No assessment hike in Selangor since 2008, MCA’s Jessie Ooi should apologize for misleading remark

Ever since PR took over the administration of Selangor in 2008, the state government never raised a single sen in assessment rate in all the twelve local councils in Selangor, which is why the allegation made by BN Selayang coordinator Jessie Ooi that Selangor has raised the assessment rate is clearly misleading and incorrect.

Tow days ago, BN Selayang coordinator Jessie Ooi was trying desperately to explain her way out. Not only did she deny that she criticised the alleged increment in assessment rate in Penang during a debate between Lim Guan Eng and Chua Soi Lek, she pointed her finger at Selangor now, saying that when she mentioned about the increment in assessment rate, she was actually referring to Selangor and not Penang.

She became emotional during the debate and with a harsh tone questioned Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in the following manner:

"CM Lim, I am half a Penangite. Just now you said that you want to reduce the burden on the rakyat; and secondly, you said you all earned a lot of money. Now I am telling you, that you have misled the rakyat! This is because assessment rates have increased, prices of commodities have also increased!"

It is obvious that what Jessie Ooi said was that the assessment rate has "increased", but yesterday Jessie Ooi turned around and said that she was actually referring to Selangor instead of Penang. Netizens from Penang have since produced cogent evidence to refute the allegations made by Jessie Ooi.

As a result, and only after a few days have passed, that Jessie Ooi came up with the explanation that she was referring to Selangor and not Penang. I would like to ask Jessie Ooi, if indeed she was not referring to Penang, why did she even need to take 72 hours to clarify the said matter?

Jessie Ooi released a press statement 72 hours later and this is what she said in the press statement:

"Actually I was referring to Selangor PR Government’s unfulfilled election promise that if they were elected they would lower the Selangor’s assessment rate during the election in year 2008. This is an issue about the rakyat being dissatisfied with the Selangor PR Government. News report saying that I was referring to the Penang assessment rate is therefore incorrect."

Secondly, if indeed she was criticising Selangor, that Selangor PR Government failed to lower the assessment rate as promised, why, then, did she say that the assessment rate has "increased" instead of "not lowered"? Clearly "increased" and "not lowered" are two totally different and unrelated matters.

Thirdly, why did she put the blame on media for misreporting? Almost every single media, be it the newspapers, the internet or electronic media, have accurately reported her remarks at that point in time. Just because she has expressed it wrongly, she should not have blamed everything on the media; instead, she should apologise to the public immediately instead.

In fact, for almost four years since PR took over the administration of Selangor, it has never raised a single sen in assessment rate. Some local council have not revised their assessment rate for more than ten years, an example being the Kajang Municipal Council (Majlis Perbandaran Kajang or MPKj), which never raised its assessment rate since the year of 1985.

Ironically, some district council like Petaling Jaya City Council (Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya or MBPJ) has raised its assessment rate from 8% to 8.8% during the era of BN as Selangor government, despite fierce opposition from rakyat.

In contrast with the current situation after PR took over the administration of Selangor, MBPJ in 2009 actually lowered the assessment rates for high rise apartments and condominiums by 2%. This year itself MBPJ has also passed a policy, whereby property converted into energy efficient building will be entitled for rebate in assessments.

My statements above are backed by sufficient evidence to refute the criticism directed by Jessie Ooi towards the Selangor PR Government. However, I am wondering if Jessie Ooi could produce any evidence to support her claim that the Selangor Government has increased the assessment rate. If not, I strongly advise Jessie Ooi to issue a public apology for her misleading and incorrect remark.

市议员：归纳美容保健有如按摩业 市会应拟新中医条例

《南洋商报》雪隆 地方新闻 2011-12-23 17:03

（加影23日讯）加影市议员促请市议会拟定新的中医条例，避免把中医归纳美容和保健行业范畴内，以免中医师的地位如同按摩女郎，而且执照费也水涨船高！

加影市议会从2012年起将把中医的年度执照费调整至200令吉，撤销早前以店面面积计算执照费的作法，导致中医每年要支付高达1600令吉的执照费。

执照费太高

市议员李继香今日在常月会议上要求市议会拟定新的中医条例，而非受市议会现有的美容和保健条例管制。

“按美容和保健条例，中医每年的执照费可以高达1600令吉，因为条例如按摩般以店面的面积每平方尺计算，每10平方尺的执照费为100令吉。”

她说，中医在2010年更换商业执照时已投诉执照费太高，而且地位犹如按摩女郎般，要求市议会重拟中医条例。

“据了解，西医诊疗所和律师楼无需向市议会缴交执照费，为公平对待中医，加影市议员要求市议会也制定本身的中医条例。”

不满需体检

她说，每年12月15日起至2012年初，中医师必须向市议会更新商业执照。

加影、安邦和梳邦再也市议会早前出现中医师投诉地方政府商业执照费过高，并把中医纳入美容和保健条例管制范围的问题，一些业者也不满必须接受医生体检的要求。

哈山纳华威：旧条例管制中医

加影市议会主席拿督哈山纳华威说，市议会将采用旧条例管制中医师，即从2012年起中医师每年只需缴交200令吉商业执照费。

“根据2007年后的条例，中医执照费是根据店面的面积计算，但2007年的条例并未生效。”

他说，中医师投诉执照费高后，市议会议决沿用旧条例，即执照费每年200令吉。

每年花上千执照费

“一般的中医店面面积是20x70尺，以前的执照费每10平方尺100令吉，每年的执照费要花费上千令吉。”

他说，根据卫生部向41名中医展开调查时，发现80%的中医并无商业执照和没持文凭。

“卫生部规定中医进行体检以确定他们是否患病是好事，这可保障病人的利益。”

加影市议会◆常月会议◆

Kerajaan negeri tidak boleh tunduk kepada Alam Flora Sendiri Berhad

Ucapan ADUN Kampung Tunku Lau Weng San semasa membahas Enakmen Perbekalan Tambahan (No. 2) 2011 pada 11 Julai 2011 di Shah Alam:

Semakan kehakiman yang difailkan oleh Alam Flora Sendirian Berhad (AFSB) yang mencabar keputusan kerajaan negeri meminta semua pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) mengambil alih kerja-kerja pembersihan ialah satu tindakan berniat jahat dan bertujuan mengagalkan usaha mempertingkatkan mutu perkhidmatan yang lebih baik kepada pembayar cukai.

