JKP3 together with St Gobain Contruction & MPSJ launched the first public fruit orchard in JKP3 (USJ2-15) area. 100 fruit trees of various species provided by MPSJ were planted by volunteers from St Gobain Construction.

This is also significant, as since taking over as councillor in 2009, I've been highlighting the plot of land in USJ, which was under the administration of the Department of Civil Aviation, but was in ruins and unkept. We have been pursuing this matter and recently MPSJ has taken back the land, as DCA was not using it anymore.

Upon taking it back, we have restored it as a green land, this time by turning it into a fruit orchard.

This is the 2nd piece of land in zone 3 that has been restored as an open space, after the urban forest in USJ3C which was recently planted with 1111 forest trees.





By EDWARD R. HENRY ewdard@thestar.com.my

A PRIVATE firm has planted 100 fruit trees as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) project on a hillock off Jalan USJ2/2R.

The project, called People’s Orchard, was one of Saint Gobain Construction’s efforts to create a park for the public to come and relax.

Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh said that the top portion of the hillock that once housed radar equipment for the Department of Civil Aviation had been dismantled and the land handed over to the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ).

“With fruits trees grown on top of the hillock and a public park built around it, the park is now a good place for recreational activities. Trees like mango, ciku, soursop, honey guava, kedondong, rambutan and pulasan trees have been planted,” she said.

MPSJ councillor Rajiv Rishyakaran said people would be able to reap the fruits of this labour, literally, in years to come.

Earlier Yeoh, who met the residents living around the area, said she had come to check on the newly installed floodlights and two sets of park table/benches at the park that residents had requested a few months ago in a dialogue session.

“The RM8,730 for the one pole with two lamps and the RM5,000 for the two park tables and eight benches came from my service centre’s allocation. Now, I just want the people to care for the facilities. With the floodlights installed it would help to bring down the crime rate. On the issues of graffiti, vandalism and discarded broken bottles, we need the help of the Subang Jaya district police to conduct patrols in the neighbourhood,” she said.

Yeoh added that her approach has helped to build a strong network with the residents.

Resident Y. Sela said the added facilities and the fruit trees in the park made it a better place for walks in the morning and evening.

“We are a close knit community and improved facilities at a park will augur well as this will encourage neighbours to come out in the late evenings and mingle around,” he said.

Article Source http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/12/14/central/10089023&sec=central





Read more: Orchard crops up on vacant land - Central - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/orchard-crops-up-on-vacant-land-1.19856#ixzz2HNAOmEoB

The last remaining piece of unmarked land in USJ, situated between the TNB power lines and USJ3C along Persiaran Setia, will be developed into an Urban Forest. Since last year, the usage of this piece of land has been up in discussion, since the proposed private recreation development fell thru and was cancelled.

While private developers were eying the land (size about 5 acres) for various commercial development, JKP Zone 3 was determined to see it preserved as recreational for the benefit of Subang Jaya & USJ residents. Toying with the idea of an Organic Eco Farm, center for some cultural activities, and a green lung, the development of this recreational center is moving ahead this November with the phase 1: creating an urban forest.

What was great was MPSJ Town Planning Department also was moving along the same thinking lines as JKP, and they revealed earlier this year a suggestion to create the urban forest. Things got into motion with a meeting between MPSJ’s Town Planning Department, Landscape Department and JKP in March.

Since then, Rotary Club of USJ has come forth to volunteer to do tree planting, and the timing was perfect, and so, with that on 11^th November 2011 (11/11/11), JKP3, MPSJ & Rotary Club of USJ will be planting 1111 (yes, one thousand one hundred and eleven trees) at the site.

MPSJ is in the midst of preparing the trees to be planted, as well as the necessary earth works as you read this now. For Phase one, besides planting the trees, there will be an earth trail thru the “forest”.

Later, we aim to build some public toilets, maybe some picnic areas, and if we can get a suitable partner, start the Organic Farm, which will serve as some sort of plant and maybe animal museum to the city kids.

• Kasai - 100
• Merawan Siput Jantan - 200
• Chengal - 200
• Meranti Tembaga - 200
• Keruing Kertas - 200
• Pelong - 100
• Merawan Meranti - 100
• Kelumpang Jari - 11

While MPSJ does go in to clean up abandoned homes for the sake of the neighbourhood, the issue of claiming the cost remains. I personally feel that MPSJ must chase after this payments, for if not, we would be seen to encourage this bad behavior.

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Council incurring losses over abandoned homes

Writer: Brenda Ch'ng

SUBANG JAYA: Cleaning abandoned or empty homes is eating into council coffers, and the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) is trying to find a way to make irresponsible owners pay.

MPSJ has spent RM47,990 to clean the compounds of over 4,000 homes since 2007.

Cleaning includes the cutting of overgrown grass and clearing of drains to prevent disease-carrying insects or rodents from breeding.

The issue was disclosed at the council’s full board meeting on Wednesday.

effective plan to make people pay up, like maybe getting a court order, to tell residents they can’t get away with not paying,” said MPSJ councillor R Rajiv.

He said these irresponsible homeowners are taking the council for granted by expecting them to clean their yards every time a neighbour complains.

Some houses are even missing doors and roofs, making it uncomfortable for neighbouring residents.

“Most residents fear that these abandoned homes with overgrown grass may serve as a hiding place for robbers,” said Rajiv.

He said although it is expensive to sue all the homeowners, a solution is needed to compel payment.

MPSJ president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi (pic), however, is un- sure if getting the court involved is the right way forward.

“To sue them will cost us more then they owe as the legal fees are high. It just doesn’t make sense,” he said.

The council charges each house a fee of up to RM100 or more for cleaning, depending on the size of compound and amount of work needed.

These cleaning works are done by either council-appointed contractors or MPSJ’s own staff.

According to council protocol, homeowners will be issued a two- week notice to clean up their premises before the council steps in.

However, some homeowners are not contactable, while others rent out their property and are waiting for new tenants to clean up the house.

The council is still brainstorming on the best way to resolve this issue.

Please take note that leaving your running idle for more than 3 minutes if semi covered areas is against environmental regulation.

Continuing on from the YPSEA Climate Change Conference 2010, what can we (Malaysia/Selangor) do in the face of climate change

1. All development plans should be audited for environmental & climate impact
2. We need to start work on adaptation on our own (self financing if necessary) to face the inevitable climate change, while in parallel fighting climate change and climate justice on an international level.
3. Sustainable agriculture
4. Sustainable fisheries
5. Reducing pollutions from Megacities - public transport, emission limits, etc


Let it not be said that we did not do enough for climate justice

Do check out:

http://co2now.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions_per_capita
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CO2_per_capita_per_country.png

This should be the principle - the atmosphere belongs equally to all humans. However, from the CO2 emissions per capita in the links above, we can see that some countries are emitting far more than their fair share.

Malaysia is not the worst emitter of carbon. However,
1) We are definitely emitting above average
2) The overall emission is too high.

Thus, Malaysia needs to also play its part to reduce CO2 emission, for a sustainable future...

MPSJ bags clean award

By TAN KARR WEI
karrwei@thestar.com.my

I have just obtained from Alam Flora the work schedule for the public cleaning works (cut grass, road sweeping, drain cleaning) for Zone 3 (USJ2-USJ15). If you want to know what days in each month Alam Flora attends to your street, you can email me at rajiv@dapsj.com or message me on facebook.

Interesting...

Tree trivia

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.

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..