Tag: Local Authorities

Selangor and Penang PR Governments Step Forward to Strengthen Democracy

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Youth Solidarity Malaysia (SAMM) congratulated the Selangor and Penang PR Governments for moving another step to strengthen democracy in their administration radar.

On 18 September, the Penang Pakatan Rakyat Government, through the State Government Exco meeting, approved in principle the provisions for Assemblymen from the Opposition in Penang (read: Barisan Nasional) and the subsequent approval from the Exco Meeting will be tabled in the Penang State Budget 2014.

Meanwhile, on 10 October, the Selangor PR Government announced special allowances and privileges for the Selangor State Legislative Assembly Opposition Leader.

For Samm, this are valiant efforts in strengthening and educating the meaning of true democracy in Malaysia, in fact, understanding in the long history of oppression in translating the BN-style democracy system, actions such as this is hard to be accepted by various quarters in PR itself.

But if we are talking about a mature democracy, this is the best time to show that PR is different from the oppression politics of BN. We see all this while how PR representatives, especially Parliamentarians, are denied the right to serve the people without even a single cent of allocation being channelled through PR representatives who were voted by the people.

Now, it is a tremendous blow for BN Assemblymen in Penang. Do they want to receive provisions given to them despite Do they want to receive their allocation to them despite their opposition?

If they accept it, then they acknowledge the practice of the BN Government in other states and even the Federal level BN government as wrong to not channel allocations through representatives of the people who were elected by the people. But if they reject it, they will continue to be remembered for their narrow partisan politics and they can no longer complain in front of their voters that they do not have allocations.

Through the Penang State Government, PR proved that political clash is a different matter, but in matters of democratic state governance, the people’s choice should be respected and Penang PR has acknowledged that.

The Office of the Leader of the Opposition in the House (be it the House of Representatives or the state legislative assembly) is very important. But since the independence of Malaysia, it has not been honoured like other countries of mature democracy acknowledge the post.

The Selangor PR Government made a tremendous stride when they allocated RM8,260 per month with plenty other privileges to the Opposition Leader in the State Legislative Assembly.

With this, this position which is upheld through the democratic pr In this position he also transported through the democratic process of the people’s voice can be used to jointly develop the state. Opposition leaders can have complete office efficiency with enough research officers and Opposition leaders can have a complete office efficiency with enough research officer and able to debate and make constructive criticism to state that ultimately benefit the people.

The question now is would the Opposition Leader from BN in Selangor receive the allowances and privileges or will he reject with narrow political party thinking.

If he accepts it, he would admit the wrong practice of the Central and State Governments under BN in denying the role of Opposition Leaders elected by the people.

This is how the politics of the nation should be practiced with policy competition and competition in improvements which will ultimately strengthen democracy and benefit the people.

SAMM has greats hopes to see the Prime Minister, who is also the Finance Minister, to make the word ‘transformation’ as his daily chant when tabling the Budget 2014 this Friday which can truly welcome the moves taken by the Penang and Selangor PR Governments.

This move is also positive and everyone should move to strengthen democracy by acknowledging the role of PR members of parliament by taking into account the channeling of provisions through those elected by the people and uphold the role of the Malaysian Parliament by acknowledging privileges for Malaysian Opposition Leaders.

Without that, the ‘transformation’ chant will continue being a rhetoric laughed by those from the country and abroad.

Badrul Hisham Shaharin
Youth Solidarity Malaysia

MPSJ Urban Poverty Eradication Programme Increases Participants’ Income

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SUBANG JAYA, 21 Oct: The step by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) to have the Urban Poverty Eradication (PKB) programme showed a positive development when s study found that the average income of the programme’s participants increased.

MPSJ found that the average income of the participants increased to RM1,153 compared to about RM793 per month prior to joining the programme.

Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said that the programme should be continued and emulated by other Local Authorities, thus increasing the quality of life and education of participants.

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“This effort should be emulated by other local authorities because we must find a way to help them increase revenues; for example, single mothers. Children of every local authority participant should be monitored so that they are properly educated,” said Abdul Khalid at the MPSJ Urban Community Wellbeing 2013 Award Ceremony here at Sunway Hotel Resort & Spa yesterday.

