Illegal dumping and ways to combat it has been a hot topic in Kajang this year

The Star, Thursday, 24 December 2015

by farah fazanna

THE YEAR was a tough one for the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj), particularly in battling the rubbish issue.

Almost every month, the council would discuss the plans to combat the issue at its full board meeting.

The council had seen its fair share of rubbish problems for the past few years. 

When Mohd Sayuthi Bakar took over as MPKj president early this year, he promised to solve the garbage problem.

In August, the council introduced a new job specification for its contractors.

Since implementing the new job specification, many shopowners and residents said the situation had improved. 

Under the new job specification, the contractors are tasked with cleaning drains in residential areas twice a month. 

A child playing at the colourful Pinwheel Garden during the Royal Floria.

 

The drains in commercial areas are cleaned four times a month.

Additionally, the sweeping of roads in commercial areas will be increased to twice a day, compared to only once a day, previously.

Contractors would also be required to sweep the roads in residential areas.

Additionally, the collection of bulk waste would be increased to four times a month, from twice a month.

The council had also tackled the problem of illegal dumping sites.

Four locations were identified – two in Sungai Serai, and one each in Twin Palms and Desa Bukit Jaya.

From January to November this year, 250 lorries have been confiscated and the council had also taken stern action against the land owners.

Mohd Sayuthi said the council would be working closely with the land office to have the land owners charged in court.

The council also encouraged owners of commercial premises to have rubbish bins, be it for their own usage or for shoppers.

This was done to ensure premises had a proper place to dump their rubbish, and also make it easier for the contractors to pick up the rubbish.

Those not having a proper rubbish bin would be issued a compound of RM20 the first time. However, if the owners still did not have the rubbish bins by the second inspection, a RM500 compound would be issued.

Apart from the rubbish issue, the residents protested when the council proposed for paid parking lots.

The proposed locations were Bandar Mahkota Cheras, Sungai Long and Bandar Baru Bangi. However, MPKj had postponed the move to next year. 

Over in Putrajaya, the residents have to separate their wastes beginning September.

There was mixed reactions to the waste separation scheme with some residents claiming they did not have sufficient information about the scheme.

Some of the residents had also taken the initiative to start recycling their waste and also taught their children on recycling.

Among the international events that were held at Putrajaya were the Royal Floria, the 7th Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, the FIA Formula E Championship, Putrajaya International Islamic Arts and Culture Festival and the Light and Motion Putrajaya.

Hat-trick of wins for Norliana

The Star, Monday, 21 December 2015

by y.p. sivam

73-year old Oliver Ker (third from right) being cheered by the other walkers as he crosses the finishing line.

FORMER international Norliana Mohd Rusni had reasons to celebrate as she was on the podium as champion in three categories in the MKH-Kajang International 12-Hour Walk.

In the event held in Kajang, the 26-year-old stamped her mark by winning the top spot in the women’s category in the 12-hour walk, 50km and mixed team events.

In the women’s Open, Norliana completed 79 laps to finish ahead of Chan I-Yin (75 laps) and Tan Boon Gaik (74 laps).

As the champion, Norliana received RM2,000 while I-Yin and Boon Gaik took home RM1,500 and RM1,000, respectively.

Norliana, representing the Malaysian Armed Forces, was also the winner in the women’s 50km event with a time of 5’51:51 and won RM1,000 for her effort.

The second spot went to former champion Chooi Fern Loh (6’04:58) and won RM700 while Choi Kam Her was third in 7’10:32 and received RM500.

Norliana was also a member of Friendship Racewalkers, who took the top spot in the mixed-team event. The other members of the team were Peter James Back, Eng Hup Boh and G. Suresh Kumar.

The foursome accumulated a total of 321 laps, and were rewarded with RM1,000.

There was an intense contest between Malaysia’s Mohd Nor Azuan Mohd Nor and Netherland’s Franciscus Leijftens for the top spot in the men’s Open category.

