TNB says move to construct electrical towers better in the long run

The Star, Friday September 25, 2015 

by yvonne nathan

Residents at the briefing with representatives from Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj), Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Ikram Group Sdn Bhd and Selangor Forestry Department. — LOW LAY PHON/ The Star"

Residents affected by logging activities for the construction of the Mahkota Cheras Main Sub-Station by Tenaga Nasional Berhad are angry that the issue was not resolved to their satisfaction.

The pylon project that will connect transmission lines from the main Mahkota Cheras substation to the existing 275kV Serdang-Pudu Ulu and 132kV Balakong-Bandar Tun Razak lines, cuts into 45ha of the Hulu Langat Forest Reserve. The reserve is 13,000ha.

Although TNB received clearance for the project from the Selangor government, residents in the affected areas are questioning the move.

Ampang Jaya Municipal councillor and Bukit Hartamas resident Sally Sian took issue, claiming that residents were not briefed prior to the start of logging works.

“There used to be a river in the area which became our emergency water supply during water disruptions, but now it is clogged with mud,” she said.

Kamarol briefing residents on the approved plans for erecting the transmission lines.

 

Another Bukit Hartamas resident, Rosli Majid, asked what happened to his neighbourhood as he discovered a partial landslide during his morning walk.

“We have no objections to the project but there is no effort to monitor the area,” he said.

Taman Segar Perdana resident Foong Yong Wah questioned the reason for not using an underground route.

“Placing the cables underground has been successful in Europe and other developed countries,” he said.

Datuk Eadon Chen who lives in Bukit Hartamas, said there was no justification for cutting down a portion of the reserve forest.

“Who is going to be responsible if a landslide happens, and where is the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment studies?” he questioned.

Many residents are also worried about electromagnetic fields (EMF) affecting them because of the close proximity of the pylons to their residences.

According to TNB Transmission Department general manager Kamarol Zaman Radzak during a briefing, TNB engaged Ikram to assess the existing slopes along the transmission route.

“The transmission line is a 12.9km route from the existing transmission line and if residents find any other areas they feel are a threat, they can inform us and we will notify Ikram.

“The project is meant to assist in supplying energy for the upcoming MRT project, the Langat 2 water treatment plant project as well as provide a reliable supply of power for Cheras, Mahkota Cheras and its surrounding areas.

“If there is an incident, and after studies by Ikram and the necessary authorities have been done and TNB is at fault, then we will accept the responsibility; we are not running away,” he said, assuring residents that TNB would carry out on-ground testing to allay their EMF concern.

He said the decision by the state government not to use alternative routes came after TNB presented the pros and cons, also weighing performance of the transmission line against that of using underground cables.

“The transmission line is superior in terms of performance, it is easier to find the cause if there is a disruption, while the underground cable will take more time to repair,” he said, adding that the route did not involve building structures and surrounding lots.

Selangor Forestry Department director Dr Mohd Puat Dahalan said the logging activities would be carried out seven days a week from 8.30am to 6pm and strictly monitored.

“This is not deforestation, they are only removing a small part of the forest and once TNB has erected the lines, they will plant grass and other suitable trees in the area.

“If there is any logging activity carried out after hours without approval, should inform us and we will take action,” he said.

Despite the assurances from various authorities, the forum ended with residents from the different housing estates banding together around a coffin as a show of their discontent with, and opposition to the project.

Woman shoplifts 70 items in five hours from hypermart

The Star. Wednesday September 23, 2015

by nicholas cheng

KAJANG: A woman spent five hours making repeated trips in and out of a Cheras Selatan hypermarket, carting a bag filled with stolen items each time.

Her “shopping trips” came to an abrupt end when a security guard noticed the woman making her way several times to her car parked outside.

She was detained and upon investigation, her car was found loaded with over RM7,500 worth of shoplifted items.

The stolen items ranged from Barbie Dolls to anti-ageing cream, pillow cases, linen and bolsters, children’s clothes, jewellery, stationery to branded handbags.

