Public bus deal set for go-ahead - The Malaysian Insider

23 June 2015

A public bus service provider and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) are set to formally agree on a deal to improve public transport in and around Ipoh, according to Perak Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.

“The bus service provider will prepare a timetable and route lists within a month,” he said to The Star Online, adding that there would be 16 routes.

However, he also said that there were requirements that the service provider need to meet before the state would ink the agreement, which falls under the umbrella of the Federal Government’s Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) programme.

Dr Mah said that the programme also gave authorities the right to set the operating costs of the service provider, which in practice meant that revenue would go to SPAD and the commission would then allocate funds to the provider accordingly, based on distance covered.

“The operator will be paid a rate for every kilometre covered by each bus,” Dr Mah added.

“We know that we cannot continue to serve some areas. It’s not profitable.

Dr Mah also mentioned that manpower and training was an issue that they would have to face.

“The state is aware of these matters and will strive to improve the public transportation system,” he said, adding that the operator would primarily be judged by the state on the quality of its service.

Longgokan Sampah Sampai Bila? - PerakNews.Com

6 Jun 2015

Sejak empat tahun lalu, hampir saban hari Nancy Joseph, 64, dan keluarganya, di Taman Pertama, Ipoh, terpaksa menghidu bau busuk yang menusuk hidung, yang datangnya dari longgokan sampah haram berhampiran rumah mereka.

Tikus, lalat dan nyamuk seolah-olah menjadi rakan sepermainannya sehingga dia dan keluarga sepakat membina pagar konkrit bagi menjauhi binatang dan serangga berbahaya itu, yang sering berkeliaran berhampiran rumahnya.

"Sofa lama dan pokok pisang turut dilonggokkan, tetapi yang paling memualkan ialah sampah-sampah basah seperti lebihan makanan turut dibuang di sini, baunya jangan ceritalah," itulah keluhan warga emas ini, yang sepatutnya menghidu udara nyaman dan segar sambil berehat di rumahnya.

Pengalaman Nancy mungkin turut dirasai ramai lagi warga bandaraya Ipoh, lebih-lebih lagi mereka yang tinggal berhampiran tapak longgokkan sampah haram.

Malah apa yang dialami keluarga Nancy mungkin turut dirasaikan oleh keluarga lain di seluruh Perak atau mungkin Malaysia, selagi terdapat manusia yang kurang bertanggungjawab, tiada kesedaran sivik dan mahu ambil mudah, tanpa memikirkan keselesaan orang lain.

Di kawasan pentadbiran Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh (MBI), pernah suatu ketika bilangan tapak sampah haram melebih 2,000 tetai kini semakin berkurangan hasil kerja kuat serta kerjasama masyarakat setempat yang bertanggungjawab.

Apakah MBI atau pihak berkuasa tempatan lain tidak menjalankan tanggungjawab mereka? Pengalaman Nancy mungkin boleh menceritakan segala-galanya.

"Di taman saya ini, kakitangan MBI akan kutip sampah sebanyak tiga kali seminggu, dulu hari Isnin, Rabu dan Jumaat tetapi sekarang hari Selasa, Khamis dan Jumaat.

"Mereka juga akan membersihkan kawasan longgokan sampah haram di sebelah rumah saya, tapi, selepas setengah jam pihak MBI bersihkan, sudah ada orang buang sampah semula, sambil lalu, mereka campakkan sampah," cerita Nancy.

Berdasarkan cerita itu, bukanlah pihak berkuasa tempatan seperti MBI tidak menjalankan tugas, cuma sikap kurang bertanggungjawab dan kurang kesedaran sivik menjadi punca di kalangan warga tempatan.

Ahli Majlis MBI, M Veeran yang ditemui ketika program gotong royong perdana di Taman Pertama baru-baru ini mengakui bahawa pihaknya telah melaksanakan pelbagai program untuk membersihkan kawasan longgokan sampah.

Beliau memberi contoh, di kawasan Zon Buntong sahaja, kira-kira 50 tapak sampah haram dibersihkan tetapi ia tetap berulang-ulang walaupun pihak MBI meletakkan papan tanda larangan membuang sampah di tapak berkenaan.

Sebagai antara Ahli Majlis MBI yang paling aktif kerana kerap menganjurkan pelbagai program kemasyaratan di kawasan jagaannya, Veeran mahu melihat sekurang-kurangnya Zon Buntong menjadi contoh kepada zon-zon lain.

