Outsource the investigation of PKFZ

Even before Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) was audited by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), countless reports to the then Anti-Corruption Agency (now MACC) have already been submitted by various parties, numerous police reports were lodged too, Bursa Malaysia and the Parliament Public Accounts Committee also looked into the matter, but no action was taken. This clearly shows that MACC and the relevant regulators are below par or rather have failed. Why then Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat still refers the PwC report of PKFZ to MACC? I suggest perhaps the government should just outsource the entire investigation of this controversial project to a capable private firm such as PwC.

Lim Lip Eng

Worsening faulty street lights at Jalan Duta interchange

I took this photo on 26.5.2009 evening opposite Lembaga Peperiksaan building

Despite numerous complaints and a press conference to highlight the issue, street lights at Jalan Duta multi-level interchange are still not working, it is now being further extended to Lembaga Peperiksaan building from indoor hockey/tennis stadium since  one month ago.

After a press conference held on 5.5.2009, city hall has replied to the media that the responsibility is with Work Ministry’s contractor who built the interchange as the ministry has yet to surrender the roads to city hall. During my early enquiries on this issue, I was pushed around by city hall & TNB and now we have another new player, the Work Ministry. It cracks my head to know that Work Ministry cannot even fix prolonged minor issue like faulty lights whilst the same ministry is given the task to build & maintain billions' worth of highway projects.

Lim Lip Eng

1-way street causes problems for Segambut residents

The Star Online > Central. Tuesday May 26, 2009. By PRIYA MENON

No idea: A motorcylist not adhering to the No-entry sign placed at the entrance of Jalan 4/42A.

RESIDENTS in Segambut are angry that Jalan 4/42A has been turned into a one-way street since May 1. The change was to accommodate the DUKE highway exit along Jalan 1/42A. More than 15,000 residents from Taman Sejahtera, Taman Kok Doh, Taman City, Kampung Pasir Segambut and Taman Lawa are affected by the change. Before the road change, motorists were allowed to turn out into Jalan 1/42A and those coming from Jalan Jambu Mawar and people coming from Jalan Duta could turn into Jalan 4/42A. Now, residents coming from Jalan Jambu Mawar heading towards Jalan 1/42A cannot turn right into the street, causing much confusion among residents. “They never informed us of the road change. Just before May 1, we suddenly saw signboards erected indicating that it is a one-way street,” said the vice-chairman of the Komuniti Bestari of Taman Sejahtera, Emran Hasbullah, 52. Due to the change, residents now have to walk half a kilometre away to Taman Kok Doh to catch the bus to get out of the residential area. “The only exit we have is at Taman City so the bus has to go that way causing more inconvenience for the residents,” said another resident, S. Maniselvan, 40. The Taman City exit is now jammed at peak hours as it is the only entry and exit point for the residents and traders. As the buses have stopped plying the route, those businesses along the road have suffered losses as people do not frequent their shops as often as before. “In the mornings, those catching the buses will stop by for breakfast before going to work. Now they have to walk further so they don’t have time to grab a bite,” said Chee Cheong Fun seller, Ang Lay Peng, 46. Ang said she suffered 50% business loss in the past month alone. Emran questioned Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) move of changing the roads without consulting the residents.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who organised a press conference to highlight the issue, said according to DBKL’s by-law they should ask the residents’ opinions before making any changes to streets, buildings or development. “I sent a letter to the DBKL office asking if they took into consideration the residents’ opinions but I have not received a comment yet,” added Lim at the conference last Friday. Lim said now a number of accidents had occurred in the last one month due to the road direction change. “The accidents usually happen at night as some residents are still unaware of the change,” he said. Emran added that there were no signs showing the way to the Taman City exit. “All we want is for them to change it back to a two-way road or if they can’t do that, provide an alternative route for us with proper signage, yellow box and traffic lights,” he said. Lim, on the other hand, asked DBKL to build a road next to the Jalan 4/42A as it is located a little further from the DUKE exit. “If DBKL still feels it’s dangerous, they can place traffic lights at the junction,” he said.

