Volunteers help clear hoarder’s cluttered house - The Star Metro Perak

2 Jan 2018 by Manjit Kaur

Low (right) along with some volunteers helping Lee (standing left), clean up recyclable items inside her house.

SIXTY-EIGHT-year-old Lee Chin Lan was all smiles when a group of volunteers cleaned her house, which had been overflowing with with recyclable items.

It was be a fresh start for the year for Lee because not only was part of her house cleaned, Lee, fondly known as “Ah Mooi”, also received RM152 for a total of 266kg of recyclables bought by recycling organisation Koperasi Alam Hijau Perak Bhd (Kohijau).

Lee said she was very happy that her house was cleaned, and she promised not to collect anymore recyclable items to store in her house.

“I am hoping that once my house is fully cleaned, I will be able to bring my 43-year-old daughter who has been in the Ulu Kinta Hospital Bahagia since 2001.

Ipoh Barat MCA Youth chief Aldrich Low Guo Nan had previously brought the public’s attention to Lee’s plight, and on Dec 10 The Star reported that the senior citizen had been collecting and selling recyclables to make ends meet for the past 10 years.

According to Lee, her two daily meals consist of potato soup because that is all that she can afford. Her husband left her 40 years ago, and she has been staying alone, with no support.

Enough recyclable items to fill a small lorry were cleared from Lee’s home in Bercham.

Lee used to work as a cleaner, while her daughter used to study and work part-time when she was mentally fit.

After her plight was highlighted in the media, several non-governmental organisations such as Kohijau, Ipoh City Watch, Lions Club of Silver State, Rukun Tetangga Bercham and Bercham Residents Representative Committee volunteered to clean up her house on New Year’s Eve.

Plastic bottles, cardboard, and metal items were among the things collected from Lee’s house.

Kohijau chairman Associate Prof Dr Richard Ng said a full lorry load of recyclable items was collected from Lee’s living room.

“We need to come back and collect more items, as the bedrooms, I was told have more items ‘stocked’ up. There are many people like Lee, who has appears to have a habit of hoarding and refusing to let go of things even though it is necessary to get rid of items no longed needed,” he said, adding that he gave another RM100 to the woman as a personal donation.

Low, who is also a city councillor said after Lee’s plight was highlighted many people contacted him to offer help.

“A furniture company from Kuala Lumpur is willing to furnish her home with proper furniture, and individuals from as far as Penang came to visit her to provide cash and food items.

“However we need to make sure her house is properly cleaned first, before we can accept any furniture and so forth,” he added.

https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/01/02/clean-start-to-the-year-volunteers-help-clear-senior-citizens-cluttered-house/

Residents fed up of various problems in neighbourhood - The Star Metro Perak

11 Jan 2018 by Ivan Loh

Ipoh City Council workers cleaning up the earthern trench that serves as a drain in Kampung Tersusun Bercham

THE people of Kampung Tersusun Bercham, which borders Bercham and Ipoh Garden East, in Ipoh, are tired of the problems in the area.

Faced with potholes, clogged drains, illegal dumpsites and uncontrolled undergrowth, residents voiced their grouses to Ipoh City Councillor Low Guo Nan during his visit there last Sunday.

Housewife Juander Kaur, 49, said the bushes near her home are a habitat for snakes.

“Snakes have entered my house about five to six times. A cobra bit my dog two years ago.

Juander said she hopes the city council will clear away all the bushes in the area, to prevent animals like snakes and other pests, from breeding.

“I hope the city council can also resurface the road here, not just patch holes here and there.

“The road is very uneven and is dangerous especially when it rains,” she said.

Low (left) checking an illegal dumpsite in Kampung Tersusun Bercham, Ipoh.

Another resident Vincent Lee, 56, said his immediate concern is the lack of proper drainage in the area.

“What we have here are just earthen trenches, which are now clogged with vegetation and could potentially be a mosquito breeding ground.

“Flash floods do occur here whenever it rains heavily,” he said.

“I hope the city council can put a proper drainage system in place,” he added.

The former satellite engineer also said the city council should also look into the issues of abandoned houses in the area.

“Some have become dens for drug users. We hope the authorities will look into this issue,” he said.

“We, the residents, really want all these basic issues addressed,” he added.

Ipoh City Council collected five truckloads of garbage during the clean up at the area on Sunday.

Former contractor Lee Ghiam Seng, 81, said he hopes the city council can build speedbreakers or bumps along Lebuh Bercham Selatan.

“Cars always speed along the road. It is dangerous for the residents here, especially those who ride motorcycles,” he said.

Lee also called for some trees in the area to be felled.

“The branches keeps falling from one rose apple tree here.

“It is a hazard to people and vehicles passing through the area,” he said.

Ipoh City Councillor Low Guo Nan said he has received some 40 complaints from the residents during his visit to Kampung Tersusun Bercham.

Ipoh City Council workers cleaning vegetation in the neighbourhood.

“Aside from the concerns mentioned by the residents, other issues include abandoned cars and undergrowth on private land,” he said.