AFSB merupakan sebuah syarikat yang telah diberi konsesi pengurusan sisa pepejal dan pembersihan perbandaran oleh kerajaan persekutuan dan kerajaan negeri sebelum ini di negeri Selangor. Tujuannya adalah untuk mengambil alih tugas-tugas pengurusan sampah dan pembersihan perbandaran daripada PBT kepada sebuah syarikat swasta agar kualiti perkhidmatan dapat dipertingkatkan.

Malangnya, disebabkan tugas-tugas ini dipusatkan ke tangan sesebuah syairkat sahaja, iaitu AFSB dan bukan melalui tender terbuka, maka dalam keadaan kekurangan persaingan sihat, prestasi AFSB semakin merosot. Walaupun banyak aduan telah diterima oleh PBT terhadap AFSB ddan kontraktor-kontraktornya sejak 2008, AFSB seringkali memberi alasan bahawa banyak PBT di Selangor yang gagal menjejaskan bayarannya, sekaligus menjejaskan prestasi kewangan AFSB dan kontraktor-kontraktor yang dilantiknya.

Biarpun begitu, kualiti perkhidmatan AFSB di PBT-PBT yang menjelaskan bayaran kepada AFSB tepat waktu juga seringkali dipertikaikan. Ini berlaku kerana kerajaan negeri dan PBT tidak memainkan apa-apa peranan dalam pemilihan kontraktor-kontraktor AFSB. PBT-PBT selalunya hanya menjadi tukang bayar sahaja yang tidak memainkan sebarang peranan dalam perlantikan dan pemilihan kontraktor.

Ini menyebabkan ramai kontraktor yang tidak berdaya saing, khususnya mereka yang pernah berkhidmat dengan kerajaan lama terus dilantik. Ada pula mereka yang dilantik ini memberi kontrak kepada orang lain di mana mereka akan mendapat komisyen daripada sub-kontraktor. Sudah tentu sub-kontraktor tidak mampu memberi perkhidmatan yang baik apbila keuntungan yang mereka sepatutnya raih dikurangkan disebabkan sistem tender yang tidak telus ini.

Kerajaan negeri telah memutuskan supaya kerja-kerja pembersihan diuruskan sendiri oleh PBT manakala AFSB masih kekal menguruskan kutipan sisa-sisa pepejal. Keputusan ini adalah berpatutan. Jika AFSB tidak dapat menjalankan tugas mereka dengan baik, mengapa ianya pula tidak diserah balik kepada PBT melalui tender terbuka?

Melalui cara ini, semua kontraktor yang berminat perlu mengemukakan permohonan mereka melalui tender terbuka dan keputusan akan dilakukan oleh Jawatankuasa Tender dan Sebut Harga. Keputusan jawatankuasa ini perlu dibentangkan di mesyuarat penuh bulanan PBT. Semua ini dilakukan dengan cara terbuka dan orang ramai berhak mendapat maklumat lan jutan melalui Enakmen Kebebasan Maklumat.

Oleh itu, kerajaan negeri harus mencabar semakan kehakiman yang difailkan oleh AFSB dan pada masa yang sama mengarahkan semua PBT untuk segera mengambil alih kerja-kerja pembersihan dan mempelawa kontraktor-kontraktor yang berdaya saing untuk membida kerja-kerja ini.

前朝国阵县市议员没有选区、无需设立服务中心以及享有额外收入

马华雪州公共投诉局主任汤木以及前任州市议员林春景在4月1日通过记者会炮轰民联州政府提升县市议员的津贴。其中所提出的理由就是以前他们担任县市议员时即使以低微的津贴都能够维持对人民的服务。

汤林两人的言论严重其实已经误导读者。

第一、汤林两人尤其是前八打灵再也市议员兼百乐镇前州议员林春景是否忘记前朝国阵政府委任没有担任任何官职的国阵州议员出任县市议员？

由于当时的国阵州议员（行政议员除外）也兼任县市议员，因此国阵的州议员一个人领两份薪金，即从州政府领取州议员的津贴，还从地方政府领取县市议员的津贴。如此一来，出任县市议员的国阵州议员根本无需理会县市议员津贴的高低。

第二、前朝国阵县市议员没有获分任何选区管理。民联的县市议员规定必须领养选区，并定期主办活动和选民见面。地方政府也提供津贴给他们，好让他们能够聘请助理和设立里办公室，让他们能够更有效地服务选民。这一切都是前朝国阵时期不曾发生的。因此汤林两人的比较基础根本不能成立。

既然没有选区、没有办公室、没有服务中心以及没有助理，就等同于没有服务。既然没有服务，那么国阵县市议员何谈服务选民？

第三、前朝国阵县市议员享有许多‘额外’的收入，而这些收入是先有民联县市议员无法享有的收入。既然有了这些额外的收入，国阵县市议员何必要求辛辛苦苦提高议员津贴呢？

第四、既然民联执政之后，各个地方政府的财务表现多少都有改善。既然有改善，为何州政府不能调高县市议员的津贴呢？

第五、针对林春景指责县市议会没有足够拨款提升基本设备，反而提高县市议员津贴。我呼吁林春景律师能够拿出实际例子，而不是含糊带过。八打灵市议会拥有充足的拨款维修基本设备。那些在外谎称市议会没有足够拨款的人士并不了解市议会的运作而胡乱发言。

Kerajaan negeri perlu desak pilihanraya kerajaan tempatan

[Ucapan (3) Menjunjung Kasih Titah DYMM Sultan Selangor oleh ADUN Kampung Tunku Lau Weng San pada 29 Mac 2011 di Shah Alam]

Baru-baru ini , Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ) telah memulakan satu inisiatif yang baik dengan membenarkan dengan bersyarat penggunaan kaki lima untuk meletakkan kerusi dan meja untuk restoran pada masa-masa tertentu.

Kaki lima merupakan satu ciri-ciri yang terdapat di negara-negara jajahan British di Asia Tenggara, khususnya di Malaysia dan Singapura. Di Malaysia ianya dimulakan oleh Sir Frank Swettenham semasa menjadi Residen-Jeneral British di Selangor apabila beliau mendapati keadaan rumah kedai yang dibina di Kuala Lumpur pada masa itu berselerak dan kotor sehingga menyebabkan penyakit. Justeru itu, konsep kaki lima telah dimulakan di mana tempat selebar lima kali perlu disediakan semasa membina rumah kedai dan ianya perlu bebas daripada halangan untuk kemudahan pejalan-pejalan kaki. Oleh itu, adalah wajar peraturan lama ini dinilai dari semasa ke semasa mengikut peredaran zaman.

