Erosion at Puchong pond getting worse

By THO XIN YI


Worse than before: The erosion has almost reached the chain link fence around the pond.

THE soil erosion at the lake edge near Taman Mutiara Puchong has become worse and the residents want action taken immediately.

The problem was highlighted in StarMetro on July 17 last year but nothing has been done to tackle the problem.

“Now, after six months of consistent downpour, the soil has eroded further into the lake. Large crevasses have appeared up to the perimeter fencing,” resident Gerard Lim said.

He is worried that the problem may worsen in the coming months.

“The residents hope that the developer and the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) can respond positively with a permanent measure to rectify the problem and not wait for a bigger problem to happen,” he said.

The developer, when contacted in November, said the land at the side of the pond does not belong to them.

“The chain link fence represents the demarcation line between Mutiara Puchong and the other people’s land.

“We have surrendered the lake edge area (which was landscaped earlier) to the local council. Hence, it does not belong to us and neither does the pond.

“Since the land belongs to another party, technically, we cannot be held responsible for erosion control on their land,” it said in a statement.

However, the developer was keen to address the problem by constructing a couple of sumps at the affected area.

“Whenever it rains, the water will find a natural course to flow. In this particular case, the rain happened to flow from the landscaped area into the pond. Over time, this had created the erosion of the lake edge.

“We can collect the water into a sump and then channel the water through pipes directly into the pond. This will prevent the rainwater from causing further scouring of the slopes of the pond,” the developer’s statement said.

MPSJ councillor Chang Kim Loong told StarMetro recently that he was aware of the issue.

“I have submitted an official letter to the council to highlight the erosion problem, as well as the incident two months ago where fish in the lake died suddenly.

“Some said the fish died because of discharge from a nearby factory, while some said it was due to the change in the water temperature.

“The MPSJ will carry out investigation on these matters.

“I will drop by the MPSJ today to see what can be done to solve these problems,” he said.

A RESIDENTS FEEDBACK
Dear Xin Yi,
Thank you once again for highlighting the issue of soil erosion at the lake edge of Taman Mutiara Puchong in StarMetro on Tuesday 6th January 2009.

It is nonsensical for the developer Malton to claim that the land at the edge of the pond does not belong to them when the developer themselves had dumped many truck loads of earth into the lake to prevent further structural cracking of the corner houses / units which till today left several unsold! I have photo evidence showing the original land area when we moved into our home in 2007 and the present extended land area of 50'ft further into the lake.
By the developer simply putting up the chain link perimeter fencing is not suffice to say that it is the demarcation line between Mutiara Puchong and the land of others! Strangely indeed, how does a developer surrender only the lake edge to the local council MPSJ when the entire Taman Mutiara Puchong has yet to be surrendered to the local council? Yet, residents of Taman Mutiara Puchong have for the past two years been paying the local council MPSJ "Cukai Taksiran"..Assessment Tax.

Obviously, the developer is "washing their hands" of this matter by pushing the responsibility to the local council MPSJ. I sincerely hope that the local council MPSJ would be quick-witted in handling this matter and not be coerced into accepting otherwise.

Best regards.
Yours sincerely,
Gerard Lim





_______________________________
Cr Chang Reply

Hi Xin Yi,
Thanks for highlighting the issue in the media in your StarMetro 6.1.09 issue titled ' Erosion at Puchong pond getting worse'.

The impending issues were deliberated in the Jawatankuasa One Stop Centre (OSC) MPSJ this (8.1.09) afternoon.
The Director of Enginering Dpt. En Adnan Derahman has yesterday (7.1.09) visited the site and is finalising his report to the committee.

The Director of OSC, En Norjafni has forthwith been directed to initiate a meeting to be chaired by Timbalan YDP inviting all the related developers; namely Malton, YTL, Glomac and Interpile as well as all the neighbouring RAs namely, Persatuan Penduduk Tmn Mutiara Puchong, protem committee Lake Edge and Lakeview to attend the discussion and to sort out the imminent problems in no uncertain terms.

As soon as a date and time is fixed, all are invited to attend and be heard. I shall notify you in due course and shall be at the meeting with Cr Ng Sze Han.

