puts dent on Malaysians’ dream holiday abroad

2011-09-26T13:03:00.002+08:00

Venting their anger: Some of the tour package customers explaining their ordeal during their trip to China to the tour company operators Sunday. (Photo by Guang Ming Daily)
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/26/nation/9574807&sec=nation (By WONG PEK MEI, 26/9/2011)
A dream holiday turned into a nightmare for a group of 80 Malaysians when China's security authorities received threats to sabotage the China-Eurasia Expo held in Urumqi early this month. Their tour agency YangTze Cruise and Tour Sdn Bhd said the company did its best to resolve the logistical problems encountered by the group but claimed its hands were tied. However, businessman Wong Ket Peng, 53 and his wife Wong Sow Fong, 48, who spoke on behalf of the 80 customers from the same tour to Urumqi, described their experience during the 10-day trip from Aug 21 to Sept 5 as “mentally, emotionally and physically torturing”. “On the sixth day of our trip, from Dan Huang to Hami, we had to suffer a heavy traffic jam for more than 24 hours. “We had to sleep in the bus and relieve ourselves in public. It was humiliating. “To add salt to injury, we had no food and drinks as well as accommodation, although we had paid for all these in our tour package which cost RM5,000 to RM7,000. “Due to the delay in reaching Hami, the company cancelled visits to two important tourist spots - Balikun Grassland on the way to Turpan and the International Bazaar at Urumqi,” said Sow Fong, a secretary. The couple were among the customers who held a protest in front of company's office at Jalan Pinggir yesterday. She said their tour guide offered them compensation of RMB55 (RM27.25) each for the cancelled visits, food and accommodation. “But this is simply not enough for what we had to endure,” she added.
Yesterday, the group, along with Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, met company president Tan Han Soong. Lim said he would help them file a formal complaint to MATTA as it was in the position to intervene and resolve the issue.
Tan said the company did not realise there would be heavy traffic on the Silk Road where the group was travelling due to the threats to the expo, which was launched by China's Vice-Premier Li Keqiang. International media reported an increase in security, including checks made in the trunks of cars and searches of bags in public areas in Urumqi, the capital of China's northwestern Xinjiang Autonomous Region, during the five-day expo. “Security was heightened due to rumours of terrorist attacks. So our customers were stuck on the road between 16 and 30 hours,” he said. He said the company tried to send supplies, but it was impossible due to road closures.
Tan said he would leave the matter to the Tribunal Court to decide if the group resorted to taking the case there.

Honour RM70m court award, govt urged

2011-09-15T16:20:00.002+08:00

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/14/honour-rm70m-court-award-govt-urged/ (By Teoh El Sen, 14/9/2011)
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has been urged to step in to resolve the issue of Pahang government’s refusal to pay a logging company RM70 million awarded by the Kuantan High Court.
DAP’s Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said that the federal government could readily provide a grant or a friendly loan (without interests) to the Pahang government if the latter found it difficult to come up with the money. Said Lim: “I think it’s about time the prime minister intervened… He is a Member of Parliament from Pahang. This is his own state and he shouldn’t ignore this.” Lim also said that the Pahang government has misused and abused Order 73 under the Rules of the High Court 1980, which states that no judgment or orders can be enforced against the government. “We believe that the state government is using this law to shield it from paying the judgment sum. “Legally, the state government may be protected from enforcement actions under this section. But ethically, in the eyes of public, local and foreign investors… the state has failed to honour its business contractual terms and the court of law.” Lim said that never in Malaysian history has the government refused to pay an amount when it has been decided by a court.
“In Penang, (Chief Minister) Lim Guan Eng had always paid what is being awarded by the court even though this was something done by the previous Barisan Nasional state government.” “Why? Because this is what he (Guan Eng) preaches: a good government, transparency and abiding by the law. That’s why Penang has seen a huge jump in foreign investments,” said Lim.
Breaching logging contract
Ten men, directors and shareholders of a logging firm Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd, are now on a hunger strike relay to compel the Pahang government to abide by a court ruling to pay their company some RM70 million. The company had in 2002 sued the state for breaching a logging contract in which Seruan Gemilang claimed it was issued a permit to clear 8,000 acres of forest in Pekan, said to be owned by Pahang Umno. However, it was later discovered that the land was owned by the state government and not Pahang Umno, eventually forcing the company to cease operations until the matter was resolved. In May 2007, the Kuantan High Court ruled in the company’s favour and ordered the Pahang government to pay them more than RM37 million plus interest of 8% per annum. The total comes close to RM70 million. The men started the strike in front of a temple in Segambut on Sept 8, rotating in pairs. Two have since been replaced after they collapsed last week and earlier this week.
‘No respect for law’
PAS’ Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and PKR’s Selayang MP William Leong visited the hunger strike protesters this morning. “The Pahang state has no respect for the law. The court has ruled, don’t mislead the public. For the state government to completely disregard the court… it is either bankrupt or is just a bunch of gangsters,” he said. “The BN has been in power for too long… getting away with murder in the case of Altantuya Sharriibuu, and it has already corrupted the whole judicial process with Anwar Ibrahim’s trial,” said Khalid. “How can you have a BN state government with such attitude? This is typical of Umno and BN attitude,” he said. It is understood that the hunger strike would last until tonight as the protesters are planning on continuing it near the Balok beach in Kuantan.
Seruan Gemilang manager Lee Sin said this decision was made because there are more than 100 investors, staff, and former workers who would participate in the strike in Pahang. “Besides the 10, we also had other workers who lost their income when the Pahang government stopped the logging work. Eventhough some of them have passed away, we hope to help their family if we can get back the payment,” he said. The group is also hoping to seek an audience with the Pahang Sultan to raise the matter.
Related news: Hunger strike over court payment ends http://www.thesundaily.my/news/144060
Lawyer in hunger strike row claims Putrajaya distorting courts
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/lawyer-in-hunger-strike-row-claims-putrajaya-distorting-courts/

Hunger strike protester collapses

2011-09-12T15:49:00.002+08:00

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/12/hunger-strike-protester-collapses/ (By Teoh El Sen, 12/9/2011)
One of 10 men from a logging company staging a hunger strike relay against the Pahang government collapsed this morning and had to be sent to the hospital here.
Shareholder Ramli Suleiman, 46, is the second person to have ‘burnt out’ after surviving only on liquids for five days. The first was 68-year-old John Chong who was sent home on Saturday morning after suffering from intense pain. A doctor diagnosed that Chong cannot continue the strike as the man’s hernia had relapsed. Both men started the strike last Thursday.
Earlier today, Ramli was found in a weakened and incoherent state, lying in a makeshift tent in front of the Loke Hup temple in Segambut. Alerted to his condition, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng called for an ambulance to the scene. While being carried to the ambulance by medical personnel, Ramli was seen struggling and muttering: “Biar saya, biar saya (leave me alone)”. He was sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Two other men, shareholders Lim Ting Sin, 68, and Pang Chow Seng, 70, have now taken over to from the two continue the hunger strike. The 10 men, directors and shareholders of of logging firm Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd, want the Pahang government to abide by a court ruling to pay their company RM70 million.
‘Pahang MB a lawless hooligan’
The company had in 2002 sued the state for breaching a logging contract and the Kuantan High Court ruled in their favour in May 2007. It ordered the Pahang government to pay them more than RM37 million plus interest of 8% per annum. The total came close to RM70 million. When they started the strike on Sept 8, the group said they would do it in pairs and if anyone of them collapsed, others would take their place, saying “death” was preferable to injustice.
Seruan Gemilang manager Lee Sin alleged today that Pahang menteri besar Adnan Yaakob had lied in a statement to the media yesterday concerning the case. “He said that the state was still looking at possible legal remedies, but we know for a fact that we’ve exhausted all available legal avenues,” said Lee, who then threw a challenge to Adnan. “If it’s true that we can still can appeal in court, we will stop the hunger strike. But if you’re lying and we have no other way, then you should settle the debt immediately,” he said.
“The menteri besar is a lawless hooligan,” said Lee. “We are old and I’m retired now, so I’m doing this. As Malaysians and we should be abiding the law, especially the state government. “Even if they don’t do anything, at least we are highligthing the matter and letting the public know what the state is doing,” said current protester Lim, camped under a tree today.
Also read: ‘Give us justice or death’

