Traffic Congestion In The Making

It is a pleasure to put up some of our residents' articles. This one here came from Albert and thanks very much.

Hi Jimmy,

I am staying in Pearl Garden. Recently, I have came across a news in local chinese newspaper which I think would affect all of us including Sungai Ara residents. Sorry for the chiong hei (long winded) email. This is more or less the content of the news.

25th Oct 09

To ease the heavy traffic in the Bayan Lepas old town road, the Penang JKR department will open a new

interchange road called Jalan Kampung Bukit, which will divert the traffic from Teluk Kumbar to Sungai Ara. It

means that for those residents staying in Teluk Kumbar who would like to go to the town area, they will have to turn left at the traffic light into Jalan Kampung Bukit where Taman Sri Bayu apartment is located, instead of passing through the Bayan Lepas old town area.

The Jalan Kampung Bukit road will eventually merge to the Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim where the resident from Teluk Kumbar will pass through the traffic light infront of the SP Setia, cemetry, Pearl Garden, Chung Cheng Primary School to go to Georgetown.

Currently the new Jalan Kampung Bukit road is still not open to the public yet as the JKR is still waiting for the traffic flow report. After the new road is opened, the JKR will change the Bayan Lepas old town road to one way. It means that for those who wants to go to Teluk Kumbar from Bayan Baru, they can still pass through the Bayan Lepas old town road. But not of the opposite direction. This news is reported in the Kwong Wah Jit Poh dated 25th Oct 09.

Fyi, the new interchange road will be opened next month. Please refer to the original news reported at this link, http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2009/10/25/2.html

As the resident of Pearl Garden and Sungai Ara as a whole, I personally think that this arrangement or "patch

solution" is going to create heavy traffic congestion along Jalan Dato' Ismail Hashim. Every morning and

evening during peak hours, the traffic flow in Sungai Ara is almost unbearable.

We will have to bear with heavy jam in the traffic light located in front of Chong Cheng Primary School and the traffic light at the cross road of Jalan Data Ismail Hashim and Jalan Tun Dr Awang. What the local authorities are trying to do is to move the traffic congestion problem from one place to another.

This will not solve the traffic problem but at the same time creating a bigger pile up along Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim which is already having problem coping with the increasing traffic. With such heavy traffic congestion, Sungai Ara property price will definitely be affected.

Currently, we are having difficulty trying to cross the road opposite of Pearl Garden (Jalan Dato Ismail

Hashim) due to heavy traffic from Setia Pearl Island direction. I could not imagine how the situation will be

if the road is used for those traffic from Teluk Kumbar as well.

Do you have any channel for us to complain/feedback to the local authority in order for them to find a better

solution?

I guess they will have to come to Sungai Ara during peak hour to realize that the traffic condition in Sungai Ara is no better than Teluk Kumbar and it might be worst.

I could think of a simpler solution. Instead of directing the traffic along Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim, the traffic could be directed to Jalan Makamah. From Jalan Makamah, the road user will be able to turn to Jalan Tun Dr Awang. In fact, the road user could access back to Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah but that would require them to make an illegal U-Turn at the roundabout near the airport.

If the Local authority could allow traffic to flow to the roundabout, the condition will be much better. Please refer to the image Map.jpg for the alternative route that I mentioned. Apologize for the poor description. The road that was proposed by JKR is showed in cyan and green arrow. The alternative route that I thought of is rounded as blue.

Albert

Sugar Glider as a PET...

Learn the REAL pro's and cons of having a Sugar Glider as a pet. Reliable veterinary-approved information..

What is a Sugar Glider?

J was telling me about a Sugar Glider and it seems to be a nice pet to keep. More info about it below:-

The Sugar Glider is around 15 to 20 cm (6.3 to 7.5 inches) in length, with a tail longer than the body and almost as thick as a human thumb, and weighs between 90 and 150 grams (3 to 5.3 oz). The fur is generally pearl grey, with black and cream patches on the underbelly and black or grey ears. Other colour variations include leucistic and albino recessive traits. The tail tapers only moderately and the last quarter of it is black, often with a dark tip. The muzzle is short and rounded. Northern forms tend to be brown coloured rather than grey and smaller.