The PKB programme involved coaching classes and skills training to help residents of MPSJ to improve their family’s side income by selling items that can be manufactured on a small scale but have a positive impact on them.

Among the training provided were sewing workshops, beading, making decorative food covers, repairing computers, jambu (water apple) entrepreneurs, making cupcakes, cakes and bread, and a Back To School Programme.

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In 2009, MPSJ allocated RM100,000 to implement the programme and the amount has been added to RM300,000 since 2010.

At the same ceremony, a beading business operator, Noor Ashikin Ramli and a decorative food cover entrepreneur, Rabitah Yusuf, were awarded the MPSJ Urban Community Wellbeing 2013 Award.

Noor Ashikin said the beading workshop was beneficial in diversifying attractive stitching, thus attracting customers to purchase.

Meanwhile, Rabitah said she did not think that the decorative food cover business she operated on a small scale could generate a decent income for her family.

Contributions in forms of daily necessities worth RM100, given to 20 orphans, single mothers and the needy was also held at the event.

MBPJ Ez-Pay Counter Opens in Six Areas

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PETALING JAYA, 19 Oct: The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will open mobile ez-pay counters in October 2013.

This is an effort and a move by the council to reduce congestion at the counter at the headquarters, especially during peak hours.

In addition, it is hoped that the ez-pay mobile counters would encourage and facilitate the public to use the mobile counter that is close to where they live.

MBPJ Implements Time-Limit Parking System

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SHAH ALAM, 19 Oct: The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) approved the implementation of a time-limit parking system on a three-month trial basis at Dataran Sunway City Centre in PJU 5, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

The MBPJ Media Secretariat said the two-hour time limit set began on 15 October and will carry on till 14 January 2014.

The statement said that the system is being implemented to reduce traffic congestion in the city centre due to vehicles double parking.

“It aims to encourage motorists who park for long periods to use the parking facilities at the Parking Complex available,” the statement said.

It also said that motorists who park for short periods of less than two hours are recommended on street parking.

The parking facilities available at Dataran Sunway City Centre as follows:-

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Members of the public are asked to fully cooperate and comply with the set time limit.

Failure to comply with this time limit will result in vehicles being clamped and MBPJ will take action by towing cars parked outside the box.

Views from the public about the implementation of the time-limit parking system can be channelled directly to the following e-mail address:- [email protected] or contact the Engineering Department of MBPJ at 013-79584221.

PKNS Asked to take Action to Overcome Problems of the Solid Waste System

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PETALING JAYA SELATAN, 17 Oct: The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) has been asked to take immediate action to overcome the solid waste system faced by the residents of the PKNS Apartments here in PJS 6.

The Assemblyman for Seri Setia, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said till now, there is still no consensus on the problem of solid waste management due to conflicts of jurisdiction between PKNS and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

According to him, immediate action must be taken to prevent residents of the apartment from facing health problems.

“We have found that there is a serious trash situation. We brought along representatives from PKNS and MBPJ. So far there has been no coordination.

“Because this is a huge apartment, I am worried that other health problems will arise,” he said.

A survey by TVSelangor found that the small trash hut reserved for the disposal of solid waste has failed to be managed well seeing that there are domestic waste disposal such as household goods and vehicle frames.

This situation invites an uncomfortable feel for residents and will lead to the breeding of rats which can threaten the health of local residents.

A local resident, Mohd Zulkifli Mohd Nasir, who lives in Block 5 said that the problem of trash heaps which has been happening since two years ago, has resulted in the breeding of mice.

“I hope there will be help from the government and cooperation between residents so that harmony can be maintained,” he said.

Deepavali Permit Applications Starts on 17 September

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KLANG, 16 Oct: Any individuals who wish to do business in conjunction with the Deepavali celebrations can submit their application at the Department of Licensing and Hawkers (ground floor) at the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) from 17 to 30 September.

The Director of the MPK Licensing Department, Azhar Samsudin said applicants are required to submit the application form and to also bring their bank books.

