COMMUNITY LIBRARY FOR PANDAN FOLK

PANDAN JAYA, 21 APRIL 2012 : RESIDENTS of Pandan, Ampang now have a place to go to indulge in some reading — the Pandan Jaya Community Library in Jalan Pandan 4 in Pandan Jaya.

The library, set up by the Selangor Public Library Corporation (PPAS), is equipped with books on a wide range of topics, touch-screen computers, Internet service, children's area, seminar room, hall, surau, lounge and even a cafe.

It will be officially opened by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim next month.

The library building, formerly an operation centre for a political party, has been modified with modern facilities and facade.

Reading time: A little boy settling down with a book in a comfortable chair at the children's area.

Upgrading works began in July last year at a cost of RM409,000 by PPAS. The library will be used to host activities, workshops and movie screenings.

State housing, building management and squatters committee chairman Iskandar A. Samad paid a visit to the centre recently.

He said the idea to set up the library at the present location was in view of the densely populated surrounding area.

"There are about 50 blocks of low-cost and medium-cost apartments here and the children need a place where they can spend quality time reading instead of just sitting idle.

"There are plans for PPAS to develop 20 more libraries at a cost of RM6mil. The idea is to move away from the city centre by bringing such amenities to the population," he said.

Iskandar said PPAS' next focus areas would be Klang and Kajang.

"We want to bring libraries to the people because those living in low-cost apartments lack space, so hopefully we can get more established in these residential areas.

"Prior to this, we had libraries in the villages, state and districts but not in the heart of residential areas. So this is a first especially for Chempaka constituency, where we are promoting the 'Jom Study' concept," he said.

Iskandar, who is also Chempaka assemblyman, contributed RM10,000 from his office to the library.

The library is open from Monday to Friday (9am to 6pm) and every second and fourth Saturdays (9am to 5.30pm). Membership is free and open to everyone.

For details, visit www.ppas.gov.my or call 03-9281 0414 - By FAZLEENA AZIZ, Photo by SAM THAM, STAR METRO ONLINE.

USUL-USUL DI MESYUARAT PAS KAWSAN PANDAN PADA 21 APRIL 2012.

Setelah dibahaskan, usul-usul berikut telah diluluskan untuk diterima,

USUL 1

Memastikan kerjasama atau penglibatan PAS dan ahli-ahli PAS dengan atau di dalam apa saja program atau usaha sama mana-mana kementerian, jabatan, agensi, anak syarikat atau apa saja entiti yang dilihat sebagai cenderung kepada Kerajaan Persekutuan Barisan Nasional atau Kerajaan Negeri Barisan Nasional mestilah tidak merugikan PAS, memberi platform kepada Barisan Nasional dan pimpinannya atau memberi sebarang kesan yang negatif kepada PAS dengan mengadakan perbincangan terperinci dan mendalam di peringkat Parti.

USUL 2
Menggesa PAS mengusahakan penubuhan satu pertubuhan, persatuan, majlis atau badan yang akan menjadi payung kepada persatuan-persatuan atau pertubuhan-pertubuhan Islam di Malaysia bertujuan untuk memastikan kepentingan Islam itu terjamin dan cita-cita Islam itu direalisasikan serta menjamin mereka terlindung dari dieksploitasi oleh  Barisan Nasional.

USUL 3

Menggesa parti-parti Pakatan Rakyat menandatangani satu piagam yang mengandungi polisi-polisi terperinci yang dipersetujui bersama untuk dipatuhi oleh pimpinan Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat yang akan dibentuk sama ada di peringkat Persekutuan atau Negeri sepertimana "Coalition Agreement" yang ditandatangani oleh Parti Konservatif dan Parti Liberal Demokrat di Britain yang bertujuan untuk mengawal pimpinan kerajaan supaya bertindak menurut persetujuan bersama parti-parti tersebut.

Mesyuarat Agung PAS Kawasan Pandan di PTP 21 April 2012.

UNITS READY AFTER SEVEN-YEAR WAIT

71-YEAR OLD MAN'S SEVEN-YEARS WAIT FOR A LOW-COST FLAT AT TAMAN UKAY INDAH, SG SERING IS FINALLY OVER.

Mohd Fazil Mat Yamin and his wife, Azizah Mohamed, holding the certificate of fitness for their unit. Pic by Chan Wai Yew

HULU KELANG, 17 FEBRUARY 2012 : Mohd Fazil Mat Yamin was one of 600 former squatters who were informed that the certificate of fitness for their flat units were finally ready. The 15-storey flats was supposed to have been completed in 2006.

"Even though the developer only completed the project last year, we are glad that the wait is over.

"We will move in as soon  as  possible as we are now living with relatives in Taman Melawati."

Taxi driver Khairrudin Mohamad, 50, however, will have to wait a little longer as  he has to settle   some   payments owed to the developer, Scenic Marina Sdn Bhd.

