This is one of the moves that we have taken as a new government, to update the regulations to suit the real demand from the public.

Outdoor dining is very popular in Malaysia, from the mamaks to kopitiams to even higher end outlets such as Papparich.

With this policy, which was approved by MPSJ some months ago, and endorsed by the State Government recently, we can legalize all the outlets who want to put tables outdoors.

Of course, MPSJ will evaluate suitability before approval.

This will help operators operate legally, and also cut down instances and allegations of corruption by our officers.

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MPSJ legalises sidewalk dining
Writer: Gan Pei Ling (Selangor Times)
Published: Fri, 23 Dec 2011


SUBANG JAYA: A move to legalise and regulate outdoor dinning at eateries in the municipality is winning is being applauded by restaurant owners.

Subang Jaya Coffeeshop, Bar and Restaurant Association committee member Danny Lim welcomed the decision by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ).

“This will benefit around 6,000 to 8,000 eateries in the municipality,” said Lim.

Under the new policy, owners can legally apply to MPSJ to place tables and chairs on five-foot ways outside their restaurants during their operating hours.

Despite being unlawful, dinning along sidewalks is a common practice not only in Subang Jaya but throughout the country.

“Now we can apply for the permit instead of paying summonses every month,” said Lim.

He added that it would also help to reduce corruption, as some restaurant operators would rather bribe enforcement officers than pay the summons that could accumulate to thousands of ringgits a year.

MPSJ councillor Pooi Weng Keong and Subang Jaya assemblyperson Hannah Yeoh announced the new policy at a press conference last Friday.

“Previously, the operators were only allowed to place tables and chairs on five-foot ways from 6pm to midnight. They have to remove them after midnight and during daytimes.

“But after a dialogue with the operators in February 2011, taking into account their feedback, MPSJ decided it is more appropriate to base the permit on their respective operating hours,” said Pooi.

However, he noted that food outlets cannot take up all the space on five-foot ways, and must still leave a walkway for pedestrians. Otherwise, their permit could be revoked.

The new policy will affect eateries in Subang Jaya, Bandar Sunway, Puchong, Seri Serdang and Seri Kembangan.

Pooi said restaurant operators, including those that open round-the-clock, can start applying for the new permit with immediate effect.

“The fee is RM30 per table per month,” said Pooi, adding that operators must secure the new permit by March 2012.

Signalling to MPSJ Enforcement that illegal dumpers can be traced and can be caught. We need to start enforcing to produce good behavior.



Published: Fri, 21 Oct 2011

SUBANG JAYA: Homeowners who unwittingly left their addresses in piles of trash got a visit from an irate Hannah Yeoh last Saturday.

The Subang Jaya assemblyperson, accompanied by Subang Jaya Municipal councillors Dr Loi Kheng Min and Rajiv Rishyakaran, decided to confront the culprits in an effort to curb the irresponsible behaviour.

The culprits were identified by addresses on letters and receipts found in garbage bags tossed on sidewalks in SS18 and SS19.

The man who greeted them at the first house was confused and then embarrassed when told of the purpose of their visit.

“I didn’t even know about this, it was probably my wife. I am really sorry, I will talk to her,” said the man.

However, the next visit was less successful because the residents refused to answer the door.

Undeterred, they called the house using the phone number on a receipt found a few streets away, but were told that the people responsible for dumping the trash had all recently passed away.

“It seems that a call from us was like a call to heaven,” said Rajiv.

He pointed out that illegal dumping was due to the lack of civic-mindedness by sections of the community and not because of lack of action by MPSJ.

“If you doubt they are doing their job, come to me; I want everyone, especially the residents, to play their part in solving this issue,” he said.

Yeoh said she hoped the culprits realise that their actions affect the whole community.
“Confronting them will make them think twice,” she said.

I admit having your car towed is definitely not a pleasant experience. I had a taste of it once in SS15 Subang Jaya, while having lunch (parked hardly half hour). But I admit, by parking illegally, I did contribute to the congestion in SS15.

Sometimes we have to adjust. Maybe eat somewhere else. Maybe walk a little further. Maybe go at a different time.

