Tag: People’s Feedback

UPDATE – Damages for Water Supply Outage: Tribunal Advises to File the Case at the Civil Court

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SHAH ALAM, 3 Oct: The Tribunal for Consumer Claims Court decided that the tribunal has no power to hear the claim of losses due to water supply disruptions against Syabas.

Instead, the claimants are advised to file a claim at the Civil Court.

The President of the Tribunal, Quaik Chong Yu, in his judgement, said that the claims made by eight customers of Syabas are damages claims not money.

“This case is not being dismissed but merely cancelled. This means that the complainant may file (the case) at the Civil Court.

“I suggest taking counsel and filing a claim at the Civil Court.

“I really want to hear and decide this case, however, with a heavy heart, I have decided that this tribunal has no power,” he said.

Meanwhile, some claimants said that the decision was disappointing.

“If the tribunal cancels it, where can consumers get defense?” asked a Syabas customer who only wanted to be known as Lee.

Selvamayahi, who lives at a 16-storey apartment in Ampang, considers the decision as motivating Syabas to continue to ignore the suffering experienced since August 2012.

“I am making this claim not because of money, but for Syabas and all parties to be exemplary in providing the best service to the consumer,” she said.

Adamulhasza Mohd Noor said that the problem of water outages has caused some consumers to bear losses to obtain water supply.

“We are forced to eat out, but mineral water, stay at relative’s houses and some had to stay in hotels,” he said.

In addition to that, the problem has also caused property owners to lose their tenants.

Today, the Tribunal for Consumer Claims heard eight out of the 300 cases filed against Syabas which failed to provide satisfactory water supply.

PPRT Residents Deny Noh Omar’s Allegations

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PETALING JAYA, 1 Oct: So far, there has been no hike in the rental rates for the Lembah Subang Housing For the Poor Project (PPRT).

Most of the residents met denied the increase in rental rates as claimed by the Chairman of the Selangor State Federal Action Council (MTPNS), Datuk Seri Noh Omar recently.

The head of Block H, Rahman Aman, 56, said that the rental rate at the PPRT has been the same since year 2000.

“The rental rate for those eligible is still at RM124. Meanwhile for outsiders, the rent is RM250,” he said when met.

Rahman said that so far, he has not received any notice or information regarding the rental rates at the PPRT.

“Most outsiders who rent at RM250 need to discuss with the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to qualify them for a lower rental rate.

“MBPJ will look at the household income, so they cannot recklessly claim that their rental rates are higher than others,” he said.

Meanwhile, a resident who only wanted to be known as Yop, 34, confirmed the matter.

Yop who has been living at the PPRT since 2001 said that MBPJ has certainly not raised the rent.

“I have lived here since I was still single. There has never been an increase in rental rates,” Yop said.

The rental rate set at the PPRT is based on the family income.

The rate of RM124 is for squatter residents living in the area which was developed into the PPRT.

Meanwhile, the RM250 rental rate is for new tenants.

Secretary to the Executive Councillor in charge of Building Management and Urban Settlement, Kamaruzaman Ahmad Nor, said that the renal rate for the PPRT still remains at the rate of RM124 per month.

Previously, Datuk Seri Noh Omar claimed that the State Government oppressed the residents of PPRTs, especially in Lembah Subang, when they failed to maintain facilities but increased the rent.

He claimed that the rental rates have been increased from RM124 (during the Umno-BN era) to RM250 currently.

Will BN Raise Petrol Prices after the Sungai Limau By-Election?

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SHAH ALAM, 29 Sept: Although there have been no announcement regarding an increase in oil prices which is causing a stir on social media websites, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Consumerism Bureau expects that the government will once again raise the price of petrol and diesel in the near future.

Its Director, Yahya Mat Sahri, said that the increase in fuel prices is difficult to be averted due to the weakness of the leaders’ financial management and corruption practices in the Umno-BN government.

“This is due to the depreciation of our currency which needs to be supported, the unbalanced income and expenses, expenses that are too high and the national debt which is also too high, as well as corruption not being curbed.

“The government is desperate to find financial resources and eventually, they place the burden on the people.

If it is this way, then the government’s work is easy. There’s no need to find other solutions. As long as it is an economic problem, it is handed to the people to bear it,” he told TVSelangor.

Yahya did not rule out the possibility that the government will take into account the results of the Sungai Limau constituency by-elections not long before making the decision to raise the price of petrol.