Sehubungan itu, beliau merayu penduduk taman-taman perumahan supaya mengubah sikap untuk bersama-sama menjaga kebersihan kawasan tempat tinggal mereka sendiri, untuk kebaikan mereka dan keluarga sendiri juga.

"Saya cabar warga bandaraya Ipoh, kita mensasarkan negara maju pada tahun 2020, cuma lima tahun lagi daripada sekarang, apakah hanya negara sahaja maju tetapi mentaliti kita masih ketinggalan 20 atau 30 tahun ke belakang," tegasnya.

Here comes the bride, all dressed in toilet paper - The Star

June 19, 2015

NEW YORK: The wedding dresses have it all - long trains, full layered skirts, floral appliqués, ruffles and sparkling bodices.

Their detailing is the kind you see on designer gowns made of silk and lace. But they're not. They're all made out of toilet paper.

The gowns were showcased at the finale of the annual Cheap Chic Weddings Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest in New York, United States on Wednesday.

Ten designers vying for a US$10,000 (RM37,460) prize painstakingly putting them together from the most basic materials.

The rules were simple, contest co-creator Laura Gawne told Reuters. "They have to use Charmin toilet paper, any kind of tape, any kind of glue and they can use needle and thread," she said.

"No closures, no Velcro, nothing. No attachment of fabric, nothing," said her co-creator, Susan Bain.

The sisters Bain and Gawne began the competition to promote their wedding site. The contest, now in its 11th edition, is held in conjunction with toilet paper brand Charmin.

This year, it was held at bridal store Kleinfeld, which will turn the winning dress into a ready-to-wear gown.

Before the show began, designers applied the final touches as models held onto toilet rolls needed for the add-ons.

"We have 4,585 petals that were all hand-cut and traced," Carol Touchstone, who came in third place, said of her floral dress. "We used tape, glue and Charmin."

The winner was a tuxedo-style halterneck dress with a removable jacket, accessorized with a top hat and bow tie, by Donna Pope Vincler. She said it took her about three months, 22 rolls and lots of tape and glue to make.

"It's amazing how strong glue and toilet paper can be. After I made it I was hitting on it like a drum ... it's very sturdy," she said. "I don't even know how many layers (there are)- I just did it until I thought it would stay together." - Reuters

Group: Public and the police can do more to reduce crime - The Star Metro Perak

Jun 16, 2015

IPOH is still a relatively safe city to live in.

Those interviewed by MetroPerak said that despite this, there was still room for improvement as both the people and the police could do more to lower the crime rate.

Most also feel that the presence of policemen or patrolling vehicles have reduced and it should be increased again while the people should be more vigilant to protect themselves against criminals.

Former school principal Victor Chew said he has come across and read many articles about crime in the newspapers but still felt that Ipoh was a safe place.

“Police statistics do not always tell the truth. There are many cases that have not been reported.

“I too have personally witnessed crime occurring,” said the 69-year-old Chew.

“These are however, not enough to make me panic. I still feel safe in Ipoh,” he said.

Chew said there should be more police presence in housing areas.

“Their presence is lacking. I do not see patrol cars passing by very often these days.

“They are mostly seen parked by the roadside rather than out patrolling,” he said.

“However, I do feel that their response has improved but there’s still room for improvement,” he added.

Chew also hoped that people would stand up for others who are in need of help.

“We need to watch out for others when in public places or in our neighbourhood.

“Many people have the ‘tidak apa’ attitude when crime occurs. They are also afraid to help or become a witness,” he said.

“This is something we should all think about. This apathetic attitude would only spur criminals to continue committing crime,” he added.

It has been reported that the crime rate in the city has dropped.

According to Ipoh OCPD Assistant Commissioner Sum Chang Keong, there was a 17.9% drop in crime cases between January and May this year compared to the same period last year.

There were 968 cases in the first five months this year compared to 1,179 cases within the same period last year.

Marketing communications manager Joey Loh said she felt that Ipoh was safer when compared to bigger cities like Kuala Lumpur.

“I believe that it’s just a perception that Ipoh is not safe.

“Yes, several of my friends and family members have had experienced house break-ins, car window being smashed and witnessed some snatch theft incidents,” said the 31-year-old

“However, I think these incidents could be summed up as unfortunate events,” she said.

“There can never be zero crime in any town or country and we should protect ourselves and take some safety precautions,” she added.

Loh said there were measures people could take to prevent getting robbed.

“Try being more observant about your surroundings, spot whether you are being followed and never leave personal belongings exposed in the car,” she said.

“Unless you have a bodyguard protecting you 24-hours daily, reduce the risks by avoiding walking alone in dark areas or alleys,” she added.