At the same time, since I've been in MPSJ, I've been constantly raising issues pertaining to parking, getting MPSJ to improve allocation of bays for the public's convenience. You can read more here:
http://www.rajiv4malaysia.com/search/label/Parking

While a lot of "victims"/offenders are very angry at MPSJ, there are lots of business operators and public that are equally upset with MPSJ for not being strict enough.

Below is a blogpost by someone, and some answers to it.

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http://jsb-expansion.blogspot.com/2010/08/thoughtless-mpsj.html

1. It was towed because it was parked illegally. Too many people are ignoring the summons, its not effective enough as a deterrent.

2. Take it as part of the penalty. MPSJ is just recovering cost.

3. True, there should be improvement in this area. But if you call the police to report, they'll advice you that MPSJ has towed it.

4. The tow truck operators can only tow in the presence and command of a MPSJ enforcement officer.

5. I think you yourself is well aware that you did not park legally

6. Yes, those motorbikes are also parked illegally.

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Double-parkers beware, MPSJ promises swift action

BY LEVEN WOON ON 1 JUN, 2010 
TAGGED: DATUK ADNAN MD IKHSAN • MPSJ • MPSJ MONTHLY FULL BOARD MEETING • SAFE CITY PROGRAM • SUMMON LOCK
IN NEWS, SUBANG JAYA.

If this goes thru, at last MPSJ summons would have some bite, and this will help with enforcement and bringing order especially to commercial centers.

This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)
URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/19/central/6286711&sec=central

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REPEAT traffic and parking offenders beware — if an amendment of the Road Transport Act at the next Parliament session goes through, it will see the linking of local council summonses to road tax renewal.

Now, offenders need only settle summonses that are issued by the traffic police or Road Transport Department (JPJ) for offences like using a handphone while driving, speeding, not stopping at traffic lights or driving with an expired road tax, before they renew their road tax.

A local council issues summonses to offenders who do not pay for their parking, double park, or park at non-designated parking spots.
Gotcha!: Traffic offenders may have to settle their local council summonses before they can renew their road tax if an amendment to the Road Transport Act is passed at the Parliament session in June.
Traffic offenders will be slapped with a RM80 fine in areas under the Subang Jaya Municipal Council's (MPSJ) jurisdiction.

A grace period is given whereby they can appeal for their fines to be lowered if it is paid early.

However, many offenders choose to ignore the local council summonses as it does not affect their road tax renewal.

According to the MPSJ, the council issues an average of 17,000 traffic summonses a month, of which only 17% is settled.

The only way that the council can enforce its traffic and parking rules is to haul offenders to court, but there are limitations in terms of time and resources.

A source said a proposal was brought up during a recent briefing with the JPJ.

"If an amendment to Section 17(1)(d) of the Road Transport Act 1978 (Act 333) is passed at the next Parliament session in June, local councils would be able to link up with the JPJ.

"When that happens, offenders will have to settle their local council summonses before renewing their road tax.

"This link is necessary in urban councils where parking issues are especially rampant," he said.

Among the urban councils the source cited are the Petaling Jaya City Council, Klang Municipal Council, Kajang Municipal Council, Selayang Municipal Council and MPSJ.

There are about 150 local councils in Malaysia.
__________________________________________________________________________
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Have you paid up?

MPSJ gets tough with assessment tax defaulters

By: by Meena L. Ramadas (May 17, 2010)

MPSJ personnel seize a sofa from a furniture shop in Taman Puchong Prima.

THE Subang Jaya Muncipal Council (MPSJ) is cracking the whip on assessment tax defaulters, and residential areas will not be spared.

MPSJ Revenue director Sharifah Rohaida Abd Rahman said assessment tax is overdue on 30% of residential properties in the muni-cipality, which equates to about RM7 million.

"The total assessment tax from residential properties is approximately RM23 million a year," she said after an MPSJ operation to collect the overdue payments.

"We have been focusing so much on acq-uiring overdue fees from commercial prop-erties which have higher assessment tax, to the extent that residential property defaulters have been overlooked."