The most distinctive features of its anatomy are the twin skin membranes called patagia which extend from the fifth finger of the forelimb back to the first toe of the hind foot. flabby – but immediately obvious when it takes flight. The membranes are used to glide between trees: when fully extended they form an aerodynamic surface the size of a large handkerchief. Membranes are also used to gather food while hunting. The membrane has a thin sheet of fur surrounding it, but it is usually pink in colour.

The gliding membranes are primarily used as an efficient way to get to food resources. They may also, as a secondary function, help the Sugar Glider escape predators like goannas, introduced foxes and cats, and the marsupial carnivores, such as quolls, the Kowari, mulgaras, and antechinuses that foxes, cats, and dingos largely supplanted. The ability to glide from tree to tree is clearly of little value with regard to the Sugar Glider's avian predators, however, in particular owls and kookaburras. The sugar gliders membrane allows it to glide for considerable distance. When landing, they catch on to branches with their sharp feet and opposable thumbs.

Although its aerial adaptation looks rather clumsy in comparison to the highly specialised limbs of birds and bats, the Sugar Glider can glide for a surprisingly long distance — flights have been measured at over 50 metres (55 yd) — and steer effectively by curving one patagium or the other. It uses its hind legs to thrust powerfully away from a tree, and when about 3 metres (3 yd) from the destination tree trunk, brings its hind legs up close to the body and swoops upwards to make contact with all four limbs together.

Make the Security Booth smoke free

I noticed our security guards (2 of them) smoking like a chimney inside the security booth via the CCTV this evening. I think with the investment in the latest security system which cost more RM 100K and some fancy LCDs inside the booth, one should ban smoking inside the security booth as it may cause fire with the slightest mistake, cigarette butts have been the main culprit when fire is concerned.

And moreover, we don't need two security guards smoking at the same time, don't we, which brings me to my next question, who is doing their rounds? And don't you think that the security guards should refrain from smoking while on duty?

No U Turn Sign Approved !!

Ok, it finally came. Remember the request for a No U Turn sign in front of the entrance of Pearl Garden? It has been approved by JKR and they will fix the sign up as soon as possible because they recognized the danger, especially to school children.

Karaoke Time, 27th Oct 2009, 8:00pm

Since no one has suggested a date for Karaoke time, it is now fixed at 8:00pm on the 27th Oct 2009 (Tuesday). Place , you know where la...All invited, especially the usual gang...just bring your karaoke or minus one CD. Those shy to sing, it is ok, you can talk to entertain...

See ya..

Poor Wiring Conduit..Penang FON?

One of our residents complained about the shitty wiring conduit being installed by a contractor. He suspected the work of Penang Fon. Can GE Tan verify? Below is the email from our resident, Albert.

Hi Jimmy,

Apologize for my sudden approach. My name is Albert and I am the resident of Pearl Garden. I have been visiting your blog now and then. I must say this is a very efficient way to get information of what is happening in our neighbourhood. Your effort is very much appreciated.

Today, 20th Oct 2009, when I got back from work, I realized that there is a new wiring conduit running right in front of my unit to my neighbour's unit. Fyi, I am staying in the intermediate unit. The wiring conduit installation was very badly done. My initial suspicion was the wiring could be used for PenangFON. However, the wiring conduit was really a crappy work if we compare to the CCTV installed at the groundfloor of each block

I am not sure if we could get the Penang FON guy to improve the conduit installation so that I do not see such bad installation everytime i open my front door.

Attached are the photos of the conduit installation. Could you pls advice what could I do?

Sorry...I have been busy these few days

Just wanted to pen a short note saying that I have been busy with a sudden surge of work and have been really occupied. But I will be back.

