Family fears monsoon may lead to more trees crashing down

The Star Metro 15th September 2011

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/9/15/central/9490918&sec=central

IN AUGUST, a big tree fell on Umapathy S. Ganapathy’s home and damaged a large portion of the house in Taman Cuepacs, 9th Mile Cheras.

Now, a month later and in anticipation of the monsoon season, Umapathy’s family is having sleepless nights after the ordeal they had gone through.

Damaged home: The kitchen ceiling was damaged by a fallen tree. Fortunately no one was injured.

“The incident happened on Aug 13 at about 6.30pm. My family and I were in the living room when we heard a loud thud like the sound of a thunder. Upon checking, we found a large tree had been uprooted from the steep slope behind our house and had damaged our kitchen,” Umapathy recalled.

According to the 50-year-old retired postman, it was raining heavily at the time of the incident.

“We had a huge branch in the kitchen where it had fallen and damaged the roof and ceiling. Another two areas, one in the bathroom and another in the bedroom, were also damaged badly,” he said.

Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) workers came at 9.30pm the same day to cut the tree, leaving most of the branches behind Umapathy’s house.

Left uncleared: Umapathy showing what remains of the tree that was uprooted from the steep slope behind his home during a heavy storm.

“If any of my family had been in the back portion of the house when it happened, they could have been injured very badly. Now, we are worried that the other trees on the slope will also be uprooted if it rains heavily daily,” he said.

Umapathy is hoping the authorities will build a retaining wall and cut down the trees as a safety measure for those living there.

He also said that it was very hard for him to clear the remaining tree branches behind his house as it was hemmed in on all sides without any backlane.

“Although these houses have been here for more than 20 years, we still do not have certificates of fitness (CF). I believe this is because there is no backlane and this raises safety concerns,” he said.

Umapathy added that fixing the roof of his house had cost him RM9,000 and he could not afford another such incident to happen.

MPKj councillor Eddie Ng, who visited the house on Tuesday, said the problem was a result of bad town planning in the past.

“There is no consideration for safety. The distance between the slope and the house is not more than 20 feet. This is too close for comfort,” he said.

He said the slope was owned by the Pasukan Gerakan Am (PGA) and he would get MPKj to hold a meeting between them and the affected houseowners as well as the residents’ association.

“As a short term measure, we will get PGA to cut down the trees on the slope. We have been sending letters to them for the past two years to do this,” he said.

He added that about three months ago, MPKj had hired a contractor to cut down the big trees along the same slope.

“It was not possible to carry this out on the slope behind the row of houses where Umapathy’s house is because the residents have blocked off the back area to create backyards,” Ng said.

Land owner to stabilise slope next to church

13/9, The Star, Metro http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/9/13/central/9483552&sec=central

By OH ING YEEN
ingyeen@thestar.com.my

TAMAN MUDUN, Batu 9 Cheras residents heaved a sigh of relief when the owner of a piece of land with a landslide-prone slope agreed to carry out measures to stabilise it.

The slope is situated adjacent to the Mudun Chinese Methodist Church where about 400 parishioners, including children and adults, gather for service and meetings every Sunday.

In June, Rev Kok Chin Ming, was alerted by residents about a landslide. When he arrived at the scene, he saw fallen trees and large rocks that had rolled down the slope after continuous rain.

According to Albert Lim, a resident who has been living opposite the 500m-long slope along Jalan Semalu for 28 years, there have been minor landslips for the past 10 years but the occurrence have increased since 2008.
Temporary solution: The slope next to the church where around 400 children and adults gather for service and church meetings every Sunday.

“I’ve complained to the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj); when they came, they only cut the trees and there was no further action. The most serious incident happened in June, and a tarpaulin was placed over it to prevent it from getting worse.

“If a landslide were to happen when there are church activities going on, it would certainly endanger many lives. Who would bear the responsibility?” he said.

Goodland Realty Sdn Bhd, which owns the land, said they would take measures to ensure that the slope would be safe from erosion.

Its director Eee Soon Kee said: “We would survey the lots and conduct soil tests; our consultants will come up with a plan to take stock of the situation.

“We would then engage a contractor to do the necessary earthworks like slope cutting and providing proper drainage,” he said, adding that for now, there are no plans to develop the land.

MPKj councillor Eddie Ng commended the land owner for taking responsibility.

“The cost to strengthen the slope would be around RM950,000,” he said.

He urged the Housing and Local Government Minister to study the Local Government Act.

“Under the Local Government Act 1976 Act 171, when a threat against safety is found, the council has the power to instruct the property or land owner to overcome the threat; failing which, the owner can be charged in court with a maximum fine of RM500 or six months imprisonment or both.

“RM500 may have been a large amount in the 70s but now, it is nothing. I hope this clause could be amended,” he said.

He said the residents had sent registered letters to eight departments and government agencies such as the Prime Minister’s Department, MPKj and Public Works Department but only MPKj and the state government had replied.