Cadangan ini merupakan satu lagi inisiatif bagaimana pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) mampu melakukan dari segi dasar untuk bertukar lebih responsif dan proaktif terhadap keperluan para peniaga kecil dan sederhana.

Kekurangannya ialah kadang-kala dasar-dasar yang baik ini hanya dilaksanakan di beberapa PBT sahaja. Oleh itu, saya mencadangkan kepada kerajaan negeri supaya dasar-dasar baik setiap satu PBT itu dikongsi dan dilaksanakan di setiap PBT bagi memastikan kebaikan dasar-dasar ini dinikmati oleh seluruh rakyat Selangor.

Contohnya, pelaksanaan e-submission untuk semua pelan dan dokumen kepada Jawatankuasa Pusat Sehenti atau OSC yang dilaksanakan oleh MPSJ pada permulaaannya, pelaksanaan tempat letak kereta berbilang tingkat oleh MBPJ,

Adalah amat jelas bahawa setiap PBT di Selangor mempunyai kelebihan dan ciri-cirinya yang tersendiri. Oleh itu, saya mencadangkan supaya kerajaan dapat mengadakan satu forum PBT yang melibatkan semua aspek PBT supaya mereka dapat bertukar-tukar idea and berfikir “outside the box”. Kerajaan juga boleh menjemput wakil PBT di luar Selangor malahan di luar Malaysia.

Kebaikannya ialah kita boleh menjimatkan wang melawat ke luar negara dan belajar daripada mereka dalam satu forum. Walaupun PBT masih boleh mengadakan lawatan mereka jikalau ianya betul-betul memerlukan dan kewangan PBT mengizinkan, tetapi saya rasa dengan adanya forum ini maka banyak idea dan perkara yang boleh kita melakukan untuk melonjak kedudukan PBT Selangor ke persada dunia.

Saya berasa syukur apabila elaun ahli majlis di Selangor telah diselaras sekali lagi mengikut kawasan kerana ini akan meringankan beban ahli majlis dan mengurangkan kejadian rasuah. Walaupun begitu, pilihanraya ahli majlis tidak boleh dilalaikan sama sekali. Saya sekali lagi menyeru kerajaan persekutuan dan kerajaan negeri untuk duduk berbincang bagaimana ini dapat dilaksanakan dalam masa terdekat.

Jangan kita biarkan cogan kata “Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan” sebagai kata-kata kosong sahaja sedangkan hak asasi rakyat untuk memilih ahli majlis di tempat mereka juga dicabul. Kerajaan persekutuan perlu memberitahu rakyat, kalau betul-betul mereka mendahulukan rakyat, adakah mereka bersedia untuk melonggarkan undang-undang yang sedia ada dan membenarkan pilihanraya kerajaan tempatan? Adakah kerajaan persekutuan berhasrat untuk memulihkan Akta Pilihanraya Kerajaan Tempatan 1960? Dimanakah keikhlasan kerajaan persekutuan?

Sudah sampai masanya untuk kita berjuang untuk rakyat dan mendesak kerajaan persekutuan bersetuju untuk mengadakan pilihanraya kerajaan tempatan. Kita tidak boleh duduk diam-diam lagi dalam hal ini sehingga rakyat menganggap kerajaan negeri tidak mengusahakan pemulihan pilihanraya kerajaan tempatan.

Businessman duped by fogging scam

Tuesday March 8, 2011

By CHRISTINA LOW
christinalow@thestar.com.my

CONMEN claiming to be from pest control companies are back at their old tricks.

Businessman Ong Kah Yong, who lives in Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya, fell victim to the scam last month when three men visited his house offering him a deal which sounded harmless at the beginning.

“They told me that Paramount was a dengue-prone area and they are representing the MBPJ (Petaling Jaya City Council) in fogging in the area.

“The men then asked me to write my name and address on a form and then sign it for record purposes,” said Ong.

Victim of scam: The form which Ong filled for the pest control company.
He said the trio were in uniform and even had name tags with their photos on it.

After signing the form, the men then asked him to pay a RM50 fee as fogging service for a year.

“Since it was a small amount I did not bother arguing with them,” said Ong who only realised the service may was a scam when he tried calling the phone number on the form but all calls went unanswered.

He then decided to bring the matter up to Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San to check if the council had such a service which needed residents to pay for fogging services.

Lau told reporters on Sunday that the council did not appoint any pest control company to carry out such a service.

“The council conducts its own fogging according to schedule and often gives priority to dengue-prone areas,

“We will never ask our residents to pay for the service,” he said.

Lau said he would check if the pest control company said to be based in Pandan Jaya, Ampang, was genuine.

He added that legal action would be taken by the MBPJ and he would raise the matter in the upcoming council meeting.

“Residents must be aware that the council will never ask residents money for fogging services and if they ever encounter similar cases they can inform the council or check with us by calling MBPJ’s hotline 03-79542020,” he said.

Residents in a ‘fog’ over pest control services

By Charles Ramendran (The Sun)

PETALING JAYA (March 6, 2011): Crooked individuals claiming to be appointed by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to carry out pest control services are making their rounds in townships here again, fleecing residents into paying them for their services.

The tricksters who come well attired and display an air of authority to convince residents often demand between RM30 and RM100 for their services which are often brief and shoddy.

Many of these men have also coerced residents into paying them by claiming that if they refused they could face heavy fines by MBPJ.

In the latest case on Feb 20, Section 20 resident and businessman Ong Kah Yong, 39, was fleeced into paying RM50 for pest control services by a group of men claiming to be from a company appointed by MBPJ.

“I was in a hurry and it turned out that I was the only resident in the area who paid them. They were smartly dressed and told me to fill up a form before demanding for RM50. They claimed the charges were for a whole year’s service. Though they claimed it was for fogging mosquitos, they gave me a receipt which stated the service was to rid my place of flies and for soil treatment.” he said at a press conference called by Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San and MBPJ councillor A.Jayaseelan at the DAP headquarters in Taman Paramount.