"We have paid the utility deposit of RM640 but were told that we will not be able to get the  keys until we settle the four months maintenance deposit of RM49 (per month). It is a burden for us as we are already paying a monthly installment of RM260 for the new unit as well as RM500  rent for the place we are staying at."

The project, developed by Triumph City Development Sdn Bhd as landowner and Scenic Marina as developer, has 660 units with carpark facilities on a 2.17ha plot that  was approved in 2001.

The developer started work in June 2003. The Ampang Jaya Municipal Council issued the certificate of fitness to the developer last month.

The units were offered for sale to former squatters in Hulu Kelang district, including Kampung Kemensah, Kampung Fajar, Kampung Bukit Permai, Kampung Seri Lembah Keramat, Kampung Batu 8, Kampung Selamat Tambahan, Lorong Enggang Selatan, Kampung Pinggiran Sungai AU3, Kampung Pakat Setia, Lorong Enggang 23, Lorong Enggang 15 and Kampung Pinggiran Ukay.

Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim informed property buyers of the latest update on the project at the AU2 community hall in Taman Sri Keramat recently.

 He said it was among the delayed projects that were  completed after intervention by the state government.

"In Ampang, three projects were  delayed -- Flat Berembang Indah, Damai Bistari and  Taman Ukay Indah flats.

"We are  in the process of reviving abandoned housing projects in the state and have facilitated the process which saw about 10,000 housing units delivered to buyers since 2008."

Also present were state executive councillor Iskandar Samad, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council president Datuk Mohamad Yacob and secretary Abdul Hamid Hussain - NURADZIMMAH DAIM, NST STREETS.

RESIDENTS GET LEACH BINS.

DESTROYED : FLAT DWELLERS WERE PRESENTED WITH NEW GARBAGE BINS FOR THE THIRD TIME  AFTER THE OLD ONE WERE DAMAGED BY FIRE AND VANDALS.

PANDAN INDAH, 27 MARCH 2012 : RESIDENTS of low-cost flats in Jalan Pandan Indah 3/3 now have 10 new leach bins to dispose of their garbage properly.

The new leach bins, each with the capacity of 1,100 litres, were provided by Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) and Cempaka assemblyman Iskandar Abdul Samad.

It was the third time the bins had been given to them.

Ampang Jaya Municipal Council deputy president Abd Hamid Hussain said the previous leach bins had been badly damaged. There were either burnt or destroyed by vandals.  

"It is the flats management's responsibility to provide new bins but they do not have any.

"We hope that this time round, the residents will take good care of the bins as the bins are not cheap," said Hamid at the event to hand the bins over to the residents recently.

He also said the residents should get rid of their trash responsibly by putting them in plastic bags, properly tied up, before throwing them away.

"By dumping the garbage into the bins, waste collection will become an easier task.

"Plastic bags should be thrown into the bins and not scattered about as this will attract strays to the garbage to scavenge for food," said Hamid, adding that it is the residents duty to keep the surroundings clean.

Iskandar, who is also Selangor Housing, Building Management and Squatter committee chairman, was also present at the event.

Iskandar  said any low and medium-cost flats in the state can apply for the Caring Government for Residents' Improvement Aid (Ceria).

"It is open to low and medium-cost flats in Selangor, but the application must be made by the flats' joint management bodies," said Iskandar.

The aim of the scheme is to give the flats a new coat of paint; repair facilities such as lifts  as well as  replace old roofs and attend to  sewage problems.  

A total of RM9.7 million had been allocated to the scheme, which  will stretch till  next year. One hundred  low- and medium-cost flats will  benefit from the scheme.

Commenting on the issue of parking problems at low and medium-cost flats, Iskandar said the state government is still looking for a solution.

"Previous guidelines stated that for every two houses, there should be one parking space. But now, even by giving each house a parking space, the problem is still unsolved as each household has at least two cars," he said

Iskandar added there are suggestions of taking over a vacant space nearby the flats and turning it into an open parking space and charging the residents for additional parking space - NOR AIN MOHAMMED RADHI, NST STREETS.

Residents in Pandan Jaya want broken drains to be fixed.

PANDAN JAYA, 14 APRIL 2012 : RESIDENTS in Block M15 in Pandan Jaya, Ampang have highlighted several problems that the construction work of the Besraya Highway has brought to their neighbourhood.

Among their complaints include broken drains, pools of stagnant water and chopped trees.

To address these issues, State Housing, Building Management and Squatters committee chairman Iskandar A. Samad visited the site with Besraya representatives recently.

Eyesore: The collapsed drain filled with mud and stagnant water.

Iskandar said Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) and Besraya Sdn Bhd should look into the drains as it affects livelihood of the people.

"Some of the other concerns include road markings, which have created confusion for motorists.

"As for the felled trees, I hope Besraya can do something about it.

"The residents also complained about unfinished pipeworks," he said.

Iskandar said Besraya would start erecting columns for its elevated sections.

Greening the area: Residents want trees that were felled to be replanted along Jalan Pandan 1.

"We hope there will not be works carried out after 7pm and only minimal disruption takes place as the surrounding areas are residential," he said.