Loh also called for more security presence at housing or commercial areas.

“Have policemen or other security personnel like Rela patrol these areas during odd hours or in the early morning near residential areas or parks.

“At commercial areas, there are several police booths in the city. I hope they can be utilised fully,” she said.

Lim Garden Residents’ Committee secretary K. Sagadevan also said the police should not ease up on their patrolling duties.

“There have been less uniformed police personnel moving about on the streets.

“Perhaps they are patrolling the streets in plain clothes. I can only assume so,” the 69-year-old said.

“It would be wise to have more uniformed policemen on the streets to better control crime incidences,” he added.

Sagadevan said he understood that the police were short-handed and were doing their best to keep everyone safe.

“The Federal Government should really look into this matter,” he said.

He also said that the people should play their part in keeping a lookout for crime in their respective housing areas.

“Some areas have 24-hour security to safeguard the place. This has worked well in fighting and controlling crime rate.

“Residents must also contribute and be responsible,” he said.

“We at Lim Garden are coming up with a “Neighbourhood Crime Watch” project to ensure the safety of the neighbourhood,” he said, adding that the project would involve its Rukun Tetangga and Residents’ Committee and the WIRA (Warrior) Association Malaysia.

Ipoh City Watch president Dr Richard Ng said he agreed that the crime rate has gone down gradually since the implementation of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) in 2009.

“However, in terms of perception of the public, the statistics may not reflect the real situation.

“This is because many are sceptical about the reports made by victims as they claimed that the reports have been modified to show improvements,” he said.

“Some crimes also went viral on social media, sometimes without checking the truth about a particular case,” he added.

Dr Ng said that many police cases that have been solved were not highlighted to the public.

“I learnt that the state police made the highest arrest of drug related cases in Malaysia.

“More than half of crime such as snatch theft and house break-ins were caused by drug addicts, and the high number of arrests in drug related cases has resulted in a reduction in the crime rate,” he said, adding that Perak has the third lowest crime rate in Malaysia.

“To overcome such negative perception, the police have to step up efforts to engage with the public, especially among the Chinese community,” he added.

Dr Ng said police presence was important to prevent crime.

“There are areas which have seen high crime rate in Ipoh such as Bercham and Buntong.

“These are densely populated areas but have insufficient number of police.

“Increasing police patrol in these areas will help prevent any untoward occurrences,” he said.

“The public too must play an important role through the Residents Associations or NGOs by being the eyes and ears of the police and report any suspicious characters,” he said, adding that the police should improve their engagement with the public to dispel any negative perception.

Dr Ng also said the people must lodge a report whenever some crime takes place or if they witness any such cases.

“They should not have a negative perception that the police are incompetent in solving a crime.

“It is with reports that the police can follow up with actions,” he said.

Safety measures proposed fro Ipoh - The Star Metro Perak

June 16, 2015

WHEN it comes to early morning jogs, both the authorities and the joggers have to do their part to avoid being a target for criminal acts.

Some have also called for the increase of manpower in the police force to help curb crime.

Non-governmental organisation Ipoh City Watch president Dr Richard Ng said going jogging in the early hours of the morning was generally not safe as it was still dark.

“Some of the things authorities can do, such as the Ipoh City Council, is to make sure there is enough lighting in public parks such as Polo Ground.

“They can also install CCTVs along the entire walkway of the park, and assign enforcement officers to keep an eye out for suspicious-looking people,” he said.

As for the police, Dr Ng said they could assign members from their police volunteer unit to go around the park.

“Polo Ground is such a popular place among joggers, and I’m sure that it’s the same among snatch thieves when they want to look for targets,” he said, referring to the Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreational Park.

However, Dr Ng feels that it would not be easy to do the same for fields located within housing areas.

“For the police to conduct patrols at all the fields in the various housing areas would be impossible, because I know that they have insufficient numbers.

“What we can do is set up a Residents Association in every housing estate to check on the safety issues for morning joggers.

“We could also propose to the city council to fence up certain fields with an assigned security guard at the entrance, similar to the gated community concept,” he said.

On the joggers’ part, Dr Ng stressed that they too have to take protective measures to avoid creating chances for others to rob them.

“Leave your valuables at home. Come out to jog only with your MyKad or driving licence, and just enough money for breakfast.

“In most cases of snatch theft, it happens because of the people’s negligence.

“They can also go in a group to exercise, as it is obviously very dangerous these days to go out alone, especially when dark,” he said.

