Butterworth: Help repair water tank, ICU urged

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RESIDENTS of Taman Pantai Bersih flats in Bagan Ajam, Butterworth, are appealing to the Implementation and Co-ordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister’s Department to help repair a faulty water tank at the flats.

The flats’ newly appointed joint management body (JMB) committee chairman Zunun Hashim said the water tank in Block C had been out of service for the last five years.

“We also hope the ICU can help repair the motor pumps of the water tanks in all three blocks A, B and C as well as repair the pumps’ automatic system,” he said during a visit from Barisan Nasional’s Bagan parliamentary co-ordinator David Chua yesterday.

Zunun said that presently, only one motor pump was operational, which provided water to all 420 flat units.

Residents' dilemma: (From left) Ibrahim showing the faulty pumps to Chua, Teh and Bagan MCA Youth vice-chairman Sum Yoo Keong on the rooftop.

The flats’ JMB secretary Ibrahim Othman, 52, said that water from the tanks located above his flat unit on the fourth floor often leaked into his house.

“It has been very inconvenient for my family and at the same time, it is sad that precious water is being wasted,” he said.

Chua said the residents owed the flat developer RCB Development Sdn Bhd maintenance arrears amounting to RM500,000.

He said they also owed TNB about RM5,000 in power bill arrears and RM2,500 to the Penang Water Supply Corporation Sdn Bhd (PBA).

“I hope RCB as well as TNB and PBA will consider waiving the residents’ debts as a goodwill gesture following the formation of a new JMB.

“Let the new JMB start afresh and I hope they will be able to do a better job than the previous management committee,” he said.

Chua also suggested that the state and federal government appoint representatives to sit on the JMB committee to ensure transparency in their operations.

He urged the committee to be strict in collecting the monthly maintenance fee of RM27.50 per unit.

Barisan Nasional’s Bagan Jermal constituency co-ordinator Teh Lay Cheng said she would join the flat residents in a campaign to clean up the vicinity on Sunday.

The Star. North Metro By DERRICK VINESH
Thursday July 8, 2010

Top scorer gets PSD scholarship after all

GEORGE TOWN: Visually-impaired Teoh Bee Kah can be assured of a promising future now as she was informed that she had successfully obtained a Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship on Tuesday.

The scholarship is for Teoh, 18, to pursue a Business Foundation course at the University of Nottingham Malaysia campus in Semenyih.

The New Straits Times had highlighted Teoh's plight on June 20 after her application for a scholarship was rejected.


The former SMK Convent Pulau Tikus student had scored 4A+ and 6As in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination last year.


Teoh, who suffers from nystagmus, a condition that causes involuntary eye movements was the top special student in the examination in Penang.

When contacted, an elated Teoh said she was happy to be given the scholarship.


"I am looking forward to pursuing my studies in the university.

"I want to thank all of those who have helped me along the way. Words can't express how grateful I am."

Teoh, who had initially wanted to pursue a degree in psychology, will be reporting to the university on July 8.


She is currently studying in St Xavier's Institution for her Lower Six.

Teoh's mother, Kim Guat Khim, 50, said although her daughter failed to get the course of her choice, she was, however, contented with the course offered to her.

"I want to thank the PSD for the scholarship.

"I also want to thank Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong for taking an interest in my daughter's case.

"In fact, he called me up twice, once on Monday and the following day to congratulate me," she said, adding that she was also grateful to others for their help, including state MCA chief Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.



Top scorer gets PSD scholarship after all
from New Straits Times

Student gets PSD scholarship, thanks to MCA

GEORGE TOWN: A student who failed to get a government scholarship twice to pursue higher studies is now rejoicing, thanks to the MCA.

Teoh Bee Kah, 18, who failed to get the scholarship earlier, has been granted a Public Service Department scholarship after she sent an appeal letter to MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Teoh, who was born with the nystagmus condition (a form of involuntary eye movement), was awarded a full scholarship for an 18-month Foundation in Business Studies course at the University of Nottingham’s Malaysian campus in Semenyih.

The former Convent Pulau Tikus student, who is now studying in Form Six at St Xavier’s Institution, will start the course on July 8.

“I was verbally guaranteed a National Scholarship on March 19 when I went to Putrajaya to receive an award for being an outstanding student.

■ She got it: Teoh showing her parents, father Lye and mother Kim Guat Khim the congratulatory letter she received from Dr Ng.