Hunger strike to compel payment from Pahang government of court award

2011-09-09T16:10:00.003+08:00

Photo by Lim
Source: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/137437 (By Tan Yi Liang, 8/9/2011)
A group of 10 directors, investors and shareholders of a logging company are staging a hunger strike relay until the Pahang state government pays it damages awarded by the High Court. The strike which began in Segambut today will continue until the Pahang mentri besar pays Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd the RM63 million awarded to it in 2009, when the company won a suit against the state government for breach of contract.
One participant, John Chong, 70, told a press conference the hunger strike was being staged due to the reluctance of the state to pay the sum which has since increased. “The money aspect is there and it is true that I benefit if they make payment, but I cannot tolerate an act of injustice by a state government which I believe will affect Pahang’s image to foreign investors,” he said. “If I am a foreign investor, I will not invest my money if such defiance goes on. A judgment was legally obtained in court. If authorities do not abide by the law, where do we stand?” Chong, a former High Court officer, said he would continue the strike until the Pahang government pays up or he collapses – whichever comes first. Another participant, former police Special Action Unit member Ramli Suleiman, 46, said he was striking to express his dissatisfaction at Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob. “How can he administer Pahang when he can’t resolve cases like this?” asked Ramli, who was the Sultan of Pahang’s former bodyguard. Seruan Gemilang manager Lee Sin said the strike was being staged in Kuala Lumpur as the company was unable to find a place in Kuantan to highlight the issue.
Explaining the concept of the relay, Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai said the participants will take turns to go on a hunger strike. “When one collapses, another from among the 10 will line up to take his place,” Tan said.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said he would look in on the participants daily and defend them against any harassment by the authorities.
The Kuantan High Court had awarded the company RM37,127,471.60 in damages with 8% interest per annum from Dec 31, 2000. The sum was awarded on May 25, 2007 after it won a suit naming the Pahang government and the state forestry director as defendants. The award was upheld by the Federal Court. The Court of Appeal rejected the state’s application for leave to appeal the High Court decision, and the Federal Court on Sept 17, 2008 upheld the Court of Appeal’s decision. However, the mentri besar’s subsequent application to the Court of Appeal to set aside an order of mandamus from the Kuantan High Court compelling the mentri besar to settle the amount was allowed on Oct 9, 2009. The Court of Appeal ruled that the state financial officer and not the mentri besar should have been named as the respondent in the order of mandamus.
Related news: ‘Give us justice or death’ http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/08/%E2%80%98give-us-justice-or-death%E2%80%99/
Loggers hunger strike over Pahang gov't non-payment http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/175165
Shareholders on hunger strike over Pahang government payment http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/shareholders-on-hunger-strike-over-pahang-government-payment/

Meeting between Kuala Lumpur parliamentarians and DBKL

2011-08-26T09:45:00.002+08:00

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

TNB withdraws appeal on RM100,000 order for damages

2011-08-18T13:20:00.001+08:00

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

Council fails to hand over keys to MCA members

2011-08-15T09:51:00.001+08:00

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

Campaign in TTDI to register more voters

2011-07-28T12:45:00.004+08:00

A voter-registration campaign will be held at the Taman Tun Dr. Ismail market on the 30th and 31st July, 2011 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9am until 6pm.
The programme, jointly organised by TTDI residents and the Election Commission (EC), is aimed at creating awareness on the importance of registering as a voter.
This voter-registration campaign is apolitical because it is a local community programme.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said that about 3.7 million eligible voters did not register to vote by July this year so iIt is the duty of a Malaysian citizen to sign up and to have a say on how the country is to be run.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong has also annouced that the general election could be held within the next 180 ~~weeks~~ days, so it was important to register before 30th September, 2011 in order to be eligible to vote when the next general election comes.
The drive will be held at the ground floor of TTDI market.
EC officers would also be present to update the people to vote in their current place of residence.

DAP slams omissions and conflicts in RCI report

2011-07-26T14:03:00.000+08:00

Aug 12 decision on MCA injunction bid against Kajang Municipal Council

2011-07-22T12:50:00.000+08:00

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/7/22/courts/9149148&sec=courts (22/7/2011)
SHAH ALAM: The MCA will know on Aug 12 whether the party has succeeded in getting an injunction to stop the Kajang Municipal Council from closing down its building in Cheras, pending the outcome of its suit against the council. High Court judge Justice Wan Af-rah Wan Ibrahim fixed the date after meeting counsel for parties in chambers yesterday.
The plaintiff, MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, in his application sought for an injunction to stop the defendant from entering or locking the MCA Building in Taman Indah, Cheras. He is also seeking the return of seven sets of keys and also items which had been confiscated by the defendant.
In the main suit filed on May 23, Kong sought a declaration that the defendant’s forced entry into the MCA building on three occasions in November and December last year were wrong and inappropriate. He is seeking damages, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court.
In its statement of defence, the Kajang Municipal Council denied all the allegations and argued that it had the jurisdiction to take over the building as it was built on state land. Representing Kong is counsel Ringo Low, while the council was represented by lawyers Lim Lip Eng and Lewis Lim.

Arrested in hotel room for wearing Bersih t-shirts

2011-07-18T15:45:00.003+08:00

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/170236 (Joseph Sipalan & Kow Gah Chie, 18/7/2011)
It was to be a weekend trip for a group of four youths to Cameron Highlands to enjoy nature in all its splendour. The previous week had been hectic, what with the Bersih 2.0 rally and the numerous controversies that cropped up, so it would have been a well-deserved holiday for three aides to Seputeh MP and DAP national organising secretary Teresa Kok. Little did they know that the Bersih 2.0 stigma would continue to trail them all the way to the idyllic hill resort town.
Teh Hoong Keat, Lan Suet Ling and Chin Kah Wai, along with a friend, had planned on a two- day, one-night stay in Cameron Highlands last Saturday to stretch their legs and possibly even go jungle trekking. However, by the time the night was over, they had lost all desire to finish their holiday.
Teh said they adjourned to the girls' hotel room to hang out after dinner and visiting the night market, when a hotel employee knocked on their door about 12.45am. "They asked us to change rooms because a family was staying next door and we may have been a bit noisy,” he said. "By that time, I think he saw us wearing Bersih T-shirts in the room. After we changed rooms, about 10 minutes later someone started knocking loudly on our door.” When they opened the door, at least 13 people who were waiting outside had barged into their room without identifying themselves, Teh said. "I asked them who they were, and one of them showed his ID, a chief inspector Basar Safar. He said the hotel management had called the police to tell them there was a group of people wearing Bersih T-shirts." Teh said Basar had asked the group to follow the police back to Cameron Highlands district police headquarters, only giving the reason that it was a "public security issue".
'Nearly three hours wasted'
The group had initially argued against going to the police station, but had little choice as all their MyKads were being held by a female officer, who told them they would only get the documents back at the station, said Teh. Lan said they were also told to ride in the police car to the station, where they were then made to wait for two hours without any instructions after reaching there at 1am. "They just made us wait at a side hall, where there were a few sofas. We waited and did nothing. We thought they wanted to take our statements, but they did nothing. "By 3am, the same chief inspector came and told us we were free to go. We asked if we had anything to sign, and he said no and even returned our T-shirts to us. He told us, 'you pakailah sesuka hati kamu' (wear it however you wish).” The ordeal however did not end there, as they had to wait at least another half-hour for the officers to send them back to the hotel, fighting back the chilly night air in just T-shirts and shorts, Lan added. Teh said the police action was sheer injustice and an invasion of their privacy, stressing that nowhere in the law does it state that the Bersih 2.0 T-shirt is illegal. Lan however pointed out that they chose to only wear the T-shirt in their hotel room as they acknowledge that this is still a sensitive matter.
DAP's Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who was acting as legal counsel for the trio, indicated that they will probably not take any legal action over the weekend fiasco. "Since Malaysia is now a police state, suing the police would be a waste of time and money," he said at a press conference earlier.
An officer from the Cameron Highlands police headquarters today confirmed the case, but stressed that the quartet were not arrested. The senior officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they did not infringe on the privacy of the four as Bersih has been declared an illegal organisation and wearing a Bersih T-shirt is not allowed.
“You cannot wear it outdoors or indoors, even as pajamas,” the officer said, adding that they decided to release the four unconditionally as they were not involved in an illegal assembly.
Prior to this incident, police had arrested five Pakatan Rakyat leaders across the country last week for wearing Bersih T-shirts, including DAP's Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa.
Related news: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/07/18/arrested-in-hotel-room-for-wearing-bersih-t-shirts/ Arrested in hotel room for wearing Bersih t-shirts
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/24priv/Article MP's aides cry foul over police action