Sharifah said some home owners have not paid assessment tax for over 10 years.

She said the assessment rate for residential properties is 5% of the value of the property, vacant land: 2% of the value, and commercial properties 6% of the market value or rental income.

Tax is payable twice a year in January and July, and owners are given two months to settle the payments.

Sharifah said the council had issued 250,148 assessment bills amounting to RM74.7 million up to April 30, and collected 90% of taxes.

The MPSJ operation last week was con-ducted on 20 premises, nine of which were commercial properties with a total arrears of RM103,364.

The council seized four items from a fur-niture shop in Taman Puchong Prima whose owner had failed to pay assessment tax for four years, amounting to RM2,538.

Three sofa sets, each worth RM800, and a lounge sofa worth RM200 were seized as a guarantee for payment.

Sharifah said that if the owner did not pay the overdue sum in a week, the council would auction the items.

She said the operation started last month and will end on June 30.

Defaulters will be issued with notices. Sharifah said they would be given 15 days from the date on the notice to pay the outstanding sum, failing which the council will conduct property seizure.

"But we give them an additional seven days on top of the 15 days to pay up out of compas-sion."

Municipal councillor Cheah Sang Soon said the council was serious about collecting overdue assessment tax from residential home owners as people can afford to pay for it.

"People have a lackadaisical attitude as they think the council will not take action if they do not pay up," he said.

Cheah said that under Section 148, Act 171 of the Local Government Act 1976, the local auth-ority has the power to seize assets from a resi-dent or any party found to owe the authority assessment tax.

--- end ---    --- Article Information --- This article was emailed from Sun2Surf. Article's URL: http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=46835 

Sigh, despite creating parking space for heavy vehicles, they still refuse to park there and insist on creating congestion and unease in neighborhoods. The parking lot at TP2 is just less than 5mins away from his house in USJ12
This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)
URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/2/1/nation/5587284&sec=nation

A number of residents have raised the issue of dog poop, and why doesn't MPSJ force owners of dogs to scoop after their pets when they do their "business" in public areas.

1. I'm all for increasing enforcement - traffic, gambling, littering, dirty restaurants, etc. I've been very consistent on this in council meetings whenever enforcement is discussed

2. This increase can be done either by
a) increasing our staff
b) outsourcing

3. Increasing govt staff is not easy. We need approval from state govt and JPA. While most of us (me included) always feel that enforcement staff will automatically earn their keep by the amount of summons they issue, this is not really the case. Most summons go unpaid, as people don't fear it. MPSJ is dragging people to court, but as you can imagine, there's only a limited amount of people that we can prosecute per month, and somehow, despite doing this, it has not struck fear.

4. Since implementing the yellow tag for parking offences in Taipan, the payment rate for summons has gone up - 64% the last i heard. This is positive in helping the case of increasing enforcement.

5. As for outsourcing enforcement, a council meeting has recently directed the legal dept to study and present a paper on this matter by February.

6. Why can't we just go ahead? Well, because we are not sure what legal implications there might be, and instead of rushing into things, which may land us in court, cost us lots of legal fees and embarrassment, and may nullify all those summons issued. So, please give it some time.

7. Not all councillors are for increasing enforcement. In fact some are against it. Some prefer "education" (please lah, i think everyone knows they are committing wrong, and are just not afraid of getting caught). Others fear political backlash from strict enforcement.

So, this is not an easy battle. I am however determined to see it through.

Its a shame that in this rather educated neighborhood of USJ, there are still resident who resort to this... If you have any information of the culprits, MPSJ would be happy to take action. Else, to clean up, a simple complaint to MPSJ will get a response..

Issue Type: Problem to Solve

Background:

Ultimate problem:

1. loss of revenue to MPSJ

2. Business not being conducted within MPSJ regulations, often times causing inconvinience to others

- Lots of businesses (30-50%?) do not renew their business licence/signboard licence

- Restaurants who do not licence their outdoor tables

- advertising - billboards, banners, buntings, etc

Issue Type: Problem to Solve / Proposal for Improvement