Kajang Utama tunnel to benefit 200,000 residents

The Star, Tuesday January 29, 2013

By RAHIMY RAHIM

KAJANG: The Kajang Utama underpass tunnel construction project is expected to benefit some 200,000 residents in the area, said Deputy Works Minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng.

"The Cabinet has approved an allocation of RM30mil to implement the project, which will benefit some 200,000 residents and ease traffic congestion at the surrounding area," he told a press conference after launching the project at KM20.5 along the Kajang Silk Highway Tuesday.

The project, he said, was expected to be completed in 27 months. Work on it will begin in the first quarter of this year.

He also noted that the four-lane underpass would allow direct access for those living at Taman Kajang Utama without having to make a U-turn about two kilometres from the Bukit Kajang toll plaza.

Kajang Utama residents hope proposed underpass plan will be approved

The Star, Friday January 25, 2013

By FARAH FAZANNA ZULZAHA
farahfazanna@thestar.com.my

MORE than 20,000 residents in Kajang Utama will benefit if a proposed project to build an underpass is approved by the Works Ministry.

Serdang parliamentary liaison officer Datuk Yap Pian Hon said the underpass would offer residents a shorter route to Kajang than the existing detour along the Silk Highway.

“We are hoping to receive good news by the end of the month,” said Yap, who has been working on the underpass project since 2008.

He added that he had met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the Works Ministry to discuss the project and they would try to solve the problem as soon as possible.

The underpass project was proposed before 2004 but Yap was told there were no funds allocated under the Ninth Malaysia Plan then.

“The cost of building the underpass was estimated at RM30mil,” he said.

The proposed underpass would start in Jalan Maju and take drivers straight to Jalan Bukit, providing residents with easy access to Kajang and Semenyih.

Currently, residents from the three neighbourhoods in Kajang Utama have to make a U-turn near Taman Bukit Mewah Phase 9, which adds about 10km to their journeys to and from Kajang.

Yap said the longer route also caused a massive traffic jam along Jalan Reko, especially during peak hours.

He added that the underpass would also benefit students studying at Kajang High School or SMJK Yu Hua.

It is also hoped the underpass will revive the dying small and medium enterprises in the Taman Kajang Utama commercial centre.

MPKj told to act on staff over temple notice

The Star, Friday January 25, 2013

By A. LETCHUMANAN
letchu@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: The Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) has been directed to refer four junior enforcement staff members to the disciplinary committee over a notice issued to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Pekan Bangi Lama.

MPKj audit and good governance committee chairman Mazwan Johar said the five-member panel which met on Tuesday had also recommended that higher-ranking officials attend to issues related to places of worship.

“The four were lower-ranking staff members. We want a director or deputy director to be responsible in future,” he said when contacted.

The temple committee claimed that it had received a notice to reduce the noise level and cease religious activities after 6pm.

In the Jan 8 compound notice, MPKj claimed the noise had disturbed residents. The notice has since been rescinded.

Mazwan said the recommendations have been submitted to MPKj president Datuk Hassan Nowawi and the state audit committee.

Meanwhile, Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan has urged MPKj to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the four for issuing the summons.

“It is clear they acted beyond their jurisdiction,” he said.

He added that they had failed to adhere to the standing instruction which requires the state government be told before any action is taken against a place of worship.

Manoharan said he was disappointed with Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and state executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar for not addressing the problem faced by Hindu temples in the state.

“There have been 18 notices of demolition issued to temples but the state government has not come out with any directive to resolve the issue,” he said.

He added that there have been calls to the state government to initiate action against the Sepang Municipal Council enforcement officers who demolished an altar in a house in Taman Seroja, Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi in November last year.

“No action has been taken so far,” he said.

A letter to The Star - Lack of sports facilities

The Star, Wednesday January 23, 2013

I HAVE lived in Kajang for many years. The town has recently developed massively. Previously, Kajang was only known for its roundabouts.

While still being developed, I feel that the town is badly planned for the following reasons.

As a sports enthusiast, I am perturbed by the lack of sporting facilities. I use to play tennis at a golf club in Kajang. However, the club was recently acquired by another party, which I believe will be utilised for commercial development.

Sports enthusiasts are now left with no sporting facilities. There were public tennis courts next to the stadium, but it was also acquired, again for development.

As a resident, I would like to know from the local authority, Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj), why there are no areas assigned for a sports complex or proper public sporting facilities.

