Ex-convict gunned down inside his house

The Star, Sunday August 4, 2013

By JASTIN AHMAD TARMIZI and SHAUN HO

Intense situation: Relatives and neighbours of Balamurali (inset) carrying his body out of the house in Batu 9 Cheras.

KAJANG: A gunman walked into the living room of a house and opened fire, killing a 36-year-old man who was just released from prison last month.

It is learnt that Balamurali Balakrishnan was sleeping on a sofa when the gunman walked into the house in Batu 9 Cheras here at 1.30pm yesterday and fired four shots at his chest. The gunman later fled with an accomplice in a black car.

Balamurali’s aunt, K. Anjalai, 56, said she was in the bedroom when she heard the shots.

“I rushed out and Balamurali was already on the floor,” she said, adding that she saw the black car speeding off.

The victim’s wife, S. Puvaneswari, 28, said she had been living with her four-year-old son Kishalan in Seremban, adding that her husband visited them every fortnight.

“The last time we saw him was on Thursday night,” she said, adding that her husband had been in and out of prison several times.

It was learnt that Balamurali had been changing jobs regularly, his last being as a security guard. He lasted only two weeks in that job.

Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rashid Abdul Wahab confirmed the case. It was the seventh shooting in seven days in the country.

Meanwhile, in Gombak, the body of a 44-year-old woman was found in her home. She was believed to have been stabbed to death.

Hotel housekeeper Badariah Hussin, who lived alone in a three-room shophouse in Sunway Batu Caves, was found in a pool of blood on the floor of her room by a colleague.

The colleague, who came looking for Badariah, had to ask a worker at a nearby shop to help break the lock on the door.

She had last seen Badariah on Friday.

Police officers at the scene said the body was found with both hands and feet bound.

Workshop on children's behaviour (PKIK)

The Star, Thursday August 1, 2013

Malaysian Care and Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Istimewa Kajang Selangor (PKIK) are organising a workshop entitled “Understanding and Responding to Children’s Behaviour: A Workshop for Parents”.

It is targeted at parents or caregivers of children aged five to 12 years old with learning disabilities.

It will be conducted by Tan Cheng Yi, a chartered educational psychologist. The workshop will cover:

• What is behaviour?;
• Causes of challenging behaviour;
• What is needed to understand a child’s behaviour;
• Behaviour development in children with learning disabilities;
• How to reduce problem behaviour, and increase positive behaviour; and
• Positive action for children.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, Sept 21, from 9.30am-4.30pm, at Malaysian Care, No 15, Jalan Tasik Selatan 3, Metro Centre, Bandar Tasik Selatan, Kuala Lumpur.

The fee is RM50 per participant (inclusive of notes and two tea breaks).

The closing date of registration is Sept 12, 2013.

To register and for enquiries, call the Malaysian Care Toy Library and Parent Resource Centre (ask for Dharshini) at 03-9058 2102 or email toyrd@malaysiancare.org.

Traders at 10 MPKj stalls to be temporarily relocated

The Star, Thursday August 1, 2013

By CHOO WOON LIM

Making way: Traders at the row of stalls along Lorong Mendaling, Kajang will be relocated to a parking lot nearby due to works on the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang line.

TRADERS renting 10 stalls belonging to the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) along Lorong Mendaling, Kajang, will have to relocate their businesses temporarily to a parking lot further down the road on Sept 1. 

Speaking at the council’s full board meeting yesterday, MPKj president Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abd Rahman said the relocation was to make way for works on the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang line. 

The row of stalls, he said, will be demolished this month, along with the Hulu Langat MCA building located nearby. 

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana), which is carrying out the MRT project, will commission contractors to build temporary premises for the traders at the parking lot about 200m away. 

“The traders will have to operate at the temporary premises for at least six months,” said Hasan. 

He added that they would be able to move back to the original site after the MRT works in the area were completed and that Prasarana would build new lots to replace the demolished ones. 

Hasan said there would be no compensation for the traders as they were only leasing the stalls from MPKj. 

“The traders have been leasing the premises since 1995. Their tender ends in 2015.” 

Hasan also said MPKj was planning to build the new council town hall in Saujana Impian following the demolition of the original town hall in Jalan Besar in February to make way for the MRT line. 

“We are looking into cost, building design and other aspects now and will announce details once finalised,” he said.