“However, the name list came out a week later without my name. So, I thought I would be accepted by the PSD. But my name wasn’t in that list either when it came out on May 21.

“I cried for two days after that because I was so disappointed,” she said after receiving a congratulatory letter from Bagan MCA division Youth chief David Chua on behalf of Dr Ng at the Penang MCA headquarters on Pahang Road here yesterday.

Teoh, who scored 4A+, 3As and 3A- in last year’s SPM examination, said although her first choice was Psychology, she was nevertheless grateful for the scholarship.

She said her nystagmus condition was made difficult with her short-sightedness.

“My eyeballs are constantly moving and it is difficult for me to focus. Doctors told me my condition cannot be corrected with spectacles or surgery,” she said.

Her father, Lye Chuan, 58, said she did not let her condition stand in her way.

“She didn’t attend any tuition classes. Her hearing and memory are excellent too,” said the fisherman.



From : The Star. Northern 1 July 2010

Program Pembangunan Wanita Parlimen Bagan

Program Pembangunan Wanita Parlimen Bagan di kawasan perumahan Ampang Jajar, Butterworth

26.06.2010 | 8AM - 3PM

Dirasmi oleh Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri
Dianjur oleh Wanita UMNO Bahagian Bagan.

Penang Govt taken to task over demolition

Friday May 14, 2010

THE Penang Government has turned a deaf ear to numerous appeals made by the Rumah Hijau Residents Association over the tearing down of the vacant houses at the Rumah Hijau longhouses in Mak Mandin, Butterworth.

Bagan parliamentary coordinator and Bagan MCA division Youth chief David Chua(pic at right three), who said this, also claimed there was no proper planning when the demolition was carried out recently.

“The empty houses are attached to other houses. Because of that, water seeps in from the side when it rains,” he said.

“To make things worse, the site has become a mosquito breeding ground because of the debris, clogged drains and pot holes,” he said in a press statement on Wednesday.
Chua claimed a 12-year-old boy was now sick with dengue fever.

He said during a meeting attended by state Town and Country Planning and Housing Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai and state Public Works, Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng with leaders from Barisan Nasional at Wong’s office last month, it was agreed that the residents would not be forced to move out from their houses.

Barisan was represented by Bagan Umno division chief Datuk Latiff Mirasa and state MIC liaison committee chief Datuk P.K. Subbaiyah.

Chua called upon the executive councillors to put aside politics and assist the Rumah Hijau folk to solve the long-standing issue once and for all.


Rumah Hijau Resident Association chairman A. Tamil Selvam said he went to Lim’s service centre on Jalan Raja Uda near Butterworth last week to request for him to stop the demolition work.

However, he claimed Lim did not entertain him and said he had nothing to do with the demolition work.

Last November, 170 of the 236 families from the area accepted the keys to their flats.

The remaining 66 families, who declined the offer, have chosen to remain in their village while demanding that the state build a block of flats within the village.

from : The Star Metro North

Kerajaan negeri takutkan penduduk Rumah Hijau Mak Mandin

■PENDUDUK Rumah Hijau Mak Mandin, Butterworth mengeluarkan perabot dari rumah yang dirobohkan.

BUTTERWORTH: Seperti lagak samseng. Itulah yang boleh disimpulkan terhadap cara penduduk Rumah Hijau Mak Mandin di sini yang diarahkan keluar dari rumah mereka oleh kerajaan negeri. Kenyataan itu dilemparkan Ketua Umno Bahagian Bagan, Datuk Latiff Mirasa, terhadap tindakan kerajaan negeri merobohkan dua rumah penduduk di kawasan berkenaan walaupun sudah menyatakan komitmen untuk membantu. Latiff yang menjadi penasihat kepada penduduk, berkata tindakan kerajaan negeri itu seperti samseng dengan menakut-nakutkan penghuni supaya mematuhi arahan berpindah ke Flet Ampang Jajar.

"Dalam pertemuan saya dengan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Bagan Jermal, Lim Hock Seng dan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perancangan Bandar dan Desa Perumahan Kesenian, Wong Hon Wai tiga minggu lalu, mereka cakap akan selesaikan masalah itu dengan memohon bantuan Kerajaan Pusat.

"Itupun selepas saya berkeras bahawa kerajaan negeri terdahulu (Barisan Nasional) sudah menyediakan pelan pembinaan rumah kos rendah di sini seperti dipersetujui penduduk. Tetapi, lihatlah apa berlaku sekarang.

