The Star, Wednesday April 4, 2012

Venice Hill residents want Rela presence to keep African community in check

Residents of Venice Hill in Kajang are living in fear following the mob-like attack on their management office by more than 200 Africans on Sunday and insist on Rela’s presence in the area.

Some of the Africans, who were armed with machetes, knives and iron rods, were involved in a stand-off with the police after smashing glass window panels of the management office.

They went on a rampage when they learnt one of their countrymen who allegedly tried to rape a 50-year-old woman died after being assaulted by Rela members who were providing security services at the condominium.

A resident, who declined to be identified, said the residents wanted the Rela personnel to continue patrolling the area that houses more than 2,500 people, including about 300 Africans.

Aftermath: Windows of the Venice Hill management office were broken by a group of angry Africans.

 

“We hold no grudges against the the African community in our area but they have to respect our laws and the women living here.

“Women cannot come out from their units and walk peacefully without some of the Africans ogling at them.

She said the Rela officers were doing a great job, including arresting several car thieves as well as solving house break-in cases and curbing prostitution in the area.

Magazine editor Fazri Mohd, 38, who witnessed the commotion on Sunday, said he was shocked when he saw several Africans armed with machetes charging at him and several policemen.

“They continued running after us even when police had pointed their guns at the charging mob,” he said, adding that he witnessed the angry mob hurl stones at the windows of the guardhouse as well as management office.

Damaged: The security guard post is not spared from the mob attack.

 

Joint Management Committee vice-chairman R. Ragunanthanan said the management had lodged several reports about unruly behaviour as well as drug abuse and prostitution but nothing much was done resulting in them hiring Rela officers.

“We need help before the matter gets out of control. We have had numerous meetings with the African community but nothing much has changed.

“Residents are disappointed that police did not call for reinforcement despite being outnumbered by the Africans,” he said.

Ragunanthanan said there had been previous cases involving Africans, including one who fell to his death while trying to evade a drug raid by the authorities.

“They are so daring that they can even climb from balcony to balcony. We want Rela and the relevant authorities to continuously conduct raids in Venice Hill as we believe it the only way reduce the number of illegals and trouble-makers here,” he said.

The Star, Monday March 26, 2012

Burglars tie up Mawi and family

KAJANG: Singer Mawi suffered losses of RM10,000 when four men, believed to be Indonesian nationals, armed with machetes and knives, broke into his three-storey bungalow in Bangi Golf Resort here early Monday.

Mawi, whose real name isAsmawi Ani, 31, his wife, Ekin or Norashikin Rahman, 33, their new-born baby girl, Cahaya Malaika, his mother-in-law Fatimah Saad, 56, grandmother Salmah Sahar, 77, and a maid, were also tied by their hands and legs, while the robbers ransacked the house at about 4am.

He said that after about 20 minutes, the four men, three of whom were wearing masks, escaped with the grandmother's gold necklace, four mobile phones and cash worth about RM10,000.

"My wife and I were awakened by loud bangs on our bedroom's door. At first, we thought it was her grandmother, but as soon as Ekin opened the door, one of the suspects held her at knife point and asked for her jewellery," the Akademi Fantasia 3 champion told a press conference at the scene Monday. 

Mawi said the suspects then pushed Ekin, Salmah and their maid into the bedroom before tying their hands and legs with ropes.

"After that, the suspects continued ransacking the room for jewellery and cash before leaving the bungalow through the kitchen's window," he said.

Mawi said he used his teeth to loosen the ropes around his hands before freeing his family and calling the police.

Kajang police chief ACP Abdul Rashid Abdul Wahab, when contacted, confirmed the incident and said that the case was being investigated under Section 395 and 397 of the Penal Code. - Bernama

325 Assembly (Dong Zong)/ Perhimpunan 325

The Sunday event at Dong Zong attracted a huge crowd from all over Malaysia. it was estimated more than 10,000 people turned up for the assembly. Although traffic was heavy (together with the people attending Sunday masses at the nearby Holy Family Church Kajang), traffic was not bad. Kudois to the traffic policemen and Rela members. it was also very organised and peaceful.

Until the next time, cheers.

Sunday Star, March 25, 2012

Dr Wee: My duty to listen to problems of the community

KAJANG: Police did not receive any report of violent crowds at the gathering at the United Chinese School Committee's Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) headquarters here Sunday.

Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said: “We are aware that Dr Wee (Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong) was jeered when he arrived, but the crowd was well behaved and no arrest was made."

A big crowd turned up at the rally protesting the shortage of chinese vernacular school teachers.

