Well-planned amenities for Kajang 2

The NST, 9 March 2013

 

By C. PREMANANTHINI | streets@nstp.com.my

NEW TOWNSHIP: RM2.7 billion project scheduled for completion by end of next year

 KAJANG: RESIDENTS here can look forward to a new township with well planned infrastructure, schools, hotel, corporate office towers, malls and retail shop offices.

An artist’s impression of Kajang 2 township.

MKH group senior general manager Chong Yong Han (second from left) briefing Datuk Seri Iskandar Zulkarnain ibni Almarhum Sultan Idris A’fifullah Shah (third from left) and Datuk Seri Diraja Tunku Soraya Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’azam Shah (fourth from left) on the development of Kajang 2. With them are Datuk Alex Chen Kooi Chiew (second from right) and MPKj president Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abd Rahman (right). Pic by Farizul Hafiz Awang

The new township called Kajang 2 is being developed by property developer MKH Bhd (formerly known as Metro Kajang Holdings Bhd).

The modern and contemporary township covering an area of about 109 hectares is scheduled for completion by end of next year.

The total gross development value of the township is RM2.7 billion.

The self-sustained new township will comprise of bungalows, semi detached houses, terrace houses, condominiums, serviced apartments, private and international schools and retail mall, among others.
It will also feature a KTM Komuter station with links to the Kajang Bus Terminal as well as connect to all major roads and highways.

MKH group executive chairman Datuk Alex Chen Kooi Chiew said the township currently offers ready access to Lekas Highway, Silk Highway, North-South Highway and the Saga Highway.

He said construction work for the Kajang 2 phase one project consisting of two-storey terrace houses and two-storey semi-detached houses started three years ago.

All 137 units of two-storey terrace houses built was sold out while 52 units out of the 104 units of the semi detached houses have been sold.

"The keys are being handed to the house owners in stages since we started in December last year.

"Phase 2 of the project is tentatively scheduled for September with the construction of serviced apartments.

"We are anticipating this to be a successful township as other than the landed properties and high-rise apartments, we are also planning to construct serviced apartments, town villas and also a 23ha integrated commercial area," added Chen.

"We are also in the midst of finishing the construction work of Rafflesia International school as the student intake will begin January next year," he said.

The KTM station, flyover and underpass project will commence once Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) approves the plans, he said.

Chen said plans were submitted to MPKj last December.

"We are also waiting for the authorities' approval to build a flyover linking Persiaran Bangi to the township.

"Once it is completed, the access to the North-South highway will be easier for the residents.

"The underpass will offer Kajang residents a shorter route as they no longer will need to detour along the Silk Highway, reducing their journey up to 10km.

"The retail mall, which will be built soon, will be one of the biggest in Hulu Langat, catering to about a population of one million in the district," he said.

Recently, a carnival was held by MKH to show appreciation to purchasers of its Phase 1 homes.

The carnival was held also in conjunction with the launch of MKH's new sales gallery.

About, 2,000 purchasers and guests attended the event.

The event was graced by the Raja Kecil Besar Perak Datuk Seri Iskandar Zulkarnain Sultan Idris A'fifullah Shah and Datuk Seri Diraja Tunku Soraya Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'azam Shah.

Ten charitable homes were invited to partake in the carnival and each home received RM3,000.

Read more: Well-planned amenities for Kajang 2 - Central - New Straits Timeshttp://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/well-planned-amenities-for-kajang-2-1.231234#ixzz2OzUriz00

MPKj: Operations for GE13 not allowed on government land

Saturday March 30, 201

By OH ING YEEN
ingyeen@thestar.com.my

ALL political parties are not allowed to use government land to set up their operations room for the upcoming general election, Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) president Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abdul Rahman said at the council’s monthly full board meeting on Thursday. 

 

As for political flags hung in the municipality, he said that as no complaints had been received yet, the council would not take any action.

“We will only take action when we receive complaints and this goes to all political parties,” he said.

At a press conference after the meeting, he said the Selangor state government would be acquiring 33 lots of private land for an integrated graveyard for all religions in Hulu Semenyih near Jalan Sungai Lalang.

The project is expected to take 24 months to complete.