He said the men spent a few minutes spraying chemicals at his porch before leaving.

Two days later, suspecting something was amiss, he called up Lau and related his encounter with the men and learnt he had been cheated.

Lau said MBPJ had not appointed any third party company to provide pest control services and advised residents to be cautious of such groups.

He advised them to call the MBPJ hotline at 03-77542020 if such groups turn up at their doorstep.

A senior police officer from the district police headquarters who declined to be named said the case amounts to impersonation or cheating and police can take action against those concerned. -- theSun

Updated: 08:39PM Sun, 06 Mar 2011

Pressure mounts for Alam Flora to deliver

[By ELAN PERUMAL and CHOONG MEK ZHIN, The Star Metro]


THE pressure for Alam Flora Sdn Bhd (AFSB) to perform is mounting with local authorities playing the main role in taking action as the expiry date of the company’s annual contracts approach.

Recently, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) decided to take over the sub-contractor tender process from Alam Flora and change it to an open tender system.

The decision, which was deemed controversial, was suspended by the Selangor government but not before 61 contracts out of more than 240 were already awarded.

It was reported that once the three-year contract is awarded, revoking it is impossible. The MPSJ tender board comprising the council president, four councillors, state legal director, state director of quantity surveying and representatives from the State Economic Planning Unit (Upen) were said to have little knowledge on rubbish collection.


Team work: Alam Flora workers cleaning up the streets of Bandar Melawati, Kuala Lumpur commercial centre, during the recent gotong-royong with members of the community.
One of the council members, PAS representative Roslan Shahrir Mohd Shahir, defended the exercise, saying it was done after consulting the state government and Alam Flora.

According to councillor Pooi Weng Keong, AFSB was to be an observer on the board while previously it held the power to determine which company gets the RM70mil annual waste collection and cleaning contract in Subang Jaya.

However, he said AFSB’s commission remained the same as the operations manager in charge of monitoring and managing the sub-contractors.

He added that the process was supposed to have saved RM3.5mil in ratepayers’ money.

Meanhwile, the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) will be embarking on a pilot project to take over Alam Flora’s services after submitting a proposal to the state in January this year.

The project, to begin in June, will see the council, which was ranked worst in terms of waste management in a merderareview.com survey, take charge of 30% of the waste collection while the rest will be taken over gradually from Alam Flora.

MPKj president Datuk Hassan Nawawi Abdul Rahman said that they would meet with the Solid Waste Management Corporation (PPSPPA) for discussions and the council would need to purchase 46 compactors for RM11.5mil and hire 184 workers and drivers.

In Ampang, the proposal not to renew AFSB’s contract that ends in April was supported unanimously by Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) councillors.

The proposal was to be forwarded to the state government but council president Datuk Mohammad Yacob said the bulk of the money, RM35mil, used for solid waste collection and road cleaning would remain the same.

Contracts for each local council may differ in terms of the services provided, like in Petaling Jaya where AFSB was contracted by the Petaling Jaya City Council to remove illegal banners between 2009 and 2010, with their fees cut whenever a complaint is lodged.

In 2009, it was reported that handing the task of waste management to the local councils may result in people living on the outskirts of cities ending up with sub-standard services due to lack of resources.

However, the local council had handled waste management before AFSB was set up in 1998.

“There is some improvement since AFSB took over waste management. For instance, the trucks used by the then Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) were in a bad state,” All-Petaling Jaya Selangor Residents Association Coalition (Apac) adviser and former chairman Liew Wei Beng said.

Grass-cutting and other maintenance work that comes under the responsibility of Alam Flora also took a turn for the better though Liew said that there was still room for improvement.


Tedious chore: Alam Flora workers weeding the pavement in Bandar Melawati, Kuala Lumpur during the gotong-royong.
“As for the council taking back the job of waste collection, I believe it will be a costly move as they will need to purchase equipment and hire staff.

“It has also been some time since they did it and their lack of experience could make the move a bad one,” Liew said.

Alam Flora, however, has started to work on new ways to solve the problems they face including illegal dumping.

These steps include installing CCTVs at dumping hotspots as well as proposing innovative new ways of disposing trash by using bacteria.

Other plans for waste management include building incinerators which was a hot topic in Ampang during the MPAJ 2020 Draft Plan hearings that had both locals and people all the way from Petaling Jaya objecting both in person and through objection submissions.

The project is believed to be able to bring the cost of waste management down as waste transportation costs are high and the MPAJ does not have its own solid waste management centre.

All this is happening as the Federal Government, according to various reports, plans to take control of solid waste management in the peninsula by enforcing the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleanliness Act 2007 from April 1.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung had said that with full privatisation coordinated by the ministry’s Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Department, the appointed concessionaires would be subjected to a standard key performance index and have strict requirements to meet.

“Enforcing the Act means interim agreements between concessionaires of solid waste management facilities and local councils would be turned into concession agreements,” he said, adding that the status change enabled the companies to improve their services and apply for bank loans for upgrades or staff increase.

AFSB assumes the full spectrum of solid waste management operations in Selangor, Pahang, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya and handles 2.1million tonnes of waste annually from almost 8.7million customers, ranging from private homeowners to mega corporations.

Services rendered include cradle-to-grave waste management solutions, encompassing solid waste collection and recovery and final disposal of the waste.

The company also provides specialised services such as road sweeping, drain and tunnel cleaning, grass cutting, bulk waste collection, illegal waste clearing and post-celebration cleaning.

Workers straying from their jobs for a fast buck

[By ELAN PERUMAL and CHOONG MEK ZHIN, The Star Metro]

RECYCLING is a good practice but it becomes a problem when Alam Flora workers start doing it on taxpayers’ time while failing to complete their responsibilities.

This is what residents of Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya, claims is happening in their area.

Resident, Liew Wei Beng, who is also All-Petaling Jaya Selangor Residents Association Coalition (Apac) adviser, said the Alam Flora contractor in the area had been changed sometime in October last year.

“When the workers first started, they were very hardworking and residents enjoyed clean roads and excellent services. They even cleaned up the parks here,” he said.

According to Liew, it was about two months ago that the workers started recycling and that took up their time that should have been spent on other tasks such as sweeping roads.


