Traffic lights to be installed at busy Rothmans Roundabout in Petaling Jaya

By Yip Yoke Teng
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/1/15/central/7778336&sec=central

Work to turn the infamous Rothmans Roundabout in Petaling Jaya into a traffic light junction has begun.

Under the project, the T-junction of Jalan Harapan and Jalan 19/8 will also be installed with traffic lights.

An additional lane will be added to both the roads, as well as to Jalan 19/1 and Jalan Universiti leading to the roundabout.

The first phase of the project would cost RM4.2mil and was expected to take eight months to complete, said the Petaling Jaya City Council’s (MBPJ) engineering director Cheremi Tarman after a briefing on the project at the council’s headquarters.

Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian, Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee, Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San and residents attended the briefing.

Produktif Sepakat Consulting Engineers Sdn Bhd is the consultant, while Gorass Sdn Bhd is the contractor.

“The project will not involve any road closure and work will only be carried out during off-peak hours to minimise congestion,” said Cheremi.

He said the second phase of the project to link Jalan Harapan to Sprint Highway would cost RM5.3mil.

“We are still collecting contribution from developers who have new projects in Section 13. We will start Phase 2 when we have collected half the amount. The same consultant will work on the project,” he added.

Cheremi highlighted that having traffic lights to replace the roundabout was only an interim solution, until a flyover was built.

“However, we do not see that happening soon as that can cost about RM25mil,” he added.

Cheremi said the traffic light junction project was delayed from last year because the council wanted to ensure that there were no major utility cables underground and also to attract more contractors for the open tender.

Let landslide be a lesson

By Noel Achariam
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/gogas1/Article/

The landslide that occurred next to temple on Bukit Gasing.
— Picture by PC Lim

PETALING JAYA: Residents of Bukit Gasing are living in fear after a landslide occurred near their homes on Thursday morning.

The 150m landslide occurred on the north-east corner of Sivan Temple on Bukit Gasing.

Gasing Joint Action Committee coordinator Gary Yeoh said he was shocked to hear about the landslide from a neighbour.

"The landslide had brought down part of the hillslope next to the temple. The 150m drop was shocking.

"We're counting our blessings that the landslide did not hit the water tank at the bottom of the reservoir," he said.

Yeoh said the action committee was concerned over the stability of the hillslope when extension works on the temple started in 2006. There was a landslide on the hill facing Fraser Towers in March 2007.

"We now live in fear and are worried every time there is a heavy downpour. This landslide demonstrates why development should not be allowed on Bukit Gasing," he said.

"Our fears of soil and slope disturbance on the hillslopes around the temple have been justified with this landslide incident," he said.

Yeoh hoped Bukit Gasing would not be another case of the Highland Towers or Bukit Antarabangsa disasters.

Fraser Tower resident Mohamed Kamar Mohamed said stern action needed to be taken to prevent another landslide.

"Authorities need to take action to ensure the lives of people here are protected," he said.

Petaling Jaya councillor Derek Fernandez said the recent landslide showed precisely why the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had not allowed the temple to be opened to the public.

"The temple will not be opened until Ikram has certified that the area where the landslide occurred is safe," he said.

Fernandez said that this was a powerful reminder to those who are adamant about developing Bukit Gasing.

"MBPJ will not compromise public safety under any circumstances. We will take caution and not bow to pressures," he said.

Fernandez also issued a warning to Gasing Meridian Sdn Bhd, which is proposing to develop the Sanctuary Ridge Kuala Lumpur City project comprising 70 bungalows on a 15.5ha site on Bukit Gasing.

"Let this incident be a warning that no development should take place on Bukit Gasing," he said.

Bukit Gasing state assemblyman Edward Lee said the safety of temple devotees and residents in the area must be protected.

"MBPJ has instructed Ikram to present a report on the landslide and the development at the temple.

"The fate of the temple will be decided by MBPJ.

"If Ikram gives the go-ahead then there must be strict conditions applied for the safety of all.

"If it says no, then we will have to sit down with the temple committee and decide on the next course of action," he said.

Lee said it was the responsibility of the temple committee to ensure the safety of its devotees.

What's next for Sivan temple?

The renovated temple will be reopened once safety issues are resolved. — Pictures by L. Manimaran

By Sheila Sri Priya
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/2dos/Article/

Sivan Temple Bukit Gasing

PETALING JAYA: The fate of Sivan Temple in Bukit Gasing is now not known following the landslide on the hill on Thursday morning.

Earlier in the week devotees of the temple were told that they could look forward to worshipping at the temple in three months if the Public Works Institute of Malaysia (Ikram) approves the temple structure.

That decision was announced at a meeting chaired by Petaling Jaya city councillors Derek Fernandez and R. Selvarajan last Wednesday.

An Ikram official at the meeting said approval would be given once a thorough inspection of the temple was done and this process may take three months.

During the meeting it was decided that the stop-work order on the temple reconstruction which was issued in 2008 after a landslide there remains in force although repair works to stabilise the hillslope are carried out.

State executive councillor Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar who attended the meeting said the state had plans to allocate the land to temple trustees once it was regazetted and all requirements met.