I wonder whether the youths these days would be exposed to any form of sports, looking at the recent state of sporting facilities.

Also with the rapid development, the poor drainage in town causes massive floods.

Businesses are affected when it floods. What is MPKj doing to improve the flood situation?

The bus station, located in the middle of a main street, causes massive traffic jams.

The buses stop all over the place at their own whims and fancy.

Why should a bus station be located in an area that affects the traffic? Besides the buses, taxis are also haphazardly parked waiting for customers.

Kajang has grown rapidly, however the number of parking bays has not increased in the same tandem. Again, I wonder where one is expected to park.

I believe we have enough buildings at this stage.

I have no complaints for development of a township, but I believe it has to be well planned.

Sporting facilities is a must in every township and not merely selling every piece of existing land for development.

In many countries, you find public sporting facilities in suburbs or townships. I believe this translates into sporting success.

Bus stands and taxi stops have to be built in a location where it does not affect traffic, which I believe is very basic in any town planning. I hope the authorities in Kajang live up to the status of a Majlis Perbandaran, as opposed to a Majlis Daerah many years ago.

SIVARUBAN KANDASAMY
Kajang

Residents protest sudden road closure

The Star, Wednesday January 23, 2013

By OH ING YEEN 

WE want our road back! That was the demand of residents of Taman Kajang Mulia and Taman Sri Minang, Kajang at a protest on Sunday after Jalan Kajang Mulia 1, the access road to their neighbourhood was closed.

Residents questioned the Kajang Municipal Council’s (MPKj) decision for the road closure.

They fear that the residential road would be used by others to avoid traffic congestion on the main road, hence increasing traffic flow in the neighbourhood and putting their safety at risk.

“We have written to MPKj’s Planning and Development department, Kajang assemblyman Lee Kim Sin, local councillor P. Narayanan and even the Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim but there were no replies,” said Taman Kajang Mulia resident A. Subramaniam.

“There were no dialogues or notices; the road was just closed off a few days ago and we have to use the alternative road,” he said.

Motorists now have to use the road at the new commercial area, built at a site which was formerly a secondary jungle, situated just next to Jalan Kajang Mulia 1.

Motorists then exit the road via a junction to connect to Jalan Kajang Mulia 1.

Several residents whose houses are directly in front of the junction fear that motorists may accidentally crash into their gates when exiting the junction.

One of them is Pramila Lingam, 39, who said, “Suddenly there is a junction in front of my house. Should the authorities wait till an accident happens?”

Resident Tham Yu Li said it was difficult and dangerous for them to exit or enter their houses as cars will be honking at them.

“When the shoplots at the commercial area open for business, it will be worse,” he said.

“I used to bring my mentally-challenged daughter for walks around the neighbourhood but now I fear for her safety with the increase of motorists here,” said Taman Sri Minang resident Ahmad Shah Jaafar.

“We are not against development but it should not only be about commercial value,” he said.

MPKj corporate communications head Shariman Mohd Nor was quoted in a report by StarMetro (“Residents fear traffic congestion”, Oct 17, 2012) that the new development would not use any of the roads in Taman Minang as its access.

He said residents had given their written consent to the plan, which was to use a road next to the housing estate and a small patch near a retention pond area that belonged to the state.

The MPKj could not be reached for comments at press time.

Complaints over uncollected waste in Balakong fall on deaf ears

The Star, Wednesday January 23, 2013

By SURESH VELU
metro@thestar.com.my
Photo by LOW LAY PHON

Safety hazard: Rubbish accumulating in a commercial area is causing inconvenience to the public.

 

For nearly two years, rubbish collection and disposal in the Balakong area has been poorly enforced. This has resulted in piles of rubbish in inappropriate places and flooding due to illegal dumping.

According to Taman Megah Cheras Branch chairman Allan Liew Sin Kim, one such place is at the Seri Cheras Light Industry Area, where there have been numerous complaints.

A complainant, Madam Khoo said, “I complained on behalf of my boss when he could not find any parking,” referring to the parking bays that are covered with rubbish.

Liew said he was unable to do anything to address the complaints, except to direct them to the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj).

“People have been complaining for three months but no action has been taken, and the councillor does not answer any of our calls.

“There’s rubbish everywhere in Balakong and it is worse in the commercial areas. The problem has been happening on and off for the last year or two, and the contractors only clear the rubbish when complaints are lodged.”

