Barber Joe’s case goes to Shah Alam

By Azreen Hani
http://www.mmail.com.my/content/75166-barber-joe%E2%80%99s-case-goes-shah-alam

PETALING JAYA: THE predicament of M. Inthirasa, popularly known as 'Barber Joe', and other tenants at PJ Palms Sports Complex in Jalan Sultan will be discussed in the Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES) session today.

This was confirmed by Bukit Gasing State assemblyman Edward Lee when contacted by The Malay Mail yesterday.

"The Menteri Besar has already taken up the matter and he immediately called for the report papers to be presented in the meeting tomorrow (today)."

Lee had submitted the report to the MB's office about a month ago. "Hopefully, the matter would be discussed tomorrow (today) and we will just have to wait for the outcome."

He expressed regret over an agreement between the council and the sports centre management which he believed was the root cause of the trouble now. "There should not have been such an agreement in the first place."

The agreement dated May 21 was signed by a councillor and the mayor. Lee also told The Paper That Cares the city council and affected tenants had met earlier to work out on the issue.

Asked whether there were talks between the complex's management and councillors with him, he said: "No. Besides, there is nothing to talk about. Let the State government decide."

Earlier this week, The Malay Mail reported Barber Joe's 20-year-old business may be under threat after PJ Palms Sdn Bhd raised the rent to more than double the original, an amount he refused to pay as he felt it was unfair.

The company subsequently cut off power supply to his business premises during weekends.

UNCERTAIN FUTURE

By Veena Babulal

http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/2pllo/Article/art_print 

Tenants of PJ Palms Sports Complex claim they are unhappy with the rent hike

PETALING JAYA: Joe's Unisex Salon and Waikiki Bar and Restaurant which have been around since the heyday of the former Kelab Syabas in Jalan Sultan here are facing an uncertain future.

M. Inthirarasa and Tony Siew, proprietors of the salon and restaurant, respectively, claimed that they were being pressured by the management of PJ Palms Sports Complex which took over the dilapidated Kelab Syabas to sign a new agreement and consent to a rent hike or leave the premises.

Inthirarasa pays RM500 for his salon while Siew pays RM5,000 for the bar. With the new rates they must pay RM1,700 and RM18,900, respectively.

A document uncovered by Gasing state assemblyman Edward Lee showed an agreement between the Petaling Jaya City Council and the management of the PJ Palms, Sepang Mekar Sdn Bhd.

It revealed that the complex building was leased out to PJ Palms for 11 sen per sq feet.

The agreement on May 21 was signed by a councillor and the mayor.

The tenants claimed that the hike which has been in effect since March did not include utility bills and that they were made to pay electricity bills above commercial rates.

Inthirarasa has faced electricity supply cuts a couple of times since February while Siew faced a bigger predicament of having his bar sealed with a padlock by the management last week.

"I had to remove the padlock and protect myself with a police report. There was no warning or notice.

"They also cut my electricity supply even though I paid my last two bills which had jumped from RM3,500 to RM5,000," he said adding that last month's invoice from the management had yet to arrive.

"Since the council owns the place, I would like to pay the council the rent directly instead of them hiring a second and third party.

"I don't want to be forced out of this place which I've been operating my business in for the past 15 years," he said echoing Inthirarasa's sentiments.

Inthirarasa, who has been operating his business over the past 20 years, said that his electricity rates had also doubled from RM300 to RM600.

He also said that his electricity was usually cut on Sundays when he had a lot of customers.

He has now paid up the three months' arrears but claims his electricity supply is still cut occasionally.

"How can they cut off my power supply when I have not even received the month's bill," he asked.

Lee, who held a press conference on the matter yesterday, said that he had raised the issue at the state's weekly economic action committee meeting.

He also said the Menteri Besar would deliberate on the matter.

He also quoted clause 9.16 in a deed of assignment between the council and Sepang Mekar Sdn Bhd which states that tenants should not sign, transfer outlets and facilities in and around the facility without prior consent of the landlord which is the Petaling Jaya City Council.

"Based on this, the tenants should not be made to face these issues," said Lee.

He also said he had raised the matter with Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman who said that he would look into the matter.

It was earlier reported that Seelan Chelliah of PJ Palms had contacted Inthirarasa to reduce his rent.

They also claimed to have reduced his rent by about 30 per cent to be fair to him as his lot faces the street as opposed to the shop lots that face the pool.

However, Inthirarasa claimed that he was only given a discount of RM1.

Mothers' Day Celebration

Click on image to enlarge

Welcome relief for leasehold owners

Writer: Alvin Yap
Published: Fri, 03 Jun 2011
http://www.selangortimes.com/index.php?section=news&permalink=welcome-relief-for-leasehold-owners

SHAH ALAM: Residents with leasehold titles, which are fast expiring, are welcoming the RM1,000 policy that allows them to extend their leases for another 99 years.

Michael Muniandy was among those who were overjoyed to hear the news announced on Wednesday.

“It’s very good news indeed, especially for retirees like me,” said the former engineer with the Land and Mines Department.