In his police report, the guard said he was on his rounds at about 11.15am in the women’s clothing aisle when he spotted the 45-year-old woman carrying a large plastic bag and walking in a “suspicious manner”.

He said she did not pay for anything and yet managed to walk out of the hypermarket without anyone stopping her.

The guard observed her returning to the hypermarket with the plastic bag, each time empty at first, to repeat the theft.

This went on for several trips before she was finally stopped.

“Two other guards and I approached her and asked if she had receipts for the items in her car,” he said.

“She did not have a receipt and I took her to a questioning room where she admitted to stealing the items.”

The list of stolen items spanned two pages in the police report.

She had, in total, stolen 70 items which also included high-knee socks, Hello Kitty blankets, reading glasses, watches and storage set.

Kajang deputy OCPD Supt Abdul Ghani Mohamad Ji said the woman had no prior criminal record but could face up to 10 years in jail if convicted for theft.

Gang robbing housewives in low-security neighbourhoods

The Star, Saturday September 26, 2015

KAJANG: A gang of robbers has been preying on housewives who do not live in gated neighbourhoods.

District police chief Asst Comm Willey Richard said the gang of seven to eight men targeted the women when they did chores outside their houses in residential areas with low security.

In their latest crime spree, the gang robbed four housewives, aged between 50 and 67, within a span of two hours on Tuesday.

ACP Willey said the robberies took place between 9am to 11am in Bandar Baru Bangi, Saujana Impian and Taman Sri Ramal.

“In one case, a 67-year-old housewife was taking out the garbage when three men on motorcycles approached her.

“One of them flashed a knife at her, forcing her to surrender her jewellery,” he said.

ACP Willey said the suspects robbed three more housewives after that.

“Each victim suffered losses between RM3,000 and RM6,000, but they were not injured,” he said.

In an unrelated case, a family of seven was rudely awakened by robbers who broke into their Saujana Impian bungalow at around 3am on Wednesday.

ACP Willey said four men, believed to be Indonesians, entered the house through the living room window and threatened the family with parang and knives.

ACP Willey said the men ransacked the house and escaped with RM103,000 worth of loot.

“They stole money, jewellery, four luxury watches and six mobile phones,” he said.

There was a closed-circuit television system installed in the house. “But the suspects took off with the footage,” ACP Willey said.

He said police were tracking down the suspects, who wore ski masks and gloves when they committed their crime.

Snooker centre employee robbed by four men

The Star, Monday September 21, 2015 

by natasha joibi

KAJANG: A snooker centre employee lost two days worth of earnings after he was robbed by four men.

District deputy police chief Supt Abdul Ghani Mohamad Ji said the 36-year-old employee was about to enter his Proton Waja parked in front of a food outlet in Kajang Utama when he was ambushed by a man wearing a helmet at about 4am Sunday.

 "The suspect pointed a knife to his neck and instructed the victim to enter the backseat of the Waja."Another suspect took the wheels of the car and drove to a nearby residential area," he explained on Monday.

Supt Abdul Ghani said the men took the victim's mobile phone, tablet and two days worth of earnings amounting to RM3500.

"Two men on separate motorcycles arrived to pick up their accomplices. All four rode off with the stolen loot.

"We believe that they were between the ages of 18 and 25," he noted.

In an unrelated case, a supervisor at a shuttle bus company was travelling on his motorcycle in Kampung Sungai Balak here when he was stopped by a Proton Saga at around 3am last Thursday.

"There were three men in the car. Two alighted from the vehicle.

"One man held  a parang to his neck while another hit him on the head. They instructed him to enter the car," said Supt Abdul Ghani.

According to Supt Abdul Ghani , the suspects drove off with the victim inside the car and abandoned the latter's motorcycle.

"They robbed him of his wallet, camera, mobile phone and RM90 of cash. His Indonesian wife's identity card was also taken.

"They then abandoned him by the roadside on the Silk Highway," he elaborated.

The victim, who suffered injuries to his head, went back to where his motorcycle was abandoned the next day, but the vehicle was no longer there.

