KAJANG: May 9, 2008 By ANDREW SAGAYAM
Four people were picked up after they demonstrated at Bandar Mahkota, Cheras, due to road works being carried out at a traffic light junction leading to the area.
The demonstration which saw about 1,000 people, mostly residents from the nearby areas, gathering from 4pm to stop the work conducted by workers.
The protesting crowd played a cat-and-mouse game with the authorities until 10.30pm when the situation worsened.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng pulled the plug of a generator before standing in front of a water cannon to prevent the police from aiming it at the crowd.
During the ensuing commotion, Lim was said to have been assaulted .
It is learnt that Lim was rushed to the Kajang Hospital by Seri Kembangan state assemblyman Ean Yong Hean Wah and a friend.
Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Shakaruddin Che Mood said police resorted to firing the water cannons several times to ward off the protestors who were riding motorcycles and speeding towards the police barricades.
He said there were more than 100 policemen including personnel from the Light Strike Force and the Federal Reserve Unit at the scene.
The four arrested, aged between 20 and 30, were taken to the Kajang police station for questioning.
On Wednesday, a large group of residents from Bandar Mahkota and Sungai Long in
Friday, May 9, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
DBKL wants proof on poisoning claim - The Star
May 8, 2008 BY BAVANI M (bavanim@thestar.com.my)
THE Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) wants proof from those claiming that its dog-catching unit are poisoning stray dogs to curb their population in the city.
“Show us proof! Either in photographs or the vehicle number plates and we will take action,'' an upset DBKL health department director Dr Zainol Ariffin Pawanchee said.
Zainol denied that the DBKL employed such cruel methods in its treatment of stray dogs.
“We have never resorted to such cruel methods to catch dogs. In fact the practice of shooting dogs, which was practised in the early 80s, has also been stopped,” he said.
Flashback: The StarMetro report on April 26 about the dog poisonings.
“Today we use traps, wire loops and sedatives to catch the dogs. We work with the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the SPCA to ensure that it's done properly,'' he said.
Zainol was commenting on a report in StarMetro that several people had seen food being thrown out to dogs from a DBKL van in several parts of the city.
According to StarMetro reader Prakash Singam, he first spotted food being thrown out to dogs from a DBKL van cruising around his neighbourhood early in the year.
Prakash said that after eating the food, the dogs would start foaming at the mouth and would become disoriented.
He said two of his dogs were also taken ill after returning home foaming at the mouth and was diagnosed with pesticide poisoning.
Zainol said that since Jan 15 this year, his department had received over 130 complaints from the public about stray dogs in their neighbourhoods.
“Our dog catching unit has caught some 659 strays while our contractors hired to catch strays have caught about 2,149 strays,” he said.
“Our methods are humane, In fact, the contractors are strictly told to bring in live dogs. We pay them RM22 per dog,'' Zainol said.
He said the DBKL had even offered the SPCA to be their panel operators.
Zainol said that the SPCA-DBKL low-cost Klinik Kembiri embarked on a spaying operation since the project kicked off in 2003.
He said that from 2003 to last year more than 8,000 cats and dogs had been spayed to prevent unwanted stray population.
THE Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) wants proof from those claiming that its dog-catching unit are poisoning stray dogs to curb their population in the city.
“Show us proof! Either in photographs or the vehicle number plates and we will take action,'' an upset DBKL health department director Dr Zainol Ariffin Pawanchee said.
Zainol denied that the DBKL employed such cruel methods in its treatment of stray dogs.
“We have never resorted to such cruel methods to catch dogs. In fact the practice of shooting dogs, which was practised in the early 80s, has also been stopped,” he said.
Flashback: The StarMetro report on April 26 about the dog poisonings.“Today we use traps, wire loops and sedatives to catch the dogs. We work with the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the SPCA to ensure that it's done properly,'' he said.
Zainol was commenting on a report in StarMetro that several people had seen food being thrown out to dogs from a DBKL van in several parts of the city.
According to StarMetro reader Prakash Singam, he first spotted food being thrown out to dogs from a DBKL van cruising around his neighbourhood early in the year.
Prakash said that after eating the food, the dogs would start foaming at the mouth and would become disoriented.
He said two of his dogs were also taken ill after returning home foaming at the mouth and was diagnosed with pesticide poisoning.
Zainol said that since Jan 15 this year, his department had received over 130 complaints from the public about stray dogs in their neighbourhoods.