He also condemned the statement by the Deputy Finance Minister, Datuk Ahmad Maslan, who gave the excuse that it is due to the increase in international prices.

“He said that the increase is to be in line with the international market price, but in fact, the current international oil market is down. It is only we who are raising prices,” he said.

In addition, he said that the reason for the increase to combat the smuggling of petrol at the border also does not make sense as the problem has been going on for decades.

“This is not a new thing. It has been going on for decades. Why has it not been overcome till now? Every time the issue of rising oil prices comes up, the issue of smuggling is brought up to be given as an excuse,” he said.

90 Residents of Paya Jaras to Receive Land Grants

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SUNGAI BULOH, 21 Sept: A total of 90 residents of Kampung Matang Jaya, Paya Jaras, were excited because their decades of waiting to own land grants will be fulfilled by the State Government.

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Resident, Manimegalaen, 35, said that he was deeply touched that the land that he has been occupying for over 20 years will be his.

“Finally, my dream of owning the grant of my own land after completing all matters this morning. Frankly, I feel very, very happy because I have been waiting a long time to own it,” he said.

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For Rajasami, 67, he said that the State Government’s efforts to give the right of possession to the residents must be commended because it proves the caring administration of Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

“I would like to especially thank the State Government and Tan Sri (Abdul Khalid) for proving the the State Government under his leadership always prioritises the people’s wants which were ignored by the previous government” he said.

Manimegalaen and Rajasami were met when settling the land ownership grant procedure which was done by the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) with the law firm involved at the Kampung Matang Pagar Public Hall near here today.

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Meanwhile, a resident, Ahmad Safie, 41, is of the opinion that the RM1,000 premium charged by the State Government does not burden the people who want to own their own land grants.

“Although the process is not yet finalised, I am willing to pay the RM1,000 because it is still affordable and I believe that other residents also agree with me,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Administrative Officer of PKNS, Ismarazi Ismail said that the acquisition of the land grants has to go through several levels before the residents can have the grants to their own land.

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He said that PKNS has always helped to facilitate the process by acting as an intermediary between residents and law firms, as well as the Land Office.

“The main purpose of our program today is to help facilitate the process of the land title so that residents need not be troubled to go to the law firm and the land office because many residents do not know the method and processes,” he said.

In the meantime, Ismarazi said that all residents are expected to own the titles to their own land in a month after all transactions are settled by the Land Office.

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Curb Snatch Thefts and Not being Busy ‘Taking Care’ of Deceased’s Ashes

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PETALING JAYA, 20 Sept: The police should be serious in curbing the rampant crime of snatch thefts, not busy preventing the entry of an individual’s ashes, said Haniza Talha.

“I urge for the community to pressure the security body to intensify efforts to combat cases of snatch thefts. (And) not wait at the Thailand border to make sure the ashes of the late Chin Peng does not enter the country.

“Instead, be more focused on community safety,” said the Assemblywoman for Taman Medan.

She said this at a press conference on the case of the death of a woman due to theft on 12 September here at Taman Sri Manja yesterday.

On 12 September, Go Lee Koon, 27, a bank agent, had her handbag snatched by two men on a motorcycle near Sri Manja Court around 9pm.

The victim who tried to avoid from having her handbag snatched suffered head injuries when her head was hit by the road divider and rushed to the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).

However, the victim died after being five days in a coma due to serious bleeding in the brain.

At the press conference, the Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Selatan, Hee Loy Sian, wants the police to be more serious in controlling crime as snatch theft is becoming more rampant.

“People are afraid to go out, especially at night, fearing for their lives and safety. The police need to act quickly,” he said.

He renewed calls to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) to approve the proposal to add more members of the auxiliary police in Petaling Jaya to fight crime.

“It is true that the MOHA approved the auxiliary police for the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), but it is limited to guarding MBPJ buildings only.

“We do not just want the auxiliary police to guard buildings, we want approval to allow for them to help the police protect the security of residents,” he said.

The victim’s father, Go Hong Zhen, 65, hopes that the police take his family’s case seriously so that the same incident does not recur.

“I accept (the death of his daughter) with an open heart. I cannot change this fate. However, I hope that the police would look after other people’s lives so that it does not happen to anyone else,” he said.

He said that snatch theft cases are not isolated cases, but cases such as this occur every day at Taman Sri Manja.

“Residents are in fear. Today, my daughter fell victim and died. What about tomorrow, or the day after? How would the fate of other residents be?” he said in tears.