Both cases are being investigated under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code for gang robbery.

New sewerage network for Kajang

The Star, Monday September 21, 2015

by farah fazanna zulzaha

Keeping residents updated: Lee (second from left) during a briefing with Sungai Chua residents representatives on the construction of the new sewerage system.

KAJANG will soon have a new sewerage system.

The current system is more than 15 years old and needs to be upgraded.

The upgrade, which began two years ago, will also see a centralised sewage treatment plant near Kampung Simpang Balak.

Hulu Langat MCA chairman Datuk Jeffrey Lee said the new sewerage system would make it easier for inspection and maintenance.

Lee held a briefing for Sungai Chua residents recently as the second phase of the project would start soon and would affect the residents in the area.

“The first phase was focused on residential areas and the second phase will focus on the town and industrial areas,” he said.

Other upgrades included closing down 58 sewage plants in Kajang and building nine new plants.

The nine new plants will be built in Taman Villa Heights, Taman Restu, Taman Kajang Baru, Taman Saga Mas, Taman Maju, Taman Desa Meringin, Taman Seri Kenari, Taman Mewah Indah and Taman Kajang Ria.

The new sewage pipe system is 30km long and has been designed to cater for future developments.

“The upgrade is needed to ensure less pollution and it will help to solve water issues in the area,” said Lee.

He explained that with the new centralised sewage treatment plant, a higher quality of water would be able to flow back into Sungai Langat.

Residents around Sungai Chua can expect the project to start by mid-October and the project will take about two years to complete.

Lee said there would be water disruption in the affected areas but assured that immediate action would be taken.

He added that the project by the Government would benefit Kajang residents.

“Residents facing any problem from the construction work can lodge a complaint through their residents associations.

The sewerage system upgrading project is under the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry with Sri Tinggi Sdn Bhd as the contractor.

MRT works – Cheras-Kajang Expressway lane closure

By Gregory Sze, 11 September 2015

A 200-metre portion of the Cheras-Kajang Expressway will be temporarily closed to facilitate works related to the MRT project, according to a report by The Star. The closure will be in place for one month starting today, from September 11 to October 11 for 24 hours.

In a statement released by MMC-Gamuda, the firm stated that the closure will see “the left most lane of KM 14.6 until KM 14.8 of Cheras-Kajang Expressway (KL-bound) closed for 24 hours from September 11 to October 11 to facilitate painting and reinstatement works at P115.”

During the closure, three lanes will be open for use to motorists as opposed to the usual four-lane layout from the 704 interchange, MMC-Gamuda added.

Upgrading of Kajang Hospital will be expedited - PM

Bernama, September 08, 2015 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak visiting the Kajang Hospital on Tuesday. BERNAMA pic

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Several improvements at the Kajang Hospital will be promptly implemented for the comfort of the staff and patients, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said the move was to enable the hospital to accommodate the demands of the patients at the wards or outpatient unit.

He noted that among the measures to be taken were upgrading the air conditioning system by installing air conditioners at suitable areas, especially at the treatment clinic and waiting hall.

Najib, who made a surprise visit to the hospital today, said he also wanted security to be upgraded such as changing the fences to walls besides other measures.

"Although, the hospital has adequate expertise and equipment, improvements can still be made in terms of security and comfort for the staff and patients, its capacity to accommodate patients whether at the wards or outpatient unit and several other matters," he said in his latest posting on his Facebook account.

Najib said the land usage at the hospital was not optimised as almost all the buildings were single-storey.

As such, according to Najib,the government was prepared to consider any suggestion to renovate and upgrade the hospital, which was built in 1889.

"All these are essential so that we can provide quality health service in comfort and safety to those needing it," he said.

Last year, the government approved a RM10-million allocation to add 30 hospital beds, a ward and two operation theatres (at the hospital).

"The upgrading of the hospital cannot be avoided in the long term to meet the demand of the residents in Kajang as the populace in the vicinity has gone up tremendously since its inception," the Prime Minister added.