Hasan Nawawi also announced that the funeral parlour in Jalan Wan Siew, Sungai Chua, had been given the green light to continue.

Last year, MPKj issued a stop-work order to the landowner who was clearing the site for a funeral parlour.

There were protests from residents who were concerned that the funeral parlour would affect them.

Hasan Nawawi also said MPKj’s move to forfeit the deposit of utility companies for failing to comply with the council’s regulations on road resurfacing works, had seen positive results.

“We will monitor the contractors,” he added.

This was in response to a councillor’s question about utility companies that did a shoddy job of patching roads after completing works such as the installation of pipes.

The meeting, which could be the last before the general election, ended on a jovial note.

In his closing speech, councillor Mohd Shafie Ngah said there had been many changes since he became a councillor.

“There was some culture shock at first but we eventually got the hang of things.

“I noticed that there have been improvements and we all work in line with the practices of good governance,” he said.

Parents advised to keep children home temporarily

The Star, Friday March 29, 2013

By STUART MICHAEL
metro@thestar.com.my

PARENTS have been advised to temporarily stop sending their children to a kindergarten in Taman Kajang Prima after five children were diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

This followed an isolated HFMD case in Kajang last week.

State Health Department director Datuk Dr Azman Abu Bakar said his team was already on the ground giving out pamphlets to parents whose children had been diagnosed with HFMD.

“Our health officers have talked to the parents and advised them not to send their children to school until a thorough investigation is made.

“We are investigating the matter and will visit the kindergarten to see what could have transmitted the HFMD.

“Then, we will talk to the kindergarten operator to see how we can avoid this from happening in the future.

“Our health officers will ensure that the kindergarten is throughly cleaned as it is now the school holidays and the building is empty.

“The final option is for the kindergarten to close its doors for a short period and not allow any children to be sent there until it is safe,” Dr Azman said.

Four districts in Selangor - Petaling, Klang, Gombak and Hulu Langat - have recorded the highest number of cases of HFMD.

“For 2013, 155 cases were reported in Selangor between Feb 24 to March 2.

“Now, it has increased to 179 cases throughout the state,” added Dr Azman.

Ragesh Rajendran said his six-year-old daughter Sanjyanaa, who was at the kindergarten in Taman Kajang Prima, had tested positive for HFMD last Sunday and was now recovering. He was thankful that the infection was not too serious and said the principal had told him there were two other cases reported at the kindergarten.

“When I went to the clinic here, the doctor told me there were five similar cases.

“My one-year-old nephew was diagnosed with HFMD on March 26 and had to be put immediately on drip at KPJ Kajang because it was a more serious case.

“The toddler is still in the hospital recovering. The kindergarten is still open despite the school holidays. I feel the Health Department should take stern action against the kindergarten operator and close it down temporarily until a thorough investigation is carried out,” he said.

Dusun Tua’s orchards beckon fruit lovers

The Star, Friday March 29, 2013

Among the townships in Dusun Tua are Bandar Mahkota Cheras (BMC), Bandar Sungai Long, Taman Suntex, Taman Cuepac, Pansun, Kampung Sungai Raya and Kampung Jawa.

True to its name (dusun means orchard in Malay), there are many orchards here and attracts visitors who want to feast on durian, mangosteen and other local fruits.

Situated here are the Dusun Tua National Youth Skills Institute, Sungai Long Golf & Country Club, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman campus in Bandar Sungai Long, and an orang asli settlement in Kampung Pansun.

Pansun is also spelled as Pangsun and there is also Kampung Kuala Pansoon in Hulu Langat.

BMC residents association chairman C.Y. Lim said the main problem here is traffic congestion.

“The congestion at the busy junction of Persiaran Bandar Mahkota Cheras 1 and the Grand Saga Highway affects motorists. It is a problem we face everyday.”

Lim said BMC is a new township, not more than 10 years old.

“More than 90% of BMC residents are Chinese. There are many eateries in the area offering a variety of cuisine to choose from. There are also many reflexology centres here.”

It was a bittersweet victory for road users and those who had campaigned for the Cheras-Kajang Highway to be free when the KL-bound Batu 9 and the Kajang-bound Batu 11 toll plazas along the Grand Saga Highway were abolished in March 2012.