Rubbish collection is tendered out to contractors by MPKj. Before this, Alam Flora handled rubbish collection in the area.

“The contractors are selected based on their price quotes and small contractors tend to quote a lower price by cutting down collection times from six days a week to one.” Liew said.

“MPKj should be more concerned about the environment, safety and hygiene rather than looking at how much it can save,” he added.

MPKj withdraws notice for temple to reduce its noise level

The Star, Wednesday January 23, 2013

PETALING JAYA: The Kajang Muni­cipal Council (MPKj) has withdrawn its notice requiring the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Bangi Lama to reduce its “noise” level and cease all religious activities after 6pm, said its president Datuk Hassan Nawawi.

The cancellation notice, he said, was issued after a meeting with temple committee officials last week.

Nawawi said the notice for the temple to reduce its “noise” level had been issued based on a resident’s complaint of an increase in volume during special prayers between Dec 15 and Jan 13.

“We received the first complaint in December 2010 and the first notice was issued in Feb 17 last year. But following another complaint received this year, a second notice was issued on Jan 8,” he said.

MPKj councillor S.T. Chandra­mo­han said it had taken steps to cancel the notice as well as apologise to the temple committee.

“The council officers were given clear instructions that the notice should be to tone down the noise from the speakers and not to stop the ringing of the bells, as claimed by certain quarters,” he said.

Teluk Intan MP M. Manoharan said all places of worship should not be disturbed.

“Consensus and discussion should be encouraged,” he said, adding that it was Pakatan Rakyat’s policy not to demolish any temple.

Temple gets noise warning

The Star, Sunday January 20, 2013

By A. LETCHUMANAN
letchu@thestar.com.my

Breach of rights: Mohan speaking to reporters after visiting the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Pekan Bangi Lama.

 

PETALING JAYA: The Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) has ordered the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple committee in Pekan Bangi Lama to reduce its level of noise and cease religious activities after 6pm.

In the Jan 8 compound notice issued to the temple, the council claimed that the noise from the temple and its religious activities had disturbed the neighbourhood.

Temple Chairman R. Pannirselvam said MPKj enforcement officers ordered the temple to adhere to the notice, failing which he could be fined RM1,000 or jailed six months or both under Section 82(5) of the Local Government Act.

He said the notice had caused uneasiness among the thousands of Hindus who congregate for prayers at the temple every Tuesday and Friday and also for other festivals.

“Prayers are conducted between 6pm and 9pm and we ring bells during the prayers. How can we stop the ringing of the bells,” he asked?

MPKj councillor Senator S.T. Chandramohan however said the notice was rescinded late Friday following reports in a Tamil paper.

Pannirselvam had sought the assistance of MIC Youth chief T. Mohan who assured them that the council did not have the right to impose such conditions.

“This is a breach of the constitution which allows everyone to practise his own religion,” Mohan said.

He urged Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Selangor exco member Dr Xavier Jayakumar to publicly apologise to the Indian community.

Explaining the notice, Chandramohan said it was issued without the knowledge of council president Datuk Hassan Nawawi and other councillors.

“We have asked the council's audit and good governance committee to look into the matter because there is a standing instruction that any action against religious places has to be referred to the council's full board meeting,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hassan clarified that the notice urging the temple to reduce the level of noise had nothing to do with the ringing of bells.

Worrying cracks at Taman Bukit Mewah

The Star, Tuesday January 1, 2013

Ad hoc fix: Subramaniam used an iron rod to prop up the steps.

 

RESIDENTS living along Jalan Bukit Mewah 18 in Taman Bukit Mewah, Kajang are worried that the cracks that have appeared in their houses since last month will lead to something worse.

S. Subramaniam, who has been living there since 1992, said he first noticed the cracks on Nov 8.

Over the month, the hairline cracks expanded and the biggest measured 10cm in width.

“Every morning I can find bits of tiles and parts of the wall coming off.

“I suspect it is caused by water seepage underground,” said the 67-year-old retired government servant, adding that the extensions he did at the kitchen area was approved by the council.

He reported the problem to the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) last November via and was told that the council would look into it within two weeks.

“A week later, some officers from MPKj came and took photos. They did not give any assurance or tell us what they will do about the problem.

“I was only told to move out as it is dangerous but where am I to go?”

“If the council is willing to rebuild my house and pay for rent like what they did for the residents who live across the street, I am willing to move,” said Subramaniam.