山坡築圍牆防土崩 居民放下20多年困擾

中国报雪隆版-13-09-2011 http://www.chinapress.com.my/node/250473

地點：蕉賴姆墩花園

　（加影12日訊）蕉賴姆墩花園基督教衛理公會教堂隔壁長達約500公尺的山坡，27年內發生多次小型土崩，惟多年無法獲得解決方案，居民等待多年后，地主和承包商承諾下周將動工興建圍牆，以免再次引發土崩。

　加影市議員黃田志指出，位于蕉賴姆墩花園基督教衛理公會教堂隔壁的危險山坡在2008年4月3日和10月16日，發生多次小型土崩。

　他說，市議會已鑑定該事件並于2008年12月17日召開會議，會議后獲知該土地為私人土地，市議會無法援助，需由地主處理。

　　他說，市議會原本于2010年3月25日與地主前往實地了解情況，惟地主臥病在床而取消該行程，直至今年3月24日，地主委派代表與市議會召開會議。

下週正式動工

　他說，根據1976年地方政府法令的17條，若一片土地的產業對公眾的衛生、健康和安全造成威脅，市議會有權力對此發出指示，要求地主近期內做出解決方案。

　“若地主接獲指示仍未給予解決方案，地主會因此而被控上法庭，並會被罰款500令吉或6個月監禁，甚至兩者兼施，500令吉雖在1976年是一筆很大的款額，可是至今只是一筆小費用，因此希望中央政府可檢討此法令。”

　他今日前往巡視姆墩花園基督教衛理公會教堂隔壁的山坡時，如是指出。

　黃田志指出，因日前地主無法給予承諾何時在該危險山坡進行圍牆工作，因此非正式的曾和多名雪州議員商討，州政府可征用土地法令，征用該土地並交由州政府負責該危險山坡的問題。

　他說，上週該地主已致電並指說已和承包商商討，並在下周正式動工，施工期閒承包商負責人也需和居協代表互相協調和配合。

黃田志：2因素工程拖3年

黃田志說，由于地主病重臥床以及該解決土崩的工程將耗資逾95萬令吉，導致工程延誤3年。

　他說，該花園居協于5月26日已致函向公共工程局、房屋部、土地局、馬華蕉賴區會、首相署、天然資源及環境部、加影市議會及雪州政府求助，可是只有加影市議會和雪州政府短期內給予回應。

　“雪州大臣丹斯裡卡立在接獲有關函件 ，已立即在短時間內致函予加影市議會，要求對方安排官員前往調查，認真看待人民所做出的投訴。”

　地主余孫奇指出，下個星期所委託的承包商將會展開圍牆工作，削減山坡的高度，減低居民的擔心。

　他說，因多年來接獲當地居民的投訴，也瞭解這是地主的工程，而承建圍牆及選件山坡高度的工程，耗資約95萬令吉，不過下周的工程將在山坡的尾端開工。

下雨就怕土崩
★郭進明（39歲，姆墩花園基督教衛理公會教堂牧師）

教會每個星期都會舉辦多個活動，出席者有逾400人，每次舉辦活動都提心吊膽，擔心下雨時，引發嚴重的土崩。

　大家都認為生命受到威脅，因此拜託居協致函尋求援助。

市會虎頭蛇尾
★林偉君（33歲，居民）

該花園設計危險山坡底下設計20多戶居民。

　27年來該土地也發生多次的小型土崩，不過近幾年日益嚴重，雖加影市議會多次來探視，並曾把一些樹木砍掉，可是並沒其余的后續工作。

終獲解決方案
★西瓦（44歲，姆墩花園居協主席）

我擔任2年的居協主席都接獲不少有關該土地的投訴，雖市議會多次前來巡視瞭解狀況，可是卻沒有一個正式的解決方案。

　雖有居民久違多年，至今終獲得解決方案而感到高興。

吁廢蕉加收費站‧火箭收集簽名遇阻‧警指非法集會場面一度緊張

Source: http://www.guangming.com.my/node/112605?tid=14
Guang Ming Daily 6-9-2011

（吉隆坡5日訊）烏魯冷岳杜順大火箭行動隊隊長黃田志與加影市議員李繼香等人於週一上午8時， 準備率領一批近30名支持者前往蕉賴9哩往吉隆坡方向的收費站，向途經的駕車人士收集支持廢除“蕉賴加影大道”兩個收費站的簽名時，遭警方指他們非法集 會，導致他們首次準備在收費站亭旁展開簽名的運動受阻，出師不利。

以加影警區交警主任再魯丁為首的警方代表，在黃田志等人準備徒步前往收費亭時，指他們非法集會，給予對方勸告解散，也查詢他們這次活動的目的。由於當時黃田志不慎觸碰再魯丁，導致警方以為他有意襲警，進而抄錄黃田志的大馬卡資料，場面一度緊張。