One of the reasons that residents living in townships along the highway want the highway to be toll-free is to reduce congestion in their neighbourhood, caused by motorists who want to avoid paying toll.

Bandar Sungai Long resident Joe Liew, 36, chose to move here because of the greenery.

“However, now with rapid development, there are less green areas and monkeys, squirrels, monitor lizards and other animals now have nowhere else to go but into residential areas.

“The only positive aspect is that we now have bus services here.

“There is also an increase of foreign students,” she said. adding that residents were also worried about the increasing crime rate.

“There are many break-ins here and our Rukun Tetangga has set up a gated-and-guarded scheme,” she said.

Lush greenery in Semenyih

The Star, Friday March 29, 2013

Semenyih is home to many tourist attractions such as the Sungai Tekala Recreational Forest, Semenyih Hot Spring, Rabbit Fun Land and Ostrich Wonderland Show Farm.

There are several rivers located in Semenyih, such as Sungai Rinching, Sungai Broga, Sungai Tekala, Sungai Pening, Sungai Batang Si, Sungai Lalang and Sungai Purun.

Roads leading to the Semenyih Nirvana Memorial Park are congested during the Qing Ming Festival period every year as people make their way there to pay homage to ancestors and the deceased.

The Chinese Calligraphy Stone Gallery, launched on Oct 28, 2012, is also located in the memorial park. It features over 150 calligraphic tablets.

The gallery is open to the public and admission is free.

Also in Semenyih is the University of Nottingham Malaysia campus, established in 2005, leading to an increase of foreign students living near the campus.

Another place of interest is the Rabbit Fun Land, which is located in Kampung Rinching Ulu, approximately 3km away from the campus.

A scenic hilltop temple in Broga also attracts visitors and tourists. Chinese New Year music videos were also filmed here.

Broga is located between Semenyih, Selangor and Negri Sembilan.

Recently, it was announced that a new access road would be built for motorists to get to the Kajang-Seremban Highway (Lekas) from Kampung Rinching Hulu, without having to pass through Semenyih town.

Kajang Stadium often used for sports day and funfairs

The Star, Friday March 29, 2013

MENTION Kajang and the first thing that comes to mind is satay and sure enough there are a number of satay restaurants here, attracting both locals and outsiders.

One of the landmarks in the town is the Kajang Court Complex, Kajang Stadium and Kajang Prison.

Many football matches were held there in the 1960s and 1970s.

During the pre-war era, it was just a field with grass tennis courts and a clubhouse. It was only fenced up during the 1980s.

The police, military and schools would have their sports day at the stadium as it had an eight-lane 400m running track. It was also often rented to funfair operators.

Before its demolition in 2010, the stadium was locked most of the time and only used for football matches.

Now, the public can enter the stadium freely and children can play at the playground there.

The New Era College is also located in Kajang, opposite the KTM station.

Unfortunately, Kajang folk had to endure problems such as floods and landslides.

V. Pushotman, 66, who moved from Bangsar to Kajang more than 12 years ago, lamented about the high crime rate, traffic congestion in Kajang town and flashfloods.

According to the local authorities, there are still ongoing flood mitigation efforts at Sungai Jelok.

Parts of Kajang are involved in the MRT line construction.

More needs to be done to mitigate flashfloods, landslides and traffic jams in Hulu Langat

The Star, Friday March 29, 2013

By OH ING YEEN
ingyeen@thestar.com.my
Photo by Rohaizat Md Darus

Danger zone: Although there are many tourist attractions in Hulu Langat, residents have had to put up with several landslides over the years, including one in Jalan Sungai Tekali.

 

Hulu Langat is well endowed with beautiful forests, waterfalls and hot springs. However, the constituency urgently needs access roads to other towns. 

Hulu Langat is the fifth largest district in Selangor with a mix of urban and rural settlements. The state seats in this constituency are Kajang, Semenyih and Dusun Tua.

It is known for its recreational spots such as the Sungai Congkak and Gunung Nuang recreational forest, Pangsun River, and Sungai Gabai and Sungai Batangsi waterfalls.

Locals visit the waterfalls, especially during weekends, for a dip in the river or have a picnic with family and friends.

For camping or picnics, another place of interest is the Sungai Tekala Recreational Park, established in 1982.