Regards,
Cr Chang Kim Loong AMN
Ahli Majlis MPSJ/ JKP Zon 9
_________________________________________
Taman Mutiara Residents Association Reply

Dear Cr Chang & Xin Yi,

Thank you for highlighting and bring up the soil erosion issue to the press and the relevant authorities to act before a catastrophe occurs; otherwise the Developer would be very famous for the wrong reason, and the owners of the affected houses (should the houses collapse into the eroded lake edge) would have their properties "gone with the water" and the whole Taman house value "gone down the drain".

From a layman's view, the cause was that there was no sheet piling done at the lake edge. The last soil collapse reached the last corner house whose entire garden and fence disappeared, which prompted the Developer's immediate action to re-fill hundreds of lorry loads of soil to maintain the lake edge to its present distance from the lake, as confirmed by Gerard's statement.

Rain water supposedly flows into drain holes at road curbs drags with them sand and mud, clogging the holes. Heavy downpour has been causing flood in this stretch next to the lake caused by the clogged holes. Flood water over flows to the lake edge and that's how the soil has been eroded so fast. The Residents' Association has proposed to the Developer rep to install pipes connecting rain water at the curb edge directly into the lake, but was turned a deaf ear probably due to cost factor and the common "contractually not obligated" statement. Instead, the Developer has dug a trench within and along the perimeter fencing and channel the collected rain water out to the same eroded spot, which is not a solution. In fact it would accelerate the soil erosion even faster.

Mutiara Puchong experienced not less than 6 times serious flooding. One of the causes was most of the sumps in front of each adjoining house was clogged by sand which impeded water flow to the monsoon drain just outside the entrance of the Taman. Rain water has to flow into holes at the road curb through underground drains to the bigger drain at the north near the TNB high tension area. This is an ex-tin-mine land and the amount of sand being flushed into the holes is massive. MPSJ has to maintain a routine schedule to clear the sump to avoid flooding recurrence.

Taman Mutiara Puchong RA look forward to the meeting with MPSJ, the 3 Developers and RA Committees, and we will bring along photos to support our findings and hope to find a solution to the erosion problem before a calamity happens.

Thank you again for your unrelented efforts to help house buyers in championing their cause, which if they fight alone would never be successful.

With regards,
Steven Poh
Chairman
TMP RA

Home Safety Tips From TMP RA Security SubCom

Going Away During Festive Seasons......

Whenever you plan to go away during a festive season or for a vacation, here are some tips on things you could do to protect your home for your peace of mind.

Inform your neighbours and management office :
You may let your neighbours know how long you plan to be away, so they can keep an eye on your property. Remember to leave your contact number to neighbours in case of emergency.

Activate the security alarm system :
You may leave your house keys and alarm PIN number or remote control with a relative living nearby or a neighbour, so that they could check for you in the event of triggered alarm or false alarm. It is advisable to reset your alarm system with a temporary PIN number before giving it to them.

Interior and exterior lightings :
Install a timer which allows lighting to be switched on and off at preset times to avoid the notice of your absence by the outsiders. You may consider leaving a table lamp or some lights on during your outings.

Keep garden tools, equipments, ladders
Garden tools, equipments and ladders should be kept and locked up in a safe place as they could be used by a burglar to break in and gain entry to the house.

Keep refuse bin
Tidy away your refuse bins. Do not keep them in the refuse chamber as the garbage collector may leave them outside after collecting the garbage. Ask your neighbour to close the refuse chamber door if it is opened.

Stop newspaper & food supply
Cancel deliveries of milk, bread, newspapers etc. If anything continues to be delivered, ask your neighbour to collect them. Uncollected items will draw attention of the outsiders that your house is unoccupied.

Care for your plants
Ask your neighbour or gardener to help to water or maintain the exterior plants. You may give the external gate's key to your neighbour or gardener for this purpose. Also, you may put your interior plants outside to be maintained together.

Prevent water retention
Make sure all the empty containers, vases, flower pots etc at exterior are overturned or covered to avoid water retention for mosquito breeding.

Inform the guards
You may want to inform the guards so they can check and prevent any suspicious visitors from approaching your house.

Pets
Remember to make arrangements for your pet's boarding.

Other things before you leave your home:
- Close and secure all windows, doors and gates
- Remove all plugs from sockets
- Close all water taps
- Disconnect the hob from the gas supply or close the gas supply outlet
- Turn down your house telephone's ringing volume


Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday!

