"Together - Let us keep our neighborhood safe"

Friday, November 27, 2009

Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha


The Committee of 11 Trees @ USJ would like to wish all our Muslim Friends in and outside our community "Selamat Menyambut Hari Raya Haji". May you have a joyous time with your family and friends.

November 2009 Newsletter

Dear Residents,

How time flies!

Before you know it, it is almost the end of 2009. And in a few weeks time, we will be welcoming 2010. And it is also a time when we grow a year older. Sigh!

It has, nonetheless, been an extremely interesting year, as far as our Resident Association is concern. We have grown from strength to strength, largely due to the overwhelming support the Committee has gotten from you. And a big Thank you to all of you for your continual support.

Our first anniversary celebration was a success with an unexpected large turnout. This is testimony to the fact that our kampung has become “1”. We were so proud to see all of you turn out in full force for that event. As such, we plan to do something again to usher in the New Year. Do read on for more details.

Collection:

The collection from October 2009 to March 2010 is currently being carried out by our hardworking Street Leaders. Please do cooperate and pay up as soon as possible, your subscription for the next six months. We would also like to highlight to you that the collection this time is much better than the last and it is looking very positive.

We would like to remind the ones who have yet to pay, to do so as soon as you can. Your Committee members will also do a walk-about in the coming weekends to visit the ones who have yet to pay their subscription for the next six months. Please do not forget to write your cheques payable to “PERSATUAN PENDUDUK USJ11/3, SUBANG JAYA, SELANGOR”.

Car Stickers:

The car stickers for 2010-2011 will be printed and will be distributed free of charge to all our subscribers. This is to replace the first batch of stickers which will be expiring soon. Subscribers will be required to return the old stickers in exchange for the new ones. Additional stickers will be charged as per our previous rates.

More stringent enforcements will be carried out once all the new stickers are issued as there have been many incidents of abuses in the past. There will be a grace period for the exchange of the new stickers after which we will carry out stricter enforcement for entry into our area. More information will be provided when we are ready to distribute the car stickers.

CCTV:

The CCTV is finally going to be installed (expected installation on 27 November 2009) after much delay. This was unavoidable as we had to cancel the scheduled testing of the CCTVs at the last minute due to the rains in the evenings which had occurred in the last few weeks. Anyway, we have finally selected the vendor and the contract has already been given out.

In tandem with this project, road humps close to the gates will also be built to slow down the vehicles as they pass through. This is to ensure that the images of the cars and drivers can be effectively captured by the CCTV. Please do extend your cooperation by slowing down in the affected areas when the installation works are being carried out.

The Developer - Top Speed:

The piece of fenced up land near our playground is now going to be developed into two massive bungalows – no thanks to Top Speed. Each unit is expected to be at least eight times the size of our intermediate house. This is going to be huge in comparison to the existing houses in our area and it will most certainly dwarf the houses surrounding it.

The Committee has arranged for a Press Conference to take this case public and it will be held at the playground this coming Sunday, 29 November 2009 at 5 p.m. We appeal to all the residents to come forward and lend us your support to protest this massive development before the court hearing which is scheduled on the 3rd December 2009.

The court hearing has been initiated by the affected residents near to the development against Top Speed. This is our last chance to try and save our green lung. As such we need your support, so please do turn up at the designated time and place.

Withering Trees:

Next year, there will be allocations given by the MPSJ to buy new trees to be planted all over our Subang/USJ. Towards this end, we will work with the JKP and also our councillor, Mr. Rajiv, to replace dead or withering trees and to plant a row of trees along the nature strip facing the Taipan shopping area. These trees along this stretch will be planted as close to each other as possible. This will be done to deter illegal parking along this stretch which has caused a lot of inconvenience to the residents living nearby.

Crime in our area:

There have been two cases of break-ins reported in our area in the month of November. This has happened despite the presence of our security and the measures we have taken. And with more areas in USJ and Subang implementing G&G, inevitably, the criminals are getting more desperate, targeting houses even in broad daylight.

The Committee will be raising these break-in issues with our Security Company to implement measures to overcome this problem such as increasing the frequency of patrols and surveillance of our area at all times.

But we believe the best possible ‘weapon’ is to watch out for our neighbours, especially when they are away from their homes. For example, if you see any suspicious behaviors by strangers in front of your neighbours’ houses, please do raise the alarm by calling our guards or your neighbour. Or you may also call the police to get them to come and check the situation out.

Please do help us keep our neighbourhood safe from crime by being vigilant. You can help by doing your part in keeping an eye on your neighbours whenever and wherever possible.

Security Guards:

Lately, due to the increased in demand for security guards as a result of many G&G scheme being implemented in USJ and other areas, it has affected the quality of the guards in general. We noticed that The quality of the guards has been slowly deteriorating as the more experienced guards were being deployed to other areas by the Security Companies concerned.

The Security Company operating in our area is no different. After all, their business is thriving which we do understand. However, the quality of the services has been compromised. This matter has been brought to the attention of the Committee and we will address this issue with our Security Company.