He added that MPAJ and Besraya must be on top of things to monitor work carried out throughout the construction period.

"Perhaps Besraya can come up with some kind of corporate social responsibility programme for residents having to cope with problems stemmed from construction work," he said.

Some of the other concerns include road markings, which have created confusion for motorists. As for the chopped trees, I hope Besraya can do some thing about it. — Iskandar A. Samad

Besraya general manager Wan Salwani Wan Yusoff said they had taken note of the complaints.

"We will ensure security and safety are top in out list while minimising the effects of roadworks on the residents.

"As for the unfinished pipeworks, the pipes belonging to Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) will have to be relocated.

"It will take two to three months for pipeworks to be completed," she said.

Wan Salwani added that the link to Pandan Jaya MRR2 is expected to be completed January 2014.

The Besraya Eastern Expansion (BEE) project provides an alternative route for traffic from east Kuala Lumpur heading south along the Sungai Besi Highway, bypassing the congested MRR2.

BEE will also have a 20-lane toll plaza, the rates will be decided upon later.

The project is expected to be completed by 2014 - FAZLEENA AZIZ, STAR METRO.

PERPUSTAKAAN KOMUNITI MILIK RAKYAT, BUKAN PARTI POLITIK.

PANDAN JAYA, 17 APRIL 2012 : Semua dewan komuniti di Selangor yang dahulunya digunakan oleh Umno-BN untuk kepentingan politik akan dimanfaat untuk kegunaan pembangunan masyarakat seperti pembinaan Perpustakaan Komuniti Pandan Jaya.

Perubahan polisi ini selaras dengan pendirian Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan) yang mahu setiap bangunan yang selama ini digunakan untuk kepentingan pihak tertentu sehingga menafikan hak masyarakat dikembalikan semula kepada rakyat.

Exco Perumahan, Pengurusan Bangunan dan Setinggan, Iskandar Abdul Samad berkata, pembinaan perpustakaan komuniti sebegini merupakan sebahagian daripada program Pangsapuri Bersih, Ceria dan Harmoni (CERIA).

Ini memandangkan kawasan ini merupakan kawasan pangsapuri yang mempunyai lokaliti penduduk yang padat.

"Perpustakaan ini pada asalnya adalah dewan orang ramai yang telah digunakan oleh pihak Umno bahagian Pandan sebagai bilik gerakkan.

"Apabila Pakatan Rakyat mengambil alih, kita melihat bangunan ini berpotensi dan mencadangkan agar bangunan ini dijadikan perpustakaan komuniti," katanya.

Apabila ia siap nanti, perpustakaan ini akan menyediakan dewan serbaguna dengan hawa dingin yang boleh memuatkan 100 orang. Ia juga akan menyediakan bilik kuliah dan seminar untuk 50 orang.

Perpustakaan itu turut menyediakan tujuh buah komputer dengan teknologi skrin sesentuh dan jalur lebar internet selain bilik bacaan kanak-kanak, surau, kafeteria dan ruang santai untuk ibu bapa menunggu.

Perpustakaan ini akan beroperasi setiap hari bermula dari jam 9.00 pagi sehingga 6.00 petang dan 9.00 pagi sehingga 5.30 petang pada hari Sabtu (kecuali Sabtu minggu pertama, ketiga dan kelima) dan ditutup pada hari Ahad.

Iskandar yang juga Adun Cempaka menambah, pembinaan perpustakaan ini turut terkandung dalam menifesto pilihanraya Dun Cempaka dimana Pakatan akan membina satu pusat pembelajaran untuk kemudahan remaja di kawasan ini.

Katanya, pihaknya akan cuba berbincang dengan Exco Pendidikan, Dr Halimah Ali bagi meningkatkan pembinaan perpustakaan kominiti.

Ini memandangkan penduduk pangsapuri kurang tempat khusus bagi remaja belajar dan mengisi masa lapang oleh kerana unit pangsapuri yang mereka duduki agak kecil dan tidak selesa.

Kawasan Pandan Jaya mempunyai 50 unit blok pangsapuri dengan 300 unit setiap blok.

Perpustakaan Komuniti Pandan Jaya yang mula dibina pada 22 Julai 2011 berada dibawah kendalian Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Selangor (PPAS).

Ia dijangka dirasmikan oleh Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim pada Mei selepas kerja-kerja akhir selesai.

Kos pembinaan struktur bangunan perpustakaan bernilai RM159,000 sementara RM250,000 lagi kos untuk peralatan seperti perabot dan kelengkapan lain.

PPAS mensasarkan pembinaan 20 buah perpustakaan komuniti dengan kos sebanyak RM6 juta. Sebelum ini, perpustakaan komuniti pertama telah dibina di kawasan Lembah Jaya.

Perpustakaan Pandan Jaya merupakan perpustakaan kedua yang dibuka di kawasan ini selepas Perpustakaan Desa di Kampung Pandan yang telah dibuka pada tahun 2008 - Afix Redhuan, Media Selangorku.