10 MPKj councillors charged over Bersih T-shirts

2011-07-08T16:45:00.000+08:00

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/7/8/courts/9060716&sec=courts (8/7/2011)
PUTRAJAYA: Ten Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) councillors were charged at a magistrate’s court in Putrajaya yesterday for wearing Bersih 2.0 T–shirts within the vicinity of Menara MPKj. They were charged under the Societies Act 1966 Section 47 (1) for wearing the T–shirts during the council’s full board meeting on June 29.
Eleven municipal councillors were called to face charges at a magistrate’s court on Wednesday but were informed that their case had been postponed to yesterday.
The 10 councillors are Eddie Ng, S.T. Chandra Mohan, Tan Boon Wah, Lee Kee Hiong, Razaly Hassan, Ong Seng Peng, Steven Chan, Mohd Mohyiddin Mohamed Mesbah, Zulfikar Ali Ariffin, and Lee Learn Eng. The other councillor Cheong Siow Foon was not present.
Requests by defence counsel K.A. Ramu, Lim Lip Eng and Hanipa Maidin for the charges to be dismissed were rejected. Their subsequent request for a RM500 bail each was also rejected. The councillors pleaded not guilty and were released on a RM2,000 bail each. Magistrate A. Akhiruddin @ Boy Acho fixed Aug 8 for mention.
In relation to the wearing of the T-shirts, 23 MPKj councillors had been called in for questioning at the Kajang district police headquarters on June 30. Of the 23, six were from PKR, six from DAP, five from PAS, and six from non-governmental organisations.

Mall tenants in a bind

2011-06-27T10:21:00.002+08:00

It’s official: Notices have been put up at The Mall to indicate a change in ownership.

News from: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/6/27/central/8970019&sec=central (By KHARLEEZ ZUBIN, 27/6/2011)
SEVERAL retailers at The Mall shopping complex near the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur have been issued eviction notices by the new management.
Spokesman for the retailers Melissa Tan said the new owners, Sunway Management Sdn Bhd, wanted them to sign a fresh tenancy agreement as they did not recognise the existing one with the previous owner. She said several eviction letters and ultimatums had put the tenants under tremendous mental anguish. “Now there are two management teams in The Mall with their own set of rules. Both management teams are invoicing the tenants. Sunway and Metroplex Holdings Sdn Bhd both have their own set of security guards, too,” she said. She added that tenants had registered a 70% drop in sales since the takeover due to “uncertainties”.
Ad hoc tenants committee chairman Datuk Ismail Samsudin, who is a jewellery retailer, said the tenants did not know who the rightful owner was. “They fear that if they don’t comply with the demands of the new management, water and electricity supply would be cut and they wouild be forcefully evicted,” he said.
The briefing was attended by Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah.
“We have called the parliamentarians to help advice tenants on the action to take to safeguard our interest,” Tan said. Lim and Nurul advised the tenants to speak in one voice and engage legal advice. Lim, a lawyer, told the tenants that they could still continue to pay their bills but the money could be left in a stakeholder account until the matter was sorted out.
Tan said the problem started when the previous owner turned to the court to cancel the auction sale claiming irregularities.
But Sunway Group legal counsel David Lingam of David & Co said the KL High Court had dismissed Metroplex’s summons and deemed OSK Trustees Berhad, the trustees for Sunway Real Estate Investment Trust as the rightful owner. “By virtue of the takeover, the tenants under the previous owner are considered trespassers,” Lingam said, adding the court on compassionate grounds have given them some time to move out. Under the law, all previous tenancy agreements become null and void when a property is successfully auctioned off. “In this case, they are trespassers and they have to abide by the law and sign a new agreement with Sunway or they can be legally evicted,” Lingam said. Asked why Sunway being the rightful owner has not taken action to exert its ownership by evicting the previous management and its security guards from the premises, the lawyer said Sunway did not practice high-handed tactics.
It is also learnt that KL City Hall has revoked the operating licence of Legend Hotel, which together with The Mall and an office block form Putra Palace. The property was sold to OSK Trustee Bhd for RM513.95mil in March, about three years after it was first put up for auction. Commerce International Merchant Bankers Bhd put the property up for auction to recover loans given to property owner Metroplex. Lim Siew Kim, the daughter of the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, founder of the gaming firm Genting Resorts, holds a majority stake in Metroplex.

WATCH YOUR STEP

2011-06-25T17:57:00.001+08:00

(From left) Lim Lip Eng, Lim Tiam Soon and Yap Fong Yoong inspecting the viewing platform at Taman Tasik Manjalara. — Picture by Syarafiq Abd Samad

News from: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/2oot/Article/ (By Dawn Chan, 24/6/2011)

Park visitors are concerned about a cracked viewing platform in Taman Tasik Manjalara in Kepong. One of the several viewing platforms surrounding the Taman Tasik Manjalara in Kepong is on the verge of collapsing and endangering the safety of park users. One of the viewing platforms built on the edge of the lake adjoining the recreational park's jogging track had cracked from its pathway foundation, leaving a 50cm gap.
Several joggers Streets spoke to said they began to notice the deteriorating condition of the platform about a year ago when the gap was still small. They said the gap grew bigger and they have alerted City Hall about the safety hazard. However, the joggers claimed that their complaints had fallen on deaf ears.
Chong, who goes to the park daily, said he and fellow joggers had even tied red ribbons at the cracked platform to warn park users from stepping onto it. "We highlighted this matter to City Hall several times but nothing was done to address the problem. "I urge City Hall to act quickly before it becomes costlier to repair the damage," Chong added. "I think the platform cracked because of poor design and a foundation that is not deep enough," he said. Chong, who is from Segambut, said if the viewing platform was not repaired, it could weaken further. He said City Hall should check on the other viewing platforms to see if they are in similar condition.
Lim Tiam Soon, 68, who goes to the park with his grandchildren, described the situation as hazardous. "Instead of spending time leisurely here, I have to keep an eye on the children as I am afraid they will go near the platform or fall into the lake. "City Hall should repair the platform quickly or cordon off the area," said the Taman Maluri resident.
Another Taman Maluri resident Yap Fong Yoong, 63, expressed regret that the park had not been properly maintained for sometime. "The fountains are out of order and the place is no longer safe. "Previously, there were guards on duty, even at night," said Yap, who is a regular visitor at the park for about 10 years now.
The trio had sought the assistance of Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng to have the matter resolved. Lim said he had written to City Hall's Landscaping and Urban Control Cleaning Department but had received no response from it.

Greatpac & Segambut MP distribute 150 Jasa Eco biodegradable packs at TTDI market

2011-06-23T19:14:00.001+08:00

Lim Lip Eng (left) and Douglas Tan (second from left) distributing the green goodie bags goodie bags at Taman Tun Dr Ismail market. — Picture by Chan Wai Yew
News from: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/5jeg/Article (By R. Indumathi, 22/6/2011)
About 150 Jasa Eco gift packs containing biodegradable products were distributed to the public on "No Plastic Day".
The bags were given by Wawasan TKH Holdings Bhd's subsidiary Greatpac Sdn Bhd staff and Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng at Taman Tun Dr Ismail market.
Greatpac has created the Jasa Eco brand biodegradable containers, plates and cutlery since February this year. The company is the first to successfully produce a completely biodegradable and environment-friendly product for food packaging in Malaysia.
"We are targeting the hawkers to use our products," said Greatpac senior manager Douglas Tan. "Compared with the normal styrofoam boxes, which costs 11 sen each, a biodegradable Jasa Eco packet costs only 5 to 6 sen."
Jasa Eco products are made from corn starch, palm and sugarcane fibre.
Related news: Biodegradable foam food packaging an alternative to styrofoam
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/6/22/central/8931346&sec=central

18,800 maids fled last year

2011-06-22T08:47:00.002+08:00

News from: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/11rund/Article (22/6/2011)
A total of 18,716 domestic workers ran away from their employers' homes last year, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday. Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan said from the total, 17,205 were domestic workers from Indonesia.
"As of last year, 247,069 foreign housemaids were employed in Malaysia, with 76.7 per cent from Indonesia," she said in reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut). Lim had asked on the measures taken by the government to address the problem of domestic workers running away from their employers.
Maznah said the ministry had taken a few measures to address the problem, including holding joint working group discussions, seminars and dialogues on foreign domestic workers, introducing a biometric system and a booklet on hiring foreign domestic workers. "Malaysia has had a series of discussions with the Indonesian government on salaries of domestic workers, which started in 2009. "These resulted in both countries signing protocol amendments to the memorandum of understanding between Malaysia and Indonesia on the benefits of domestic workers in May this year."
She added that the biometric system, which had been implemented by the Home Ministry, could help trace runaway maids should they try to seek employment in other places. "Employers can also read the guide book on hiring foreign domestic workers by the ministry to improve their knowledge on the benefits, welfare and protection that domestic workers are entitled to according to the law."
Related news:
Most runaway maids were Indonesian http://thestar.com.my/news/story/parliament
Biometric deterrent http://www.thesundaily.my/news/56266

What do you think will be the outcome?