Good collection: Alam Flora workers with their day’s collection of recyclable items.
“In the morning, before the garbage collection trucks come around, the workers will sweep the streets clean. However, now they go around rummaging through the trash for recyclables,” he said.

He also said that although grass-cutting was carried out in the park, the workers no longer cleared the cut grass.

In the afternoon, the workers can be seen going to recycling centres in nearby Taman SEA to sell whatever they have collected.

It was reported that the Petaling Jaya City Council’s (MBPJ) 2011 budget allocation for Alam Flora services such as drain cleaning, rubbish collection and park cleaning, saw an increase from RM12mil to RM60.38mil.

This is due to the increased number of contractors after a re-zoning exercise to achieve higher efficiency.


Liew: Alam Flora workers now busy looking for recyclable items.
Mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman was quoted as saying that the past two years had seen the MBPJ budgeting only RM48mil while it had to pay AFSB RM60mil.

“In fact, we have not increased the rates since 1997 despite numerous requests from Alam Flora,” Roslan said, adding that the new rates ensured contractors were paid according to an inventory to ensure they did the jobs assigned as opposed to giving them one lump sum.

He also said that the council’s expenditure on waste management was still among the lowest as compared to RM70mil spent by the Shah Alam City Council and the Subang Jaya Municipal Council.

Liew said residents were not getting their value for money, particularly when such incidents of workers shirking their duties took place.

”Alam Flora should be monitoring their contractors properly,” Liew said.

No termination plans, Alam Flora stays

[By ELAN PERUMAL and CHOONG MEK ZHIN, The Star Metro]

Alam Flora’s services are now under scrutiny and the state is working with the local authorities to improve on complaints.

THE Selangor Government has no plans to terminate the services of Alam Flora Sdn Bhd despite talk that this could happen.

However, the state feels that there is much to be done in terms of technicalities if the Federal government wishes to implement the Solid Waste Management Act 2007.

While the services of Alam Flora contractors are being scrutinised by the local authorities, state environment committee chairman Elizabeth Wong said the state had not made any decision to terminate the services of the solid waste management company.

She said Alam Flora had come under a lot of criticism due to ineffecient services provided by its contractors and the local authorities had the right to deal with the situation.

She also said there had been instances where the services of Alam Flora contractors had been terminated by the local authorities.

“The action taken by the local authorities should not be miscontrued as the state planning to terminate Alam Flora’s services.

“We are working closely with the local authorities to improve waste management services in their respective areas,” Wong said.

According to her, Alam Flora provided its services to 11 of the 12 local authorities in Selangor.

She said the Hulu Selangor District Council had refused to sign an agreement with Alam Flora from the very beginning.

“The council has its own garbage recycling centre and is able to manage its waste in a moderate way,” Wong explained.

She also said that the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) was carrying out a dry run to see how it could provide more efficient garbage management services in the municipality.

She said Kajang was unique as it had a wider area of coverage and faced a lot problems with garbage management.

“It has a number of illegal garbage disposal centres.

“This has led the council to try out something different in its bid to resolve the situation,” she said.

Wong also said the state was unhappy over several key issues related to the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Act.

She said there were many grey areas that needed to be addressed, especially the type of services to be offered by Alam Flora.

“The Federal Government wants Alam Flora to take over everything including grass-cutting and beach-cleaning services.

“We want to know how services like these are under the ambit of the Act,” she said.

Meanwhile, an official from Alam Flora said the company had no final say in the appointment of the contractors.

“We submit a list of contractors to the local authorities and they are the ones who make the appointments.

“They will update us with the list of the appointed contractors and we do the monitoring,” he said, adding that Alam Flora received between four and five percent as management fees for its role.

Support the call for setting up a special fund to assist Muslim workers in making halal livings

I support the call from the Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim three days ago to set up a special fund to assist Muslim workers in making livings through halal means. I urge the Federal Government to support the call and provide financial assistance to the fund as it will be the first in Malaysia. I will also contribute to the fund out of my constituency development fund.

Certain mainstream media highlight the issue but blow it out of proportion to the extent they give their readers an impression that the state government is undermined. For example, a media reported that there was an “U-turn” made when the state government orders Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) to withdraw the controversial ban on Muslim workers from working in outlets selling alcoholic drinks. An “U-turn”, like in the case of Goods and Service Tax (GST), is only made only if the state government withdraws its directive to MPSJ, which does not take place in this case.

An editorial even criticized Pakatan Rakyat for being immature in governing the state government when it claims that “the Pakatan Rakyat government in Selangor has saddled itself with numerous inconsistencies and reversals”. If PR government in Selangor is immature due to “numerous inconsistencies and reversals”, the BN government in Putrajaya risks of being a fail government due to countless inconsistencies and reversals.

Meanwhile, it is time to compare the content of the enactment (in particular section 18 of Selangor Syariah Criminal Enactment 1995) and the ruling of MPSJ. Section 18 of the Enactment is a special section on drunkening (alcoholic) beverages. The controversial MPSJ ban is based on Section 18(2) which mentions: “Mana-mana orang yang membuat, menjual, menawarkan untuk jualan, mempamerkan untuk jualan, menyimpan atau membeli apa-apa minuman yang memabukkan adalah melakukan suatu kesalahan dan apabila disabitkan boleh didenda tidak melebihi lima ribu ringgit atau dipenjarakan selama tempoh tidak melebihi tiga tahun atau kedua-duanya.”

It means it will be an offence for a Muslim who produce, sell, offer to sell, exhibit to sell, store or buy any drunkening (alcoholic) beverages and the person who found guilty will be fined no more than five thousand ringgit or jailed no more than three years or both.

Literally this section of the enactment itself does not specifically spell out that Muslims are banned from working in outlets which serve alcoholic drinks. Alcoholic drinks sold in an outlet to its customers are considered to be sold by the outlets or the owners of the outlets, and not the workers of the outlets. Moreover, if Muslim staffs do not handle or manage alcoholic drinks in these outlets, is Section 18(2) of the Enactment still applicable to them?

The questions that there could be some Muslims who have been working in these genuine outlets like TGI Friday for the past 14 to 17 years and employers risk breaching labour law when they have to forcefully terminate their Muslim employees and breaks their rice-bowls.