Residents concerned as heavy vehicles use lane behind their homes

The Star, Wednesday July 31, 2013

By FARAH FAZANNA ZULZAHA, Photo by ROHAIZAT DARUS

Chelliah watches as a backhoe uses the lane behind his house in Taman Seri Reko, Kajang.

RESIDENTS of Taman Sri Reko, Kajang are worried about heavy vehicles using the lane behind their homes to get to the warehouses located nearby.

Lecturer Sathyaseelan Tharmalingam said at times, as many as 20 wheeler trucks would use the narrow road behind his house.

“This has damaged the road, causing potholes.

“Residents are having sleepless nights as the heavy vehicles ply the route even at night,” he said, adding that the problem started about five years ago.

Sathyaseelan said the lane was usually used by Alam Flora lorries and that it was the only road leading to the warehouses, located about 200m from his house.

He added that the four warehouses were believed to be used to store tiles and electric cables.

Sathyaseelan also said cracks were now appearing on the walls and floors of the houses.

“When the heavy vehicles drive past, we also feel the whole house vibrate.

“Once, a lorry even damaged my roof tiles when passing through. The road is too narrow to accommodate such a big vehicle. Now, my kitchen leaks whenever it rains,” said the 68-year-old.

Another resident, Johnson Chelliah, said the heavy vehicles had caused many problems for residents in the area.

“It is very dusty now and I have to keep my windows closed all the time,” he said, adding that many accidents had also taken place in the area.

“A lorry even knocked down a telephone pole recently and another hit the water pipe.

“Syabas had to repair the pipes a few times,” Chelliah said, adding that the area also faced flash floods when it rained.

He said the residents had lodged numerous complaints with the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) but there had been no action until now.

He urged the council to take immediate action to resolve the problem.

Residents, especially schoolchildren, face danger while crossing busy road

The Star, Monday July 29, 2013

By FARAH FAZANNA ZULZAHA

Collapsed: The pedestrian bridge in Persiaran Saujana Impian, Kajang has yet to be rebuilt after it was damaged in an accident, posing a threat to pedestrians as they have to cross the road.

RESIDENTS want authorities to immediately rebuild a pedestrian bridge in Saujana Impian, Kajang for the safety of the public especially schoolchildren. The bridge was removed after an accident in April when a crane hit and damaged it.

Parents are especially concerned about the safety of their children crossing the road to get to the three schools located in Impian Indah.

Schoolteacher Rohadah Yazid said she was so worried about the safety of her son that she decided to fetch him from school every day.

“Normally he would walk home but since the pedestrian bridge is damaged, I pick him up after school daily,” she said.

She urged Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) to replace the pedestrian bridge as soon as possible for the benefit of residents.

Retiree Mohd Nordin Ismail said he had seen schoolchildren having a difficult time crossing the road, especially during rush hour.

“Since the Kajang-Semenyih road was opened in 2004, Persiaran Saujana Impian has been busy and is used by a lot of heavy vehicles.

“The heavy traffic poses a threat to pedestrians crossing the road,” he said.

He added the residents from Impian Indah also had a hard time going to the nearby surau in Impian Jaya without the pedestrian bridge.

SMK Saujana Impian student Luckman Najmi has to cross Persiaran Subang Impian every day after school.

“Most of the students walk to school. We have to be very careful when crossing the road as many of the motorists speed,” he said.

During a visit following complaints from residents, StarMetro found that MPKj had removed the bridge and left only the stairs, which had been sealed off for safety purposes.

However, it has been months since the accident and there are no signs of any work to start reconstructing the bridge.

Apart from Impian Indah, there are four other phases in the area — Impian Makmur, Impian Murni, Impian Kasih and Impian Gemilang.

Sungai Chua residents against construction of funeral parlour

The Star, July 24, 2013 

By CHOO WOON LIM
woonlim@thestar.com.my

Residents of Sungai Chua, Kajang, are against the construction of a funeral parlour and community hall by the Hulu Langat Hokkien Association (HLHA) at the Hokkien cemetery along Jalan Wan Siew, Sungai Chua, Kajang.

They are surprised the building has been allowed to be built despite a notice issued by the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) in April that no construction work is to take place until HLHA submits a fresh application. Work on the building began in March.