Hulu Langat is also known for its hot springs that attract both local and foreign tourists, and these are located in Semenyih, Kampung Sungai Serai and Batu 16 Dusun Tua.

There are also several homestays offered near the places of interests. The district is part of the Le Tour De Langkawi route.

The Kuala Lumpur-Seremban, Cheras-Kajang, Lekas and Silk highways offer access into Hulu Langat.

Before its closure, the Ampang Look Out Point (ALOP) drew locals and tourists, especially at night, as it offers a panoramic view of Kuala Lumpur.

However, Hulu Langat made the headlines recently due to landslides, erosions and collapsed roads, including the erosion at ALOP last year.

After the landslide, Public Works Department slope department used hydroseeding (a planting process that aids erosion control) and fibremat (used to stabilise surfaces) to strengthen the slope.

Less than two weeks later and less than 10km away, a section of Jalan Sungai Tekali was closed after one lane caved in 100 to 150m in depth. The road was used by some as an alternative route to Semenyih.

In addition, part of KM20 Jalan Sungai Lalang collapsed, resulted in eroded soil flowed into the Semenyih Dam and three vehicles plunged into the reservoir slope.

In December last year, it was reported that the road would be closed to the public for at least six months to facilitate repair work.

Also, in May 2011, 16 boys from an orphanage lost their lives to a landslide in Batu 14, Hulu Langat.

Aside from natural disasters, Hulu Langat residents are concerned over the MyRapid Transit (MRT).

Some residents protested against the construction of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang line as they do not want its construction too near their houses while some welcomed the convenience of public transportation.

Relaxing spot: Sungai Congkak in Hulu Langat is popular with picnickers and outdoor lovers especially during the weekends. — By ROHAIZAT MDD ARUS/ The Star

 Meanwhile, residents living in Jalan Hulu Langat, which has several single-lane bottlenecks, want an alternative route in and out of the constituency. At the moment, the main road provides access to several villages in the area.

HFMD detected in Kajang

The Star, Thursday March 28, 2013

By EDWARD R. HENRY
edward@thestar.com.my

 

 

FIVE children in Taman Kajang Prima, Kajang, have been tested positive for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

The five children, all under the age of six, presented minor ulcers in the mouth and experienced mild fever.

Selangor health committee chairman Dr Xavier Jayakumar, however, said it was an isolated case.

“We understand that the children’s symptoms have improved and they will recover soon.

“At this moment, we have not determined where they contracted the disease,” he said, playing down the threat of an outbreak.

Dr Xavier added that all precautions were being taken to prevent an outbreak.

“If they contracted the disease from kindergarten before it closed for the school holidays, then health officers will ensure that the premises are thoroughly cleaned.

“Health inspectors will also emphasise hygiene education for parents and kindergartens,” he said.

HFMD is a viral infection and is not linked to the foot and mouth disease that affect animals.

It is mainly seen in children under the age of 10 or in young adults. HFMD can easily spread from one person to another and is caused by a group of viruses known as enteroviruses.

Symptoms usually start three to seven days after infection and can last between seven to 10 days.

Most cases receive outpatient treatment and hospitalisation is rarely needed.

Dr Xavier said HFMD was spread by touching the fluid from inside the blisters and fluid from the nose, mouth and chest via sneezing and coughing.

“Washing hands after touching these bodily fluids is one method to prevent the spread of HFMD. Those affected should not share cups, towels and clothing to help reduce the spread.

“Children diagnosed with HFMD must be kept at home until all the blisters have dried up,” he said.

Memorandum handed to MPKj over road closure

The Star, Wednesday March 20, 2013

Here it is: Subramaniam (centre) handing over the memorandum to Mohd Alizam (left). With them is MPKj councillor for the area P. Narayanan.

 

RESIDENTS of Taman Kajang Mulia and Taman Sri Minang handed over a memorandum concerning the closure of the access road into their neighbourhood to the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) last week.

Taman Kajang Mulia resident A. Subramaniam said they decided to submit the memorandum after waiting in vain for six months for the council to give them an explanation over the closure.

The memorandum included copies of letters written to the council, state government, state assemblyman and other authorities and news reports on the issue.