In view of the fact that there has been a slackening in the quality of our Security Guards, the Committee would like to appeal to all of you to help keep an eye on the performance of the guards. Please report all incidents such as:

- security guards not properly attired
- not noting down car numbers without valid car stickers
- allowing cars without stickers to pass through and not checking the cars out
- abandoning the post without valid reasons
- not placing the cones at entry points
- rude and inattentive

Please note down the time, the gate number and also the guard’s name if possible. Do also remind the guards of their duties and obligation if you happen to observe them doing otherwise.

BYO New Year Party:

The Committee plans to hold a New Year party at our playground on the first day of 2010. It will be a BYO (Bring Your Own) food and drinks party. We plan to have some entertainment for everyone on that day to celebrate the New Year. If you want to know what is in store for you, please do show up on that day.

So, if you are in town and do not have much to do on New Year’s day, then we would like to invite you and your family to join us in celebrating the New Year party. It will be from 7:30 p.m. onwards until you decide to call it the night! Please do join us for this community event. It will be an informal party and so there will no protocols to follow. Please also bring along your tables and chairs if you have them apart from your crockery and your cutleries.

Date: 1 January 2010
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Venue: USJ 11/3 playground
Attire: Shorts and casuals preferred

A final reminder, please give your fullest cooperation to our Street Leaders and ensure that your outstanding subscription is duly paid.

Thank you.

The Committee
11 Trees @ USJ

Friday, November 20, 2009

Crime in our area the last one week

Dear Reaisdents,

On Wednesday morning, there was an attempt to break into a Proton Saga parked along 11/3K at about 2:00 am. The alarm went off and alerted some house owners and our guards.

A few days before that, a house in 11/3D was broken into during the day and a laptop and camera was stolen.

Despite the presence of our guards, the thieves are still going against the tide and have taken advantage of the situation to commit their dastardly acts.

We have to be extra vigilant especially when it rains as the sound of the rain and thunder will mask the sound they may make, such as climbing over the fence or the gate. Most people will also sleep soundly during such cool nights.

Alarm system will help in a big way although not fool proof. Installing alarm will be a deterrent as it will alert people who are nearby when there is a break in attempt unless of course if they climb through the roof. Make sure you at least install the alarm system and arm it when there is no one home even if you have to leave the house for a short while. And do inform your neighbouts that you are planning to go out. These are precautions we can take to prevent such incidents from happening.

Our guards have been advised to be extra vigilant but let's do our part and keep a look out for our neighbours. This will be another measure we can take to ensure that criminals are kept at bay. Please do report to the guards, no matter how trivial the matter is, such as unfamiliar cars being parked outside or near your homes.

It is better to be safe than sorry.

The Committee
11 Trees @ USJ

Friday, November 13, 2009

Letter to YB Abd Rahman, MP Kota Belud and his reply

Dear Residents,

I have written to the MP for Kota Belud about his statements made in Parliament recently. Below is his reply to my email. I am not a politician and never profess to be one. But if an MP were to make such shallow statements this time about G&G, I think we need to set the record straight.

His prompt reply (which I appreciate) was very much trying to explain how a politician should behave in parliament but never answers to my questions.

I urge all of you to please email him at mpkotabelud@yahoo.com directly and ask him why we are in such a predicament and what the government is doing to help us with this very serious security problem facing our community.

It is time we stand up for what matters.

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Jeffrey Khoo
Advisor
11 Trees @ USJ

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November 13, 2009


YB Dato' Abdul Rahman Dahlan
Ahli Parlimen P169 Kota Belud


Dear sir,

I have been following your statements made in Parliament recently.

I am totally dismayed at your ignorance as to what is actually happening on the ground with regards to crime and the measures we have to take to defend ourselves in ensuring our own safety in our own homes. This was done primarily for the safety of our families and our community.

For your information, since we have implemented our G&G about a year ago, the crime rate has dropped almost to zero. We did not solve the problem to be honest, we have merely shifted the problem elsewhere.

In our minds, this has to happen as this is the direct failure of the government to provide adequate security to the citizens at large.

Are you aware that robberies, snatch thefts, break-ins, car-thefts, muggings were all the norm for us before we started this G&G?.

We have been lobbying for better security even during the previous adminstration's days, that is, during Tun Abdullah Badawi's time. There was nothing done while we continued to be "sitting ducks" for criminals.

By stating that we have created G&G communities just because we want to be "exclusive" is extremely shallow. May I know what you are thinking?

If our tax moneys are properly utlitised to fix our securiy problem, we can assure you we would like to save the headache of having monthly meetings etc, managing money and people and having to pay our RM50 share monthly. The money and time saved could be used for our families for other purposes. But prove to us that the crime rate is being brought under control. Then we will more than happy to remove our all fencing and security and we can go about our peaceful lives.

Personally, I think you need a reality check. Please stop making such frivilous statements. You are an MP so do your job and get your facts right.