嘲警大批出動浪費警力

黃田志要求警方讓他在現場召開記者會，警方指黃田志沒有申請召開記者的准證，黃田志反問哪個國會議員或部長召開記者會時申請准，最終警方讓黃田志在現場向記者發表談話。

由於不獲警方批准到收費亭旁展開收集簽名的運動，較後，黃田志帶領支持者前往拉沙沙央花園（Taman　Rasa Sayang）主要入口處向途經的駕車人士派發“廢除蕉加兩個收費站”的傳單與展開收集簽名的運動。

黃田志質疑，他們一行人準備在大道站旁展開的簽名運動只是一項和平的行動，既沒有上街亂丟東西或破壞公物，警方卻派出這麼多的警員，包括交警和政治官員等到場，不只“效率奇高”，也有浪費警力之嫌。

5萬人簽名促廢收費站

李繼香指出，這是他們首次準備在蕉加大道收費站展開收集“廢除蕉加兩個收費站”的簽名運動，如今，他們已收集逾5萬人的簽名支持。

黃田志也是加影市議員，他指出，他們已在今年6月展開開始收集簽名的運動，吁請公眾踴躍支持他們“廢除蕉加大道兩個收費站”的運動，收集簽名的目標為10萬人，以便提呈予首相拿督斯里納吉。

首相檢討廢除一收費站

他說，開齋節前，首相納吉宣佈政府將會檢討廢除蕉加大道的其中一個收費站，他們和人民對這項宣佈深表歡迎。

“除了每天經過蕉加大道的駕車人士需付過路費，這兩個收費站影響大道旁花園住宅區的居民，很多駕車人士了避開收費站，繞進花園住宅區，導致這些花園住宅區的居民也深受往來車輛的影響。”

“根據蕉加大道公司的年報資料顯示，除了2005年與2007年的資料從缺外，該公司1999至2010年的淨盈利高達1億4299萬令吉，建築成本卻只有2億7500萬令吉，政府也曾賠償該公司1億515萬令吉。”

他表示，隨著首相納吉宣佈檢討廢除蕉加大道其中一個收費站，巫統烏魯冷岳區部也發文告指該區部已在2009年討論廢除收費站的問題。

黃田志認為，口說無憑，相信選民的眼睛是雪亮的，選民也知道行動黨在蕉加大道興建收費站時，已在做一些事情，甚至6月展開簽名廢除收費站的運動。

“不過，我歡迎巫統跟我們配合，一起展開廢除收費站的運動。”

Protest against Grand Saga toll continues

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/174849

The DAP-led citizens' action group demanding the abolition of toll on the Cheras-Kajang Grand Saga Highway continued with their crusade by launching a petition drive at the Batu 9 toll plaza near Cheras.

Nearly 50 of them, clad in yellow shirts with the message,"The Sufferings of Cheras residents. We don't want toll", gathered at the KL-bound side of the toll plaza since early in the morning, aiming to swarm cars in the area, which is usually clogged with traffic.

About an equal number of policemen awaited them at the roadside since early in morning.

However, police did not allow them to gather on grounds they did not have permit. Besides this, the traffic this morning was surprisingly smooth and this put a damper on their plan to collect signatures.

While not entirely cooperative, the police were quite receptive to the group in their negotiations.

A senior police officer at the scene said that they were prepared to be "reasonable" if the anti-toll protesters were willing to approach the issue with "the proper mindset".

Approached for comments, the officer declined to say anything.

"You are Malaysiakini? Then you just get it from them (the protesters)," he said when asked about the negotiations.

After consultations between group representative Lee Kee Hiong and the police, the group was allowed to gather and hold a 10-minute press conference.

'Toll a burden'

Kajang municipality councillor Eddie Ng, who was with the protesters, said that they were there to keep the highlight on the issue.

Ng said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had said the government was looking into closing at least one of the two toll collection plazas on the highway and that the report from the Grand Saga board showed that the company has already recouped the cost.

"The toll is not only a burden to the 200,000 or so vehicles that use the highway daily but also to residents of the surrounding housing estates whose roads have been turned into main roads by motorists trying to evade the toll," he lamented.

Fellow councillor Steven Chan added that the abolition of the toll plazas would benefit a lot of residents in the many housing estates in the area who were forced to use the toll every time they drove out.

Police also allowed the protesters to approach cars passing through the road next to the toll plaza after the press conference ended, escorting them to control traffic and ensure nothing untoward happened.

The group did so for about 20 more minutes before dispersing, as police looked on.

This was in contrast to the stern action of the police in putting down the two-week long protests against the toll in January 2007.

During that period, 21 protesters were arrested, with some claiming injury at the hands of police during skirmishes that ensued, with a few of them suing the police over claims of brutality. All of them lost their cases in court.

Apart from the on-the-ground signature drive, the group has also started an online petition at www.petitiononline.com under the petition name 'Antitoll' to solicit for support from netizens.

Protests against highway concessionaires have intensified of late, after significant toll hikes in recent years and claims that many of the firms have links to politicians and government figures, that they have already recouped their costs and were now making pure profit at the expense of the rakyat.