“Our dog catching unit has caught some 659 strays while our contractors hired to catch strays have caught about 2,149 strays,” he said.
“Our methods are humane, In fact, the contractors are strictly told to bring in live dogs. We pay them RM22 per dog,'' Zainol said.
He said the DBKL had even offered the SPCA to be their panel operators.
Zainol said that the SPCA-DBKL low-cost Klinik Kembiri embarked on a spaying operation since the project kicked off in 2003.
He said that from 2003 to last year more than 8,000 cats and dogs had been spayed to prevent unwanted stray population.
Precinct 11 housing project at a standstill - The Star
May 8, 2008 By GEETHA KRISHNAN (geetha@thestar.com.my)
FAILED projects are the bane of any modern city and a planned enclave like the nation’s administration centre Putrajaya has not been spared the construction consternation.
The fiasco of the stalled housing project at Precinct 11 has been kept under wraps for two years to protect the Putrajaya image but the disappointed and disgruntled buyers are not prepared to suffer in silence.
Eyesore: The signboard outside the stalled project.
A group of them met with StarMetro recently and divulged some pertinent details of the mixed-development project.
The project comprises the Garden Resort and Amber Homes double-storey link houses, Citrine semi-detached houses, Saujana Aster condominium and shop offices, all priced at between RM165,500 and RM882,996. There are also double-storey and two-and-a-half-storey houses for civil servants.
According to a Garden Resort buyer who asked not to be identified, the buyers are getting the raw end of the deal owing to a dispute between Peremba Jaya Sdn Bhd and Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd (PJH).
“The bulk of the project was originally given to Arif Cerah Sdn Bhd, a company under Peremba, but Arif Cerah got into financial difficulties and the work stalled in 2005,” the buyer said.
Bright spot: The completed playground sticks out like a sore thumb amidst the stalled project.
“We heard that PJH then terminated the contract with Arif Cerah due to the delay and we are caught in a bind as a result. We have already invested a substantial amount of money and have been servicing our loans since the project stalled,” he said.
According to Amber Homes buyer Stanley Ng, the sales and purchase agreement was signed in 2003 and delivery was promised in 2005.
Ng said he had received a letter from the developer in September last year promising delivery this month.
“How can my house be ready when I have gone to the site and seen that the construction work is about 45% complete? The infrastructure is also incomplete,” said Ng, who booked a RM293,000 double-storey link house.
Amber Homes buyer Mawina Mat Aris said she learnt that Arif Cerah was to have surrendered the land title to PJH on April 30 for work to resume under the responsibility of PJH but the arrangement only applied to the government houses.
Ugly sight: Fallen hoarding only adds to the unsightly image.
“Why the discrimination? We are already being victimised through late delivery and do not know if any party will fulfil its obligation to compensate us,” she said.
Mawina said that the bank where she obtained her loan had already released more than RM100,000 for her house, and she was also paying a RM700 monthly instalment to the bank. The buyers also said that work on the government units had resumed but the other houses remained untouched.
StarMetro visited the site yesterday and found that while some of the houses were nearing completion, most were left partially completed. Untrimmed grass added to the ugly picture.
According to statistics obtained from sources, 23 of the 26 Garden Resort houses offered for sale have been sold, 104 of the 114 units of Saujana Aster Condominium were sold, 72 of the 97 Amber Homes houses were sold and 12 of the 22 Citrine houses were sold. The shop offices were all sold out.
Stalled: The Garden Resort houses were almost 65% complete.
When contacted in November 2006, an Arif Ceria spokesman had said that the project was slowed down due to unforeseen circumstances.
“However, we will fulfil all obligations stipulated under the sales and purchase agreement and will compensate buyers for late delivery. We also want to assure buyers that the project will be completed,” he said.
PJH, meanwhile, declined to comment on the matter, stating this was due to a legal dispute between the companies.
The buyers have decided to form a committee to seek legal redress and hope to forward their complaints to the Housing Tribunal.
FAILED projects are the bane of any modern city and a planned enclave like the nation’s administration centre Putrajaya has not been spared the construction consternation.
The fiasco of the stalled housing project at Precinct 11 has been kept under wraps for two years to protect the Putrajaya image but the disappointed and disgruntled buyers are not prepared to suffer in silence.
Eyesore: The signboard outside the stalled project.A group of them met with StarMetro recently and divulged some pertinent details of the mixed-development project.