The 78-year-old pensioner had just 20 years left on his lease for his home in one of PJ’s oldest neigbourhoods, Section 1, Jalan Carey.

He pointed out that the RM1,000 premium would be less of a financial burden on his savings and pension.

Similarly, music teacher Raymond Pragasam, 46, said the move would encourage more home ownership as prospective housebuyers have balked at having to pay hefty premiums to extend the leases.

“Our house in Section 4 has 55 years remaining [on our lease], but our neighbours around us have less than 10 years. This is good news for them,” Raymond said when met at Taman Petaling here.

Former public school teacher Ng Sik Poon, 81, said the RM1,000 amount was within the means of every resident in Petaling Jaya.

“Even if you are short of money, you would borrow the amount to secure the lease,” he said.

He pointed out that the move by the state government would assist middle-income families.

Ng added that he expects a “rush” at the Land Office as ratepayers would clamour to extend their leases.

“Too bad I just extended my lease a few years ago, and I paid quite a hefty sum based on the land size,” he said, who could not recall the amount offhand.

Pragas Marimuthu admits that he is lucky to stay on freehold land in Puchong. Nevertheless, he said it was very good news for leasehold landowners in Selangor.

The 50-year-old businessperson said the move would encourage citizens to own residential property.

“A lot of prospective housebuyers put off buying property around the Old Town and New Town housing area,” said Pragas.

He pointed out that when it came to the renewal of leases, buyers would be saddled with large amounts.

Pragas added that the unprecedented initiative showed that the government was “caring” towards the middle-income group.

Siti Hanim Mohd Nasir, 38, said the announcement was “very good news” as her home on Jalan 3/60 here has only nine years remaining.

According to her land title documents, the lease is at RM12.50 per sq ft, and the total area of her bungalow lot is around 3,400sq ft.

“I’d have to pay at least RM40,000 to renew the lease,” she said.

Section 3 Residents Association (RA) head Shamsuddin Hassansaid he was “shocked” upon receiving the news from Bukit Gasing assemblyperson Edward Lee.

“When I told my residents this morning, they told me to stop joking,” he said when met at the RA office here in Section 3, Old Town.

The 61-year-old retiree said the residents had bought all the daily newspapers in order to confirm the announcement.

He pointed out that many of the houses, some of them the oldest here in Petaling Jaya, have their leases expiring within 10 years.

Shamsuddin said it would have cost some of the residents between RM40,000 and RM50,000 to renew their leases.

“We are not earning very much, and many of us are pensioners,” he pointed out.

He said he would be accompanying the residents as soon as possible to the Land Office to take full use of the state’s initiative.

“On behalf of the residents here in Section 3, I want to say thank you very much to the state administration,” he concluded.

Mind your PQRS, bloggers told

Writer: Basil Foo
http://www.selangortimes.com/index.php?section=news&permalink=mind-your-pqrs-bloggers-told

AMPANG: Bloggers interested in writing food reviews of their favourite eateries were advised to keep a simple formula in mind: PQRS.

“The Personality, Quality, Reader-friendly, and Serviceability factors will help bloggers write more interesting and useful blog posts,” said Chuah Guat Eng.

(From left) Amri, Chuah, Lee, Tourism Selangor general manager Noorul Ashikin Mohd Din, and Tourism Selangor events and marketing manager Fazly Razally.

The Selangorlicious! Foodster Blogging Competition chief judge addressed bloggers and the press during the competition launch on April 28.

The competition is expected to draw 5,000 submissions from bloggers who will vie for RM12,000 in cash prizes, holiday packages, and digital cameras.

“The reviews have to be attractive, easy to read, and bloggers have to remember the purpose is to draw readers to eat there,” said Chuah.

As such, she said, not only should the food be reviewed but the restaurant’s surroundings and even the condition of their washrooms.

Language quality and grammar are not as important as the main point of the competition is for people to have fun.

“There are no restrictions for the food outlets reviewed – small stalls to five-star restaurants, halal or non-halal,” said Amri Rohayat.

The Storm Studio managing director is part of the competition’s organizing team, together with creative agency Bright Lights After Midnight and Tourism Selangor.

Submissions must be between 200 and 400 words, in English or Bahasa Malaysia, and submitted from May 1 to 31.

“Each write up must be accompanied by 10 photographs, of which two are of the eatery exterior, two of the interior, and six of the food or participants,” said Amri.

Also at the launch was Selangor assistant executive councillor for tourism Edward Lee Poh Lin, who said this competition was also to identify Selangor’s trademark cuisine.

This would assist Tourism Selangor’s efforts in marketing the state at international level through a food-tourism initiative.

“Penang is well known for nasi kandar and char koay teow. Melaka is well known for nyonya cuisine.We want to know what food is Selangor famous for,” he added.

Keeping the home fireflies burning

Writer: Gan Pei Ling
http://www.selangortimes.com/index.php?section=news&permalink=keeping-the-home-fireflies-burning

KUALA SELANGOR: Selangor is moving to save its dwindling population of fireflies by setting up a breeding nursery along Sungai Selangor next month.