StarMetro in its report titled “Residents protest sudden road closure” had highlighted that several residents had taken part in a protest.

The residents said they feared the residential road would be used by others to avoid traffic congestion on the main road, bringing about an increased traffic flow into the neighbourhood and jeopardising safety.

It was also reported that residents had heard that Jalan Minang would be turned into an access road for the new housing scheme.

Taman Sri Minang resident Ahmad Shah Jaafar said residents may report the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as they suspected something amiss over the way the council had handed over the road to the developer.

“The council claim that they have written to us but we did not receive anything,” he said.

MPKj corporate planning unit assistant administration officer Mohd Alizam Ali accepted the memorandum on behalf of MPKj president Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abd Rahman.

300 from Youth Squad help plant trees around Kajang Prison

The Star, Sunday March 17, 2013

KAJANG: As many as 300 volunteers from the Home Ministry's Youth Squad planted trees and painted Kajang Prison walls in an effort to instil the gotong-royong culture. 

 

The plan is to have some 100,000 trees planted in all 46 prisons throughout the country, said Prisons Department deputy commissioner Ibrisam Abdul Rahman.

He said the campaign, dubbed the “wave of volunteerism”, started earlier this month.

“The ministry's target is to plant one million trees by all its agencies throughout the country,” he said.

Giving back: Volunteers from the Home Ministry’s Youth Squad helping to paint the Kajang Prison walls.

 

Prisons deputy director-general (Security and Correctional) Datuk Hassan Sakimon said the gotong-royong culture needed to be kept alive by the younger generation.

“Such volunteerism programmes provide the opportunity for the young to contribute to the community while filling up their free time with beneficial activities.

“I believe the encouragement and opportunities offered by volunteerism is significant in shaping the young to adopt good values, build self-esteem and be competitive and progressive,” he said, adding that the campaign was in line with the National Volunterism Year.

Company donates a dialysis machine to MAA Medicare Kajang

The Star, Saturday March 16, 2013

Quality time: Shalina and Lee chatting with a kidney patient during the machine-tagging ceremony at MAA Medicare Charity Dialysis Centre in Kajang.

 

THE waiting time for kidney patients at the MAA Medicare Charity Dialysis Centre in Kajang is made shorter with the donation of a dialysis machine by Amcorp Properties Bhd.

To mark the event, a machine-tagging ceremony was held at the centre. It was attended by Amcorp Properties deputy chairman Shalina Azman and MAA Medicare board of trustee member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

They were also taken for a short tour of the facility.

Lee highlighted that from the total donations of RM1,534,114 received last year from generous Malaysians, RM455,600 has been utilised for the relocation of the Kajang centre and the purchase of some medical equipment and a new reverse osmosis system.

“MAA Medicare relies on corporate and public donations for the operation of its centres, which provides subsidised dialysis treatments for kidney patients.

“Our aim is to provide as much help and support to our patients, most of whom come from low-income families.

“We have had generous contributors and supporters who have stood by us for years and have helped us through difficult times,” said MAA Medicare senior vice president Aliyah Karen.

The MAA Medicare is a public trust fund established in 1994.

Currently, it is the second largest dialysis provider in Malaysia, caring for 810 patients in 12 centres located nationwide.

According to statistics, there are an estimated 27,000 kidney patients on dialysis.

The Kajang centre is located at No. 22-G and 22-1, Jalan Putra 3, Taman Putra Kajang. Currently, two of the 13 dialysis machines are in need of replacement.

For details, email fundraising@maa.my or visit www.maa-medicare.org.my

Court rules in MPKj’s favour

The Star, Saturday March 16, 201

Dangerous: The slope in Taman Desa Karunmas is situated near the housing area where a landslide occurred in 2002.

 

IN a first-of-a-kind verdict, the Kajang Municipal Council won a court case against a developer, thus setting a precedent for future cases.

At a press conference at Menara MPKj, Eric Tan and Lim Lip Eng, the counsels representing the council, said this was the first time a council had sued a developer and won.

The council sued the developer for failing to build a retaining wall.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled in favour of the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) on March 14 in a suit brought against the developer of Taman Desa Karunmas in Balakong.