Protesting committee acting chairman Tan Yew Huat highlighted the issue to Kajang assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh recently.

“We are representing 15 neighbourhoods as well as business owners who are against the construction,” said Tan.

“Building a funeral parlour here is not in the interest of the public as it is too close for comfort and will reduce the value of houses in the area,” said Tan.

“When funeral rites are being conducted, it will be disruptive to the residents living nearby.

“Also, traffic in the area will increase and bring about adverse effects, seeing that the area is already congested,” he said, adding that they had also brought the matter to Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s attention at a meeting with residents in October last year.

“Khalid instructed the council’s town and planning department to look into the issue.”

The Hokkien cemetery is managed by HLHA and was gazetted in 1906 as a cemetery for the poor. It has not received any more burials since 1926.

In June last year, HLHA announced a joint-venture with Semenyih Memorial Hills Bhd (SMH) to build a single-storey prayer hall and community hall on the premises that would double as a funeral parlour.

Semenyih Memorial Hills Bhd managing director A.K. Heng said the complex was being built as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) project and they had no intention to commercialise it.

“The Hulu Langat and Kajang areas do not have a proper funeral parlour for the Chinese community, despite the population comprising 60% Chinese,” he said, adding that it was open to the public.

“We have also taken into account problems such as traffic and have reserved ample space for this,” said Heng.

Meanwhile, MPKj corporate affairs and public relations head Kamarul Izlan Sulaiman confirmed that the town and planning department had issued a notice in April saying no work was to be done pending further discussions.

“The matter will be raised at the Non-Islamic Affairs Committee meeting soon,” he said.

HLHA could not be reached for comments.

Guarded, but unsafe

The Star, Tuesday July 23, 2013

By JADE CHAN

Not safe anymore: The security guards at Taman Seri Taming have been beaten up in two separate incidents.

RESIDENTS of Taman Seri Taming, Cheras are living in fear of their safety after a spate of break-ins and robberies in their neighbourhood.

Taman Seri Taming Residents’ Association (PPTST) deputy chairman Theng Lee Ping said the four break-in and robbery cases within four consecutive days were the most serious since the gated- and-guarded system was implemented in 2006.

“The security guards were also beaten up during two separate incidents, and one group of robbers even took off with the security guard’s walkie-talkie set and wallet,” he said.

Sam Kwong Jun and his family were among the victims when their house was broken into early one Friday morning, recently.

“We were all sound asleep when my wife heard some noises outside our bedroom.

“By the time we got up, three men had already entered our bedroom.

“The men, who were armed with machetes, demanded that I hand over whatever cash I had,” said the 39-year-old finance manager.

Sam said the robbers ransacked a few rooms and fled with about RM15,000 worth of cash and jewellery.

“The entire incident happened so fast — within just 15 minutes. But it has left a lasting impact as my family has not been able to sleep for the past few nights.

“My wife is worried about being alone at home with our two daughters, as there have been burglaries in our neighbourhood even in the day,” he said.

Sam, who lodged a police report after the incident, said he planned to install an alarm system as an additional security measure.

For Daniel Yap, it was ironic that his house was broken into, after he moved in six months ago because his friends had said the neighbourhood was safe.

“I came home late one night a few weeks ago only to discover that my house had been burgled.

“I lost two laptops, a box of coins totalling about RM500, RM2,000 and a mobile phone,” said the welder.

Yap, 40, said the incident has motivated him to be actively involved in the PPTST.

“I make it a point to make my rounds at the neighbourhood’s access points and check if the security guards are doing their job properly,” he said.

Theng, meanwhile, said there are 371 terrace houses and 40 units of flats in Taman Seri Taming, with three access points or gates into the neighbourhood which are manned by security guards.

Only one gate is open for access between midnight to 6am.

“PPTST will work with the security company to tighten security in Taman Seri Taming.

“We will also have a dialogue with the police on how to address issues related to safety and security,” said Theng.

Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng said, “I hope the police will consider redeploying their officers, such as those from the Special Branch and Pasukan Gerakan Am sections, to patrol the streets.

“I was informed by the Kajang police that they conduct regular patrols but Taman Seri Taming residents claim that they have not seen them.”

Ng said he was also told that there was an increase in the crime rate in Kajang for the first half of 2013 compared to the same period last year.