Canning assemblyman Wong Kah Woh thinks that crime cases can be reduced with increased police presence.

“Stationing police officers at crime hotspots, like Polo Ground, will go a long way in discouraging unscrupulous characters from acting,” he said.

Wong also pointed out that the police could also patrol residential areas where there are a lot of people jogging.

“But as far as I know, there is no such common practice. The government should increase the manpower of the police force.

“Currently, only about 10% of the police force are involved in combating crime, with 41% in police general administration.

“Most general administration personnel should be switched to help fight crime, as the Royal Police Commission report in 2005 has recommended that there should be at least 22% of the police force assigned for this,” he said.

Similarly, Bercham assemblyman Cheong Chee Khing said it would be difficult to have the police patrolling around fields in his area as there was shortage of manpower.

“In Bercham, we have a population of about 120,000, but the Bercham police station has only about 50 policemen.

“This means that one policeman has to take care of about 2,000 people. As such, there will be limited patrolling for morning joggers,” he said.

Adding that he has already brought this issue up during past state assemblies, Cheong said the state government told him that currently they have no plans to increase the manpower for Bercham police station.

“But so far, I have not heard of cases involving morning joggers in the Bercham area.

“I think most of them usually exercise in groups.

“With safety being a huge concern nowadays, I think people will seldom go alone to jog before the sun rises,” he said.

On steps taken by the police to improve joggers safety, Ipoh OCPD Assistant Commissioner Sum Chang Keong said currently there were police officers from the Sungai Senam police station and city council enforcement officers patrolling around Polo Ground in the morning.

“They are sometimes dressed in uniform or civillian clothing, but so far we have not received many reports of criminal activity there.

“If there are complaints from the public, we will send out police officers immediately to patrol and investigate,” he said.

Integrity forum for councillors

June 16, 2015

Councillors are the go-to person to ease residents’ troubles and the voice of the people as mediator between them and the local council.

And when a councillor is not approachable, not trustworthy and honest with the people, residents would lose faith in them.

To ensure that councillors understood their roles and responsibilities and with integrity in their duty, the first integrity programme was organised.

The programme called ‘Strengthening and Good Governance’ was run in a the form of a three-hour forum, with the aim of making integrity a culture in the lives of people, create awareness on the practice of ethics and integrity to foster good relations with the community.

It was organised by the Malaysian Institute of Integrity with the help of the integrity unit, state secretary’s office and the State Integrity Institute.

However, the forum drew poor response and saw the attendance of less than the expected 288 councillors from the 12 local councils.

When launching the forum, Selangor state secretary Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi asked councillors to ensure they and their local councils provided the best service for the people.

“As local councils, your focus should be on helping the community and giving them the best service.

“The role of a councillors is heavy and important. You must take up this role not solely to fulfil your needs but the needs of the community,” he said.

Moderators and speakers were elected to highlight issues regarding integrity in finance and management in a local council.

Leading the forum was Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy chief commissioner Datuk Mustafar Ali.

Among the speakers were Malaysian Institute of Integrity deputy president Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin, National Audit Department Selangor division director Ang Nai Har, and former Petaling Jaya mayor Datin Alinah Ahmad.

The forum with three speakers highlighted the need for councillors to contribute constructive ideas to the local councils to improve services in all levels and to act as middleman to channel feedback from the community to local councils.

The speakers also encouraged them to review their role as councillors, by coming up with strategies for the local councils to raise questions when in doubt.

Dr Ahmad briefed councillors on the fight against corruption, fraud and abuse of power while Ang shared past financial findings from local councils and showed examples of poor planning and expenditure that drowned money down the drain.

Alinah said councillors should also come up with ideas in their respective areas and policies for the benefit of the people and to know the local council laws.

Sepang councillor Dr Teo Lian Seng questioned why local councils still did not have proper procedures when giving out contracts to companies.

Communal bins to be provided for festive spring cleaning - The Malaysian Insider

4 June 2015

In conjuction with the Hari Raya celebration, Petaling Jaya City Council's Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Department will be conducting a spring cleaning campaign in several areas in the city from June 6 to July 5.

The department, in a statement, said that it will be providing two three-tonne Roro bins in each selected area for free for city dwellers to dispose of bulk waste.

The service is provided on a "first come, first serve" basis until the capacity of the Roro bins are reached.

Only bulk waste such as furniture, electrical items and household items are allowed to be disposed of in these bins.

Domestic waste, food remnants, garden waste and commercial waste are not allowed.

The public can contact the department at 03-7954 1440 for further information. – June 4, 2015.