2011-06-21T16:12:00.000+08:00

Cops submit findings of probe into wrongful detention claim
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/21/nation/8934523&sec=nation (21/6/2011)
Police have submitted the investigation papers involving a bank manager who alleged he was wrongfully detained by police for three days to the Deputy Public Prosecutor. Malacca police chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said both investigation papers one lodged by the police and the other by Hiew Kok Ming were submitted several days ago. “We are waiting for further instruction from the DPP as to the next course of action.”
On Friday, Hiew, 26, handed a letter to the Inspector-General of Police about the alleged abuse of power after he claimed he was initially stopped by a traffic policeman for not wearing a seat belt on May 28 while driving along Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho in Malacca.
He said he was unsure if the person was a real policeman as his nametag and serial number were hidden by the black strap across his uniform. He then took a photograph of the traffic policeman on his mobile phone and believed that incident had upset the traffic cop. Hiew alleged that he was subsequently detained and remanded for three days.

Seatbelt 'offender' lodges complaint at Bukit Aman

2011-06-18T12:37:00.003+08:00

Photo from http://www.merdekareview.com
News from: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/167220 (By Regina Lee, 17/6/2011)
The bank manager, arrested for not wearing a seat belt, has filed a complaint with the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar about his treatment at the hands of a traffic police in Malacca. Adding to the tit-for-tat exchange, 26-year-old Hiew Kok Ming, claimed that he had been very cooperative with the policeman concerned but the latter had 'failed to control his emotions and ego'. "As a result, I was accused with a false report by the policeman and had to stay in the police lock-up for three days," he said. After his three-day ordeal in the lockup, he was released unconditionally and without police bail.
This morning together with Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, Hiew was at the national police headquarters at Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur to hand over his letter of complaint to the IGP.
In the May 28 incident at about 9.30pm, Hiew was driving an MPV together with four friends after a birthday celebration in Malacca when he was flagged down by a lone traffic policeman for not wearing his seatbelt. He said that he was detained because he annoyed the police officer by not immediately producing his IC and for taking his photo, however the police had initially investigated him for obstructing a government officer from discharging his or her duty.
Lu, gua language offends 'offender'
"The policeman said that I had yelled 'Lu apa kuasa mahu ambil gua punya lesen dan IC?' at him (What authority do you have to take my driving licence and IC?). "That is absolutely not true. He made it seem like I am some Chinese boy who can't speak Malay properly," said Hiew in fluent Malay while speaking to reporters in Bukit Aman.
"The traffic policeman was alone on a motorcycle. Of course I was hesitant to show my IC. What if he had robbed us or rode off with my IC?" he said.
He also rejected the Malacca police chief SAC Chuah Gee Lye's version of the events, which claimed that Hiew had refused to produce his IC and driving licence, but instead questioned the authority of the police officer. "Chuah also said that I had scolded the traffic police in Mandarin. It is not true. I was on the phone with (Rasah MP Anthony Loke) about my predicament and we spoke in Mandarin. "Chuah's statement on that is very malicious and mischievous," said Hiew.
He also added for the police not to treat this as a 'political or racial issue' considering that it has been identified that he is a DAP member from the Petaling Jaya Utara branch. "Please just treat this as a case of a normal Malaysian citizen wanting action to be taken," he said.
Related news:
Manager sends letter to IGP over wrongful detention http://www.thestar.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/18/nation/8924506&sec=nation
Bank manager denies refusing to give MyKad http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/bank-manager-denies-refusing-to-give-mykad/
IGP to look into police refusal to act on report http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/06/17/igp-to-look-into-police-refusal-to-act-on-report/

No need for RCI into Sarbani’s death, says PM department

2011-06-18T12:14:00.002+08:00

AT THE DEWAN RAKYAT
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/17/parliament/8918385&sec=parliament (Reports by MARTIN CARVALHO, LEE YEN MUN and RAHIMY RAHIM, 17/6/2011)
There is no need to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the death of Selangor Customs assistant director Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed as requested by his family, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong. He said an inquest into the matter, which is scheduled to be held from July 4 to 15, was adequate.
“However, if any party feels they want a Royal Commission of Inquiry, they can apply for it,” he told Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut).
It was reported that Ahmad Sarbaini was found dead on the first floor of the MACC building on April 6. He was among 62 Customs personnel under investigation by the MACC for alleged corruption and money laundering.
He had gone to the MACC headquarters on April 6 just days after he was released on bail. About two hours after entering the building, he was found dead in a badminton court on the first floor landing.

Home Minister: Cops still looking for ‘important’ witnesses in Christian Malaysia probe

2011-06-14T16:22:00.004+08:00

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/home-ministry-cops-still-looking-for-important-witnesses-in-christian-malaysia-probe/ (By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, 14/6/2011)
The police are still searching for several “important” witnesses in the investigation into Utusan Malaysia’s Christian Malaysia report, the Home Ministry said today.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein stated that 63 police reports were made on the matter, recordings of 60 conversations were taken and recordings of the conversations of five Utusan Malaysia journalists were taken. “The police are still locating several important witnesses to help complete the investigation for this case,” Hishammuddin said in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (Segambut-DAP).
Lim had asked the ministry to state the basis of Utusan’s report of an alleged conspiracy that church leaders were plotting together with the DAP to make Christianity the official religion of Malaysia and to install a Christian prime minister.
In response, Hishammuddin also said that the ministry had already issued a warning letter to Utusan for its May 7 article titled “Kristian Agama Rasmi? (Christianity the official religion)”. The minister said that the matter was being investigated under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948.
Christian leaders and DAP members have denied the reports which have sparked protests but the Home Ministry has only slapped Utusan Malaysia with a warning letter for publishing the unsubstantiated report. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was forced to meet with church leaders to clear the air but Umno vice president and Home Minister Hishammuddin later said that there was “some basis” to the reports.

Exposed wires endanger park visitors

2011-06-14T10:19:00.002+08:00

Lim Lip Eng and the residents inspecting the exposed wires at the park.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/2tor/Article
(By Noel Achariam and Rizki Sayuti , 12/6/2011)
Residents of Taman Kok Doh in Segambut are worried about several exposed wires jutting out from two lamp posts in their neighbourhood park. The residents claimed that the wires have been left exposed for more than five months. The neighbourhood park which is located in Jalan 19/42 serves more than 200 families in the vicinity.
Resident M.C. Leong, 58, was unhappy that no action was taken to cover the exposed wires. He fears for the safety of children playing at the park. Leong said the elderly go to the park for their morning exercise while youngsters use it to play basketball in the evening. "The park is used daily for basketball, qi gong and other activities. "At night, the residents use the park for activities such as line dancing. The authorities need to act fast before any untoward incident happens," he said.
Another resident Leong Sze Min, 27, said City Hall should conduct more frequent checks on all the parks in the neighbourhood. "Something must be done immediately to cover up the exposed wires. We hope the authorities will look into this matter immediately to prevent any accidents," she said.
An 11-year-old boy was electrocuted in March 19 at a playground in Taman Batu Tiga, Subang Jaya. SK Seksyen 20 student Muhammad Naqiuddin Mohd Marzuki was running home when he slipped and fell at 6.50pm after playing football with several friends on a wet field. As he was falling, one of his legs hit the lamp post and he was believed to have been electrocuted.
Segambut member of parliament Lim Lip Eng said the authorities should take action before there is a repeat of the Subang Jaya incident. He claimed that he had lodged several reports with City Hall two months ago but no action was taken. "I had written to City Hall three times and had called their hotline but there was no response," he said. Lim said he would asked City Hall to take action immediately.
The residents are also concerned about the uncollected rubbish at the park. They fear it will become a breeding ground for the Aedes mosquitoes.

