Chinatown grateful for political attention

KUALA LUMPUR: Citizens of Chinatown are hoping that the extraordinary attention they are getting from politicians will result in their heritage remaining intact.

They do not seem bothered about the motives of those rushing in to offer sympathy or help in the face of the government’s apparent determination to acquire their properties so that the My Rapid Transit (MRT) project could proceed. All they want is for the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to change its mind about taking over their land and their shops and changing the face of Chinatown.

That fear of losing their heritage took on a definite shape this month when SPAD sent letters asking them for land-ownership documents for “valuation purposes”.

Since then, or even earlier, politicians from both sides of the fence have been descending on Chinatown, talking to the denizens and then making statements to the press.

“We don’t care whether it’s MCA or DAP; we just want someone to help us preserve our heritage,” said Daniel Wong, who owns the Nu Lycie complex of shops.

“This is our business, our life. And it’s not just a Chinese problem; Chinatowns are part of the Malaysian heritage.”

Judy Lam, a co-owner of Hotel Lok Ann, had similar sentiments.

“Whether a politician has ulterior motives or not, it is not for us to judge,” she said. “What is important is that he delivers by helping us. A politician is just someone who may have the resources to help our community.”

SPAD is eyeing 34 lots in the Jalan Sultan and Jalan Petaling area, where it plans to dig tunnels and build a MRT station. It has not confirmed whether it will demolish or preserve the old buildings there.

Many of the lot owners are dismayed that SPAD had waited until what seemed to be the very last minute to notify them about the land acquisition.

The Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit says political interest in the issue gives some benefit to Chinatown, even if the interest is selfish.

“If the politicians had not come on board, the land acquisition would have just proceeded, and we might not have occasion to suspect any hanky-panky,” said Rajiv Rishyakaran, a spokesman for the association.

He criticised what he said was SPAD’s lack of transparency, questioning why it had not gone public with feasibility studies, if any, or given plausible reasons for wanting to take over Chinatown.

Tarikh : 4hb. Disember 2011 (Hari Ahad)

Masa : 7.00 pagi

Tempat : Kompleks Sukan MPSJ, Subang Jaya.

Given the controversies arising from construction and implementation of Malaysia’s largest infrastructure project, the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) system, DAP will be organizing an English forum entitled “MRT: Are Malaysians Taken for a Ride” to discuss the project.

The controversies arising from the project would include, but are not limited to the disputed land acquisition exercise in Chinatown and Bukit Bintang, the planning and implementation process as well as the transparency and governance relating to the award of projects.

The details are as follows:

Date: 26 September 2011

Time: 7.30 pm

Venue: KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Jalan Maharajalela, Kuala Lumpur

The panel of speakers will include:

• Nurul Izzah Anwar, MP Lembah Pantai
• Fong Kui Lun, MP Bukit Bintang
• Tony Pua, MP Petaling Jaya Utara
• Rajiv Rishyakaran, Association For The Improvement of Mass Transit (TRANSIT)
• Goh Bok Yen, Land Use & Transportation Planning Consultant

We have also sent an invite to the Chairman of Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar or its representative to be a panelist for the forum. We look forward to SPAD’s participation to explain the various positions taken by the Government on the project to date.

SUBANG JAYA

TWENTY months after 'successfully introducing the onehour parking limit system in the Taipan commercial zone at USJ 10 here, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) has extended the system to heavy traffic areas, such as USJ 15, USJ 16 and USJ 17, and next to be covered could be Puchong Jaya and Bandar Kinrara.

"We plan to amend our bylaws under the Road Transport Act 1987 so we could extend the hour long parking system to new areas," said council deputy president Abdullah Marjunid yesterday.

"Since we launched the onehour parking system on a three-month trial basis in USJ Taipan from January 2010, we have found it to be effective as motorists have to vacate their parking spots within an hour or risk having their vehicles clamped."

He said those who needed to park longer could use the multi-storey car park in the Taipan commercial zone.

The council's public relations officer Asfarizal Abdul Rashid said once the hour-long parking system is implemented in heavy traffic areas, parking should be less of a headache.

Council enforcement officer Ainul Sani said there were 1,800 parking bays at USJ Taipan and illegal double-parking is at its worst from 11am to 2pm during working days.

"Our tow trucks roam this area. Motorists who frequent this area are well aware of the risk of having their vehicles towed away if they doubleparked," he said.

"USJ Taipan is meant to be a pedestrian boulevard where double-parking inconveniences other motorists and pedestrians alike."

In a random survey at USJ Taipan yesterday, The Malay Mail found motorists generally supportive of the one-hour parking system.

Kevin Nam, 35, a USJ 15 resident, applauded the council's enforcement for the one-hour parking system.

"Those who do quick errands will find paying 50 sen for an hour of parking reasonable rather than paying RM2 to RM3 per hour at private car parks," he said.

"However, double-parking remains a constant problem due to inconsiderate motorists."

To encourage offenders pay their current and outstanding summonses, MPSJ extended its RM10 discount period, which began earlier this year.

This grace period ends later this month.

SJ Echo column, September 2011

I have to admit that before Mac 2008, I had heard of 3C, but didn’t know what it was all about. And most people I met also may have heard of it, but did not really know where it is or what it is. 3C is short for Children’s Creativity Center (however, just last month is has had a name upgrade to Children and Community Creativity Center). It’s the colourful building with high walls that sits on a 5-acre piece of land along the NPE, after Sunway Pyramid before the Millennium Park.

Turns out, contrary to public opinion, the complex is decently utilized, and not abandoned or vacant. A number of organizations run various activities throughout the week. However, I acknowledge publicity of these has been lacking, and thus is it not surprising that community involvement has been rather low.

I have been recently appointed to the Board of 3C. This year we have made a big change. An active citizen in my zone spoke to me at the beginning of this year about 3C, and subsequently, at his suggestion, I brought up the idea of admitting members of the public into the 3C Board. Previously, it was only made up of MPSJ staff and councillors.

We are also moving towards setting up a website and Facebook page. This is to promote both the facilities in the complex as well as the activities. But we need more involvement from the public for this place to truly succeed; after all it is a community center. Do tell us, what activities would you like to see organized? Or what facilities would you like to see in the community center?

In the aspect of the children’s creativity center, I admit that 3C is doing very poorly at the moment. I’ve been reading up on children’s creativity centers overseas, to get ideas over the long Hari Raya holidays. I think we can start with jungle gyms, art and craft centers, and a toy library/center among other ideas. It would be great to hear from parents – what would you like? Let’s move together on this as a community.

A pledge on rubbish

It’s sad that the township of Subang Jaya is still littered with sofas, mattresses and other rubbish by the road sides and by the playing fields. It seems that all efforts to bring about a change in behaviour, including efforts by the paper have fallen on deaf ears.
I understand some complaint that because Alam Flora does not collect certain rubbish in front of your house, you resort to dragging that rubbish to a tree by the road corner.

I would like to publicly offer and challenge all residents of my JKP Zone 3 (USJ2-15). Place your rubbish (garden waste and domestic waste) outside your house for the regular Alam Flora collection. IF Alam Flora doesn’t collect it, call me (012-3111585, rajiv@mpsj.gov.my), and I will attend to it. If you are disposing bulky waste (mattress, cupboard, sofa, etc), please call 1800-880-880, and if Alam Flora doesn’t send over a lorry to pick it up, call me, and I will intervene.

I hope we can make progress on this; after all, it’s to our benefit, to live in a clean and beautiful environment.

The finals have been postponed to this coming Sunday, 11th Sept, same time and venue.

See you there!