Fernandez explained the process flow to get the temple reopened to those present at the meeting.

Datin Seri Indrani Samy Vellu, who represented the temple trustees, said the temple would comply with all the rules and regulations set by Ikram, the local council and state to ensure public safety.

She said the temple management was raising more funds for the temple reconstruction.

A temple spokesperson said over RM4.5 million had been spent so far for the reconstruction works.

The expansion of the temple became an issue in 2007 after it caused a landslip.

The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) issued a stop-work order and a compound to the temple management for violating the Street, Drainage and Building Act.

The landslip was rectified by the temple management and was later certified by Ikram in 2008.

The reconstruction work at the temple soon intensified. MBPJ later received a complaint that a portion of the land facing the KL side of Bukit Gasing had given way.

The council issued a second stop-work order and requested a proposal plan for the temple reconstruction works.

Also present at the meeting were Federation of Malaysian Indian Organisation president Dr V. Suppiah, Malaysian Indian Progressive Association president and founder A. Raja Retinam, representatives of non-governmental organisations and devotees.

99-year lease cheer

By Lim Chia Ying
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/1/6/central/7740275&sec=central

HOUSE OWNERS occupying land with lease tenure of less than 30 years will see their leasehold increased to 99 years.

Selangor MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim announced this at the Petaling Jaya Sustainable Community Award and Commu-nity Leaders Award 2009/2010 ceremony on Tuesday night.

“We will be studying the premiums to be paid in line with the increase in the number of years,” he said in his speech at MBPJ banquet hall in Civic Centre.

He said the government would also be looking into redeveloping Petaling Jaya city.

“We hope the councillors and the Petaling Land Office will brief the people about the programmes to be carried out.

“Also, we want to study the number of schools needed here because one of Petaling Jaya’s strengths is that the community will continue to stay on for a long time; which calls for the need for more facilities like schools, parks and other infrastructure.”

Over the moon: The Bandar Sri Damansara RA committee members and its president Ravindran (third from left) rejoicing after being named the champion in the Petaling Jaya Sustainable Community Award 2009/2010.

He added that the development of Greater Klang Valley would start soon and that parcels of it would involve Petaling Jaya.

Khalid noted that garbage collection and disposal remained an issue given that the population growth in this city was high.

“I will need to go to the ground with mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman to look into ways of resolving this problem. We may have to channel resources from the 2011 budget for a better solution to the garbage issue.

“We will not allow any differences between us at the state level, the Federal Government and government officers to hinder our intention of beautifying and doing more for this city,” he assured.

He said there was a deficit in the estimated MBPJ 2011 budget compared to the 2010 budget when there was a surplus.

“We will need to monitor spending more closely and prudently especially given that Petaling Jaya is one of the highest revenue collectors among all cities in the country.”

Meanwhile, Mohamad Roslan in his speech said the annual award ceremony that was previously known as the PJ Best Neighbour-hood Award had been renamed in line with the 10th anniversary of PJ Local Agenda 21.

After thanking the panel of judges for selecting the award recipients, he said Budget 2011 had been approved with a sum of RM272mil to focus on solid waste collection, upgrading of drainage systems and resurfacing of roads as well as maintenance of infrastructure and greening of the city.

“We need to tackle issues of safety and poverty while increasing the quality of life for the people of Petaling Jaya.”

The awards started with the presentation for the Community Leaders 2009/2010 segment.

The three recipients were Section 3 PJ Rukun Tetangga chairman Shamsuddin Hassan, SS2 Selatan residents association chairman Lim Theng Kau and Damai Senja Petaling Utama RT chairman Sathiveloo Kanniah. They each received prize money of RM500 and trophies.

The PJ Sustainable Community Awards were presented to five incentive recipients and one champion.

The five incentive winners were: Rukun Tetangga Taman Gasing Indah (Safe Neighbour-hood), Damai Senja Petaling Utama Apartments Rukun Tetangga (Administration), Taman Mayang Jaya residents association (Green Neighbourhood), Desa Mentari Block 3 residents association (Social Integration), and Section 21 residents association (Entrepreneurship).

They each received a development grant of RM10,000 and trophies.

The champion of the PJ Sustainable Community Award 2009/2010 went to Bandar Sri Damansara residents association, which received a development grant of RM50,000, certificate and a Champion’s Trophy.

Bandar Sri Damansara RA president Ravindran Raman Kutty said their committee deserved the award for their hard work and efforts.

“I wish to thank our committee and other agencies who were supportive of our efforts.

“We will use the money to develop a basic customer relations management system to manage complaints and feedback received from residents more effectively, so as to facilitate better customer service,” he said.

He added that the RA had always been active in activities such as environmental programmes that encourage residents to do their own green farming, annual get-togethers with the residents, and constant dialogues with the police.

“This year we will continue with the programmes we have been doing but on a greater scale with even more participation from the people,” said Ravindran, adding that there were some 60,000 residents in Bandar Sri Damansara.

A total of 17 Rukun Tetangga / RAs in Petaling Jaya took part in the Sustainable Community Award.