He said, applicants must also have a licence for business, hawking or a temporary business permit 2013 or the 2012 Deepavali permit, as well as a payment of RM790.

He said the polling date will be held on 17 October at the Pandamaran Sports Complex Hall at 9.30am.

“Business will commence on 19 October till 1 November 2013 and the affected areas are around Jalan Tengku Kelana.

“Only one applicant to a site and traders and their assistants are required to wear a tag which will be provided later,” he said in a press statement.

PKPS Opens 335 Hectare Oil Palm Plantation

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SHAH ALAM, 14 Oct: The Selangor State Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS) has opened a 335 hectare oil palm plantation which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim recently.

The Jelutong Jati PKPS Plantation was initiated after the State Government gazetted the Sungai Karang Forest Reserve in May 2012, with 21-year lease.

According to the PKPS Group General Manager, Ali Ahmad, despite the project initially receiving objections from environmental NGOs, since it involves the forest reserve, the 10,700 acres of land was actually reserved for a PERHILITAN (forestry and wildlife protection department) Forest the area nearby.

In addition, NGOs also objected because this area can easily catch fire.

“PKPS policy is to manage water, not channel water. Each palm tree requires 90 litres of water daily. It is impossible for us to drain all the water. We focus on saving water.

“We have drains and sluices. In this area, we have the Jalang sluice heading to Sungai Besar which will control the water level. We will make sure the water level is not low. We will control by government road culverts,” he said at a briefing session.

In effort to address the occurrence of fire, PKPS has established a PKPS Rapid Fire Team which will receive training from the fire department in addition to placing workers on the oil palm plantation.

In addition to that, PKPS intends to build an oil palm mill in the same area with a capacity of 30 tonnes per hour in 2014 which will begin operations in 2016.

It was informed that PKPS plans to build a chicken coop in Ulu Tinggi and a slaughterhouse in Rawang.

He added that if this effort is successful, small-time farmers and residents in the Sabak Bernam area will benefit from employment opportunities.

PNSB Saves Abandoned Projects, Buyers Receive CF

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KUALA SELANGOR, 11 Oct: The purchase of the Taman Alam Perdana housing project in Kuala Selangor, which was abandoned since 2004 and restored, has now obtained the Certificate of Fitness (CF).

The project which was saved by Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) involves 1,116 housing units.

Hence, PNSB asks all home buyers of Taman Alam Perdana to communicate directly with PNSB for further business at the PNSB office at Level 25, Wisma MBSA, Shah Alam.

Buyers can also contact PNSB at 03-5510 7105/ 7233/ 7234.

In November 2011, PNSB, as a subsidiary company of the Selangor Government through Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), was tasked with the responsibility to restore the housing project.

The project was abandoned since 2004 and failed to be restored when Selangor was still administered by Umno-BN.

Restoration was completed on April 2012 and the Temporary Certificate of Fitness (TCF) was issued by the Kuala Selangor District Council (MDKS) on 28 April 2012.

It was initiated by the State Government to protect the interests and welfare of the people.

PJ Transformation through Budget 2014

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PETALING JAYA, 8 Oct: The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will focus on five key development sectors in their annual budget in line with the desire to make the area a sustainable city (PJ Lestari) in 2014.

The development plan agreed in the ‘PJ Livable City Strategic Plan 2030’ workshop in September refers to sustainable infrastructure, eco-friendly environment, traffic management, sustainable lifestyle and to empower organisations at an estimated cost of over RM150 million.

The Mayor for MBPJ, Datin Alinah Ahmad said, for sustainable infrastructure, the Council will focus on the development of green infrastructure, road maintenance and upgrading irrigation and drainage systems to overcome the problem of flash floods in the area.

“Under this sector, MBPJ will also provide pedestrian facilities, footpaths, paths for the physically challenged (PWD) and cycling paths as well as maintain several public facilities such as street lights,” she said in a speech to present the MBPJ Budget 2014 at Dewan Bunga Tanjung yesterday.