The crowd did not receive well Dr Wee's presence and there were jeers heard.

“It is my duty to listen to the problems of the community. Despite attempts by certain parties to create havoc today, I'm still listening,” Dr Wee told a press conference later.

“We acknowledge the shortage of teachers, that's why I'm here today,” he said.

On the attempt by a man to punch him, Dr Wee said he was lightly hit on the face. "But I was saddened that the scuffle happened," he added.

The Star, Saturday March 17, 2012

Up-to-date info on MRT

IN ANTICIPATION of the MyRapid Transit (MRT) project, MRT Corporation has geared up with packed information for the public at all times.

Five MRT Info Centres have been established in Kota Damansara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, KL Sentral, Bandar Tun Hussein Onn and Kajang.

Since they began operation in November 2011, some 10,000 people have visited the centres which channel vital and up-to-date information to the public on the next phase of the transportation system.

Hello: A staff member attending to a call at the centre

 

A kiosk has been set up in Bukit Bintang while a mobile info van, which will be rolled out in a month’s time, will be reaching to local communities along the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang line.

The centres are strategically placed in areas with high volume of traffic, to serve as a one-stop centre for comprehensive information with feedback avenues.

There is also an interactive “Hawk-Eye” 360-degree application that gives visitors a virtual view of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang alignment.

So far, the info centres have received positive feedback as people are able to obtain vital information at an early stage.

Information officers at the centres and call centres provide almost immediate feedback to queries raised by concerned public.

Ready to serve: Information officers are prepared to answer queries from the public.

 

Speaking more about the info centres MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd general manager (project management department) Adil Putra Ahmad said they were prepared for the good, the bad and the ugly in disseminating information related to the project.

He said since end of January, a system had been set up to get all the complaints and feedback locked in before any action was taken.

Taking the lead from previous train projects, Adil said they were well aware of what to expect.

“Usually when construction starts, the number of complaints picks up, but for now we have received mostly positive feedback from the public. We aim to empathise with the public to resolve their grouses.

“We will have traffic announcements, put up notices on traffic diversion and management programme to minimise the effects on the public.

“The contractors have even started their safeguard traffic plans and this was made sure during the tender process.

“Emergency response team, safety measures, people manning traffic and environmental factors are all taken into consideration because we want to minimise the inconveniences to the public,” he said.

Adil added that information or complaints would be vetted with the site managers before further action was taken to rectify problems.

“Sometimes five out of 10 complaints received may not be related. That is why all feedback received by the system, whether they are emails or SMSes, are transmitted to the ground personnel to be checked.

“They have to investigate within 15 minutes after receiving a complaint to get a clearer picture of the problem. However, the speed of the response will depend on the nature of the complaint.

“Traffic will be a major concern, so early preparations are needed as some of the schemes need one to two months of approval from the relevant authorities and stakeholders,” he said.

He added that they would be going to schools and engaging residents’ associations in areas surrounding the MRT line with activities and events as a way to inform the communities.

For details on the MRT, call the hotline at 1-800-82-6868 or visit www.kvmrt.com.my

The Star, Saturday March 17, 2012

Property carnival in Kajang

MKH Berhad, formerly known as Metro Kajang Holdings Berhad, has launched a property carnival at MetroPoint Complex Mall in Kajang which is open until Sept 30.

The MKH Berhad Property Carnival 2012 showcases projects from the developer for buyers to select their dream houses or for investment.

There are eight projects — apartments, condominiums, terrace houses, semi-detached houses, bungalows and shoplots — available.

Plenty on offer: Visitors viewing the various properties available at the carnival.

 

The built-up areas range between 850sq ft and 5,000sq ft with price starting from RM220,000.

Customers who bought property during the carnival period only need to pay 5% for downpayment and a rebate up to 5% will be given.

Buyers need not pay the legal fee for sale and purchase agreement and memorandum-of-transfer stamp duty.

They will also get an MKH buyer programme worth up to RM3,000 and can sign up for loyalty programmes for more benefits.

Visitors to the fair can also take part in many interesting games and there are attractive prizes worth RM50, 000 up for grabs.

All smiles: (From right) Chen, MKH Berhad executive director Chen Ying and group senior general manager Chong Yong Hen at the carnival.

 

MKH Berhad group managing director Datuk Eddy Chen Lok Loi said the company thanked the public and business partners for all the support it received over the past 35 years.

“We will always improve ourselves and hope we can meet the demands by our customers.

“We are expanding and have developed housing areas outside Kajang such as Puncak Alam, Melawati and Bangsar,” he said.