The project comprises the Garden Resort and Amber Homes double-storey link houses, Citrine semi-detached houses, Saujana Aster condominium and shop offices, all priced at between RM165,500 and RM882,996. There are also double-storey and two-and-a-half-storey houses for civil servants.
According to a Garden Resort buyer who asked not to be identified, the buyers are getting the raw end of the deal owing to a dispute between Peremba Jaya Sdn Bhd and Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd (PJH).
“The bulk of the project was originally given to Arif Cerah Sdn Bhd, a company under Peremba, but Arif Cerah got into financial difficulties and the work stalled in 2005,” the buyer said.
Bright spot: The completed playground sticks out like a sore thumb amidst the stalled project.“We heard that PJH then terminated the contract with Arif Cerah due to the delay and we are caught in a bind as a result. We have already invested a substantial amount of money and have been servicing our loans since the project stalled,” he said.
According to Amber Homes buyer Stanley Ng, the sales and purchase agreement was signed in 2003 and delivery was promised in 2005.
Ng said he had received a letter from the developer in September last year promising delivery this month.
“How can my house be ready when I have gone to the site and seen that the construction work is about 45% complete? The infrastructure is also incomplete,” said Ng, who booked a RM293,000 double-storey link house.
Amber Homes buyer Mawina Mat Aris said she learnt that Arif Cerah was to have surrendered the land title to PJH on April 30 for work to resume under the responsibility of PJH but the arrangement only applied to the government houses.
Ugly sight: Fallen hoarding only adds to the unsightly image.“Why the discrimination? We are already being victimised through late delivery and do not know if any party will fulfil its obligation to compensate us,” she said.
Mawina said that the bank where she obtained her loan had already released more than RM100,000 for her house, and she was also paying a RM700 monthly instalment to the bank. The buyers also said that work on the government units had resumed but the other houses remained untouched.
StarMetro visited the site yesterday and found that while some of the houses were nearing completion, most were left partially completed. Untrimmed grass added to the ugly picture.
According to statistics obtained from sources, 23 of the 26 Garden Resort houses offered for sale have been sold, 104 of the 114 units of Saujana Aster Condominium were sold, 72 of the 97 Amber Homes houses were sold and 12 of the 22 Citrine houses were sold. The shop offices were all sold out.
Stalled: The Garden Resort houses were almost 65% complete.When contacted in November 2006, an Arif Ceria spokesman had said that the project was slowed down due to unforeseen circumstances.
“However, we will fulfil all obligations stipulated under the sales and purchase agreement and will compensate buyers for late delivery. We also want to assure buyers that the project will be completed,” he said.
PJH, meanwhile, declined to comment on the matter, stating this was due to a legal dispute between the companies.
The buyers have decided to form a committee to seek legal redress and hope to forward their complaints to the Housing Tribunal.
500 protest as road is closed again - NST
KAJANG: May 8, 2008
Cheras member of parliament Tan Kok Wai (left) appealing to Kajang deputy district police chief Superintendent Toha Abdullah to stop Grand Saga workers from replacing the barriers for an access road near the Cheras-Kajang Highway
Residents of Bandar Mahkota Cheras and Sungai Long came out in full force yesterday to demonstrate against the closure of an access road near the Cheras-Kajang Highway.
The closure meant that motorists could no longer by-pass the Batu 11 toll plaza and they would have to pay the 90-sen toll.
The 500 residents and several representatives from Pakatan Rakyat had gathered at the access road junction as early as 2pm to stop Grand Saga, the highway's concessionaire, from closing the road.
The access road was closed by Grand Saga two years ago, but was reopened illegally by the residents on April 21 with the help of several Pakatan Rakyat representatives.
When Grand Saga sought to replace the barrier yesterday, residents fumed.
They said barricading the access road with concrete was inconsiderate as it inconvenienced motorists.
Police and Federal Reserve Unit personnel were present to control the situation, and they had cordoned off the entrance to Bandar Mahkota Cheras.
Despite police warnings, several protesters threw stones at the authorities and workers.
Kajang district police chief Assistant Commissioner Shakaruddin Che Mood said police arrested two residents for throwing stones and unruly behaviour during the demonstration.
Meanwhile, Selangor executive council member Ean Yong Hian Wah said residents had appealed to Grand Saga to reconsider its decision not to close the road, but there was no response, adding that he would apply for a court order to get Grand Saga to reopen the road.