Corruption Exposure, Mother’s Emotion Filled the 2nd Day of the People’s Tribunal

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(ANALYSIS)

A total of seven witnesses testified on the second day of the GE-13 People’s Tribunal.

The hearing this time was shocked with the testimonies of several witnesses, but was also emotional when the murder case of a campaign worker was heard.

The exposure began with three five-minute videos on the commotion at the Tapah parliamentary electoral process brought by candidate, Vasantha Kumar, which was shown to the tribunal panel.

It showed Vasantha and his supporters being chased off from the vote counting centre.

Mother of that late K Murugan, who was murdered, Rajamah Pachiapan testified emotionally regarding the murder while sobbing uncontrollably.

K Murugan, aged 36, was the personal bodyguard and campaign worker of the Tapah parliamentary candidate, Vasantha.

His body was found near the Bemban Industrial Park pond in Batu Gajah on 1 May, with injuries and his body was slashed and tied with wires.

Rajamah revealed that her son received death threat calls before being murdered.

Yasmin Masidi then presented Permantau’s report throughout the GE-13 as a result of feedback from 3,000 volunteers who monitored the nomination day, the campaign period and the voting.

The results of the report were comprehensive and not biased towards the government or the opposition.

The Director of the Merdeka Centre programme, Ibrahim Suffian then testified on the process of the early voting which could have determined victory in 30 parliaments and the role of the interim government in the election.

A native from Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Norman son of Kong, shocked the audience when he admitted to being paid RM20 if he voted for BN, and was promised another RM80, which has yet to be paid.

“Another promise not kept,” he said.

Another witness, Datuk Abdul Halim Hussin revealed BN’s behaviour in giving out vouchers to voters to be cashed if BN won the election.

The PKR candidate for the Teluk Bahang Parliament personally went to the location to cash the vouchers, and also brought video evidence.

People’s Tribunal: Native Man Admits Being Paid RM20 to Vote for BN

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SUBANG JAYA, 20 Sept: An individual received RM20 to vote for BN, but the remainder RM80 has not been paid till now, said a native man to the People’s Tribunal.

Norman son of Kong from Kuala Lipis, Pahang, informed that Barisan Nasional (BN) made a lot of promises during the election which has not come to pass.

“They have said things like BN promises to help make roads and house if we support them,” he said, adding that the promises were then broken.

Norman admits that he was only paid RM20 despite being promised RM80 is he voted for BN, but it was just added up to another promise not kept.

“Palanivel arrived in a helicopter and promised to build our roads if we voted for BN.

“Palanivel said that if we did not vote for BN, government services, including medical services, will not be provided.

“The villagers were told that if we voted for BN, we will receive RM1,200 of the BR1M rather than the RM500,” Norman said.

LZS Presents Aid to 210 Storm Victims

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SHAH ALAM, 19 SEPT: The difficulties of 210 residents in Meru, Klang, whose homes were damaged by flood due to the storm recently, received sympathy from the Selangor Zakat Board (LZS).

Consequently, they have been presented RM300 each which was delivered by the Assemblyman for Meru, Dr Abdul Rani Osman, who wanted to bring the matter to the Selangor State Assembly (DNS) session.

“The incident this time was more of a storm. There are areas which we have identified to face floods every time it rains,” he said mentioning that the problem of flooding in several key locations have been resolved.

He will hold a joint meeting with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to solve the problem in the new area.

Resident, Abdul Muhit Karmain who has been living in Taman Meru Indah, Klang for seven years described that his first experience with floods and storms was unforgettable.

What’s more is that the whole family was holding an open house in conjunction with the Aidilfitri celebration during the incident. Even the tents for guests were blown away by the storm.

He estimated the losses to amount to RM5,000, including the damage of the roof and electrical goods.

“The incident took place on 1 September. I installed a tent. The tent flew and the all the food got wet. Many items could not be saved,” he said.

For Mohd Nasir Saad who has been living at Jalan Kasim Meru for four years hopes that the drainage system can be repaired and upgraded so that flooding can be avoided.

He admitted that he faced flooding twice a year as he lives near the drain which is the water system route.

“I was at a neighbour’s hours. Suddenly there was a storm and rain. Less than 30 minutes, the roof was blown away and we worked together to help our neighbour,” he said.