Judge Datuk John Louis O’Hara ordered a mandatory injunction for the defendants (developer) to take immediate action to stabilise the slope at lot 6504 and lot 1758 and build two retaining walls, Nehemiah Reinforced Soil Wall and Bored Pile Wall, along the slope.

Tan said that until the wall was built, the slope was the developer’s responsibility, not the council’s.

“No time frame has been imposed on the developer to build the wall but it must be built within a reasonable period of time.

Also present were Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, Senator S.T. Chandramohan, MPKj councillors Lee Kee Hiong and Eddie Ng.

Teo said the issue had been going on for almost 13 years.

“In 2001, the project was completed and CF issued but a landslide occurred in 2002.”

Teo urged the developer to start work as soon as possible.

“If they fail to do so, I will urge the state government to blacklist them.”

Lee said that at the council’s infrastructure meeting, she had suggested that the state government should freeze projects undertaken by the developer.

Kajang strewn with fallen trees following heavy rain and strong winds

The Star, Friday March 15, 2013

KAJANG Municipal Council (MPKj) is hard at work cleaning up the mess left by heavy rain and strong winds that hit Kajang on Wednesday.

MPKj corporate communications head Kamarul Izlan Sulaiman said they had received more than 80 reports of fallen trees.

He said Kajang Perdana was the worst affected by the natural disaster.

“Our officers arrived at the scene at 5.30pm on Wednesday after receiving complaints from the public,” he said when contacted.

He said the council’s Landscape Department had deployed three teams to handle the clean-up operation.

As of 2pm yesterday, Kamarul said more than 50 complaints had been resolved.

“We are clearing the affected main roads first before starting works in other areas,” he said, adding that three cars were damaged and traffic was backed up during the severe storm.

A Taman Bukit Mutiara Flats resident, who only wanted to be known as Akmal, said his car was damaged when it was hit by falling roof blown off by the strong winds.

“The heavy rain combined with strong winds damaged many properties. I was shocked to see my car window broken,” he said.

Taman Bukit Mewah Fasa 5 resident Gunasegar Palayaman said he had been kept busy clearing the fallen tree branches near his house the whole morning.

“It will probably take some time for MPKj workers to get here so my neighbours and I decided to clear away what we can while waiting for them,” he said.

Government mulls building access road to Semenyih cemeteries

The Star, Wednesday March 6, 2013

The Selangor government is planning to build an access road from Kajang Silk Highway to the cemeteries in Semenyih.

Local government studies and research committee chairman Ron­nie Liu said this during a dialogue session at Bangi Golf Resort recently.

He said the access road was estimated to cost about RM20mil.

“We will work out the details with the Public Works Department and operators of the cemeteries.

“The state government hopes all parties involved will share the cost,” Liu said.

He also said a plot of land measuring 161.9ha in Semenyih would be turned into a cemetery. One quarter of the land is for Muslims while the rest is for non-Muslims.

The Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) would look into building a crematorium there as well.

“A dedicated access road is needed to prevent residents from getting stuck in traffic congestion,” Liu said.

Organised by Liu and MPKj, the dialogue was attended by more than 100 residents’ representatives who voiced out their grouses on various issues, such as illegal dumping and road safety.

Taman Maju Satu Residents Association chairman K. Anantha Kannan highlighted the issue of an abandoned community hall in his area.

He said the hall should be put to good use instead of being left to rot.

In response, MPKj president Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abdul Rahman said the council had to first ascertain the owner of the land.

Liu said the council could not take any action if the land belonged to a private owner.

Meanwhile, Hasan Nawawi said a new town hall would be built at Saujana Impian in Kajang to replace the one that had been handed over to Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp).

The old town hall, located next to the Kajang Stadium, would be demolished to make way for the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang line.

“The new hall is estimated to cost RM16mil. We will build it when we receive compensation from MRT Corp,” Hasan Nawawi said.

MPKj to take on role of developer

The Star, Monday March 4, 2013

No longer safe: It has become unsafe for residents to continue living in Taman Mudun, Kajang, below the Venice Hill condominium.

 

FOR the first time, the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) will take on the role of a developer for a project in Taman Mudun, Kajang.

Council president Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abdul Rahman said this after the council’s monthly full board meeting recently.