Is declaring a holy war in the name of religion & race a crime in Malaysia?

2011-06-13T15:21:00.005+08:00

Hisham: No action against Ibrahim Ali for ‘jihad’ call
Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hisham-no-action-against-ibrahim-ali-for-jihad-call/ (By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, 13/6/2011)
The government will not take any action against Datuk Ibrahim Ali for threatening Christians nationwide with a holy war against any move to usurp Islam with a Christian state.
“Action will only be taken if investigations find that the said act really contravened the country’s laws,” Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (Segambut-DAP) in the Dewan Rakyat today. Lim had asked the Home Ministry to state whether it was a punishable offence for a person to declare “jihad” in the name of race and religion.
“I would advise that all parties be careful in making an accusation when its validity has yet to be verified,” said Hishammuddin.
The Perkasa president’s threat to Christians was based on Utusan Malaysia’s recent allegation that church leaders were in a plot with the DAP to turn Malaysia into a Christian state and install a Christian prime minister. Christian leaders and DAP members have denied the reports which have sparked protests but the Home Ministry has only slapped Utusan Malaysia with a warning letter for publishing the unsubstantiated report. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was forced to meet with church leaders to clear the air but Umno vice president and Home Minister Hishammuddin later said that there was “some basis” to the reports.
The police in Penang have completed an investigation into Utusan Malaysia’s claims and have handed over the case to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Utusan Malaysia had published a report entitled “Kristian Agama Rasmi?” (Christianity the official religion?) where it was alleged that DAP leaders and Christian clergymen were conspiring to take over Putrajaya, abolish Islam as the religion of the federation and install a Christian prime minister.

'No action over jihad call'
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/10ddnc/Article/ (13/6/2011 )
HOME Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) that the government would not take any action against Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali for threatening a holy war against Christians in the country following allegations that church leaders were plotting with DAP to turn Malaysia into a Christian state and install a Christian prime minister.
"Action will only be taken if the said act really contravened the country's laws. I would advise that all parties be careful in making an accusation when its validity has yet to be verified," he said.
Lim had asked the Home Ministry to state whether it was a punishable offence for a person to declare "jihad" in the name of race and religion.

Man says held three nights for not wearing seat-belt

2011-06-12T10:45:00.002+08:00

Lim (right) speaks while alleged police abuse victim Edmund Hiew looks on during their press conference June 11, 2011. — Picture by Jack Ooi
Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/man-says-held-three-nights-for-not-wearing-seat-belt/ (By Boo Su-Lyn, 11/6/2011)
A bank manager accused the Malacca police today of detaining him for three nights in a lock-up for not wearing a seat-belt while driving.
Edmund Hiew, 26, admitted that he did not wear a seat-belt when arrested while driving four friends in Malacca last month. He said the police then put him in a lock-up after accusing him of trying to obstruct them from carrying out their duties. “I asked them what did I do that could be classified as obstructing a civil servant from carrying out his duty, but they did not want to tell,” Hiew told reporters today.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who is a lawyer, said police cannot arrest anyone for failing to wear a seat-belt. “Until now, he (Hiew) has not been charged. He has been released without condition,” said Lim at a joint press conference today with Hiew and DAP publicity chief Tony Pua. “The only offence he committed was (getting) a traffic summons for not wearing a seat-belt,” the lawyer added.
Hiew said he was “shocked” when he found out in the magistrate court on May 29, after spending the night before in the police lock-up, that he was accused of violating section 186 of the Penal Code. “I was accused...of obstructing a civil servant from carrying out his duties by scolding a police sergeant ‘Lu apa kuasa mau ambik gua punya IC dan lesen’ (What powers do you have to take my IC and license?),” said Hiew, adding that he was only released on May 31. The young man today denied saying those words and pointed out that he had given his identity card and driving license to the police.
Lim said the police had abused their powers by not informing Hiew the grounds of his arrest. “The police (also) has to tell him he has the right to see a lawyer,” said the Segambut MP, referring to section 28A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
Section 28A(2) states that “a police officer shall, before commencing any form of questioning or recording of any statement from the person arrested, inform the person that he may...communicate or attempt to communicate and consult with a legal practitioner of his choice”.
Hiew, who is a DAP member, said he was not beaten up by the police or received threats of physical abuse. Pua said it was a “clear-cut case of abuse of power”. “An independent body must be set up to ensure such abuse of power doesn’t happen anymore,” said the Petaling Jaya Utara MP.
Related news:
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/166598 Three days in lock-up for not wearing seatbelt
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/06/11/police-give-their-take-on-lock-up-row/ Police give their take on lock-up row

Roads in Kuala Lumpur suffer from bad resurfacing jobs

2011-06-09T19:41:00.002+08:00

Danger to motorists: A road in Mont Kiara has been badly patched up after being dug up.

Uneven: The shoddy resurfacing job seen on the road in front of Sunway Vivaldi condominium in Mont Kiara poses a threat to motorists. (Photos by BRIAN MOH and M. RAJAN)
Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/6/9/central/8841409&sec=central (By TAN KARR WEI, 9/6/2011)
One of the main grouses often heard about Kuala Lumpur is the many potholes on its roads.
Whether in residential or commercial areas, travelling around the city often means a bumpy ride because of the potholes and badly patched stretches of roads. In many places, roads in good condition are dug up by utility and telecommunications companies for the laying of pipes and cables. They are then badly resurfaced.
In April, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng had highlighted at least six places in his constituency where roads were dug up without a permit.
A spokesperson from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) corporate communications department confirmed that there have been cases where contractors operate without approval from DBKL. “If we find out that they have no permit, we will contact the respective companies. If the dug-up areas have not been patched up or resurfaced, we will do it for them them and issue them the bill. “We have also found out that many contractors appointed by the companies have no expertise in resurfacing roads,” he said. He also urged residents who suspect that roads were being dug up without permits to call 1800-88 3255.
StarMetro spoke to the major utility and telco companies in Malaysia to find out their procedures for installing pipes or cables.
Syabas
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) corporate affairs department executive director Abdul Halem Mat Som said they have a standard operating procedure for contractors assigned to dig up roads to install pipes. “They have to follow it and some even complain that our procedures are too strict,” he said. Halem added that they sometimes needed a day before they could resurface a road because the soil has to settle after laying the pipes. “Some contractors for smaller projects might try to take the easy way out but we will take action against them if they are found guilty of violating our procedures,” he said.
Telekom Malaysia
Chief technology and innovation officer Girgio Migliarina said TM will submit proper work permit applications to the local authorities before any civil or cabling works that require excavation on road surfaces, pavements or even on grass can commence. All civil and cabling works are carried out by TM’s registered panel of contractors who have undergone the required training and certifications but permit application is carried out by TM directly. In the case of DBKL, a joint site inspection by DBKL officers and TM staff will be carried out to determine the exact location of the work site. “We have to pay processing fees and a bank guarantee before the permit can be approved. Our contractors will then commence work in accordance with the approved work method, working time and project schedule. “Works are supervised by TM Project Supervisors to ensure that they are carried out according to specifications and that the site has been cleared and the dug-up road properly resurfaced. Our contractors will then carry out road milling and paving works according to the requests and needs of the local authorities up to their satisfaction,” said Migliarina. If the local authorities are not satisfied with the work, they can appoint their own contractors to carry out the resurfacing, milling and paving. The claims for these work can be deducted from the telco’s bank guarantee.
Celcom
In an official statement by the company, Celcom said the contractors for digging up of roads and laying cables are appointed from a list of panel chosen based on a stringent tender process. Celcom generally applies for permits directly from the local council but in some cases, contractors also apply for the permits. Upon approval of the work permit, the appointed contractor will be informed of the schedule for the execution of the work and Celcom supervises all activities during the period to ensure that all the procedures and rules are complied with. It is the contractor’s responsibility to resurface the road and there is a requirement for re-doing in case of unsatisfactory workmanship after inspection by the local authority. Procedures are also in place to ensure that the quality of workmanship will be maintained for at least up to a one-year period. Upon completion of the project, the contractors will need to get all the necessary signed documents from Celcom, confirming that they have fully completed the project as per stated in the contract. Any contractor who fails to carry out the duty will be blacklisted for any new job appointment and a new contractor will be appointed to rectify any pending repair works.
Maxis
A company spokesperson said Maxis complied to stringent guidelines in the laying of cables for network rollout. “We ensure that approvals are obtained before roadworks commence. We do not compromise on any aspect of work that may affect the community. “We monitor the quality of work via regular site visits to ensure that it is in compliance with the standard and procedures of the relevant local authorities,” she said. Members of the public who have enquiries are encouraged to contact them directly through customercare@maxis.com.my or 1800-82-1123.
DiGi only offers mobile services which do not require them to dig up roads to install connecting cables to housing and commercial areas.
However, Tenaga Nasional Berhad did not respond to queries from StarMetro.
Related Story: DBKL procedures for road excavation

