Posts Tagged ‘KL’

Pudu prison wall story

June 21st, 2010
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Just days ago, the reason given for demolishment of the Pudu prison wall was “road widening and underpass construction” :

The 300m stretch of the Pudu Prison wall along Jalan Pudu will be demolished on June 20-23 to make way for road widening and the construction of an underpass.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail said the construction of the underpass gave priority to road users although it involved a national treasure.

“Every day we face problems because of this wall, getting to the office late, so this is just a matter of which one is the priority to us and the government,” he said Thursday.

The underpass will be an alternative route linking Jalan Pudu to Cheras will reduce congestion at Jalan Hang Tuah.

Construction will be carried out in stages and the project is expected to be completed in December 2012. Bernama

Today, we are hit with this news:

The Pudu jail, which 394m wall will be demolished tonight, will be re-developed in stages ove a period of 10 years beginning next year.

Deputy Finance Minister Senator Datuk Awang Adek Hussein.

He said UDA (Urban Development AUthority) will carry out the re-development, comprising 40% residential area and 60% commercial units, including hotels.

Do you smell something?

If the wall has heritage value, why not just dismantle it and move it elsewhere. Or even retain a small section for old times sake? Surely there are experts in excavation and conservation who can help out, albeit for certain consultation fees. We Malaysian just love consultants 🙂

Lucky Folks in Kg Baru

June 20th, 2010
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Just a week ago, FT Minister Nong Chik said the land owners in Kg Baru have agreed in general to his proposal. But this was disputed by a group called MAS (Kampung Baru Malay Agricultural Settlement Administrative Board) who said no such agreement have been made. Now, Selangor’s MB Khalid is trying to put a leg in, by offering to meet the land owners with an alternative plan for development of Kg Baru.

Obviously, Minister Nong Chik is unhappy, but legally, can anyone stop someone from proposing plans? Ultimately the land owners have to decide themselves on how to proceed to develop the area.

I consider the alternative proposals, be it from Pakatan Rakyat’s Khalid or anyone else, a good thing. Having option will ensure competition to provide the best. Now, the FT Ministry mostly likely have to up the tempo and offer better plan. The land owners are kings now, and hopefully they will decide well.

This should be a lesson learnt for the voters and citizens. Know our rights, make sure we are valued by both sides, always look for alternatives, bargain hard, and decide wisely.

Federal Territories Minister Raja Datuk Nong Chik Zainal Abidin today told the Selangor mentri besar not to disrupt Putrajaya’s plan to redevelop Kampung Baru.

Raja Nong Chik alleged that Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim previously did not show any interest in Kampung Baru when leading the government fund management firm, PNB.

“I was shocked when Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim said he wants to meet Kampung Baru residents,” said Raja Nong Chik at the launch of Lembah Pantai branch of the Malay rights group Perkasa here.

“I can only tell him one thing, mind you own business. There are a lot of problems in Selangor that he can look into,” he said.

He said Khalid’s sudden interest in Kampung Baru could be caused by PKR’s lack of popularity among the Malay community.

“Today because PKR does not enjoy the support of the Malays, he is pretending to be interested in Kampung Baru,” said Raja Nong Chik.

“There is no other reason but to cause disunity among the Malays in Kuala Lumpur,” he added.

Earlier today Khalid had said that he would meet with Kampung Baru residents in July to present the state government’s plans for the residents of the 110-year old Malay settlement.

He said the plan was drawn up 15 to 20 years ago upon the request of the federal government.

Although in Kuala Lumpur, Khalid had said that Selangor has administrative obligations to Kampung Baru.

He had pointed out that before Kuala Lumpur was made a Federal Territory, the Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS) was the entity responsible for developing Kampung Baru and the law stipulates that managerial rights still remain with the Selangor mentri besar.

Raja Nong Chik however dismissed Khalid’s claim on the power of the Selangor mentri besar over Kampung Baru.

“He was just speaking on historical aspect. If you want to talk about history, Selangor should still be under the control of Malacca,” he said.

On the claims by Kampung Baru Malay Agricultural Settlement Administrative Board (MAS) that the body must give an agreement before the development can proceed, Raja Nong Chik said the matter is up to the individual land owners.

“Legally they don’t have the right but we do not want to push anybody out of the negotiation,” he told reporters.

“Legally it is the right of the landowners. MAS cannot do anything, even the government cannot do anything,” said Raja Nong Chik.

He said he had met all the stakeholders involved in the redevelopment proposal including MAS adding that the final decision rest with the landowners and beneficiaries.

“We do not expect 100 per cent to agree one way or another. It can be a long process,” said Raja Nong Chik.

KL to get official Little India

April 9th, 2010
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Hopefully the new project would be a success. Earlier Saravanan said the new traffic dispersal would solve the problem and DBKL/FT Ministry did not consider the input from public but based on consultants. Now he is saying:

On the point that certain roads will be converted into one-way streets, Saravanan said based on feedback and suggestions from traffic experts, turning the roads into one-way streets would help ease congestion.

“However, we are sensitive to the people’s needs and views and if it does not work, there is always room to re-look at it again.

“Nothing is set in stone as it is only a traffic dispersal system that can always be reverted,” he said, adding that the aim was to bring some order into a chaotic township and turn it into a tourist destination of choice in Kuala Lumpur

So, going back to trial and error, I guess.

Also important is the maintenance culture of the public need to be improved. No point having new things when we end up throwing rubbish everywhere.

FINALLY! The Federal Capital’s unofficial Little India will soon become official when it undergoes a complete makeover by the end of the year.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are scheduled to launch Little India in December.

Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan, who made the announcement yesterday, said the project had received the final endorsement from Najib who wanted it ready by the end of the year.