“We have stepped in to save the project as the previous developer is bankrupt. The project, consisting of 18 single-storey houses, costs RM2.8mil, with RM1.18mil from the previous developer and RM1.62mil from MPKj,” he said.

StarMetro in a July 15, 2010, article headlined “Fearing for their safety”, it was reported that the residents were living in fear as Tower 4 of the Venice Hill condominium project was being constructed on a steep slope near the houses.

The residents, especially those living in Jalan Pertunia and Jalan Lantana, complained that heavy rain would wash down earth and debris onto their roads but were assured by the project consultant that the developer had taken all the safety measures. Two years later, the state government decided that the houses were under threat and ordered the developer to build new houses on a different plot of land within Taman Mudun.

Hassan Nawawi said the problem would be resolved at last.

“Residents from 18 houses will be relocated and houses at the old site will be demolished. They have to pay RM90,000 to move in. The houses are valued at RM250,000 each,” he said.

Taman Mudun resident Kok Aik Siong, 35, who has been living in the neighbourhood for 25 years, said they would definitely relocate for the sake of safety.

“However, there are many details to look into, for example, the Sale and Purchase (S&P) agreement is not ready and we are still paying off the loan for our current house,” he said.

His neighbour Linda Yap said they had agreed to relocate as the current houses were in a dangerous location but that they did not agree to the price stated.

“Most of the residents are retirees and to pay RM90,000 is too high. We hope to get a RM40,000 discount,” she said, adding that they received the offer letter from MPKj two weeks ago.

Another resident Lee Y. M., 65, said he was still considering the offer.

“We were told that we will be compensated but now we have to fork out RM90,000 to relocate?

“We hope we will be given a discount,” he said.

However, not all the residents were given the offer, only 18 houses nearest the condominium project were given offer letters.

The other houses in Jalan Pertunia and Jalan Lantana have been left out.

Lisa Leow, 61, is one of those exclu­ded and she is not happy about it.

“I have been living here for over 30 years and the condominium was constructed about 10 years later.

“Why am I not given the offer to relocate?” she questioned.

On a separate issue, MPKj said it would be taking over the commercial waste collection for the first time.

Hasan Nawawi said although business owners had to hire their own contractors for commercial waste collection, many had not done so.

“We will now make it compulsory for business owners to pay a fee for the service.

“The rates differ according to the type of business they run.”

MPKj Town and Health Services Department director Arshad Salleh said shop owners should be responsible for keeping their premises clea

Metro Watch

The Star, Saturday March 2, 2013

LANE CLOSURES

The left-most lane of Cheras-Kajang (Grand Saga) Highway from KM15.0 to KM14.9 will be closed until March 10 while KM18.0 to KM 18.7 (KL-bound) of the same highway will be closed until March 5 to facilitate construction and relocation works. The left-most lane of Jalan Cheras, in front of Taman Pertama, will also undergo a trial closure from 8am till 5pm this Sunday. For details, visit www.mymrt.com.my.

TRAFFIC DIVERSION

Road users from Puchong Perdana to Dengkil and Dengkil to Kajang and Putrajaya, and those making a U-turn to Putrajaya will be affected by bridge expansion works at the Kg Baru Puc­hong Inter­change on the Damansara-Puchong Highway until March 3 from 9pm till 9am. For details on alternative routes, call 03-7494 7333.

Authorities leave empty-handed after raid at three spots in Kg Pasir

The Star, Saturday March 2, 2013

By STUART MICHAEL
Photos by P. NATHAN

From forest to bare land: This picture shows the extent of logging activities on the 6.6ha land in Batangsi area in Semenyih.

 

OFFICERS from the Hulu Langat Land Office and the Selangor Forestry Department raided sites of illegal logging, sand mining and rubish dumping operations in Kampung Pasir, Batu 18, Semenyih on Thursday. They were taking action following a story on the illegal activities that was published on the same day in StarMetro.

However, the authorities were left red faced and empty-handed as the operators had absconded with the machinery.

The raid was closely monitored by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) but to no avail. Also, officers from the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) were not present during the raid despite numerous invitations to participate.

This is not the first time such an issue has cropped up in the area. StarMetro had on April 3 last year published a story on an illegal sand mining operation in Hulu Langat, which implicated an officer from the land office who was believed to be on the take.