MP suspects police link to car theft rings

2011-05-29T15:26:00.001+08:00

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/165269
Segambut DAP MP Lim Lip Eng alleged that several police personnel are in cahoots with stolen car syndicates nationwide and he urged Bukit Aman to probe the matter. Lim, who lodged a report at the Jinjang police station today, claimed that cars reported stolen by the owners were later found by the cops, but reconditioned and given to syndicates to be resold to second-hand car dealers or private owners.
"I've received over 15 complaints since December last year from second-hand car dealers that have yet to be solved, as out of the 60 cars confiscated from them - which were believed to be stolen goods - only fewer than 20 have been returned," he said. Lim said he only lodged a report on the matter today as he had recently obtained evidence indicating there has been foul play. He referred to a police report where a victim had alleged his Mercedes C200 Compressor had been stolen on March 13, 2009 and had made an insurance claim.
In an undated letter from the Criminal Investigation Department of Ampang Jaya district police headquarters and signed by inspector Saiful Irwan Abdul Hamid, it was stated the car was found and returned to its owner, but according to Lim, the owner never collected the car. Instead the same car, with a different registration number, was then allegedly bought by a second-hand car dealer, Pang Koo Tak, from Setiawan, Perak.
Missing car later confiscated by police
To Pang's surprise, said Lim, the car was confiscated on Jan 19 by a police officer named Razlam Ab Hamid of Bukit Aman's disciplinary department for further investigations as the chassis number was the same as that of the stolen vehicle.
Lim said Pang had approached him for help to get back the car, as he was still servicing the hire-and-purchase loan. "My question is, shouldn't the car be blacklisted? The owner bought the car after he checked its registration with the Road Transport Department (RTD) and the car was inspected by Puspakom Sdn Bhd. "My suspicions are that the car was found by the police and later cleared thoroughly by the RTD and Puspakom, and then given to syndicates to channel it to buyers," alleged Lim. "The office from Bukit Aman's disciplinary department is investigating their own department, so there must be suspicion of some sort against the police officers involved," he alleged. Lim added that those who bought the reconditioned cars that are now confiscated are being victimised as they are still servicing their loans. "This includes the insurance companies which had paid off customers who had lodged reports claiming that their cars were stolen," he said.
Lim urged Bukit Aman to probe the police officers allegedly involved in selling stolen cars to third parties without the knowledge of the insurance companies.
Related news: Claims of cops in car theft ring http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation

‘Missing’ lots in TTDI to be restored

2011-05-27T16:59:00.001+08:00

Lim Lip Eng (second from right) with some TTDI residents who were issued summonses for parking at bays that were illegally converted to a no-parking zone. — Picture by Yong Chee Choong
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/2011052702270320110527022703/Article (By Noel Achariam, 27/5/2011)
Residents and visitors who were issued summonses for parking along Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 4 in Taman Tun Dr Ismail from last month to early this month can write in to City Hall’s legal department to ask for their summonses to be cancelled. Motorists who have been parking since April along this road were issued summonses for parking at a no-parking zone. However, they were unaware that the 50 parking bays there had been changed into a no-parking zone in April. They also did not notice that the parking bays had been tarred over and a yellow line, stretching the length of the road, had been painted on to indicate the no-parking area.
After protest from residents early this month, City Hall’s investigation found that the conversion was done illegally. City Hall has since instructed the responsible party to convert the no parking zone back into parking bays.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said he queried City Hall over the conversion of the parking bays. “I was informed on Wednesday by City Hall’s Road Transport Department director Dr Leong Siew Mun that the conversion of the parking bays to no-parking was done without the council’s consent. “The contractor of Sinaran TTDI condominium in Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 4 had illegally changed the status of the road to a no-parking zone. “We would like to know what action will be taken against the contractor for converting the road to a no-parking area,” he said. Lim also said that City Hall shouldn’t burden those who were issued summonses to write in to City Hall’s legal department seeking to have their summonses cancelled. He said that the summonses should be cancelled automatically. “It is not the mistake of the residents and visitors who parked at Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 4, which always had many parking bays. “Why should they have to writein to City Hall when it is clearly not their f ault? “It is the duty of the council to ensure that such incidents do not happen,” he said.
TTDI resident Jim Sia, 50, who travels daily to the area to shop was shocked to find a summons on his vehicle last month. “We have been coming here for years and the parking bays have never been converted into a noparking zone. “It is not fair, therefore, to be issued with summonses. “We hope City Hall will cancel our summonses so that we’re not blacklisted by the authorities,” he said.
Another resident Ng Ah Hoi, 57, said that all roads and parking bays should be monitored by the council. “City Hall has admitted that this was the contractor’s doing and that it has rectified the issue. “We hope the council will be more diligent in carrying out their duties from on,” he said.

End of happy hours for two pubs in TTDI

2011-05-16T17:33:00.003+08:00

Confiscated: DBKL personnel loading tables and chairs from 42East into a truck.

Forced entry: DBKL contractors opening the shutters of 42East in Jalan Rahim Kajai 14 while DBKL officers hold back owner Simpson (left, partially hidden).

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro (By TAN KARR WEI, 16/5/2011)
Tempers flared when Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Customs officers raided two pubs in Jalan Rahim Kajai 14 in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. Despite protests from 42East owner Trevor Neil Simpson, 44, the officers broke the lock and entered the premises and confiscated items like chairs, tables, sound systems, flat screen TVs and beer kegs. They did the same at another pub down the road. While a DBKL officer said that they had sent notices to the operators to close their business, Simpson insisted that he did not receive any. He then asked for a copy of the notice or any document from the officers but the officers said they did not have any with them. “They also said that I need an entertainment licence but we do not have any live bands or performances and only play piped-in music,” he said. A furious Simpson said he had applied for a temporary licence in November last year and had been renewing it every month. “We were told by DBKL that within a week, the planning department, health department, Fire and Rescue Department and Royal Malaysian Customs Department would visit our shop but only the planning department came and they gave us the approval,” he said, adding that they were waiting for their permit before they could apply for an alcohol licence. In January, they were told that their permit would not be approved and were told to appeal the decision. “We sent an appeal letter on Jan 26 but did not receive any reply from the DBKL,” he said. Meanwhile, Simpson said their temporary licence was renewed every month but the DBKL came out with a new ruling on Jan 29 that no pubs were allowed in Jalan Rahim Kajai 14. His wife Angela Thexeira said they had used their life savings to open the restaurant and the ruling was made after they had started their business. “We spent RM200,000 on renovations. If they had told us from the start that we would not be able to operate the business, we would not have wasted our money,” she said.
A Customs Department officer present during the raid said the outlet did not have a liquor licence while a DBKL officer said there have been complaints from residents across the street about noise from the pubs. According to a statement issued by the DBKL corporate communications unit, the two bars were raided in accordance with the Entertainment Act 1993 (Section 4) because they did not have a valid business licence. The same outlet was also raided in January this year but the owners had continued to operate their business.
When contacted, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said he was puzzled over DBKL’s actions. “A year ago, there were complaints from a few residents living across the street but DBKL had replied to me that the complaints were without basis because only cafe and restaurant licences were approved along Jalan Rahim Kajai 14. No pub licences were given out. “DBKL had also said that upon investigation, patrons there were found to be orderly and that only slow music was being played,” he said. He said he did not understand why DBKL had enforced the ruling to disallow pubs from operating in the area.