Under the eco-friendly environment focus, MBPJ will implement master plans through the Landscape and Beautification programme as well as the Green Corridor Development programme, as a step to make Petaling Jaya a garden city

Not forgetting, she said, MBPJ will also improve the quality of public cleaning and solid waste collection by increasing the number of staff and purchasing additional equipment to achieve the 30 percent target of public clean-up.

“To support the programme to make Petaling Jaya a low-carbon (emissions) city, the Council will extend the free parking incentive programme for hybrid cars from six months to one year,” she said.

She said focus on the development of traffic management refers to efforts to increase the use of public transportation and to reduce the use of private vehicles.

MBPJ is establishing strategic alliances with PRASARANA and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to create bus services, terminal hubs and feeder bus service in areas of the city centre. The number of parking lots will be reduced and the parking rate will be increased to reduce private vehicles in the city.

MBPJ targets for 60% of public transportation usage and 40% of private vehicle usage in the City Centre by 2030.

She said, under the same aspect, MBPJ also aims to have an integrated traffic control system and a centralised monitoring of traffic lights in Petaling Jaya.

“For new areas being developed, the Council required for the developer to install closed-circuit cameras (CCTV) at traffic lights and streetlights to be handed over to MBPJ and monitored by the traffic control centre,” she said.

Sustainable lifestyle refers to the increase of monitoring capability and enforcement in ‘hot spots’ to reduce crime.

MBPJ will continue with the Petaling Jaya Neighbourhood Safety Programme (PKKPJ) to patrol respective community areas, and the establishment of the Auxiliary Police Unit for the Department of Enforcement and Security to carry out security patrolling with the police.

Meanwhile, under the plan for organisational empowerment, administrative structures will be reorganised to form only 5 departments (from the 10 existing departments) according to main activities, namely Town Planning, Urban Design, Development of Services and Community, Urban Business and Corporate Business.

Simultaneously, the Integrity Unit, headed by an officer seconded from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, will be established and will be a member of Committee Meetings, the Tender and Quotation Board as well as the Audit and Governance Committee.

Licensing management will also be improved through self-regulatory methods, including the introduction of the Quick Response Code (QR Code) which will be placed at business premises and employee cards. The QR will display information about the licence holder, licence activities and the validity period or the licence, all of which can be accessed through mobile internet.

“It is hoped that this implementation will improve the efficiency of the delivery system, reduce complaints from the public and projects will be implemented more efficiently and effectively,” said Alinah.

The MBPJ budget proposed for the year 2014 is RM305 million (estimated revenue), while the estimated management expenditure is at RM278 million, while development expenditure is estimated at RM46.55 million.

MBPJ Holds Seminar to Improve JMB and MC

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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7: The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) held a seminar on Act 77 of the Management Strata 2013 to help Joint Management Bodies (JMB) and Management Corporations (MC) in Petaling Jaya to help offer the best service to apartment dwellers.

MBPJ Mayor, Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad said that Act 757 had repealed Act 663, which previously caused confusion and inconsistency in the management of strata development. She hopes that JMB and MC will make use of Act 747 to solve problems which have arisen before.

“Previously, Act 663 which was enacted in 2007 had many flaws. There were parts which were not connected to another act to solve multi-storey housing residents’ problems. Act 757 which was gazetted in February was formulated to ease JMB and MC in solving the problems of multi-storey housing dwellers,” said Alinah in her opening speech at the seminar which took place at the MBPJ Civic Hall today.

Act 757 allows for JMB, MC and Commissioner of Buildings (COB) to appoint a building management agent to maintain and manage strata development. Conflict resolution mechanisms have also been introduced for stakeholders to express their dissatisfaction, and the number of officers and staff at COB offices has been increased from five people to 16 people so that it can deliver services more proactively.

Several methods of improvement have been provided to solve problems concerning the collection of maintenance charges and the sinking fund. Before this, in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, thousands of residents or lot owners did not make payments thus resulting in the conditions of buildings of Public Housing Apartments (PPR) to be unmanaged and thousands of additional ringgit had to be provided to repair damages and building deterioration.