Already there are calls for employers not to look at skin colour when advertising jobs. Wordings like “for Chinese only”, “for Bumiputera only” or “for Mandarin-speaking applicants” are also not advisable. Therefore the authority should not further aggravate the situation by creating more job segregation with such ban without proper legal consultations and case studies.

The best MPSJ can do is to consult legal experts on the matters before making such decisions. Better still, MPSJ should conduct studies in other Muslim-majority countries or states on how sales of alcoholic drinks are regulated without creating unnecessary inconveniences. The best example is the implementation of “self-regulating” measures taken by Shah Alam City Council which works very well for all stakeholders including religious groups and convenient stores operators.

I must stress that regulating the sales of alcoholic drinks is not something new even in western countries as there are Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission in certain states in USA to provide uniform control over the sale, purchase, transportation, manufacture, consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages in the state.

Finally, the social problem that none of us can deny is the consumption of alcoholic drinks by underage teenagers in public space. I stress that this is the REAL problem which should not be compromised by unnecessary politickings and fact-distorting media reports. This has become an alarming trend and public safety is jeopardized when such teenagers become petty thieves when they are not given the proper assistance.

I believe that religious teaching is one of the best ways to curb such social ills and efforts must be taken to strengthen the spiritual strength of our youths. It is on this that I support the call from the Menteri Besar to set-up a fund to assist Muslims workers in making halal livings.

New street-lights in SS1 and SS3.

Congratulations to Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MBPJ) and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) for installing a total of 198 150kW new street lamps on existing TNB lamp posts in SS1 and SS3 recently.

This is part of the effort from the council in collaboration with TNB to enhance street-lightings in SS1 and SS3 to combat rising crime rate in the two places.

Budget was approved by the council last year to improve street-lightings in SS1 and SS3 and the council is tasked to install 32 units electricity meters together with its casings.

TNB will be carrying out installation works including wiring works and it is targeted to finish in one month depending on the weather.

I was at Jalan SS3/39 this morning observing the installation work. Together with me are Petaling Jaya councillor Darren Tiong, his assistant Mr. Yap Chai Huat, my assistant Mr. Ning Sang and TNB Senior Technician for Petaling Jaya district, Encik Raduan Abdul Rahman.

I am satisfied with the works carried out by TNB and I wish the council can continue its good effort to improve street-lightings in other places of the council.

Weeding out illegal banner menace

VALLEY VIEW by TAN KARR WEI

LOCAL authorities around the Klang Valley seem to be fighting a losing battle against illegal banners that are being put up at every nook and corner.

From SS2 in Petaling Jaya to Bandar Puchong Jaya and all the way to Old Klang Road and Cheras, these illegal banners are being put up by irresponsible people opting for a cheap method to advertise their products.

While illegal money lenders have been boldly putting up their banners and stickers all around the city, the latest product to make its way into the scene are sex toys and sexual enhancement creams.

If you think only these shady businesses put up illegal banners, then you would be in for a surprise.

All around towns and cities, there are banners for kindergartens, restaurants, warehouse sales, tuition centres and language courses, to name a few.

Even big-name developers, shopping malls and electronic brands have put up professional looking banners without a license.

To identify legal banners, most councils issue a license in the form of a sticker that is attached onto the banners that would be put up.

Local authorities have pumped in a lot of resources to remove these illegal banners and stickers but none seem to have found a workable and effective solution.

Most have a schedule for taking down these banners but new ones would be put up almost as soon as the truck full of banners leaves the location.

In Petaling Jaya, the task of taking down these banners was first given to Alam Flora but it could not cope and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has since taken back the responsibility.

Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San had in 2008 started a programme where residents were rewarded between RM1 and RM5 (from his constituency development fund) for each banner taken down and brought to his office.

The programme was fairly successful and helped to rid commercial areas like Sea Park of the unsightly banners but Lau had since stopped the programme when the MBPJ came up with their own to tackle the issue.

To try to nip the problem in the bud, MBPJ offered a reward of RM250 if the public informed the council when they saw someone putting up banners and the perpetrator is caught red-handed.

While it showed MBPJ’s effort in tackling the problem, catching these sneaks red-handed is not as easy as it sounds and so far, only a handful have been caught and charged.

Last year, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council teamed up with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to cut off the lines of numbers found on illegal banners and other councils like MBPJ and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) followed suit.

The move has yet to show any signs of effectiveness because it takes some time for the lines to be cut off.

More importantly, prepaid phone lines are available cheaply in Malaysia, with most telecommunication companies offering a start-up pack for less than RM10.

Perhaps the root of the problem is that banner printing services are available very cheaply.

Even these printing companies have been aggressively advertising their services on illegal banners put up all around neighbourhoods and commercial centres.

Maybe the local authorities should make it harder for these companies to print banners by making it mandatory for them to see a banner license before printing, failing which they should be fined heavily.

Another method is to impose stringent guidelines for these banner-printing businesses when issuing a license to them.

With no effective form of measure in sight so far, the councils need to look at the problem from all angles and work together with the relevant agencies to come down hard on those involved in putting up illegal banners.

“Monument of Inefficiency” In SS1 Will Be Demolished

Incomplete hall at Jalan SS1/1 will be demolished by MBPJ and the land will be returned to its rightful owner, Koperasi Pegawai-Pegawai Kerajaan Malaysia Berhad (KPPKMB). The council has appointed a contractor and demolition will be conducted despite several delays due to technical problems.

The incomplete hall was once described by local media as “a monument of council’s inefficiency” as the previous administration of the council spent RM2 million in 2002 to build a multipurpose hall on a piece of field. Construction stopped halfway when the legal owner of the land turned up, rightfully claiming that the council had carried out the construction on land it did not own.

For years, the council did nothing to discuss with the land owner on the future on the land. Meanwhile, the incomplete hall becomes a haunt and hide-outs for drug addicts.

When I first took over the office, I have made a personal pledge to resolve the matter as the eyesore has become a threat to the community. Several official and unofficial discussions had been held and it has been decided that the council should demolish the structure and return the land to its rightful owner. Demolition has to be done at MBPJ’s cost.

And I am proud to announce that such monument that has brought shame on the council will now be demolished. The infamous nickname of “monument of inefficiency” will be a history and let us not forget the lesson we learn from this mistake.