Both completed 90 laps but Mohd Nor was awarded the first prize as he completed the distance in 11’ 54:49 while Leijtens finished in 12’00:00. The third place went to Peter James Back in 88 laps.

Mohd Nor received RM2,000; Leijtens RM1,500 and Back RM1,000.

Mohd Nor was also the winner in men’s 50km event. He took 6’06:43 to complete the distance ahead of Back (6’21:32) and Leijtens (6’21:36).

Norliana, who had represented Malaysia in the 2013 SEA Games, was elated with her impressive results.

“I have to be happy as it was a tough and gruelling race. It was also raining during the early part of the event. But I managed to maintain my composure and win the top spot in the 12-Hour walk and 50km walk.

“I would also like to thank my teammates for helping me win in the mixed team event,’’ said Norliana.

Mohd Nor, who is also from the Malaysian Armed Forces, was happy to win the top spot in both the 12-hour walk and 50km events.

“It was a close affair as the second and third-placed walkers gave me some anxious moments. I managed to stay in front, from the start to finish ahead of them. It was an interesting event,’’ said the 27-year old.

Leijtens, taking part in the 12-hour walk for the second time, said he enjoyed himself.

“The weather did not disrupt my focus. In fact, it was an enjoyable outing and it was good to win prizes as well. I will have some fond memories of their event. The organisers’ hospitality was exemplary,’’ said Leijtens.

The walk was organised by the Race Walkers Association of Malaysia (RWAM) with support from the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj), Kajang district police and Kajang Hospital.

The sponsors were MKH Berhad, Sports Toto, 100 Plus, Ixora Pewter, Southern Lion, Salonpas, Dina SKK, Lee Swee Construction and Trading, City Piling and Construction and Sri Binaraya.

RWAM patron Tan Sri Peter Chin and RWAM president Tan Sri Eddy Chen flagged off the event.

Peter said they were grateful to the sponsors for coming forward to support the event.

“We did not get any grants but the organising committee managed to secure sponsors. Without support from the sponsors, we could not have organised the event on a grand scale.

“We have to appreciate the participants for making the event a success. They were enthusiastic about being part of the event,’’ said Peter.

About 500 participants started the event in a jovial mood. Even the rain did not deter them from interacting with the other participants. Many of them were casual walkers and took part in the event to test their endurance.

Several participants came equipped with camping facilities and rain coats.

There was joy for participants who won prizes worth a total of RM15,000 in a lucky draw conducted after the prize giving ceremony.

The participants commended the RWAM for organising the event.

Organising chairman Khoo Chong Beng said they were pleased with the response.

“We were quite worried as it was the rainy season. We were worried as the numbers were not encouraging during the haze in October. But the positive feedback from the participants has given us reason to be happy.

“We have several plans for next year. The RWAM will look into ways to attract a bigger number of participants next season,’’ Chong Beng added.

Results
Men
Open: 1. Mohd Nor Azuan Mohd Nor (90 laps); 2. Franciscus Leijtens (90 laps); 3. Peter James Back (88 laps).
50km: 1. Mohd Nor Azuan Mohd Nor (6’06:43); 2. Peter James Back (6’21:32); 3 Franciscus Leijtens (6’21:36).
Women
Open: 1. Norliana Mohd Rusni (79 laps); 2. Chang I-Yin (75 laps); 3. Tan Boon Gaik (74 laps)
50km: 1. Norliana Mohd Rusni (5’51:51); 2. Chooi Fern Loh (6’04:58); Choi Kam Har 7’10:32)
Mixed Team: 1 Friendship Racewalkers (321 laps); Klang Kaki (258 laps); 3. Kelam Kabut 253 laps)

Jan 5 re-mention for Kajang child kidnap case

The Rakyat Post

KAJANG, Dec 21, 2015

The case involving three men charged with kidnapping a contractor’s son aged five for a RM300,000 ransom in October has been set for re mention on Jan 5.

The case was earlier fixed for mention today.

Counsel Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent who is representing one of the accused, Siow Kek Keong, told Bernama when contacted that he was informed of the new mention date by the magistrate’s court.