I am copying my committee members on this email. I will also publish your email to all our residents so that they can also respond to you personally.

At any rate, we would like you to invite you to come and have a dialogue with us if you have the time so that you better understand the problems we are facing on the ground.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

J Khoo
Adviser
Persatuan Penduduk USJ 11/3, Subang Jaya, Selangor

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Dear Jeffrey, thank you for your email.

I have posted my reponse re: crime in Malaysia in my blog so you can have a balanced view of what transpired during the debate.

No one can deny, let a lone myself, that crime is on the rise.

My problem is this. I do not think the way opposition MPs debating the issue (especially budget debate) is right and appropriate.

Instead of talking about specific budgetary items, they went on a rampage to politicise the matter so that they could score some political brownie points. They made sweeping statements which to me were not helping people like you and your organization.

I appreciate what you and your fellow urbanites are feeling. But you must insist opposition MPs to leave rhetorics, generalization and grand standing aside. Otherwise, they are not helping your cause at all. In fact, I sometimes wonder whether they are more interested in the "political dividends" than solving the problem.

Do read my article in my blog http://www.mpkotabelud.blogspot.com.

I apologize in advance if the tone of the article is a bit on the harsher side. I just feel dissappointed that opposition MPs have failed you (atleast in that brief exchanges of points during that particular debate) in addressing the issue. The minister in his reply was trying hard to explain what the government was doing and yet all this was ridiculed by the opposition.

And by the way, if you happen to bump into any of the opposition MPs, ask them to highlight some of the goodwork the police has done all these years (surely there are some). If the police gets brickbats each and everytime the opposition MPs open their mouth to debate in parliament, they will be demoralized. And demoralized people are not that productive. That's human nature!

Thank you.

Abd Rahman Dahlan
MP for Kota Belud

Saturday, November 7, 2009

GIBLET AT IT AGAIN!


Man, this Giblet is one hell of a persistent character!

The man who is very against our G&G is now whacking our locks on the gates.

Here is what happened.

Last Thursday, 5 November 2009, a couple, who are residents from our area were taking their usual stroll around our kampung in the morning.

When they were walking towards the small gate entrance near the HSBC Bank, they saw Giblet hammering away the lock on the gate. It did not take this man long to 'kill' the lock as he was 'giving' it his all. I really pity the lock lah! Kena kau kau from him. Koyak maximum as a result of Giblet's 'abuse'.

Needless to say, the poor couple were horrified at his intensity and pent up anger! They went to report to the guards, who of course did not confront him. The guards have been instructed by the Committee as not to antogise such people if they were to come across such situations and that potentially they may be in harms way. They are to merely obeserve and report as quickly as possible of such situations.

Anyway, after giving the lock a good whack and losing quite a few calories in the process, Giblet calmed down. He then spoke to the couple, justifying his actions. He complained about the G&G and the inconvenience that came with it and that we do not have the right to put up such barricade and that we have all broken the law, blah, blah, blah!

But if he is is so gung-ho about the law, perhaps he should help us do something to reduce crime. For instance, he could organise a 'round table talk' with the crooks and have a chat with them about the law! These crooks also break the law mah, Giblet. So how?

If you want to talk about law then do the right thing and channel your energy to help us rid of this crime scourge and in return, we promise to then take everything down. That way, we all become good law abiding citizens just like you!

Anyway, folks, sad to inform you that the badly mutilated 'lock' did not make it. Funeral services for the poor 'lock' will be held in our vincinity soon! Not sure if we should invite that dude, Giblet...!

Sincerely,

A concern citizen from the Committee

Monday, November 2, 2009

Another frustrated victim of house break-in at USJ12

Dear all,

I have been added to the statistics of break-ins that take place in USJ today.

My house was broken-in when we were away in our hometown. My neighbour called us when they found my gate, front grill door and wooden door were wide open during this afternoon's heavy rainfall. They were away between 11am - 3pm and that's when they suspect the break-in took place. Our house gate & door were still closed when they left their house.

I called the police to go over to our house to check and it was confirmed that the house has been ransacked. Luckily my neighbour was kind enough to help close up the house after the police left.

We arrived this evening to find the gate in good condition. However, the grill's 'ear' (where padlock is placed) has been broken. The wooden door's lock was broken. Drawers have been ransacked. Our bedrooms were in a huge mess, especially the master bedroom. You may think that Hurricane Kathrina has just passed over. Clothes were strewn all over. Drawers turned over. My travelling wallets with different currencies in them were all gone. So was my passport! Some cash, jewellery, electrical components e.g. thumb drive, mobile hardisk, iPod nano, MP3 player ~ gone!!

I have always been very careful to ensure that my house is secured. So, I am very frustrated that I didn't manage to stop the break-in from taking place! If I had been not careful, then it would be my fault! But even when I am doing my part well, this is still happening and I am very angry and upset! I am hoping that our Gated & Guarded community can take off asap so that we can improve the security in USJ2.


Best regards,
J.C.