DAP wants Utusan probed for sedition, criminal defamation

2011-05-08T13:57:00.002+08:00

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dap-wants-utusan-probed-for-sedition-criminal-defamation/ (By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, 8/5/2011)

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — The DAP wants the police to investigate Utusan Malaysia over its report of a Christian plot to usurp Islam’s position, which the party has labelled as “seditious” and “defamatory.”

DAP MP Lim Lip Eng said the “defamatory lies” created by Utusan in claiming the party was conspiring with Christian leaders to take over Putrajya and abolish Islam as the country’s official religion prompted him to lodge a police report today. “Either the DAP and Christian leaders are trying to create a Malaysian Christian state, or Utusan editors and bloggers are lying, the Attorney-General has to decide,” he told The Malaysian Insider, reading out the contents of the police report lodged at the Sentul police station this morning. “I want the matter investigated under the Sedition Act, Penal Code, and Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA).

“The DAP has denied the allegations. They are lies,” the Segambut MP added. When asked whether the DAP would take legal action against the Umno-owned daily or the bloggers, Lim said he would leave the matter for the party to decide.

Utusan carried a front-page article yesterday titled “Malaysia, a Christian country?” (Malaysia, negara Kristian?) based entirely on blog postings by several pro-Umno bloggers. The bloggers had charged the DAP with sedition for allegedly trying to change the country’s laws to allow a Christian prime minister, pointing to a grainy photograph showing what they described as a secret pact between the opposition party and pastors at a hotel in Penang on Wednesday. In a posting headlined “Agong under threat? DAP wants to make Christianity the official religion of Malaysia?” blogger Marahku (marahku.blogspot.com) accused the DAP of trying to amend the Federal Constitution so that a Christian could assume the post of prime minister. “The whole point of changing the official religion is to allow a Christian to become prime minister of this country,” the blogger said. On bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com, another blogger claimed to have received a message that DAP’s Jeff Ooi had organised a dinner for pastors from both Sarawak and abroad at Red Rock Hotel on Jalan Macalister, Penang. “Among the activities that night included the 35 pastors taking a group oath. They formed a circle and touched each other’s shoulders and vowed in English to make Christianity the official religion of Malaysia and put a Christian prime minister in office,” the anonymous writer said in his blog under the headline “Making Christianity the official religion?” He also pointed to the same grainy picture he posted at the top of his blog page, which he had captioned “Partying pastors or pastors doing the party do and vowing to have a Christian as Malaysian prime minister”. The blogger further alleged that the DAP had labelled the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition as an “anti-Christ agent” in the run-up to polls in Sarawak, showing the opposition party was “openly against BN on religious grounds and they are now making it their clarion call, their rabble rousing horn”. He said it was a seditious and religiously divisive statement that was never investigated by the police “or at least they did not tell us about any investigations into the matter”. The blogger called on the authorities to investigate the allegations of sedition, warning that if the authorities failed in their duty the country may be “shattered again”.

The National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF), together with partners Global Day of Prayer, Marketplace Penang and Penang Pastors Fellowship, said the claims against their community were lies, and refuted the bloggers’ allegations last night.

Similarly, Ooi said the dinner had been organised by the Christian pastors in recognition of the DAP team who had visited them while in Sarawak for the state election and that the prayer sessions — one before dinner and one at the end — were a usual part of their worship, and not a pledge as alleged.

50 parking lots in TTDI vanish overnight

2011-05-05T14:35:00.002+08:00

TTDI residents and visitors want City Hall to explain why 50 public parking lots in Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 4 have been converted into a no-parking zone. — Picture by Hasriyasyah Sabudin
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/gottdiv3/Article (Veena Babulal, 1/5/2011)
Residents of and visitors to Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) are puzzled by the disappearance of 50 public parking bays in Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 4. They say the bays on the road opposite the high-rise Sinaran TTDI condominium vanished last week.
To solve the mystery of the missing bays, Streets went on a check last Friday. It was revealed that the lines marking the individual bays had been tarred over and a yellow line, stretching the length of the road, had been painted on to indicate no-parking. However, a City Hall parking ticket dispenser was still standing, as was the signboard indicating the site as public parking space. The change was apparently unknown to some drivers, including foreigners, who parked there and even dutifully placed parking coupons on their dashboards.
C.Y. Sia, is among those unaware of the change. During a visit to TTDI last week, he parked there, thinking it was a legal parking spot -- and was issued with a summons. Sia, a retiree who lives inBandar Utama, said: "There are limited parking bays in the area. Private parking lots here are expensive, costing RM2 an hour, while City Hall lot rates are only 50 sen an hour."
TTDI resident Ng Ah Hooi wants to know how the parking bays were removed without the residents' knowledge. "Neither the residents nor the public were informed, it is as though it happened overnight," he said. The businessman in his 50s lives in Jalan Rahim Kajai and drives to Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 4 daily to run errands. He said the parking bays were needed in the traffic-congested area. "If legal parking space is not available, motorists will have no choice but to park their vehicles indiscriminately or illegally, which will worsen the congestion here. "This area is high-density, with many high-rise condominiums, offices and a market. "People will start parking on double lines and dividers, and we could end up like our 'neighbours' in Uptown, Damansara Utama, who are facing serious parking problems," he said.
Another TTDI resident J.K.T. Hin, 64, said City Hall should focus instead on Jalan Aminuddin Baki, which is plagued by indiscriminate parking. "Why hasn't City Hall done anything about the haphazard parking problem in Jalan Aminuddin Baki and Lorong Rahim Kajai 14? "It should consider putting up no-parking and towing-zone signboards, especially inJalan Aminuddin Baki, which is a double-parking hot spot," said the retiree.
Meanwhile, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng has called for an explanation from City Hall. He said he had sent an official letter to KL Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail on April 27. His service centre has been flooded by complaints on the matter in the the past week. He said he received an average of 20 complaints daily from visitors to the commercial district who had been issued with summonses for parking in Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 4. "It is possible that the developer of Sinaran TTDI could have removed the bays without City Hall's consent," Lim said. "If it has received City Hall's consent, however, the road, which is a public road, has to be re-gazetted. "The re-gazettement process takes a minimum of six months. The authorities would have to table the proposal in Parliament, get feedback from the public, go back to Parliament to get a vote, and get the King's consent. After all that is done, they would have to officially inform the public of the change in the newpapers," he said.
UDA Holdings Bhd, the developer of Sinaran TTDI, was unavailable for comment at press time.
Related news: Case of missing parking bays http://thestar.com.my/metro

FLYOVER POSER

2011-05-03T17:27:00.002+08:00

The flyover has shifted by 0.5m to the left and has a 0.5m dip as well. — Picture by Hazreen Mohamad

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/2nnzz/Article (By Noel Achariam, 2/5/2011)
Questions have been raised over the project that connects the new palace to Jalan Duta followong claims that it is misaligned. Questions have been raised over an uncompleted flyover connecting the new palace to Jalan Duta.
Motorists who have been plying the Jalan Duta highway have expressed concern over the safety of the flyover. They are also worried as a section of the flyover looks misaligned. The issue has also been highlighted on blogs and Facebook.
A check by Streets recently showed that there is a dip of 0.5m and the flyover, which is located next to the Indian High Commission, has shifted 0.5m to the left. Motorists are also questioning the delay on the completion of the flyover which should have been ready in March. However, a notice board at the site indicated that the flyover project would be completed on May 11 this year.
It was reported that the Works Ministry had in August last year awarded the flyover project, which was estimated to cost more than RM100 million, to Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd. Both the Works Ministry and Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd were unreachable for comment.
Segambut member of parliament Lim Lip Eng also questioned the delay in the project. He claimed that the project was scheduled to be completed in March. "The project due date (March) was posted on the notice board and now they have extended the project to May. "The delay would have incurred additional expenditure and the Works Ministry has to answer for it. The Works Ministry just can't keep digging into the taxpayers' pockets," he said. Lim also said he had received many phone calls about the uncompleted flyover. "The flyover looks misaligned and motorists are wondering if the structure is safe. When I contacted the Works Ministry to enquire about the project, they said the flyover was not under their jurisdiction and asked us to contact Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd. "The Federal Government awarded this project to the developer, so shouldn't the Works Ministry be aware of what is going on? We hope that the Works Ministry can give us an explanation about what's going on."
Lim also questioned the cost of the flyover which he claimed had escalated beyond the stipulated budget. "We had questioned the Works Ministry last year in Parliament over the cost of the project and they said that they are unable to reveal the cost until the project is completed." Lim said he will be raising this issue again at the next Parlimentary session in June. "I will ask the ministry to give us its assurance that the flyover is safe and reveal the cost of the project."