Still, there are several issues that we need to handle. First, I understand the wished of the residents to retain the place as a field for children and they also hope the council can improve on the deplorable conditions of the two tennis courts and basketball court next to the hall. Some works were done from my constituency development fund but it is just insufficient unless the resourceful MBPJ step in and assist.

Secondly, while the land is finally returned to the rightful owner, KPPKMB, KPPKMB has the right to further develop the land as it is meant for residential purposes according to the land title. KPPKMB also owns a few pockets of similar land in SS1.

These issues must be made known to the taxpayers to avoid any possible misunderstandings between the owner of the land, the people living in surrounding area and the council.

Clarification on councillors term limit.

I notice that my suggestion in the state assembly to impose term limit in the appointment of councillors in local councils has drawn some attention from the media.

I wish to notify that though the media has highlighted the suggestion, such suggestion is not the only suggestion I made during my speech when I debated the supplementary budget on 14th July 2010 in the Selangor State Legislative Assembly.

I also proposed that such selection of councillors from the executive to be scrutinized by the State Legislative Assembly Select Committee on Local Councils.

I wish to clarify that though I mentioned that reason why I propose a term limit is to allow more chances for others to serve as councillors as some of them have been holding onto the position since 2008 and it is good if there can be a change. I am sure there must be a lot of suitable candidates from each political parties and even the NGOs.

Some has openly lamented that my reason has "sacrificed public interest over 'shiok sendiri' for party members."

When I mention that by having term limit, there can be more chances for the grassroot to serve the public, I do not limit myself to party grassroot members but also grassroot leaders of the communities and NGOs.

I still stand firm with my stands that nobody should think that councillorship is his/her personal property. Councillors are appointed by the State Government. Since there is no election, then the appointment of councillors is a highly subjective matter. Term limit is proposed with the good intention to allow more newcomers. Under my observation, some senior councillors are becoming "addicted" to their position to the extend when the state government want to have a change, intense lobbying happen in order to secure the position.

A good councillor will and should be able to make good changes during his/her tenure as councillors and if he/she is good enough, he/she could be transfered to other councils to help other councils. Or he/she could stop being a councillor and offers himself/herself to be reappointed come the next term.

Also, a good councillor is not to be self-proclaimed but to be accessed by the voters. In our case, it is sad to say that the voters cannot decide yet.

Let's work together towards the direction that you, as voter, together with many others can decide.

与其批评民联，马华倒不如争取地方选举？

雪州马华公会在委任县市议员上与其批评民联，为何雪州马华不争取恢复地方议会选举。

马华作为中央执政党，理应支持和协助雪州和槟州政府要求中央政府修改1976年地方政府法令第15条文，允许地方政府选举，并拨款给选举委员会进行地方政府选举事宜，而不是在民联政府遴选县市议员上大做文章。

虽然民联在委任县市议员方面出现僧多粥少的情况，但是这情形归根究底和国阵政府在1976年制定的地方政府法令有关。该法令第15条文阐明地方政府不能进行选举。第15条文也是国阵政府用以反对进行地方政府选举的杀手锏。

此外，中央政府控制的选举委员会也不配合雪槟两州州政府的要求，为这两个州属的地方议会进行选举。

马华应该知道，遴选地方议员向来都出现僧多粥少的情况。遴选制度更是前朝政府遗留下来的政治负担。民联的政策就是要进行选举制度，让人民做决定，而不是让政治人物做决定。

虽然民联政府可以通过其他漏洞进行选举，但是法令的限制犹如紧箍咒，民选市议员制度随时可在法庭上被国阵挑战，以达到国阵干扰地方政府行政事务的目的。

既然国阵不肯修改法令，民联唯有延续过去国阵的方式。当然，一旦民联这么做，民联肯定要面对以前国阵所面对的同样问题。马华领袖对委任县市议员制度的弊端避而不谈，却对民联遴选县市议员出现状况诸多挑剔。这除了显示马华并没有哦兴趣恢复地方议会选举之外，也显示马华捞取廉价政治资本。

'Special' security for Subang Jaya council chief

By R. Nadeswaran (The Sun)

SHAH ALAM (May 26, 2010): The president of the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) enjoys a rare privilege only accorded to cabinet ministers. He has official security for his private home in Shah Alam – paid for by ratepayers.

Every night, a vehicle belonging to MPSJ with two enforcement officers is parked outside Datuk Adnan Md Ikhsan’s house in Jalan Rabung in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam.

The irony is that while Subang Jaya ratepayers are out of pocket and breaking the law by putting up illegal barriers and hiring private security guards for their neighbourhood, their council president enjoys the "protection" of council officers for his double-storey corner house.

Their salaries and the overtime are paid for by the council and they are not complaining either. But many in Adnan’s neighbourhood are asking whether it is an abuse of his office and authority.

Investigations showed that a four-wheel drive belonging to MPSJ is parked outside the house from about 10pm to dawn daily. Just after midnight on Wednesday, theSun’s investigative team took some pictures.

One of the officers demanded to know our identity and claimed that we cannot take photographs. We told him to call the police if we had broken the law.

Anyway, enforcement officers from Subang Jaya have no jurisdiction whatsoever in Shah Alam and if at all, they could have made a citizen’s arrest if the "offence" committed is a sizable one.

There was no trespass to property as the photographs were taken from a public road which is accessible to everyone.

Attempts were made to meet Adnan to present the photographs and seek his views but he said he was busy till Tuesday.

It cannot be ascertained for how long Adnan had enjoyed this privilege but according to council insiders, the MPSJ full board had not endorsed any official security for his home.

However it is learnt that Adnan had sought approval from the finance committee to pay overtime to enforcement officers without disclosing the reasons.

It is uncertain how much the assistant enforcement officers have raked in overtime but a lower ranking officer can claim about RM10 an hour.

While council presidents may receive security, it is for the official residence only, and that too a designated security guard – not enforcement officers.

The council president’s official residence was sold about 14 years ago to fund a public library. -- theSun

Low cost house fiasco: Publishing names of owners is the first step towards clearing the mess of the past

The Selangor State Government has responded to the ownership of low cost houses by 500 unqualified Petaling Jaya City Council staffs that unqualified owners of low cost houses should return the unit to the state government.

It is high time that the state government should do something to rectify as much as possible mistakes of the previous government in allocating low cost houses in the state, particularly in highly developed cities like Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam and Ampang Jaya.

