PARKING ISSUES AT KTM KOMUTER

This appeared in The Star today, Tuesday, 29 dec 2009. They really have to resolve the parking issue there which is also causing a traffic headache.

Tuesday December 29, 2009

Taxing time for cabbies

Story and photo by OH ING YEEN

TAXI drivers operating around the Kajang KTM station along Jalan Bukit, Kajang, have complained about the parking fee charged whenever they enter the station to pick up customers.

They said the RM1 per hour fee was a burden to them as they have to fork out RM300 to RM500 per month for that purpose.

Too cramped: Taxi driver So Ah Meng says the station’s compound is too small, which makes it difficult for them to manoeuvre their taxis after picking up customers.

They are hoping to purchase a monthly pass, which costs RM52.50. But, their applications to buy the passes from Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) have yet to be approved.

Taxi driver Hui Yau Wah said, “We have written to KTMB but there’s been no reply.”

P. Gunasekaran said the parking fee was just 40 sen per hour seven years ago. However, it increased to RM1 per hour more than four years ago (the first five minutes is free).

“We enter the station around 15 times a day, hence it’s RM15 per day. Even if we do not get any customers, we still have to pay once we enter.

“If we earn around RM120 a day, about 10% of our income is used to pay for parking.

“We tried to talk to the station supervisor but there was no reply and we’re told that ‘the person in charge is not in’,” he said, adding that other stations like the one in Serdang does not impose such charges.

The taxi drivers approached former Serdang MP Datuk Yap Pian Hon for help in applying for a monthly pass.

“It’s not fair to them, the taxi drivers are providing a public service and their welfare should be looked into,” Yap said, adding that only 150 parking bays are provided at the station that caters to 8,000 commuters.

Taxi driver So Ah Meng pointed out that the station’s compound was too small which makes it difficult for them to manoeuvre their taxis after picking up customers.

“It is quite dangerous for the commuters as well when we reverse the car. I hope that the compound can be expanded or restructured.

“I’ve submitted three plans to KTMB about four years ago but there was no reply,” he said.

When Yap brought up the matter of congestion and lack of parking space at the station to KTMB in 2007, the reply they got then was, “As the land reserve for KTMB is limited, an entrance next to Jalan Reko can’t be made as it will involve acquiring private land.

“We hope the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) can consider building an alternative entrance, a bus stop near the entrance or to widen the road. Maybe the congestion along Jalan Bukit can be solved with an alternative route.”

KTMB has yet provide a reply on the parking issue at press time.

A CHINESE MUHIBBAH SCHOOL IN BANGI? READ ON

The following blog was written by YB Dr Shafie Abu Bakar, the ADUN for Bangi. Please do visit his blog here as it is very informative of his work. YB, well done and keep it up. We need dedicated YBs to help make our city and country better.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

ADUN Bangi Bekalkan Kamus Kepada Murid-Murid Sekolah Cina

Pekan Bangi, 25 Syawal = 14 Oktober (Rabu):(Perkarangan sekolah)

(Majlis penyerahan Kamus kepada YDP PIBG, Encik Lau Jart Chin)

10.00 pagi: ADUN Bangi berkunjung ke Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina, Yoke Min, Pekan Bangi disambut YDP PIBG Encik Lau Jart Chin dan beberapa AJK. Turut mengiringi ADUN Ahli MPKj En. Mazwan, Ketua JKKB Pekan Bangi Encik Marzuki dan Puan Jannet Ketua Kelab Penyokong Pas Tionghua Pekan Bangi. Tujuan ADUN dan rombongan datang bagi menyampaikan sejumlah 160 buah Kamus Bahasa Cina untuk diagih-agihkan kepada murid-murid di Sekolah tersebut.

Pada upacara ringkas itu Encik Lau berucap berterima kasih di atas kesudian ADUN buat pertama kali berkunjung ke sekolah tersebut untuk menyampaikan kamus kepada murid-murid melalui PIBG. Menurut En. Lau Sekolah Yoke Min yang terdiri dari dua bangunan di atas tanah 2 ekar adalah sepenuhnya hasil dari derma penduduk yang diusahakan oleh Lembaga Pengelola Sekolah, tiada sebarang peruntukan kerajaan ! Kos bangunan ialah RM800,000/= . Sekolah ini baru berpindah dari sekolah lama beberapa tahun lepas dan masih kekurangan dari segi peralatan,