Siow, 44, who runs a printing company, Riduansyah Yahya, 32, an Indonesian labourer and Mohd Saifulamry Jarkasi, 28, a lorry driver were charged on Oct 16 with abducting and wrongfully confining the victim for a RM300,000 ransom.

They allegedly committed the offence at the roadside at Jalan Seroja near Hse No. 4, Taman Setia, Sungai Chua here at 9.26am on Oct 9.

No plea was taken from them pending transfer of the case to the High Court.

34 hardcore criminals nabbed in Ops Cantas Khas Kajang

Free Malaysia Today, 21 December 2015

James Sivalingam

Arrests related to violent gang crimes and murder in Kajang as well as armed robberies in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan.

KUALA LUMPUR: 34 suspects of violent crimes such as murder, armed robbery and kidnapping have been arrested under the Ops Cantas Khas Kajang initiative, the director of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Malaysian Police said.

Speaking at a press conference at Bukit Aman Police Headquarters, Mohmad Salleh said the operation was launched after the shooting of two men and a child by an unknown suspect who is believed to have kidnapped a man shortly after in Kajang.

Upon pursuing leads in these cases, police arrested a man in Bandar Sunway, Selangor, who was in possession of a stolen Toyota Camry.

Leading police to his house in Bandar Mewah, Kajang, another stolen vehicle, in which four different types of firearms were stashed in, was found.

Also found were two stolen motorcycles and other objects including live rounds of ammunition, plastic zip ties, sledgehammers, a machete and metal cutters.

Soon after five others aged between 28-29 suspected to be involved in the shooting of a man and his daughter outside Public Bank in Jalan Besar, Semenyih, were also arrested.

“With these arrests, police have solved all the armed robberies of goldsmiths in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Negeri Sembilan since 2013.

“10 different cases have been solved so far, seven of which were robberies and two murders,” said Mohmad, adding that Kajang has been a hot bed for organised crime.

He also said there was a high likelihood that the murder victims themselves were involved in organised crime syndicates in the area or were targets in a raging turf war there.

Speaking about the suspects, he said, “Those arrested are definitely involved in organised crime syndicates, judging by the crimes they committed, which are violent crimes that include drug dealing and auto-theft.

“They operate in the Klang Valley, focusing on soft targets in densely populated areas where it is easy to make their getaway.”

Confirming that the incidences of gang-related crime in the region had increased significantly, Mohmad said the number of arrests under the Prevention of Crimes Act (Poca) had doubled since last year.

At least 730 arrests were made this year alone, compared to about 350 last year, he said.

So satay-sfying: Nyok Lan Kajang Satay

Free Malaysia Today, December 14, 2015

Showing tremendous satay-ing power, 44 year-old satay stronghold Nyok Lan Kajang Satay is still skewering palates far and wide

Unique cuisines often leave indelible grill marks, permanent grease stains and ineradicable odors on their places of origin, making one almost synonymous with the other (think of food-place power couples like sushi and Japan, curry and India, tubs of lard and the US). Certain dishes inherit the names of their culinary crucibles: Buffalo Wings, Swedish Meatballs and Belgian Waffles come to mind (and rudely awaken the appetite). To this illustrious, cardiovascular health-unfriendly list we add the (otherwise relatively obscure) town of Kajang and its gastronomic local-boy-done-good, satay. Though satay’s fiery birthplace is nowhere near the Selangor outpost (or even, arguably, Malaysia, for that matter), Kajang is where satay found its groove, developed swag and attained ‘mad skillz’. The hinterland town (at least, until MRT 2 is completed) is spangled with satay specialty eateries which draw paramours of the grilled, skewered meat from across the land – and one of them is Nyok Lan Kajang Satay, a.k.a. Restoran Malaysia (the hastily thought of, but colossally unimaginative nickname rolls more easily off the tongue).