“We will set up artificial breeding grounds for the fireflies,” said Dr Ang Lai Hoe at the Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park last Friday.

Ang, a senior research officer from the biotechnology division in Forest Research Institute Malaysia (Frim), said the fireflies’ natural spawning grounds have been disturbed due to plantations and other developments along the river.

“The breeding ground has become too hot and dry, and lacks organic material,” he said.
Indigenous tree species like sago will be planted, and artificial shade will be set up in a one-hectare plot in Tanjung Beluntas to help rehabilitate the area by the riverside.

He said sago trees are the natural habitat for firefly larvae as the plants provide sufficient moisture and shade.

“If the project is successful, we will replicate it in other areas,” said Ang.

Selangor has acquired and gazetted 95 hectares of land as a firefly sanctuary along Sungai Selangor in 2009 to preserve the species.

Ang said that previously, around 60% of the 95 hectares were converted into plantations and other land use, according to satellite images. Only the remaining 40% are forests.

Frim experts will be working together with the state to carry out the three-year breeding project sponsored by Aeon, a Japanese retailer.

The company donated RM390,450 to the project and signed a memorandum with the state last Friday.

Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) acting director Norzamri Sondor said they also plan to invite villagers to help plant trees along the riverbank.

“We must get the community involved to help protect the fireflies,” Norzamri told Selangor Times.

He said fireflies can be found along a 20km stretch of Sungai Selangor and its buffer zone of around 2,000 hectares.

Around 60% to 70% of the 2,000 hectares are private lands, with some converted into plantations and other residential areas.

He said the Luas enforcement team would monitor the river and its buffer zone from time to time with Frim and the land office to ensure there is no big-scale development that would threaten the firefly colony.

“Villagers will inform us whenever there are encroachments,” said Norzamri, adding that the highest penalty for encroachment is a fine of RM50,000 and imprisonment for two years.

Frim entomologist Nada Badruddin said fireflies can be found worldwide, but the special behaviour of fireflies that congregate, as seen in Kuala Selangor, is only limited to Southeast Asia.

“Kuala Selangor is special because the location is strategic; other areas are not as accessible to humans,” she told Selangor Times.

Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the popular eco-tourism site attracts around 3,500 visitors a month.

Visitors usually take a boat tour via Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park or Kampung Belimbing to view the fireflies at night.

Also present at last Friday’s memorandum signing ceremony were Aeon president Datuk Abdullah Yusof, state secretary Datuk Khusrin Munawi, executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar, and assistant executive councillor Edward Lee.

They took a boat tour to witness the beauty of the fireflies after the signing the memorandum. Kuala Selangor district council officials and councillors were also present.

MBPJ: Bukit Gasing temple still closed to the public

BY Yip Yoke Theng
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/2/10/central/8031943&sec=central

CRACKS have appeared on the roof of the Sivan Temple atop Bukit Gasing, said Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) officers during their periodic checks on the structure perched precariously on the sensitive slope.

During a briefing on Tuesday at the MBPJ headquarters, it was reiterated that the temple was still not open to public as claimed by Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan and Human Rights Party secretary-general P. Uthaya-kumar, because the site was still deemed unstable.

The temple’s board of trustees assured attendees at the briefing that stabilisation works were going on and they were also removing several non-essential structures in an effort to reduce the risk of landslips.

Fear factor: A photo taken by MBPJ officers showing that cracks have appeared on the roof of Sivan Temple, Bukit Gasing (inset).

Three landslips had occurred near the temple since 2007 following the temple’s expansion, which was carried out without approvals and later slapped with a stop-work order. Stabilisation works were then carried out but it still failed to prevent the last landslip from happening last month.

Councillor Derek Fernandez, who chaired the briefing, requested that the trustees submit applications with all relevant work plans within 48 hours for the intended demolition and other additional works, to which the latter agreed.

The trustees also agreed to implement interim measures including placing warning signage while the works take place.

It was also learned that the stabilisation works had been delayed due to financial constraint but the trustees had pledged to resolve that.

Also present at the briefing were Selangor state executive councillor Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San, Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee’s aide and representatives from the relevant authorities including Public Works Institute (Ikram).

“The temple cannot be opened to the public until Ikram declares the site or slope is safe. Public safety is of utmost importance,” Fernandez said.

He said the council could not give the temple a timeframe for the stabilisation works as they needed to study the plans to be submitted.

He also explained that the state could only go ahead with the de-gazettement of the said land from forest reserve to religious use after the site’s safety and stability had been guaranteed.

Dr Xavier said the council, Ikram and the temple’s trustees had been working closely to address the issue, and called for patience as slope stabilisation would take a long time.

“Safety comes first. The temple cannot be opened for now because it poses a danger to the public. Once safety is ensured, the state will hand over the land to the temple’s trustees,” he said.

Trustee Datin Sri Indrani Samy Vellu said they were willing to abide by the council’s requirements.

She said the temple was not open but allowed access to a controlled number of worshippers on certain days so that the deities would not be left idle.