In fact, right after March 8th 2008, I have suggested to the state government to carry out a thorough audit in identifying the flaws in allocating low cost houses to the poor. Action plan suggested included conducting a house-to-house survey (banci) to identify whether the owners of the low cost houses are staying in the unit themselves or merely renting the unit to outsiders, especially foreign labours for extra incomes. Worst still, the survey is also to find out whether the units were sold by rent-seekers to other party at a higher price.

I have always stressed numerously that low cost houses are not commercial products but controlled items. Therefore, the sales of low cost houses, must be strictyly regulated by the state and not subject to market force.

In the case of unqualified council staffs owning low cost houses, I urge that the focus should not be placed on council staffs only but on a larger scope on “unqualified buyers” as I believe not only there are unqualified council staffs, but also politically connected individuals who such the units.

Thus, I welcome the suggestion from state EXCO on Housing, Building Management and Squarters, Iskandar Abdul Samad that the state will consider publishing a name list of those who own low houses for public scrutiny as this is the first step towards rectifying the mistakes and correct the “inherited sins” from the previous administration.

There are also many flaws in the previous “zero-squarters” programme and actions must be taken to correct these flaws step-by-step. In the past, a unit of low cost house is to be allocated for each registered squarter, meaning that the first criterion to qualify for a unit of low cost house is that the buyer must be a squarter first.

Unfortunately, this has neglected the rights of other low-income earners who eargerly want a unit of their low cost houses. Many times they have to rent houses or rooms from others and have to buy low cost houses from open market and pay huge amount of under table money.

Secondly, since low cost houses are mainly offered to first and second families of the squarters, some of them already have big houses outside. Allocating a unit of low cost house to them means giving them an extra income, is this fair? The state must have strict regulations on low cost houses whether these houses are built by the government or private developer, that these houses are to be meant for own stay and should not be sold or rented to third party.

MBPJ tubuh QRT tangani aduan penduduk

BY FADZLY ESA ON 19 MAY, 2010 (Dipetik daripada http://komuniti.malaysiakini.com/)

Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) serius dalam menangani aduan dan rungutan penduduk di sekitar bandar raya ini.

Datuk Bandar Petaling Jaya, Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman, berkata semua aduan dan rungutan penduduk seperti pokok tumbang, jalan berlubang dan sebagainya akan diambil tindakan segera.

Menurutnya, MBPJ akan menghantar Quick Response Team (QRT) atau Pasukan Bertindak Cepat yang baru dilancarkan awal tahun ini ke lokasi aduan dalam masa 48 jam bagi menangani aduan awam.

“Pasukan ini akan dibahagikan kepada tiga bahagian dan diketuai Pengarah Jabatan Kejuruteraan di mana setiap kumpulan mempunyai ketua unit masing-masing yang bertanggungjawab dalam mengambil tindakan menyelesaikan aduan.

Masalah selesai dalam tempoh 48 jam

“Pasukan ini hanya diberikan masa 48 jam untuk menyelesaikan setiap aduan dan fokus utamanya ialah memperbaiki segera aduan berkaitan lampu jalan, jalan berlubang, lampu isyarat dan pokok tumbang yang dikemukakan penduduk,”katanya ketika ditemui selepas melawat kerja-kerja QRT baru-baru ini.

Mohamad Roslan berkata, pasukan tersebut disediakan dengan pelbagai kelengkapan bagi memastikan setiap aduan dikemukakan penduduk dapat diatasi dengan berkesan dan efisyen.

Menurutnya, dengan tertubuhnya pasukan ini diharap dapat membantu penduduk menyelesaikan aduan dan masalah di kawasan masing-masing.

Disamping itu, ujar beliau lagi, setiap aduan diterima akan diteliti terlebih dahulu sebelum sebarang tindakan diambil dan ia mengikut keutamaan kes diutarakan penduduk.

“Setiap aduan yang dikemukakan penduduk akan diteliti sebelum tindakan diambil mengikut keutamaan bagi setiap kes.

“Bagaimanapun, jika masalah itu terlalu rumit untuk diselesaikan pasukan ini, barulah jabatan sepatutnya bertindak dan masing-masing akan bekerjasama mengatasi aduan terbabit,”katanya.

Mohamad Roslan berkata, bagi penduduk yang mempunyai aduan serta masalah boleh mengajukannya menggunakan khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) dengan menaip mbpjaduan, jenis aduan dan hantar ke 33733 ataupun hubungi talian bebas tol MBPJ di 03-79542020.

Proposed USJ6 development – SPC should meet to resolve the matter

I read the development of a proposed commercial development on a piece of telecom utility land in USJ6 Subang Jaya with deep concern.

Since the issue was first brought up openly more than one year ago, it seems like there is no clear-cut solution to the dispute. Worst, the issue has turned into a sore point among MPSJ councillors.

Without prejudice to MPSJ personnel, including its present batch of councillors and president, State Planning Committee (SPC), the landowner and the developer, such approval, once it is granted by a local authority like MPSJ, will create a precedence and utility reserve lands in other local authorities will be at stake as owner of the land can apply to convert and develop it for other purposes.

When a piece of land is developed, the developer, city planner and the local authority will examine the land use. There is always a reason for the planner to demarcate a certain portion of land as reserve for certain amenities, which are of public importance.

Therefore, I urge the State Planning Committee (SPC) to seriously think through the application to convert that said utility reserve land into commercial land as it will have serious impact on other local councils. State Planning Committee should and must have a strong stand and not pass the buck around without clear-cut solutions provided to the people. It is unfair to both the people and the landowner.

Furthermore, local council's decision making process must also be made transparently according to rules and regulations. For any official meeting, adequate notices must be served, agenda of the meeting must be provided, quorum must be met, minute-of-meeting should be taken and tabled for endorsement in the next meeting. These are simple rules that any secondary school students know. In this case, the council should come clear to clarify whether it had called and conducted the meeting according to rules and regulations.

Thirdly, the authority must be made aware that there are enough development in Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya. Further development to these places in future must be planned properly as any unplanned, ad-hoc development will definitely jeopardize the living standard of the people in these areas. The situation is so serious that the State Assemblyman for Bukit Gasing Edward Lee had once even suggested a two-year moratorium for all development in Petaling Jaya.

I hope the State Planning Committee can call for an urgent meeting to resolve the matter.