Ruthlessly setting meat and palates on fire since 1971, legendary Nyok Lan is fittingly ensconced in the very centre of town, and its riot of satay patriot patrons hardly ever thins. The restaurant serves a variety of other dishes as well, but they are rudely overlooked in favour of the prima donna offering. The usual suspects of chicken and beef satay are on offer, but so are the less familiar upstarts of mutton, fish and (until recently) duck – (Nyok Lan boldly goes where no satay purveyor has gone before). To meet the Viking demands of its never-ending horde of diners, the outlet has three charcoal grills working overtime, creating smoke signals in the alfresco areas of the premises.

I authoritatively ordered the chicken, mutton and fish satay, and was soon breathing in their hallucinogenic smoke (I had a vision I was mayor of Kajang, and declared every Saturday a special ‘satay holiday’ – dubbed ‘Satay-ur-day’) wafting in from the nearby grill where they were being prepared. I was surprised – nay, outraged – however, to discover that satay’s traditional sidekicks of onion and cucumber were not complementary provisions at Nyok Lan (they had to be specifically ordered at a cost of RM1 per portion of onion, and RM0.50 for sliced cucumbers – which I did anyway). My indignation subsided immediately, though, upon my orders gracefully washing up on my table, in all their ‘fierce’ glory.

I began my satay massacre with the chicken satay (RM0.90 per skewer) – and was punched in the eye by sheer magnificence. The lean but juicy chunks of meat had been marinated in a flavourful, but not overpowering, sauce and grilled to perfection – and gave another Kajang satay luminary – Restoran Haji Samuri – something to lose sleep over. The portions were generous and the flavours and textures sublime, and I giddily rated it 9.5 out of 10.

Next in line was the mutton satay (a wallet-skewering RM1.50 per stick), which was also toe-curlingly good and blew (with a flamethrower) much of its competition away. Mutton tends to get tough and overly gamey when grilled – but this satay had its act together. Tender and tasty, I found myself completely neglecting the peanut sauce and barbarically enjoying the mutton on its own. It earned a champion rating of 9 out of 10.

I had inadvertently saved the worst for last though – the fish satay (a savings account-grilling RM1.50 per skewer) was a novelty for me, and I wanted to close the night on an off-beat note. But the item sounded all the WRONG notes, and was an epic fail, with its rather tasteless meat and rubbery texture. Even drowning it in peanut sauce couldn’t sex it up – so I slapped it with a poor rating of 3 out of 10.

Speaking (with my mouth full) of the peanut sauce – Nyok Lan’s concoction is no second fiddle supporting actor. A unique recipe of coarsely ground peanuts and a dollop of volcanic sambal, the rich and mildly sweet dip was a revelation – and I even contemplated eating it on its own (but people were looking). I ceremoniously awarded it a rating of 9.5 out of 10.

Nyok Lan Kajang Satay (Restoran Malaysia)

No. 31, Jalan Semenyih,

43000 Kajang, Selangor

Hours: 10am to 9pm, Wednesday to Monday

Tel: 03 8733 1160

*Based on an article published by militant foodie, omnipresent shutter bug, indefatigable traveler and bionic blogger, Venoth Nathan, in Venoth’s Culinary Adventure. Images are courtesy ofhttp://venoth.blogspot.my/.

Man abducted outside his Kajang home

The Star, Wednesday, 2 December 2015

by nicholas cheng

KAJANG: A man was abducted as he was leaving his house with his wife in Taman Pelangi Indah on Tuesday evening.

The victim, known as Sasitharan, was driving on Jalan 3/4 at about 4.30pm when four suspects in a grey Hyundai Sonata reportedly blocked his car.

Sasitharan’s neighbour, who declined to be identified, said she heard what appeared to be three gunshots from the direction of the victim's car.

She said Sasitharan, in his 30s, had tried to reverse his car to escape but rammed into a road bumper.

“Then I heard another shot. They took Sasitharan away and drove off with him in their car. But he and his wife were not injured, they only shot at the car,” she said.

Sasitharan’s wife has lodged a police report.

Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Willey Richard confirmed that a shooting had taken place in Taman Pelangi Indah.

“No injury was reported and investigations are going on,” he said.