The Act also details the distribution of responsibilities and the period of enforcement for the power transition from developers, JMB, MC and MC committees, as well as actions that can be imposed on “free rider” owners of the lot/occupants who did not pay the charges and did not respect the law.

Over the past five years, MBPJ has also held various seminars to help the people in Petaling Jaya enhance their quality of life.

The Strata Management Act 2013 seminar today attracted an attendance of about a hundred JMB and MC representatives from around Petaling Jaya.

The seminar was presented by an advocate and solicitor, Andrew Wong, who is also the consultant in the drafting of Act 77.

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MBPJ Holds Seminar to Improve JMB and MC

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KUALA LUMPUR, 6 Oct: The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) held a seminar on Act 77 of the Management Strata 2013 to help Joint Management Bodies (JMB) and Management Corporations (MC) in Petaling Jaya to help offer the best service to apartment dwellers.

MBPJ Mayor, Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad said that Act 757 had repealed Act 663, which previously caused confusion and inconsistency in the management of strata development. She hopes that JMB and MC will make use of Act 747 to solve problems which have arisen before.

“Previously, Act 663 which was enacted in 2007 had many flaws. There were parts which were not connected to another act to solve multi-storey housing residents’ problems. Act 757 which was gazetted in February was formulated to ease JMB and MC in solving the problems of multi-storey housing dwellers,” said Alinah in her opening speech at the seminar which took place at the MBPJ Civic Hall today.

Act 757 allows for JMB, MC and Commissioner of Buildings (COB) to appoint a building management agent to maintain and manage strata development. Conflict resolution mechanisms have also been introduced for stakeholders to express their dissatisfaction, and the number of officers and staff at COB offices has been increased from five people to 16 people so that it can deliver services more proactively.

Several methods of improvement have been provided to solve problems concerning the collection of maintenance charges and the sinking fund. Before this, in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, thousands of residents or lot owners did not make payments thus resulting in the conditions of buildings of Public Housing Apartments (PPR) to be unmanaged and thousands of additional ringgit had to be provided to repair damages and building deterioration.

The Act also details the distribution of responsibilities and the period of enforcement for the power transition from developers, JMB, MC and MC committees, as well as actions that can be imposed on “free rider” owners of the lot/occupants who did not pay the charges and did not respect the law.

Over the past five years, MBPJ has also held various seminars to help the people in Petaling Jaya enhance their quality of life.

The Strata Management Act 2013 seminar today attracted an attendance of about a hundred JMB and MC representatives from around Petaling Jaya.

The seminar was presented by an advocate and solicitor, Andrew Wong, who is also the consultant in the drafting of Act 77.

72 Peewee Teams Compete in Soccerkids Carnival

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SHAH ALAM, 5 Oct: The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) wishes to develop the Soccerkids Carnival at the national level next year following the encouraging response received this year.

This intention was expressed by the Mayor of Shah Alam, Datuk Mohd Jaafar Mohd Atan, who also said that the existing field near the location of the carnival can be used next year after the maturation process.

According to him, this year, MBSA received over 100 applications. However, they had to limit it to 72 teams due to problems concerning the field.

“Next year, we would probably organise it at the national level. We have three fields and we are creating a mini field to carry out matches simultaneously,” he said when met after launching the carnival at Field B, Dataran Kemerdekaan Shah Alam.

According to him, the organisation of this year’s carnival gave young players the opportunity to showcase their talents in efforts to produce players who can represent the country in football at the international level.

In addition, the carnival was also benefitted by parents to relax with their families while giving support to their children who were competing.

72 teams consisting of 40 teams for the 12-years and below category, and 32 teams for the 9-years and below category participated in the two-day Soccerkids carnival.

In addition to teams from around Selangor, there was also a participating team from Kuantan, Pahang, which was represented by two of the Pahang Sultan’s grandchildren.

The champion of the 12-years and below category took home a cash prize of RM1,000, trophies and souvenirs, while the champion for the 9-years and below category took home a cash prize of RM800, trophies and souvenirs. A special award was also given to the best player and goalkeeper.