GOTONG ROYONG PERDANA MPSJ - JKP ZONE 9 (13TH DEC'08 - 8.00 AM)

Dear Residents in Taman Mutiara Puchong,

JKP Zone 9 would like to invite us to participate in the gotong-royong to rid the area of all the illegal banners, buntings and signages which can be found almost everywhere in the area. Usually they are pasted all over and has become an epidemic in almost every township in Selangor.
The culprits are usually money lending organizations and they have single handedly made all our taman ugly with their illegal activities of vandalism. This gotong royong is sanctioned by MPSJ, hence do come out in numbers to show force and concern for the very area we live in. This gotong-royong will only mean something if residents themselves come out to participate and be proactive to counter such social ill as vandalism and disregard for public property.
MPSJ will provide ladders for the event and all you need to bring is a wire cutter/scissors for the task. All volunteers are to meet at the Balai Masyarakat MPSJ Zon 9 located in Jalan Sri Puchong 7, Taman Sri Puchong, Puchong, Selangor @ 8.00 AM sharp this coming Saturday,13th December 2008. Check the map below for direction.
Please RSVP your attendance to jkpzone9@gmail.com for "GOTONG-ROYONG PERDANA" MPSJ. This event will also be attended by volunteers from Taman Sri Puchong, Lake Edge YTL as well as volunteers from NGOs.

"TOGETHER EVERYBODY ACHIEVES MORE"


View Larger Map

Related Article
Star Metro Central (M4) 9th Dec'08



Latest Update - 13.12.2008

Sin City Puchong

By Teoh El Sen December 03, 2008 Categories: News/Malay Mail Online



The residents do not want it, but Puchong could soon outstrip Chow Kit for the dubious distinction of being the most infamous red light district in the country.
Residents are furious the authorities have allowed the rapidly growing township to degenerate into a bustling haven for prostitution.
An official of the Subang Jaya Municipal Council, under which Puchong falls, confirmed vice activities have increased.
In recent weeks, the council closed down three vice dens, and it is just the tip of the problem.
"Apparently, prostitutes have moved from the city to Puchong. Prostitution used to be quite rampant in Subang Jaya, but now it seems Puchong has become the hotspot."
In the wake of the hookers have come other vices.
The official said the council was trying to check the vice activity by limiting permits for massage parlours, which usually turned into prostitution dens. To date, 40 permits for traditional massage outlets have been approved.

Councillor Gary Chong, dismayed that Puchong has recently been dubbed a "dirty" area, called for more drastic action against offenders.
"It is getting more serious. There have been a lot of illegal hotels that have been raided and closed down in recent months."
He said such illegal premises were mushrooming fast, citing Bandar Puteri as one of the places when he has found illegal massage parlours operating.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok also wants sterner action taken.
She highlighted a case of two Chinese nationals who claimed they were forced to become prostitutes but escaped last Sunday after more than a week of being locked up and starved in a house in Taman Mutiara, Puchong.
"These girls, aged 21 and 19, had been deceived into thinking there were legal job opportunities here," said Kok, adding that the pair flew home to China at 4.50pm yesterday.

They had lodged a police report with the help of a local resident who spotted them wandering about after they escaped from their "prison".
Selangor police chief DCP Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar declined comment on the vice problems in Puchong.

Your Rights As A Property Owner

This article in the Sunday Times (30th November'08) is a good read and provides some insight into our local property industry.

Protection Not Guaranteed

Protection Not Guaranteed

The National House Buyers Association (HBA), an apolitical, housebuyers protection organisation is organizing a House Buyers Conference with the theme "Protection Not Guaranteed" for house buyers to confer and share their home acquiring experience.
According to its honorary secretary general, Chang Kim Loong, sweeping legislations to protect home-buyers and to promote home ownership have failed to follow through to ensure adequate protection for each and every homebuyer from stalled, abandoned, defective homes and the peaceful enjoyment of their homes.
"House buyers are never warned about the inadequate protection from buying a yet to be built home and most found out the hard way when things go wrong," he said. "Aggrieved house buyers are made to go from one department to another, resort to the media to highlight their plight, plead to the Prime Minister, seeking intervention of the Minister of Housing & Local Government and his Ministry, for a solution or worse go to court for justice."
This conference will also kick off a on a Malaysian "House Buyers' Bill of Rights". The Bill of Rights seeks to shift the mindset of industry players and decision makers towards pro-house buyers – because a home should have better protection than any other purchase.
The conference is organized by the National House Buyers Association and will be held at Putra World Trade Center (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 6th December, 2008 at 2.30pm. Participation fee is only RM15 per person.
For more information, please call 012 3345676 or 012-2524287 or check out the HBA website at www.hba.org.my