© 1995-2009 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Police raid DAP HQ, seize PC, DVDs

Taken from The Malaysian Insider. 24 May 2009. By Shannon Teoh

Ooi (in orange clothes) with DAP leaders during the police raid on the party headquarters. — Picture courtesy of DAP headquarters

PETALING JAYA, May 23 — Police raided the DAP national headquarters for the firs time ever this evening, carting away a computer and 19 digital video discs (DVDs). The search and seizure, made without a warrant, was in relation to leaflets found when arrests were made during a candle-light vigil two nights ago in Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur, calling for fresh polls in Perak. It is the latest in a series of crackdowns on Pakatan Rakyat (PR) attempts to gain public support on the Perak crisis which includes repeated arrests and banning of videos of the chaotic May 7 Perak assembly sitting where Speaker V. Sivakumar was dumped. "First time in the 42-year history of DAP, police raiding our HQ," DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang posted in his Twitter account. Three unmarked cars arrived at the headquarters and 11 plainclothes officers entered the building on the quiet Jalan 20/9 residential area in Petaling Jaya at 6.25pm. They had brought Ooi Leng Hang, a party worker and one of the detainees from that night, who gave them the password to unlock the digital lock on the front door. The handcuffed Ooi, who is DAP Socialist Youth political education chief, then led the police to his workstation, where police began to detail the items on his desk to be taken away. They include his computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, earphones, external hard drives and DVDs including those related to the May 7 assembly and one labelled "Photos of Port Dickson Camp." Treasurer Fong Kui Lun and vice-chairman Tan Kok Wai were the first DAP lawmakers to arrive at about 6.50pm followed by lawyers Gobind Singh Deo and Lim Lip Eng. Gobind had asked the officer in charge if he had a warrant and what provision they were conducting the search under. ASP Kamal Khan Mohd Sharif said he did not have a warrant and had to call his superior, a DSP Goh, before telling Gobind that the raid was done under Section 11 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act. Gobind, DAP's legal affairs chief, allowed Ooi to sign a form detailing the list of items taken but later told reporters that the Act still requires a search warrant. "He did not even know which provision. This shows that the police do not know what they are doing," the Puchong MP said, adding that he would lodge a report against the "trespass" and also write to the Selangor police chief on the matter. National organising secretary Teresa Kok called the raid another "scare tactic" after several arrests made at vigils to quash dissent against what is perceived an undemocratic takeover of the Silver State. "They arrested people just for wearing black and holding candles," the Selangor senior executive councillor said. DAP Socialist Youth national secretary Loh Chee Heng condemned the raid, calling it "the latest despicable act by the police in their ongoing crackdown on the nation’s democracy." "The police’s possible ludicrous move to charge Ooi, DAPSY deputy chairperson Jenice Lee and the other 14 DAPSY members and supporters under the 1984 Printing Presses and Publications Act is extremely regrettable," Loh said, demanding the immediate unconditional release of those who were arrested at Thursday night’s vigil. The police left the DAP headquarters after about an hour.

KL Rivers

River of filth: Sg Keroh at Tm Sri Segambut when i visited last week

Water Quality Index shown in the Draft Kuala Lumpur 2020 City Plan

Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2020 (KLSP2020), which was gazetted in 2004, laid down official measures to improve river quality. Water Quality Index (WQI) of KL rivers, according to KLSP2020, is between 51.9 and 76.5 whereby index below 80 is considered polluted.

4 years after KLSP2020 was announced to be public policies, DBKL spent millions not on tackling river pollution but to come out with another greater plan called Draft Kuala Lumpur 2020 City Plan (Draft KLCP2020) in May 2008. A 2004 river water quality status report was used in Draft KLCP2020 which gave a poorer result than in KLSP2020 (refer chart above).

The 2 plans were conceived during Zulhasnan Rafique’s term as FT minister. Will the new minister Raja Nong Chik carries on his predecessor’s policies or will he idea another grand plan while our city’s rivers become mere conduits of sewages?

Lim Lip Eng