Also present were Cheras member of parliament Tan Kok Wai and Serdang member of parliament Teo Nie Ching.
Cheras member of parliament Tan Kok Wai (left) appealing to Kajang deputy district police chief Superintendent Toha Abdullah to stop Grand Saga workers from replacing the barriers for an access road near the Cheras-Kajang Highway
Residents of Bandar Mahkota Cheras and Sungai Long came out in full force yesterday to demonstrate against the closure of an access road near the Cheras-Kajang Highway.
The closure meant that motorists could no longer by-pass the Batu 11 toll plaza and they would have to pay the 90-sen toll.
The 500 residents and several representatives from Pakatan Rakyat had gathered at the access road junction as early as 2pm to stop Grand Saga, the highway's concessionaire, from closing the road.
The access road was closed by Grand Saga two years ago, but was reopened illegally by the residents on April 21 with the help of several Pakatan Rakyat representatives.
When Grand Saga sought to replace the barrier yesterday, residents fumed.
They said barricading the access road with concrete was inconsiderate as it inconvenienced motorists.
Police and Federal Reserve Unit personnel were present to control the situation, and they had cordoned off the entrance to Bandar Mahkota Cheras.
Despite police warnings, several protesters threw stones at the authorities and workers.
Kajang district police chief Assistant Commissioner Shakaruddin Che Mood said police arrested two residents for throwing stones and unruly behaviour during the demonstration.
Meanwhile, Selangor executive council member Ean Yong Hian Wah said residents had appealed to Grand Saga to reconsider its decision not to close the road, but there was no response, adding that he would apply for a court order to get Grand Saga to reopen the road.
Also present were Cheras member of parliament Tan Kok Wai and Serdang member of parliament Teo Nie Ching.
Residents and FRU in stand-off over barricade - The Star
KAJANG: May 8, 2008 By GEETHA KRISHNAN and RASHITA A. HAMID
A large group of residents from Bandar Mahkota Cheras and Sungai Long in Kajang gathered to protest against the closure of a road that leads to both housing areas.
The residents said the action of the Cheras-Kajang Highway concessionaire, Grand Saga, to place concrete barriers at the road greatly inconvenienced them.
The closure of the road meant that residents had to pay toll and take a longer route to get to their homes.
Residents had demolished the barriers on April 21, two years after it was put up by Grand Saga, which has maintained that it had right of way over the road.
Yesterday evening, the concessionaire put the barriers back in place. The angry residents had gathered earlier yesterday to prevent the concessionaire from the placing the barriers.
Tensions ran high when the residents had a stand off with Federal Reserve Unit personnel, who were on standby.
The standoff also caused a traffic jam along the highway in the evening.
The Selangor Government is still waiting for a report from the State Survey and Mapping Department to determine the question of right of way.
Grand Saga business development and corporate affairs executive director Zainal Abidin Ali, who was at the site, said while he sympathised with the residents for being forced to use a longer route, a new barrier would be erected as the concessionaire was concerned about safety issues.
He said the road was now the subject matter of a lawsuit filed against Grand Saga by township developer Narajaya Sdn Bhd.
A large group of residents from Bandar Mahkota Cheras and Sungai Long in Kajang gathered to protest against the closure of a road that leads to both housing areas.
The residents said the action of the Cheras-Kajang Highway concessionaire, Grand Saga, to place concrete barriers at the road greatly inconvenienced them.
The closure of the road meant that residents had to pay toll and take a longer route to get to their homes.
Residents had demolished the barriers on April 21, two years after it was put up by Grand Saga, which has maintained that it had right of way over the road.
Yesterday evening, the concessionaire put the barriers back in place. The angry residents had gathered earlier yesterday to prevent the concessionaire from the placing the barriers.
Tensions ran high when the residents had a stand off with Federal Reserve Unit personnel, who were on standby.
The standoff also caused a traffic jam along the highway in the evening.
The Selangor Government is still waiting for a report from the State Survey and Mapping Department to determine the question of right of way.
Grand Saga business development and corporate affairs executive director Zainal Abidin Ali, who was at the site, said while he sympathised with the residents for being forced to use a longer route, a new barrier would be erected as the concessionaire was concerned about safety issues.
He said the road was now the subject matter of a lawsuit filed against Grand Saga by township developer Narajaya Sdn Bhd.