“This is the BN government’s gift to the Indian community and once the project is ready, the Brickfields township will sport a new look reflecting the 1Malaysia concept,” he said.

“Work is expected to start anytime now as traders and hawkers who will be affected by the upgrading work have already been given notices to relocate to a temporary site at the Chan Ah Tong field,” Saravanan said, adding there would be a ground-breaking ceremony to kick off the project this month.

Saravanan said about 30 traders — mainly food, fruit and flower sellers — would be affected and the Chan Ah Tong field was only about 100m away, which would not disrupt their livelihoods.

The traders have been given 30 days to move out and developer Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) will be preparing the site for them.

“Let us work together on this. Once everything is ready, this place is going to look good and everyone will benefit. But we can’t start if the traders are operating at the site,” he said.

Saravanan, who is also MIC vice-president, said the project was estimated to cost RM35mil and contractors would be working round-the-clock to meet the year-end deadline. He added that it was his KPI to ensure its success.

The new look will feature an entrance archway located at the tail-end of Jalan Brickfields near the Naga restaurant and the Brickfields police station and a fountain at the junction of Jalan Travers and Brickfields.

There will also be an information pavilion and food bazaars in Jalan Chan Ah Tong, fruit kiosks in Jalan Thamby Abdullah and flower kiosks behind the KFC.

The whole of Jalan Tun Sambanthan will also sport Indian-style street lighting akin to the Kuthu Velluku (Indian Lights) and Kolam designs of many colours.

The first fruits of the mega project could be seen with the widening of the inner roads in Brickfields, as well as the beautification of Jalan Berhala.

On the point that certain roads will be converted into one-way streets, Saravanan said based on feedback and suggestions from traffic experts, turning the roads into one-way streets would help ease congestion.

“However, we are sensitive to the people’s needs and views and if it does not work, there is always room to re-look at it again.

“Nothing is set in stone as it is only a traffic dispersal system that can always be reverted,” he said, adding that the aim was to bring some order into a chaotic township and turn it into a tourist destination of choice in Kuala Lumpur.

Fire victims receive aid while waiting for solution

March 26th, 2010
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At least something is better than nothing. Hopefully they will be relocated soon and able to continue with their lives.

FIRE victims of Jalan Air Tawar Air Panas Setapak received aid from Setia wangsa MP Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique recently.

All six families received RM1,000 each as well as the assurance of assistance in applying for the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) low-cost flats as soon as possible.

“Some of these victims have been placed temporarily at the Setapak MIC Hall while others are staying with relatives. I hope the DBKL will hasten efforts to obtain flats for them,” said Zulhasnan when he visited the affected families,

The nearest PPR flats will be at PPR Desa Rejang, located a few kilometres from their homes.

Also present during the visit was Setiawangsa MIC branch chairman S. Rajah, PPP Federal Territory chairman Datuk A. Chandrakumanan and MCA Setiawangsa Branch deputy chairman Wong Yew Koi.

The affected families have nothing but the clothes on their back. The fire razed their homes to the ground, forcing them to flee without their belongings.

Zulhasnan said his service centre would continue to look out for the victims until they had been relocated.

In the meantime, the Social Welfare Depart-ment will continue giving out food aid to the victims.

A private developer also donated RM500 to each family.

A victim, who only wished to be known as Pummivathy, said she was grateful for the aid given.

“My family and I are grateful. The money has helped reduce some of our problems,” she said.

Pummivathy, a single mother, said she could not wait to begin a new life at the PPR flats soon.

Yet another temple demolished in KL

February 9th, 2010
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Yet another temple demolished. That phrase is becoming common even though it was not supposed to be. This time, in KL, a place were the Deputy Minister Saravana pledged that no temples will be demolished without proper relocation plan or or solution. DBKL also has a committee consisting of MHS officials (well, not sure if the committee still exists or not). And yet still got temples being demolished. Interestingly, the DBKL officials say they have authority to demolish new structures built illegally. If that’s the case, then need to provide proof that the structure is new and the place was not a temple prior to this. But the followers say its a 60 year old temple. So, which is which? Maybe it is 6o years old, and the new structure was built to replace an older (and most likely smaller basic) one?

Anyway, this will make Deputy Minister Saravanan hot under the collar as its his head is on the block now.

A Hindu temple in Air Panas, Setapak was demolished by the Kuala Lumpur city council (DBKL) yesterday morning, leaving local villagers crying foul.

According to Om Sri Maha Kaliaman Alayam temple caretaker Ravi Shankar, about 20 DBKL enforcement officers came with bulldozers to demolish the more than 60-year-old temple without any notice.

DBKL officials however refuted the allegations, stressing that the building was in fact a new structure.

“We have the authority to demolish any new structures that have been built illegally, without notice,” said Sadiaah Hashim, administrative assistant of the DBKL squatter division.

Ravi has since made a report against DBKL at Sentul Police Station. He said that worshippers were praying at the temple at around 9am when a team of DBKL enforcement officers moved in to demolish the structure. “We did not try to stop them. We were taken by surprise and scared.”

MIC information chief, P Kamalanathan confirmed the incident and said that DBKL should have offered an alternative site before demolishing the temple.

“It should not havehappened. They should have consulted the local community leaders before demolishing the sacred place,” he said.

Lawyer P Uthayakumar who assisted the caretaker in making the report said: “According to the principles of Article 11, the temple should not have been demolished just as people do not demolish mosques.”

The Human Rights Party (HRP) have also submitted a letter to the prime minister, federal territories minister and Kuala Lumpur mayor to condemn the demolition and demanded that all Hindu temples be gazetted.