However, during the raid, rangers from the Forestry Department did find and tag 50 logs on the 8ha site. The logs looked like they had been arranged for easy transportation.

Central Selangor district forest officer Awang Shaffie Awang Ahmadni said the department was still trying to determine if the site was on private or state land. “If the timber is transported out of the site, we can seize the logs and nab the culprits.

“If it is private land, the operator can be charged under Section 84 (1) of the National Forestry Act 1984, which carries a jail term of up to five years or a maximum fine of RM50,000; or both.

Taking notes: A Forestry Department officer jots down the size of the logs that had been chopped. The department is still unsure of the status of the land — whether it is private or state owned.

 

“If it is state land, we can charge the operator under Section 15 of the same Act, which prohibits the taking of forest produce from permanent reserved forests or state forests without a licence. This carries a jail term of up to 20 years or a maximum fine of RM500,000; or both. “We will continue to monitor the site as it is the first time we have come here,” Awang Shaffie said.

At the sand mining site in Kampung Pasir, a huge pile of washed sand measuring some 6m in height could be seen with suction pumps and fresh excavator tracks next to it. Hulu Langat District Office settlement officer Mustafa Fadli Anuar said they could not take any action because there were no excavators or lorries on the site. He also said the operator was nowhere to be found.

The landowner had lodged a report with the Kajang police station on Feb 25, claiming that he had been kicked out of his own land and illegal sand mining was being carried out at the site. Mustafa said since there was a police report, the district office would wait for police investigations to be concluded.

He added that the enforcement team would patrol the area regularly and monitor the site. “If we find any lorries leaving the illegal sand mine, we will stop them and fine the drivers,” Mustafa said.

The illegal dumpsite near the sand mine was also deserted but household waste could be seen strewn throughout the area, threatening to spill into and foul the nearby Sungai Lalang.

The operator of a canteen at Nirvana Memorial Park said he had made numerous complaints to MPKj after noticing many flies in the area but nothing had been done.

Mustafa was again unsure if the site was on private or public land and would leave it to MPKj to check on the issue.

“If it is state land, the site needs to be shut down and whoever is responsible for it can be charged under Section 425 of the Land Act 1965, which carries a penalty of RM10,000 or a one-year jail term; or both.

“If it is on private land, the land itself can be seized under Section 7A and 7B of the National Land Code.

“The Department of Environment can also take action on the dumpsite operator,” he said.

Restaurant owner shocked over excessive water bill

The Star, Friday March 1, 2013

Story and photo by OH ING YEEN
ingyeen@thestar.com.my

Own initiative: The shop next to Ravindrakumar’s restaurant has resorted to hiring contractors to fix the low water pressure problem.

 

A RESTAURANT owner in Taman Jelita, Kajang is shocked over his water bill totalling RM10,000. The bill is for four months in total but P. Ravindrakumar, 46, said it should not be so high.

He said the high charges could be due to leakage.

He explained that he had complained to Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) numerous times about low water pressure in the area.

“When I turn on the tap here, there will be no water at another tap. Syabas finally came to check and discovered a leakage underground. I asked for a discount but was refused.

“Syabas then sent contractors to fix the leak but I had to pay the contractors RM1,800,” he said, adding that it was unfair that he had to bear the cost.

He said water quality was also poor and that he had to install two water filters.

He said the operator of the shop next door had also hired contractors to fix the low water pressure problem.

Sally Au, an employee, said they started facing problems only recently, after the office upstairs was occupied.

Ng Kah Wei, whose family operates an eatery a few doors away, said they had been facing the same problem for about 10 years now.

“We complained to Syabas many times and although they replaced the pipes, the situation has improved only slightly,” he said.

Syabas corporate affairs executive director Abdul Halem Mat Som said pipes within the owner’s premises were not their responsibility.

“If there is damage to pipes outside the premises, we will repair it. We provide water, we do not fix or sell pipes,” he said.

He also advised consumers to contact Syabas if they noticed a sudden increase in their bills.

“If your water bill is usually RM300 and you are charged RM3,000 even though there was no increase in usage, call Syabas immediately and we will look into it,” he said.

Abdul Halem said he would look into the complaints of Taman Jelita residents.