“I’ll bring up the issues from the residents to the city council for further deliberation,” he said.

“On the request to build a proper drainage system, the city council has already included this in its plan as one of the many projects to be conducted this year,” he added.

Also present during Low’s visit to the area were city council workers, to clean up the area.

Some five truckloads of garbage were collected in the area.

https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/01/11/residents-fed-up-of-various-problems-in-neighbourhood-kampung-tersusun-bercham-residents-hope-the-co/

Launching of KOHIJAU-ICYCLE Recycling Reward Point System at PKSKB Bercham

8 January 2017

KOHIJAU-ICYCLE in collobaration with Persatuan Keselamatan Sukarelawan Kawasan Bercham launched its 8th recycling bin in Bercham. It was attended by YB Cheong Chee Kin and Bercham Village Headman, Mr. Lim and members of PKSKB.  

Launching of KOHIJAU-ICYCLE 8th Recycling Reward Point Collection Centre in Bercham

27 Dec 2016

Ipoh City Watch and Koperasi Alam Hijau Perak Berhad (KOHIJAU) will be launching its 8th KOHIJAU-ICYCLE Recycling Reward Point Collection Centre in Bercham, Perak in collaboration with Persatuan Keselamatan Sukarela Kawasan Bercham (PKSKB).

The details are as follows:

Date: 8 January 2017

Time: 9am

Venue: PKSKB Office at Lebuh Bercham Selatan, Bercham

The launching will be conducted by guests of honour; Bercham State Assmeblyman, Cheong Chee Khing, Bercham Village Headman, Mr. Lim Huey Shan and Chairman of KOHIJAU, Associate Professor Dr. Richard Ng.

More than 200 members of PKSKB and KOHIJAU-ICycle Members are expected to attend the launch.

Among the highlights during the launch include a talk on how to participate in the recycling system and help keep the environment clean. A demonstration will also be held on to use the system and collect points.

There will be also be registration of KOHIJAU-ICycle Members on the spot. Participants who register on that day will receive a door gift.

For details, kindly contact: 016-5200262 or 016-5553810 or Whatsapp to 013-5330989

Better Bercham, Aplikasi Aduan Kepada Wakil Rakyat

Penduduk Bercham kini tidak perlu lagi bersusah payah bertemu dengan wakil rakyat untuk mengemukakan aduan setempat kerana mereka boleh melakukannya menerusi aplikasi Better Bercham yang boleh dimuat turun di telefon pintar.

Menerusi aplikasi tersebut, penduduk boleh menyampaikan aduan dan pendapat tanpa mengira masa serta tempat.

Adun Bercham, Cheong Chee Khing berkata, idea mewujudkan aplikasi itu tercetus apabila beliau mendapati penduduk yang datang ke pusat khidmat dan aduannya terdiri daripada mereka yang berusia 40 tahun ke atas.

Menurutnya, beliau pelik kerana tiada orang muda yang tampil ke pejabatnya untuk membuat aduan atau melakukan urusan lain.

“Menyedari perkara itu, saya dan kakitangan Pusat Khidmat dan Aduan Dun Bercham mula membuat kaji selidik dan mendapati orang muda lebih cenderung menggunakan laman sosial seperti Facebook dan Twitter untuk memberikan pendapat atau meluahkan masalah.

“Justeru, kami mengadakan lawatan sambil belajar ke Pulau Pinang bagi mempelajari bagaimana kerajaan negeri itu menggunakan aplikasi Better Penang untuk kemudahan penduduk,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, kajian yang mula dilaksanakan sejak Ogos tahun lalu itu membuahkan hasil apabila pengatucara aplikasi berkenaan sudi bekerjasama untuk menghasilkan Better Bercham.

Katanya, aplikasi yang boleh digunakan sejak Januari tahun ini itu boleh dimuat turun secara percuma tanpa dikenakan sebarang bayaran.

“Penduduk yang mempunyai telefon pintar boleh memuat turun aplikasi Better Bercham di laman Google Play.

“Bagaimanapun, hanya telefon pintar yang mempunyai sistem operasi Android 4.0 dan ke atas boleh memuat turun aplikasi ini.

“Manakala, bagi pengguna iOS, aplikasi tersebut dijangka dapat digunakan sepenuhnya pada bulan depan,” katanya.

Chee Khing berkata, maklumat diterima menerusi aplikasi tersebut akan masuk ke dalam laman sosial Facebook Better Bercham secara automatik.

Katanya, kesemua aduan tersebut akan terus diproses dan dihantar kepada e-Aduan Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh (MBI) untuk tindakan susulan.

Menurutnya, pada masa sama pihaknya akan membuat pemantauan dari semasa ke semasa sehingga masalah dikemukakan selesai.

"Setakat ini 75 aduan diterima selepas aplikasi ini dilaksanakan dan jika sambutan menggalakkan, saya akan mencadangkan supaya aplikasi sama digunakan di seluruh bandar raya Ipoh," katanya.