"Mereka roboh dua rumah yang memberi kesan sampingan antaranya seorang kanak-kanak berusia 12 tahun menghidap penyakit deman denggi kerana kawasan itu kini menjadi tempat takungan air. Tindakan mereka ini seperti samseng," katanya ketika melawat kawasan perumahan itu.
Tinjauan Berita Harian ke kawasan itu mendapati, ada takungan air di kawasan rumah dirobohkan, sekali gus menjadikan kawasan itu tempat nyamuk Aedes membiak.

Selain itu, sisa kayu dari rumah yang dirobohkan juga tidak dibersihkan, malah masih ada wayar elektrik tergantung yang mungkin akan menyebabkan berlaku renjatan elektrik.

Berikutan masalah itu, penduduk mendesak Lim yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerja Raya, Utiliti dan Pengangkutan negeri, meletak jawatan sebagai wakil rakyat kerana bersikap lepas tangan.

Desakan itu dibuat selepas Lim menyatakan kepada penduduk bahawa beliau tidak mempunyai sebarang kuasa untuk menyelesaikan masalah dihadapi penduduk yang jelas berbeza ketika berkempen pada pilihan raya umum lalu.

Pengerusi Persatuan Penduduk Rumah Hijau Mak Mandin, A Tamilselvam, berkata Lim memaklumkan bahawa penduduk tidak akan dipindahkan ke Flet Ampang Jajar jika pakatan pembangkang memerintah negeri ini.

"Tetapi apabila sudah memerintah, banyak pula alasan diberikan Lim kepada kami. Kami kecewa dengan sikapnya itu dan mahu beliau letak jawatan sebagai Adun supaya seseorang yang lebih berkemampuan dilantik," katanya.

Tamilselvam berkata, pihaknya menemui Lim pada Rabu minggu lalu bagi meminta penjelasan selepas dua buah rumah dirobohkan minggu lalu walaupun kerajaan negeri sudah berjanji untuk membantu penduduk menyelesaikannya.

"Dalam pertemuan dengan Lim dan Wong, mereka menyatakan akan membantu penduduk dengan memohon bantuan untuk menyelesaikan masalah itu.

"Tetapi sehingga kini, surat memohon peruntukan bagi membina rumah kos rendah di sini masih belum disiapkan. Lebih teruk lagi apabila dua rumah dirobohkan walaupun jalan penyelesaian masih belum ada," katanya.

Source from : Berita Harian

Polystyrene window frame shock for house buyers

By DERRICK VINESH
derrickvinesh@thestar.com.my

click to PHOTO ALBUM

BUTTERWORTH: Several house buyers in Taman Ampang Jajar here had a rude shock when they checked the houses – the outer frames of their windows were made from polystyrene.

A buyer, Lee Kim Tatt, 35, claimed that the polystyrene pieces were covered with a thin layer of cement.

“What would happen if a person steps on the window sill, thinking that it was made of concrete?” he asked when Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) president Mokhtar Mohd Jait visited the project site yesterday.

■Not sturdy: Lee showing the polystyrene used for his house in Taman Ampang Jajar in Butterworth, Penang, yesterday.

A representative for the project’s architect said the frames were merely decorative pieces that should not be stepped on.

Another buyer, Yan Wei Seong, 33, claimed the houses did not follow the original plan as per the sale and purchase agreement (S&P) signed in 2006.

“Some units in a particular row have double steps leading to the back lane while some in the same row only have one step, which shows that the ground is uneven,” he alleged.

Barisan Nasional’s Bagan parliamentary constituency co-ordinator David Chua, who was present, said he was surprised that the relevant departments and agencies had given the green light for the MPSP to issue the Certificate of Fitness (CF) to a majority of the units in 2008.

“How could the CF be given when some of the units are not in good condition?

“Access to these houses is also blocked with hoardings and there are no street lights in this area,” he said.

Mokhtar said the developer had agreed to extend the defect-liability period for the housing units by another two years.

“Disgruntled house buyers are advised to list down their grouses, so we can hold further discussion with the developer.

“We will try to come up with amicable solutions,” he added.

Mokhtar said of the 101 housing units, 22 units as well as 17 shophouses had yet to receive their CFs, pending approval from the relevant departments and agencies.