First Witness of the People’s Tribunal Reveals Phantom Voters in a Bus

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PETALING JAYA, 18 September: The Member of Parliament for Klang, Charles Santiago, became the first witness of the People’s Tribunal proceedings, an initiative of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0), starting from 18 to 22 September.

Charles, in his testimony submitted a complaint regarding the registration of 60 voters at an address in the Klang Parliamentary constituency in the 13the General Election.

Charles explained that he also submitted a complaint regarding dubious voters to the Election Commission (EC) but the EC stated that the names of the dubious voters were already gazetted and cannot be removed.

Charles also revealed that there were foreign workers paid by certain parties to vote in the last general election. He also revealed to the tribunal the incident where the public in Pandamaran stopped a bus carrying people believed to be phantom voters on 5 May.

About 100 people followed the tribunal’s proceedings which was located at the Throne Room at the Empire Hotel in Subang Jaya, starting from 9 am to 5 pm.

It will also be broadcast live on TV Selangor at www.selangorku.com and through the official People’s Tribunal radio station at www.radiobangsarutama.com

Six famous individuals who are qualified will be part of this Tribunal, three from abroad and three from Malaysia.

They will sit in session to receive, review and investigate reports from the public and they will finally issue a report to the public.

The three individuals from abroad are; former UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cambodia, Yash Pal Ghai, the former Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission in Indonesia, Ramlan Surbakti, and Kraisak Choonhavan, the former President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC).

People’s Tribunal to Reveal GE-13 Fraud to take place on 18-22 September

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SHAH ALAM, September 17: Members of the public are invited to follow the proceedings of the People’s Tribunal, an initiative of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) starting from 18 to 22 September, at the Throne Room at the Empire Hotel in Subang Jaya.

The Tribunal will start at 9am to 5pm.

It will also be broadcast live on TV Selangor at www.selangorku.com and through the official People’s Tribunal radio station at www.radiobangsarutama.com

Six famous individuals who are qualified will be part of this Tribunal, three from abroad and three from Malaysia.

They will sit in session to receive, review and investigate reports from the public and they will finally issue a report to the public.

The three individuals from abroad are; former UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cambodia, Yash Pal Ghai, the former Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission in Indonesia, Ramlan Surbakti, and Kraisak Choonhavan, the former President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC).

For further information and queries, please contact the organising secretariat at 03-77844977 or via email at [email protected]

#BantahTPPA & #AntiObama Tour Launch Tonight at Taman Melati, Wangsa Maju

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After the end of the #Black505 tour which saw some featured assemblies in mid-June, the fight between the oppressed and the tyrannical government is seen as being lifelessly cold. On top of this gloom, advantage has been taken by rulers to continue to oppress people who are aware that flak from the people is starting to slow down.

Youth Solidarity Malaysia (SAMM) does not take this situation lightly and has thus brought a new fight to being the people together to oppose oppression. The environment of public lectures which has all this while been a platform for information dissemination will be revived.

So starting today, SAMM, together with their partners will tour the country in a tour to mobilise the opposition against the TPPA agreement and to protest President Obama’s visit to Kuala Lumpur on 10-11 October. The tour will also be heated with several current issues including the issue of the rise of petrol prices and the imprisonment of 13 democracy fighters.

The #BantahTPPA and #BantahObamaKLCC organised by SAMM and SMM in collaboration with the Task Force Against TPPA which consists of the Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM), will visit 13 locations throughout the country before returning to Kuala Lumpur at the climax stage which may bring together two of country’s biggest personalities. This tour will also ensure that people from all over the country will move and reach Kuala Lumpur on 11 October for an assembly in KLCC ‘welcoming’ the American President, Barack Obama in its own way.

The launch of the #BantahTPPA tour will take place tonight at Taman Melati, Wangsa Maju, organised by the Federal Territory SAMM headed by Dr Azmir Hj Mustaffa in collaboration with the Wangsa Maju PKR.

The launch stage which will be shaken by YB Tian Chua, Dr Hatta Ramli, che’GuBard, Hishamuddin Rais, and student representatives, Safwan Anang and Adam Adli. Also to be on stage are representatives of the #BantahTPPA NGO including Nizam Mahshar (MTEM), Cikgu Azmi (MAPIM), Syed Ibrahim (IKRAM), Azlan Awang (Blindspot), Sivarajan (JERIT), and Anas (Blindspot).

SAMM invites all to attend to digest together information about the TPPA agreement and current issues which are hot. The awareness festival will be lighted up again even though at the beginning it will be mostly lectures, but it is enough to re-ignite public anger. Enough of the break, it is time to mobilise the mass to save the country.