Frustrated parent puzzled by OUTRIGHT rejection for Petronas scholarship

2011-04-29T09:12:00.001+08:00

Dear YB,
I’m resident of Taman Bukit Maluri and wish to bring to your attention with regards to the above; recently my son and quite a number of his schoolmates (Taman Bukit Maluri secondary school – sits SPM last year) applies for the above.
He obtains 10A (8A+, 2A) and 1B+ for his mandarin (of which is pending appeal result as according to his teacher, his should be getting at least an A based on his school examinations thus far). Anyway to cut the story short, these few young man and ladies (just for your information these “group” of student’s SPM results are not any worse than my son’s) applies petronas scholarship as well as matriculation courses in local U – BUT sadly to say that they were rejected “OUT-RIGHT” – not even get a call for interview or whatsoever. However in his school there’s one “special” (not to mention ‘race’) lady whose results are no where near these group of people yet she gets admitted to the matriculation!
My question is – IF Petronas and matriculation courses are not for the non special people than make it clear and don’t waste the time and dashed the hope of these naïve young “Malaysian”! Do you know how disappointed these youngsters when they gets the result? – No words can describe!
LeeBH

Life is daily being torn down by sordid images of sex video and graphic descriptions of a certain sodomy court

2011-04-28T09:27:00.000+08:00

Dear YB,
As a parent, I work hard to ensure, at least in my own home, that my children are protected from the assaults of sex upon their tender senses. I am angered that what I work so hard at is daily being torn down by sordid images of sex video and graphic descriptions of a certain sodomy court case taking place right now. This is a violation of my personal space as well as that of my family and is completely unacceptable. Please raise this issue to the public and pressure BN to stop such violations through our media. Media practitioners themselves also must be pressured into being prudent what is being published or broadcasted. Otherwise, how can our children be kept safe from such depraved assaults?
Please speak up for us.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Doh Mee Yuen

MACC had proof of DAP’s innocence

2011-04-21T13:13:00.000+08:00

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/04/20 (By Teoh El Sen, 20/4/2011)
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been accused of possibly losing certain receipts that could prove that DAP did not siphon off state government funds.
The allegation was made by lawyer Lim Lip Eng today outside the Royal Commission of Inquiry investigating Teoh Beng Hock's death. However, Lim today claimed that those receipts had already been given to MACC.
"I just want to tell the truth. On Sept 14, 2009, MACC Putrajaya, through my law firm, had already ~~seized~~ (received) all the original receipts," Lim said.
Lim, the DAP Segambut MP, said that MACC had either misplaced the receipts or its lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah "did not do his homework". "MACC should be the one producing those receipts,' he added.
Lim was today present to represent his client Lee Wye Wing, a businessman who was engaged as contractor for several projects by Seri Kembangan state assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah (Teoh's boss).
When Lee took the stand yesterday, Shafee alleged that Lee has been raising funds for DAP through Ean Yong's projects. Shafee asked the RCI to order Lee to produce certain receipts to prove that DAP Serdang Aman had paid out advances to contractors before being later reimbursed. The commission, however, turned down Shafee's application, saying that the MACC should not “make use of the commission”.

Take action against telco companies for unlawful digging

2011-04-21T12:59:00.001+08:00

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story (By TAN KARR WEI, 11/4/2011)
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) should take stern action against telecommunication and utility companies who dig up roads without permits.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said he had visited at least six sites including Desa Sri Hartamas, Solaris Mont Kiara, Bandar Manjalara and Segambut Dalam where roads had been dug up without permits from DBKL. “DBKL has confirmed with me that these companies did not apply for a permit to dig up the roads,” he said. Lim was speaking to reporters in Taman Bukit Maluri, where work to lay cables for a telco company had been going on for more than two months.
Resident Lim Giam Soon, 58, who is also a committee member of the Yee Lan Bukit Maluri temple committee, said workers who dug up the road had dumped the earth into the drain along Jalan Burung Jentayu and Jalan Burung Enggang. “They started digging the road before Chinese New Year and there is still work being done at other areas. The earth has clogged up the drain and it has been left there for awhile,” said Giam Soon. He added that a stretch at the intersection of the two roads had been dug up but not resurfaced, resulting in a pothole that posed a danger to motorists. He had taken his own initiative to place two rocks and a traffic cone at the stretch to alert motorists. “The hole is quite big and dangerous for motorcyclists,” Giam Soon said.
Lip Eng urged companies who planned to lay cables or pipes to go through the proper channels. “DBKL has advised residents to inform them when they see companies digging up roads without permits. “I also hope that the DBKL can set up a special squad to check on these complaints,” he said.
As of press time, DBKL has yet to give their comments on the matter.

Parliament: Samy Vellu earns RM27,000 monthly as special envoy

2011-04-07T17:16:00.000+08:00

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/7/nation/20110407154720&sec=nation

Former Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu draws a monthly salary plus allowance of RM27,227.20 in his role as special envoy for infrastructure to India and South Asia, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz.

In a written reply to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng in Parliament, Nazri said Samy Vellu's role as envoy is to help Malaysian construction firms break into the South Asian market. In line with his status as special envoy, which carries the rank of a minister, Samy Vellu also receives "other amenities and allowances" from the Government. Samy Vellu also has six staff in his office in Plaza Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, paid for by the Government. "The job scope of the envoy does not clash with other Malaysian officials in South Asia as his responsibility is only to identify infrastructure projects in the fast-growing region that Malaysian companies can venture into in accordance with local laws and regulations," Nazri said. Besides India, other South Asian countries under Samy Vellu's portfolio include Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. Samy Vellu was named special envoy for infrastructure to India and South Asia in December by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak after he stepped down as MIC president, a post he held for 31 years.

Related news: Samy Vellu pockets over RM27,000 monthly as special envoy http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article

Najib: Private sector CEOs receive higher salaries and benefits

2011-04-07T09:19:00.000+08:00

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/parliament (Reports by MARTIN CARVALHO, YUEN MEIKENG and JOSHUA FOONG, 7/4/2011)

THE pay scales and benefits of chief executive officers (CEOs) of Government-linked companies (GLCs) in four major industries are considerably lower than their counterparts in the private sector, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

In a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP–Segambut), he said the incomes and benefits received by the CEOs of GLCs were based on their work experience, expertise and performance. The amount of benefits given to the CEO of GLCs was based on guidelines in the Blue Book, Increasing Management Performance, which was published by the Putrajaya committee for high performance GLCs, he added. Najib said the income levels of the CEOs of the GLCs are commensurate with their responsibilities and the achievements based on their respective KPIs. The KPIs are aimed at transforming the GLCs into high-performing companies.

Najib said the CEO of power utility company YTL Corporation Bhd received an annual income and benefits amounting to between RM3.6mil and RM10.2mil between 2006 and 2009. However, the Tenaga Nasional Bhd CEO received between RM0.8mil and RM1.4mil annually for the same period.

In the banking sector, the CEO of Public Bank Bhd is the highest paid banker in the country, with an annual income and benefits of between RM4.7mil and RM6.1mil from 2006 to 2009. However, Maybank Banking Bhd CEO received between RM1.4mil and RM4.9mil for the same period, he added.

Najib said for the airline industry, the CEO of AirAsia Bhd received an annual income and benefits worth between RM1mil and RM6mil from 2006 to 2009. However, Malaysia Airlines’ CEO got between RM0.9mil and RM1.5mil for the same period.

In the automotive industry, the CEO of Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd received an annual income and benefits of between RM4.5mil and RM4.95mil compared with the CEO of Proton Holdings Bhd, who received between RM0.5mil and RM1mil in the three-year period.

Related news: Gov't reveals earnings of GLC heads http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/160804

Jurugambar ditikam kesal tiada tindakan polis

2011-03-31T18:23:00.000+08:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lack of security in business area

2011-03-29T15:56:00.002+08:00

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

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

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

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

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