Friday, February 27, 2009

Team from down south emerges as champions in inline hockey tourney

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/2/27/central/3337095&sec=central

SINGAPORE’S Team Piranhas lived up to the favourite tag when they emerged as the champions in the inaugural Malaysian Inline Hockey Tournament (MIH09) at the Sports Plaza in Petaling Jaya recently.

In the final match, Team Piranhas were involved in a keen battle with compatriots Team Urban. It was a close match and both teams were neck-and-neck for most of the match. But in the end, Team Piranhas scored in the last minute, to take the title with a 4-3 score.

Ten teams - Team Underdogs Blue, Team Underdogs Red, Team Galacticans, Team O’Stars, Team Piranhas, Team Nova, Team Urban, Team Manila Roosters, Team Hong Kong Red, and Team Hong Kong Blue - took part in the two-day championship organised by Team Underdog of Selangor.

Each team played four games in a round robin manner, each game consisting of 14 minutes per half.

Team Underdogs of Selangor received rave reviews from their international visitors who have agreed to return for next year’s tournament – MIHT10.

Organising chairman Craig Matthew Lee said they had worked hard towards organising the championship.

“Though the sport is not so widespread in Malaysia, I am confident that now we will see more teams coming together. We hope that with support from bodies like the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), inline hockey will soar to greater heights in Malaysia,” said Lee.

Bukit Gasing state assemblyman Edward Lee was the guest of honour at prize-giving ceremony and appreciation dinner.

Lee said he was keen to support inline hockey.

“It is a very robust game and I think it is good for young people to be able to handle their temperament in a robust game, at the same time not hitting each other. I understand that nobody got hurt. Everybody enjoyed the game, and that’s important,’’ said Lee.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Walk with Elizabeth Wong

If you missed the signature campaign on Sunday 22 Feb '09, you may still sign the petition before MB Khalid Ibrahim meets the sultan.

Download the petition here and fax it to Mr Loo @ 03.7722.3569 before 11am, Tuesday 23 Feb '09.

Supporters of Eli have also set up a site, called Walk With Eli.

Traders’ problems can be fixed, says PJ mayor

By Tan Karr Wei
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/2/23/central/3321976&sec=central

MANY of the problems in the Petaling Jaya Old Town market can be fixed by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Quick Response Team.

“Some of the problems here are minor, like missing or broken drain covers. Our Quick Response Team should be able to handle them,” mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman said after the opening ceremony of the service centres of councillors Tang Fuie Koh and Latheefa Koya.

While making his rounds in the market, several traders also approached the mayor to complain about the low water pressure.

“The market cannot make do without water. This is a serious matter which we will discuss with Syabas,” said Roslan.








An eyesore: Mohamad Roslan (second from left) and several MBPJ officers and councillors taking a walk around the PJ Old Town market to find out the problems faced by traders and customers.

The market was fitted with 5.08cm pipes when the standard should be 10.16cm pipes.

Tang and Latheefa’s service centres are located at Unit 22 and 23 of the Jalan Othman Bus Station respectively.

Roslan said the council had reduced the rental rates of the 40 units of shop lots above the bus station from RM250 to RM150 to encourage more traders to take up the lots.

“Currently, only eight units are taken up. We will also look into upgrading the trading area because it is dark and hot.

“We will look into the feasibility of using transparent materials for the roof to allow more natural light and to install more fans,” said Roslan.

The mayor also handed out certificates to the committee members of the residents’ representative council (MPP) for Zone 15 and 16.

“The setting up of the MPP is crucial because the committee can work together with the residents and councillors to attend to the problems in their zone,” said Roslan.

The MBPJ also organised a gotong-royong session with the help of residents in the area to remove illegal banners and advertising stickers.

These illegal advertising stickers were a problem not only in the PJ Old Town but also throughout the whole city.

“We were testing a type of material that makes it hard to put stickers on but the cost is too high so we’re looking into other alternatives,” said Roslan.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Pride & Passion : Piranhas triumph as inline hockey returns with a bang

http://www.malaysiantoday.com.my/web/modules/news/article.php?storyid=500



IT was a blast for everyone at the 1st Malaysian Inline Hockey Tournament (MIH09) which took place on 7th and 8th February 2009 at Sports Plaza, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya, and when the dust settled, it was the two teams from Singapore - Team Piranhas and Team Urban who grabbed the major honours.

Piranhas were definitely the team to beat and it was no surprise that they made the final when they were neck and neck with Urban for most of the match.But Piranhas's greater skills saw them take the lead in the very last minutes of the match, leading to their championship win of 4-3.

Local favourites, Team Underdogs of Selangor, who are also the tournament organisers, received rave reviews from their international visitors who have agreed to return for next year’s tournament – MIHT10.

“We have worked tremendously hard in putting this together using what resources we have. Though the sport is not so widespread in Malaysia, I am confident that now we will see more teams coming together.

"We hope that with support from bodies like MBPJ, inline hockey will soar to greater heights in Malaysia,” said Craig Matthew Lee, president of MIHT09 organizing committee and captain of Team Underdogs.

The two-day tournament had participation by 10 teams from all over the region. Each team played 4 games in a round robin manner, each game consisting of 14 minutes per half with two halves per matchThe teams were Team Underdogs Blue (Malaysia Men’s), Team Underdogs Red (Malaysia Men’s), Team Galacticans (Malaysia Men’s), Team O'Star s (Malaysia Men’s), Team Piranhas (Singapore Men’s), Team Nova (Singapore Women’s), Team Urban (Singapore Men’s), Team Manila Roosters (Philippines mixed team), Team Hong Kong Red (Men’s), and Team Hong Kong Blue (Men’s).

The tournament was capped with a prize-giving and appreciation dinner which was held at Hilton KL for participating teams, officials and sponsors.