Sekolah ini yang Guru Besarnya (Pn. Tan Siew Hock) tak dapat hadir, kerana ada tugas mengejut di Kuala Lumpur), menurut En. Lau mempunyai 193 murid dengan 17 orang guru. Hanya ada satu kelas bagi setiap tahun satu hingga lima. Apa yang menarik sungguhpun sekolah Cina. Murid-muridnya adalah multirasial. Daripada 193 orang murid itu 35% daripadanya adalah murid-murid Melayu dan 10% adalah murid-murid dari keturunan India. Ini bererti hanya sedikit lebih dari separuh sahaja (55%) murid-murid Cina. AJK PIBG sekolah ini juga antaranya dua dari mereka adalah Melayu, di samping AJK India. Di sekolah ini terdapat seorang guru agama Islam.

Sekolah ini adalah sekolah kedua terbaik selepas Sekolah Yu Hwa Kajang di Hulu Langat. Ini bererti sekolah ini menjadi sekolah rebutan bagi ibu bapa sama ada Cina, Melayu dan India untuk menghantar anak-anak mereka belajar di sini. Walau macam mana, untuk masuk ke sekolah ini, murid-murid disyaratkan mesti belajar melalui Tadika Cina di sini yang paling minimum hendaklah mendapat didikan Tadika Cina selama setahun.

Di dalam ucapannya ADUN Bangi, mengucapkan terima kasih kepada pihak PIBG sekolah yang memberi peluang ADUN dan rombongan hadir ke sekolah bagi menyempaikan Kamus atau Chinese Dictionary dan berpeluang bertemu AJK PIBG. Menurut ADUN beliau memilih untuk menyampaikan Kamus ke Sekolah Yoke Min, kerana kamus ialah kandungan ilmu dan arkib budaya bangsa. Perkataan-perkataan dan istilah-istilah di dalam kamus ialah himpunan maklumat orang Cina, ilmu, budaya, seni dan jiwa bangsa Cina yang tercipta dan terhimpun sejak dahulu kala hingga kini. Pemberian kamus secara simbolik ialah penyerahan alat dan sumber ilmu dan berbagai lagi yang boleh diteroka oleh murid-murid. Adalah diharapkan melalui kamus dapat membantu meningkatkan pembelajaran murid-murid.

ADUN bergembira mendapat tahu sekolah Yoke Min adalah antara sekolah terbaik di Hulu Langat. Sudah tentu ramai daripada murid-murid keluaran sekolah ini merupakan orang-orang yang berjaya di dalam lapangan masing-masing. ADUN sukacita bekerjasama dengan pihak sekolah. Sebarang keperluan harap dapat dimaklum atau dipohon dari pihak ADUN. Sebagaimana dimaklum, oleh kerana sekolah baru berpindah dan masih kurang dari segi peralatan, contoh perpustakaan masih kurang dari buku-buku. Ini boleh dibincangkan bagi kita berusaha untuk menambahkan koleksi buku di sekolah ini. Adalah diharapkan hubungan baik ini berterusan dan berharap ADUN akan berpeluang datang lagi ke sekolah ini pada masa akan datang.

(Gambar ; AJK PIBG dan AJK JKKB bersama ADUN Bangi)

Sekian. Terima kasih.


Until the next time, cheers.

ST JOHN'S AMBULANCE FUND RAISING DINNER

The St John Ambulance will be having their fund raising dinner at the XI Lai Ton Restaurant in Sungai Chua (formerly Kajang Restaurant) this Saturday, 24 October at 7 pm. They are collecting funds to further improve the voluntary ambulance services provided for many years already.

Banners of this dinner can be seen at a few locations around town. Even if you are unable to attend the dinner, you may wish to contribute something to their cause.

Until the next time, cheers.

THE STAR (MON, 5 OCT 2009) - ENDING FLOODS IN KAJANG?

Below is an excerpt from The Star today. If we can end flooding in Kajang......wow think about it.

The Star, Monday October 5, 2009

Kajang council out to end floods

KAJANG assemblyman Lee Kim Sin recently announced that the state government had allocated RM8.7mil to upgrade Sungai Jelok and Sungai Ramal.

“The rivers will be widened and deepened and the river banks reinforced. Sungai Jelok, which flows through Kajang town, is the cause of frequent floods and the upgrading works there are already 70% complete.