We have been talking about the singing our hearts out and I was thinking if those interested would be able to get together this coming Friday.

LT, without you we have no karaoke room, so you must nod your head first!!!

Reply from JKR for No U Turn Sign

Remember the No U Turn request which I made a week ago? The case is being looked at by the related government agencies and an investigation is being done to evaluate the need of No U Turn sign. I have received a reply (official letter) from the state government and JKR yesterday indicating the steps of the evaluation and investigation to be carried out. All spelled out in black and white!

Just one week and they got back to me so fast, taking into consideration that it is a government agency that we are talking about here. You log into PINTAS (internet) and make your complain, no delays and no more "tidak apa" attitude.

Our management office should be better and faster in responding residents' complains since it is just less than 100 meters from where the complains are coming from. Oh, and one more thing, the government body does not discriminate if the complains are coming from those who voted for them or not.

Maybe PG management is moving towards "entertaining" complains from owners only and not tenants. If my observation is correct, that's discrimination!

Wait Until The Cows Come Home.....

Any cracks in any of your units in Pearl Garden? Make sure you make an official complain wor..remember to fill up the form and wait until the cows come home. Like me lah, just called management office this evening about my 3 complains which have been "studied" by management office for the past weeks. GE Tan to give me an "explanation" tomorrow....sigh.

But it is lucky that we do not have the problems like the residents of Tmn Kota Permai, BM.

In part one, we saw the residents of Tmn Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam, Penang enduring the flash floods which often hit their homes.

They claimed that the cause of the floods was contributed by the ground sinkage caused by the sewage project near their housing area.

This time around, CJ Jimmy Leow visited two homes which were badly effected by the ground sinkage and one needs to see it to believe it, the extend of the damages.

Video by Jimmy Leow

Speed bumps, drifting and pedestrian crossing...

Contributed by Ad, a resident of PG.

Back to the suggestion of putting speed bump in the multi-storey car park, I think there is really a need to have that especially going up slope and down slope. I saw a lady driver speeding ~40km/hr going up to slope to level C parking with no sign of breaking. Until she making the turning at level C she suddenly break hardly because of another car trying to reverse out from the parking slot next to the turning. Imagine if she didn’t release the car reversing or someone walking down the slope, what is the damage?

I’m not sure whether she rushing for time or not, but it’s dangerous.

Sometime you also find drivers tend to speed up when going down slope to level A parking, not sure whether they want to experience ‘roller-coaster’ way of driving... :)

But, obviously putting speed bump is not an effective solution to tackle small group of drivers who like performing ‘drifting’ when going up or down slope of multilevel parking. Indeed it may create in convenience to those who always obeying the rule... maybe more complain will raise... But, let see what the best solution to overcome this issue.

If you happen driving to Queensbay-Mall parking you may see speed bump at the end of the slope that prevent people speeding (if not mistaken), not sure whether it will benefit to PG.

On another thought, is our management intending to create pedestrian walking path at the ‘Dato Kong’ side to give way for residents to walk from parking lot back to building A or B with minimum risk of knocking by fast car? Maybe opening the gate at the play-ground and make a pedestrian walking path connected to the motorbike parking next to block A.

Just a wild thought…

Flood victims of Tmn Kota Permai, BM, Penang

This is what happen when the people's representatives (in this case, the Adun) did not help the residents to solve their problems or complains. Owners or tenants alike, they cursed and swear the elected one for his incompetence.

Therefore, GE Tan and MCs should take PG residents' complains seriously, before they come cursing and swearing...

Taman Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam, Penang is just like any type of taman or housing estate. Residents lived their simple lives daily and go about their routine until about two years ago. When it rains heavily, the residents drop everything they do and turn on the red alert.

All eyes will be fixed on the water level as there has been several flash floods for the past two years.

The funny thing is there is no river or huge monsoon drains which may cause such floods. So, what is causing the floods?

CJ Jimmy Leow investigates and asked the flood victims of Taman Kota Permai.

Where are the lights?