Edy Noor Reduan
Director of Propaganda
Youth Solidarity Malaysia (SAMM)
After the end of the #Black505 tour which saw some featured assemblies in mid-June, the fight between the oppressed and the tyrannical government is seen as being lifelessly cold. On top of this gloom, advantage has been taken by rulers to continue to oppress people who are aware that flak from the people is starting to slow down.

Youth Solidarity Malaysia (SAMM) does not take this situation lightly and has thus brought a new fight to being the people together to oppose oppression. The environment of public lectures which has all this while been a platform for information dissemination will be revived.

So starting today, SAMM, together with their partners will tour the country in a tour to mobilise the opposition against the TPPA agreement and to protest President Obama’s visit to Kuala Lumpur on 10-11 October. The tour will also be heated with several current issues including the issue of the rise of petrol prices and the imprisonment of 13 democracy fighters.

The #BantahTPPA and #BantahObamaKLCC organised by SAMM and SMM in collaboration with the Task Force Against TPPA which consists of the Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM), will visit 13 locations throughout the country before returning to Kuala Lumpur at the climax stage which may bring together two of country’s biggest personalities. This tour will also ensure that people from all over the country will move and reach Kuala Lumpur on 11 October for an assembly in KLCC ‘welcoming’ the American President, Barack Obama in its own way.

The launch of the #BantahTPPA tour will take place tonight at Taman Melati, Wangsa Maju, organised by the Federal Territory SAMM headed by Dr Azmir Hj Mustaffa in collaboration with the Wangsa Maju PKR.

The launch stage which will be shaken by YB Tian Chua, Dr Hatta Ramli, che’GuBard, Hishamuddin Rais, and student representatives, Safwan Anang and Adam Adli. Also to be on stage are representatives of the #BantahTPPA NGO including Nizam Mahshar (MTEM), Cikgu Azmi (MAPIM), Syed Ibrahim (IKRAM), Azlan Awang (Blindspot), Sivarajan (JERIT), and Anas (Blindspot).

SAMM invites all to attend to digest together information about the TPPA agreement and current issues which are hot. The awareness festival will be lighted up again even though at the beginning it will be mostly lectures, but it is enough to re-ignite public anger. Enough of the break, it is time to mobilise the mass to save the country.

Edy Noor Reduan
Director of Propaganda
Youth Solidarity Malaysia (SAMM)

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Tekun: Additional Funds of RM700 Million Means Nothing if it is for Umno Political Interests

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SHAH ALAM, 14 SEPT: Additional funds of RM700 million for the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun Nasional) will not achieve its objective of uplifting the proletarian Bumiputera economy if the fund continues to be an Umno political tool.

Member of Parliament for Sungai Petani, Datuk Johari Abdul said that funds like that should help all Bumiputera irrespective of political affiliation, when there have been complaints that applicants are required to become members of Umno.

The increase in funding for Tekun was announced by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday as a part of the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment Agenda. Claims that there is a requirement to be a member of Umno, he stressed, will only allow for members of Umno to benefit from the increased funding for Tekun.

“PKR does not oppose an increase of Tekun funding at all because Tekun is supposed to be for small Bumiputera entrepreneurs but the Prime Minister should implement it by being ‘colour blind’ towards political affiliations.

“This fund cannot only be chanelled to Umno members only. It is not comprehensive to Bumiputera entrepreneurs because non-Umno members also pay taxes. They cannot be excluded in enjoying benefits provided by the government,” said Johari to TVSelangor.

Johari added that the Central Government should also focus on the quality of entrepreneurs through continuous proactive strategies.

Johari added that the government’s failure to take effective measures will not only lead to the failure in the development of entrepreneurs, but Tekun also needs to deal with the issue of entrepreneurs failing to repay loans granted.

“We do not want for an entrepreneur today to produce chips traditionally and the same way in 15 years. He should be using machines to label, pack and is able to already market his products in huge supermarkets.

“Relevant agencies cannot wait at the office for an entrepreneur to visit, but they need to go down to the field to identify who should be assisted in terms of knowledge, including marketing and equipment such as machines,” added Johari.

Yesterday, when announcing the increase of RM700 million in funding for Tekun, Najib aimed for the number of Tekun entrepreneurs to increase to 270 thousan from 2013 to 370 thousand in 2015.