The prize-giving and appreciation dinner was graced by guest-of-honour, YB Edward Lee Poh Lin, State Legislative Assemblyman of Bukit Gasing who awarded the winning teams their medals and is keen on continual support for inline hockey.

He said, “It’s a very robust game, and I think it’s good for the young people to be able to handle their temperament in a robust game, at the same time not hitting each other. I understand that nobody got hurt. Everybody enjoyed the game, and that's important."

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Crime rate worries residents in Section 17

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/2/17/central/3276026&sec=central

By OH ING YEEN

SNATCH thefts topped the list of concerns of Section 17 residents during a face-to-face session with the Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed and his team last Saturday.

Held in Jalan 17/38 near the morning market, this was the second session for the police to reach out to the community following one in Taman Paramount. It was also a chance for the residents to meet the police and voice their problems.

Asst Comm Arjunaidi said Section 17 was one of the areas in Petaling Jaya with a high crime rate.

“Residents here told me their concerns and gave their suggestions, which we value as they, having lived here for many years and know the area better than us.


Crowd-puller: Some of the residents, especially children, seemed
more interested in petting and taking pictures with the horses.

“Aside from today’s programme, we also meet residents associations to discuss in detail methods to curb and reduce crime.

“We look forward to having smart planning and a smart partnership with PJ residents,” ACP Arjunaidi added.

In reply to residents’ queries that a police beat base near the market had not been operational since it was built almost five years ago, Arjunaidi clarified that it was not actually a beat base but was a shed that had been painted in a similar colour.

“We will try to find a suitable venue if we can have a beat base in the area,” he said

“We have given the proposal for CCTVs to be installed in PJ to the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) but the council has yet to decide on the matter.”

He said the next meet-the-people session would be held in Taman Megah, Kelana Jaya.


Face-to-face: Residents having a chat with Asst Comm Arjunaidi.

Three police horses were brought in and some of the residents, especially children, seemed more interested in petting and taking pictures with the animals.

Section 17 Residents Association chairman Datuk S. Doriasamy said aside from snatch thefts, residents were also worried about burglaries.

“There were many incidents of snatch thefts but many of the victims do not want to report it as they think it is troublesome. But they should understand that if they make a report, the police would have a record of the case and be aware of the high crime rate.

“I personally saw one snatch theft happen along Jalan 17/3 and gave chase but in vain. When I told the victim to report it to the police, she did not want to and just walked off,” he said.

He added that residents hoped for more police presence in the neighbourhood.
“There are youths on bikes without helmets and they will be revving up their engines and racing at night. I’ve taken down their motorcycle registration numbers and informed the police but no action has been taken so far.

“I would also like to know more about the proposal that the MBPJ install CCTVs in PJ,” he said.


Good session: Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee (left) looking
on as a resident highlights the issues in his neighbourhood.

He felt that the session was quite successful with the good turnout.

“The police asked me to inform all the residents and I’ve made more than 1,000 copies of the notice and drop it off at the letter boxes of residents yesterday and the day before,” he said.

However, Section 17 resident Cho Hoe Nam, a 66-year-old retiree, felt that there was not enough publicity done to inform all the Section 17 residents.

“I only knew about it when I saw the banners and some of my neighbours did not even know as they rarely go out of the house.

“It would be better if the forms were sent to us at least a week ahead so that we can have time to think about the issues we wish to highlight,” he suggested.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Chap Goh Meh cheer for the poor

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/Streets/Tuesday/Stories/2475419/Article/index_html

By Halim Said, NST Streets


Haniza Talha giving an ang pow to Chin Siew Yong (left).
With them are (from right) temple abbot Rev Chang Wen, Hee Loy Sian and Edward Lee Poh Lin.

PETALING JAYA: Chap Goh Meh yesterday marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

But it was not too late for Petaling Jaya Selatan member of Parliament Hee Loy Sian, Taman Medan state assemblyman Haniza Talha and Bukit Gasing state assemblyman Edward Lee Poh Lin to host an open house and distribute ang pow to the underprivileged. The event was jointly organised with Sprint Highway and was held at the Yuan Lin Xiao Zhot Buddhist temple, here. Also present was Sprint finance manager Janet Khoo and Litrak group communications manager Bhavani Krishna Iyer.

A total of 40 underprivileged groups comprising single mothers, old folks, the disabled and the hardcore poor received ang pow and hampers donated by the three Pakatan Rakyat leaders as well as Sprint. Hee said the event was aimed at fostering goodwill and friendship among the races.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Volunteers take time off to spruce up Bukit Gasing

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/2/11/central/3222061&sec=central

THE heavy use of Bukit Gasing by hikers and visitors has caused deterioration of the forest.

“There are hundreds of people here, especially on weekends, and some people leave rubbish in the forest,” Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor Derek Fernandez said.

In an effort to clean up the forest, the MBPJ teamed up with groups like Friends of Bukit Gasing, the Hash House Harriers and students from the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Health Sciences Department to pick up the rubbish from the forest.



Checking it out: The students took the opportunity to collect data for their research.

About 100 people turned up for the gotong-royong session on Saturday afternoon and the UiTM students even took the opportunity to collect data for their waste management research based on the rubbish collected.

Also present were Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee and several MBPJ councillors.

Entrance to the forest is free and Fernandez appealed to people who use the park to take care of it and to get together to clean it regularly.

“We may have to close the park for a few weeks to rehabilitate the forest if the situation gets worse.

“We’re also hoping that the newly- appointed KL mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail would also retain the KL side of Bukit Gasing as a green space for the people,” he said.

Friday, February 6, 2009

2009 CNY celebration with Local Agenda 21 PJ

Click on images to view larger version.