Police Disperse 500 Protesters In Bandar Tun Hussein Onn
KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (Bernama)
Police Wednesday dispersed 500 residents of Bandar Tun Hussein Onn who gathered to protest the reinstallation of a concrete barrier at the Cheras-Kajang Highway.
Some 60 policemen, including from the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU), had to be mobilised to control the tense situation when the residents refused to disperse.
Kajang OCPD ACP Sakarudin Che Mood said the police also arrested two men in their 20's for acting aggressively towards police personnel.
"FRU had to be called to disperse the group, some of whom threw road cones towards the workers of the highway concessionaire," he told reporters at the scene.
The police managed to control the situation at 8pm. It also caused more than 3km of traffic jam along the road.
Residents claimed that with the reinstallation of the barrier, those who wanted to go from Bandar Mahkota Cheras and Sungai Long had no option but to pass through the toll plaza and pay 90 sen each way.
Police Wednesday dispersed 500 residents of Bandar Tun Hussein Onn who gathered to protest the reinstallation of a concrete barrier at the Cheras-Kajang Highway.
Some 60 policemen, including from the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU), had to be mobilised to control the tense situation when the residents refused to disperse.
Kajang OCPD ACP Sakarudin Che Mood said the police also arrested two men in their 20's for acting aggressively towards police personnel.
"FRU had to be called to disperse the group, some of whom threw road cones towards the workers of the highway concessionaire," he told reporters at the scene.
The police managed to control the situation at 8pm. It also caused more than 3km of traffic jam along the road.
Residents claimed that with the reinstallation of the barrier, those who wanted to go from Bandar Mahkota Cheras and Sungai Long had no option but to pass through the toll plaza and pay 90 sen each way.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
THE Pakatan Rakyat has been accused of condoning lawlessness - NST
May 7, 2008
Datuk Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) said MPs from PR had supported a group of Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents in removing the barriers placed across an access road to the Kajang-Cheras highway.
The road was built by Narajaya Sdn Bhd, the developer of the Bandar Mahkota Cheras township, to ensure speedy access to the highway.
However, Grand Saga, the highway's concessionaire, was against the access road as it would bypass the Batu 11 toll plaza.
Bandar Mahkota Cheras motorists would have to pay a 90 sen toll if there was no access road.
The road, built three years ago, was barricaded upon completion due to the tussle between Grand Saga and Narajaya.
However, 10 days ago, residents and elected representatives from PR removed the barriers.
Tiong demanded to know from Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) if he condoned such lawlessness from his party men.
"Is this not abuse of power?" he asked during the debate on the King's speech.
Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut), who was present at the Cheras incident at the end of last month, interjected and said they did not take the law into their hands.
Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Serdang), who was also there, defended her role and said that it was within the prerogative of the state government to remove the barriers.
Kit Siang said he was not aware of what his party men had done.
"I don't know about this," he said brushing aside Tiong's claim that the DAP leaders had been involved in an unlawful act.
Later, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said at the lobby of Parliament that the state government did not condone an illegal act.
"The state would not like to break the law," he said adding that the people were seeking to expedite the decision-making process involved in opening the access road. He added the state government wanted to find an amicable solution.
Datuk Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) said MPs from PR had supported a group of Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents in removing the barriers placed across an access road to the Kajang-Cheras highway.
The road was built by Narajaya Sdn Bhd, the developer of the Bandar Mahkota Cheras township, to ensure speedy access to the highway.
However, Grand Saga, the highway's concessionaire, was against the access road as it would bypass the Batu 11 toll plaza.
Bandar Mahkota Cheras motorists would have to pay a 90 sen toll if there was no access road.
The road, built three years ago, was barricaded upon completion due to the tussle between Grand Saga and Narajaya.
However, 10 days ago, residents and elected representatives from PR removed the barriers.
Tiong demanded to know from Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) if he condoned such lawlessness from his party men.
"Is this not abuse of power?" he asked during the debate on the King's speech.
Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut), who was present at the Cheras incident at the end of last month, interjected and said they did not take the law into their hands.
Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Serdang), who was also there, defended her role and said that it was within the prerogative of the state government to remove the barriers.
Kit Siang said he was not aware of what his party men had done.
"I don't know about this," he said brushing aside Tiong's claim that the DAP leaders had been involved in an unlawful act.
Later, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said at the lobby of Parliament that the state government did not condone an illegal act.
"The state would not like to break the law," he said adding that the people were seeking to expedite the decision-making process involved in opening the access road. He added the state government wanted to find an amicable solution.
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