Jazzercise Class In TMP

We are please to inform all residents that starting from the 7th December 2008 (SUNDAY 8.30 AM - 9.30 AM)@ Central Park TMP, JAZZERCISE class will be available for registration on the spot on that day.

Monthly fees @ RM 40.00 and classes will be on every Sunday as mentioned 8.30 AM - 9.30 AM.

Please email here if you are interested providing your name and contact number or call Adeline @ 017 8866888.

Invite your neighbours or friends to join in as all are welcome.

Balairaya JKP Zone 9

As of today Jawatan Kuasa Penduduk Zone 9 has been officially launched. Please click here JKPZONE9 BLOG2U for more information.

JKP consists of residents volunteers from communities under the jurisdiction of the zone and in this case Zone 9 inlcudes:

Taman Mutiara Puchong
Taman Seri Puchong
Taman Perindustrian Puchong (Sek 1, 3, 5, 6)
Lake Edge

For issues related specifically to community grouses and complaints pertaining public amenities or common public area that is in need of maintenance or support to the above mentioned areas kindly forward your email to jkpzone9@gmail.com
You could also post your comments in JKP9 blog pertaining any issues you feel that needs attention or to share information to enable us to serve the community better.

Consider the JKP as a intermediary body between MPSJ and the residents associations/residents in the said zone, where collectively acting as a watchdog to ensure that issues of importance involving the community can be highlighted and resolved efficiently.

Address:
Balai Raya JKP Zone 9 MPSJ
Jalan Seri Puchong 7
Taman Seri Puchong 47100 (47160)
Selangor.

The said balairaya is for community use hence it is available to be used to host private fucntions like weddings,community activities social club gathering etc. Certain rental charge is required and for further information kindly contact:

Cik Rossalina @ 012-2634734 (Pembantu Pentadbir JKP Zone 9)

Fogging Exercise In TMP 6.11.2008

Recently in TMP the fogging exercise was completed to keep the mosquito population at bay temporarily as one of the many measures to maintain the healthy living concept in TMP, do take note that the fogging exercise was initiated and paid for by the RA through the collection of the monthly service fees.
Hence to all contributors, this is only but one of the many costs involved in maintaining TMP. I can also predict not in the distant future that we are required to also do some maintenance work on the perimeter wall fencing i.e. painting the grille and wall itself plus other repairs.
Another recently approved initiative is to have 7 road humps erected in designated areas after careful surveys done of the entire TMP area. This is to discourage the many drivers in TMP whom allegedly speeding very dangerously without any concern that they may one day knock into a child crossing the road to the park or maybe cycling along the roads in TMP.
The RA has opted to go ahead and be proactive in getting things done as MPSJ reply to the RA that they were unable to erect the road humps due to the fact that the said roads handover are yet to be completed (mind you this has been the same reason more than a year ago when the RA first applied to have these road hunps erected for the safety and well being of the residents).
Imagine the duration of time it takes to get things done or for the authority to compel the developer to act in a social responsible manner? Imagine if an accident was to happen in TMP, then what will the reaction be? You tell me?
Imagine if the RA was not formed then what will happen, if the well being was left to the authority and the developer? Hmmmmmmm.............. from all the ding dong they are involved in until today probably status quo.
The next project the RA will like to embark on as planned will be to construct the second entry lane, this is more complicated and the RA is currently pushing hard to get the approval from MPSJ. We have not heard any reply yet from MPSJ as this particular issue requires the regazetting of the said area to be used to carry out the said proposed dual entry lane. Very complicating but the ball is rolling and currently on the MPSJ side of it. The RA is prepared to fork out the amount for the said construction as this is for the benfit of all the residents in TMP but alas still the same old dilemma of waiting for a favourable reply (this proposal was submitted more than a year ago as well).
Stay tuned.........