Chen said the abolishment of toll charge for two toll plazas at the Cheras-Kajang Highway and the MyRapid Transit Sungai Buloh-Kajang line should be seen as a plus point by homebuyers.

“With property prices ever increasing, they should buy now especially in the affordable range,” he said.

For details, call 03-8737 2323 or visit www.mkhberhad.com

The Star, Friday March 16, 2012

Bangi’s new business hub

THE Andaman Group and the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) officially launched the Sentral@Bangi CBD project at the Andaman Bangi sales gallery in Bandar Baru Bangi recently.

Located along Persiaran Kemajuan, Sentral@Bangi CBD is on 5.44ha of leasehold land and comprises two phases. The first phase is a commercial centre development while the second phase will be a mall.

The eight-block commercial centre offers 86 shoplots.

Artist impression: The 86 shop office units will be connected to the shopping centre via a covered pedestrian sky-bridge.

 

The mall is expected to be the recreation, leisure and entertainment hub of Bangi.

The price range for Sentral@Bangi CBD commercial and business centre development is from RM2.15mil to RM5.5mil per unit.

All units come with individual lift (first of its kind in Bangi).

Andaman Group sales and marketing director Datuk Vincent Tiew said they had received good response for the project.

“Around 70% of the shoplots and offices have already been sold,” he said.

“Sentral@Bangi CBD is a comprehensive commercial and business hub, in that it not only offers shops and offices for sale. There is also a modern shopping centre with a proposed cineplex and a bowling centre. This is truly, genuinely the last most prime commercial land in Bangi,” said Tiew.

The 86 shop office units will be connected to the shopping centre via a covered pedestrian sky-bridge. The space between the shops and shopping centre will feature a street mall promenade with lush green landscaping, creating a sustainable eco-friendly ambience for visitors and shoppers.

Closer to nature: The development will feature lush green landscaping, creating a sustainable ecofriendly ambience for visitors and shoppers

 

From Kuala Lumpur, the Sentral@Bangi CBD is accessible via the North-South Expressway, exiting from the Kajang interchange. It is also closer to the neighbouring Kajang and Semenyih towns with direct connection to Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.

Travelling time from the Sungei Besi toll to the Bangi town centre is a mere 10 minutes’ drive.

The Star, Friday March 16, 2012

More waiting for cinemas in Bangi

SEVERAL Bangi residents were unhappy over the ban of a proposed cinema in the area.

One of them is Mohd Nasir, a 50-year-old doctor is all for a cinema in Bangi.

“The films shown in Malaysian cinemas are censored and a cinema is a family-friendly place.

 Every month, I will go to the cinema in the city centre with my children. I think the society is matured enough,” he said.

Rejected: A commercial development in Section 15, Bangi, where the proposed cinema was supposed to be located contructed.

 

Another Bangi resident Mustapha Kamil said while it was not a hassle to travel to cinemas in Alamanda Putrajaya or The Mines, he did not understand the necessity for a ban.

“If someone wants to do something immoral, he or she can do it anywhere. There are more people who want to just enjoy a movie than to commit immoral activities in the cinema.

“There was a cinema in Warta (a superstore in Bangi) about three years ago but there were complaints from residents and politicians,” he said.

UKM student Ng Swee Fein, a 22-year-old from Muar, said it was inconvenient for her to go to Balakong for a movie as she did not have her own transport.

However, the inconvenience was more because of the lack of public transport than the distance.

“If Bangi has a cinema, I hope there will be a bus route to it,” she said.

Kajang Municipal Council president Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abd Rahman said: “It is the council’s role to approve building plans and issue licences, not the assemblyman. However, since the issue has been politicised, we will leave it to the state to decide.”

Hulu Langat MP Dr Che Rosli Che Mat (PAS) said it was up to Bangi residents whether to have a cinema or not.

Meanwhile in was reported in The Star earlier that Bangi assemblyman Dr Shafie Abu Bakar said it was his constituents and not PAS who had objected to a cinema in his constituency.

He added that a cinema was not in line with Islamic values and would lead to vice activities.

Dr Abdul Halim Tamuri, who has been living in Bangi since 1987, supports the ban as he felt that there should not be too many entertainment outlets in Bangi.

“Bangi is a Bandar Ilmu (knowledge town). There are many education institutions here such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor International Islamic University College and Teacher’s Training Institute and there should not be many distractions for the students.

“We already have bowling centres (one in Kompleks Diamond) and there are entertainment outlets in Kajang and Putrajaya,” said the UKM lecturer who teaches Islamic education.