“There will be two phases for the upgrading works at Sungai Ramal and Phase 1 has been completed,” he said.

More capacity: The new drains in Taman Setia can hold more water

He added that more than RM48,000 had also been allocated to upgrade the drainage system in 24 zones in Kajang. Work on the project began this year and will continue until next year.

“The state government has allocated funds to the Kajang Municipal council (MPKj) for the upgrade,” he said, adding that he has also contributed RM40,000 for the upgrading works.

Currently upgrading works are being carried out at Taman Setia, Kajang.

According to muinicipal councillor P. Narayanan, Taman Setia had been experiencing floods because of narrow drains.

“The water from Kampung Sungai Chua flows through Taman Setia. Whenever it rains, a backflow happens when two drains merge.

“Now, a U-shaped drain has been built to replace the previous V-shaped drain to enable the drains to sustain more water,” he said.

According to Kampung Baru Sungai Chua Village Safety and Development Committee (JKKK) chairman Yong Swan Khong, there are 200 houses in Taman Setia and the three rows consisting of around 100 units are affected whenever there are floods.

Lee pointed out that there was vacant land near Taman Setia that would be developed.

Yong hopes that the proper infrastructure will be in place before the development begins as he is afraid the project may worsen the floods in the area.

“We will carry out gotong-royong with the residents associations to clean the drains. The villagers in the Kwan Tung Baru New Vilage have been having monthly gotong-royong for the past three months,” Yong said.

Until next time, cheers.

HWA HING SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

There is this small restaurant on Jalan Convent (just across from the Holy Family Church side entrance). It is mom and pops shop but the food is of consistent quality as only the father cooks. The mom mostly does preparation work only. He seems serious about this way. The bad part is service can be slow when there is a crowd.

The signature dish in the restaurant is the fish head. It's spicy and delicious.

This place is also good for its porridge. You can have pork, fish, seafood or even frogs. Sorry, we were hungry and only remembered to take the photo when we almost finished it.

The fried rice and also noodles are also good. They also have this fried "pak kua". The fried rice here is simple and good.

Other good dishes here are the stewed prok leg and homemade tofu with fish.



Go and try it, price is reasonable.

Until next time, cheers.

TAMAN BOTANI IN PUTRAJAYA

Putrajaya (just about 10 km from Kajang) has a number of parks and gardens. Over the years, I have been to a number of them and found them to be worth visiting.

Last Monday being the Nuzul Quran holidays in Selangor (but a working day in KL and Putrajaya), we went to Taman Botani. Being also the fasting month, we expected the park to be deserted and we were right. Even on holidays and weekends, they are not very crowded. Such a waste. That morning, it was cloudy and the weather was just perfect.

The main entrance to the park

Another entrance to the park with a covered walkway. This leads to a seafood restaurant and water sports centre.

The water sports centre where one can hire paddle boats to go around the lake surrounding the park.

The view from the lake is quite beautiful as you can get a good view of the landmark buildings in Putrajaya like the prime Minister's Office and residence.

The hardscape is well designed and built. It also blends well with the surrounding.



Nice views nice various points in the park.










View of the main building as well as logo of the park.



Interesting picture of a water outlet.


A fern garden (paku pakis). Haven't seen this for some time.

There were many workers going about their work. For once, I am impressed with the maintenance.

It is a good place to visit with your family, even with young kids. You can rent bicyles or even a tandem.

Until the next time, cheers.

CHAR KEOY TEOW AND PRAWN MEE

Ever since the the old bazaar people moved to the current location next to the market, it still draws the crowds to stop by and eat. Some of them are still around (for those who remember from the eighties and before.

For me, one of the stalls does satisfy me for her char keoy teow and prawn mee. We normally come here on Saturday mornings as the stall does not open on Sunday. The food is simple and tasty (what more can you ask).

It's the stall with the blue plastic sheet in front (it does not have a name).

It's yummy especially hot from the wok or pot.

Also managed to take some pictures of the surrounding area and stalls. Amongst the older stalls are the chan kei (still have the old steel rice bowls), old man restaurant, ngau lam noodles, curry laksa stall, porridge and some newer stalls like the chicken rice shop (most expensive in Kajang but best also) and others. For the other stall, check out the posting in the near future.

Until next time, cheers.

15 MALAYSIA FILMS

I came across this project which is a collection of 15 short films allowing directors to experiment with various themes or ideas. These films are released one by one a few days apart and you can catch the films at their website, 15malaysiafilms.

You will find funny, sad, serious,heart warming and other types of films. One one aspect is also the segment of "the making of the fims" which will give you further insight of the mind of the directors.

I hope you will enjoy it as much I had.

Until then, cheers.

RAMADHAN MARKETS IN KAJANG

The following article appeared in the Metro section of The Star today, Friday, 4 September 2009. The list at the end of the article will come in handy for those who may wish to visit the markets.

Well-planned bazaar drawing Kajang crowd

Story and photo by GEETHA KRISHNAN

The clearing dedicated for public use within the Prima Saujana township in Kajang has always been put to good use since its opening a few years ago but during Ramadan, it attains a special status.

Dataran Prima, located near the Prima Saujana commercial centre, becomes THE place for the only integrated Pasar Ramadan (Ramadan Market) and Karnival Ramadan (Ramadan Carnival) in Kajang.

The Jenaris Residents Association and the Hulu Langat Malay Chamber of Commerce have combined forces to organise the market and carnival this year with the cooperation of the Kajang Municipal Council.

The Pasar Ramadan is open daily from 3pm to 7.30pm while the Karnival Ramadan comes to life between 2.30pm and 11pm. Opening hours are extended on the weekends.

According to Jenaris Residents Association chairman Zubir Kamaruddin, Dataran Prima was the ideal site for the Pasar Ramadan and Karnival Ramadan as the space was sufficient.

“We are grateful to developer Prima Paramount Sdn Bhd for looking into the needs of the community here. Not only is the location suitable, there is also ample space for parking unlike elsewhere,” he said at the site recently.

Also present was Prima Paramount Sdn Bhd director Wong Sze Meng.

Zubir added that the market and bazaar were popular with the 2,000 to 3,000 residents living in Taman Jenaris and the surrounding neighbourhoods as it was also well-planned.

Aside from the Ramadan events, the weekly night market on Thursdays and for the farmer’s market on Saturday mornings and Tuesday nights are held at the site.

Hulu Langat Malay Chamber of Commerce chairman Saidin Md Ali said the Ramadan bazaar and market had been drawing good response from residents and visitors since its opening.

“We are thankful for the response as it is our ultimate aim to help generate some income for small and medium-scale entrepreneurs. Of the 128 Pasar Ramadan lots available for rental, 102 lots have been taken up while there are 44 carnival lots,” he said.

“During the last week of Ramadan, we will be handing out RM10 coupons to orphans for them to purchase food to break fast so we hope the public can contribute towards this effort. On Sept 12, we will be holding a dodol-stirring programme,” he added.

A trader identified only as Elynn said visitors were happy with the bargains offered at her clothing stall. In anticipation of good sales, the boutique owner based in Negri Sembilan had booked two lots.

PASAR RAMADAN LOCATIONS IN KAJANG Taman Tenaga, Jalan Timur, Kampung Sungai Balak, Taman Kajang Sentral, Taman Zamrud, Taman Kajang Mewah, Taman Ramal Indah, Sections 3, 7, 16 Bandar Baru Bangi, Pekan Bangi, Bangi PKNS Complex, Bandar Seri Putra, Kampung Teras Jernang, Minlon, Bandar Mahkota Cheras, Taman Suntex, Taman Harmoni, Taman Cheras Utama, Taman Taming Jaya, Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, Taman Cheras Perdana, Taman Impian Ehsan, Taman Cheras Jaya, Taman Kota Cheras, Taman Rakan, Taman Cheras, Taman Kajang Prima, Billion, Taman Seri Nanding, Batu 14 and 18 Hulu Langat.

Until next time, cheers.

SELAMAT HARI MERDEKA

Happy 52nd birthday Malaysia! Wishing all Malaysians, Selamat Hari Merdeka. It is a ritual for me to get in the morning to at watch at least some parts of the national day parade. However, this year's parade is more subdued due to the H1N1 virus and it being the fasting month.

This year, we can also see less cars or establishments flying the flag. What could be the reason? Could it be the fasting month or due to the virus or heaven forbid, due to less patriotism?

Anyhow, I managed to capture some still doing the patriotic thing around Kajang. Good for you, mates.

My favorite tune during this time is still Sudirman's Tanggal 31....it never fails to make me feel proud of my country even though a lot of times, I feel let down by certain leaders of our country.

Until then, cheers.