There has been no lights at the walk path from the multi-storey car park to Block A and the car park exit. Short circuit? Rectify the problem, GE Tan.

What? Send in an official complain? Don't waste my time. I have sent 3 complains weeks ago and nothing came back.

It's K Time.........

Just heard from LT that there is this new Karaoke set available at the guest unit next to the management office.

Anyone keen to test their voice? It is about time residents get together and have a K competition. Any Elvis, Tom Jones, Lee Hom or Mariah Carey in the house?

I think for a start we practice first ok before we scare everyone away? Please suggest date and time for this get together. Happy juice I sponsor...the rest LT sponsor..Deal?

Keluhan Penduduk Tanjong Tokong.......

Persatuan Penduduk Kampung Tanjong Tokong menggesa campur tangan kerajaan pusat untuk mempercepatkan proses mewartakan kampung itu sebagai zon warisan.

Pengerusinya, Mohd. Salleh Yahya, juga dikenali sebagai "Cikgu Salleh" berkata, kampung berusia lebih 200 tahun itu perlu dikekal dan dipulihara demi menyelamatkan hak pemilikan tanah penduduknya.

Katanya, ia merupakan antara perkampungan dalam bandar yang masih wujud di negeri ini yang masih mengekalkan budaya masyarakat Melayu tradisional dan wajarlah dipertahankan.

Menurut beliau, sejak UDA Holdings Berhad (UHB) mengambil alih tanah di situ, kawasan perkampungan itu telah diisytihar sebagai setinggan menyebabkan penduduk seolah-olah hilang hak terhadap tanah mereka.

Seorang penduduk Kg Tanjung Tokong, En Ariffin Bin Man menyatakan bahawa kerajan pusat harus mengambil tahu keadaan di kampung ini kerana kerajaan pusat yang menjanjikan kemajuan dan pembangunan Kg. Tanjung Tokong sejak berpuluhan tahun yang lalu.

Beliau juga menyoal pihak manakah yang bertanggung jawab untuk menaikan taraf orang Melayu di Kg Tanjung Tokong?

UHB mula mengambil alih tanah di kampung itu sejak 1974 bagi melaksanakan pembangunan di situ termasuk membina kawasan perumahan dan pusat perniagaan moden.

Sejak 1994 hingga 2004, UHB mengarahkan penduduk kampung berpindah dari perkampungan itu secara berperingkat-peringkat, bagaimanapun sehingga hari ini pembangunan yang dirancang tergendala.

Video oleh Jimmy Leow (wartawan masyarakat)

If Not For Sumatra.......

If Not For Sumatra, we will probably see the same devastation inflicted by thetsunami in Bandar Aceh and Padang on the west side of Penang island. Thousands will perish, buildings crumbled, injured by the thousands.

The whole stretch of Teluk Kumbar, Bedong Island and Balik Pulau will probably be washed away by four to ten meter high tsunami created by the recent strings of earthquake at Padang, Sumatra. From the view of Bukit Genting, half of the west coast of Penang island will be flooded.

On the east side of the island, the smaller waves invade the industry area, destroying factories at the Bayan Lepas industrial zone and not forgeting the residential areas where condominiums and shopping malls are built ridiciuosly near to the shores. One will also see the destruction of a resort at Pulau Jerejak.

The bridge which connects the mainland to Penang island will also be partly destroyed due to the massive waves created by the earthquake. Will we be able to rebuild Penang in such a short time? Will Penang survive? Will the coastal towns on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia survive such devastation?

The death toll in the Padang earthquake disaster in Indonesia rose to 603 while hundreds more are believed to be trapped in collapsed buildings in the west Sumatran city and mudslides that swept through entire villages in its outskirts.

According to official figures released by West Sumatra’s Disaster Management Agency recently, 785 people were seriously injured with some requiring surgery while those with non-life threatening injuires exceeded 3,400 people.

EnterinG the fifth day since the magnitude 7.6 quake struck on Sept 30, the stench of death overhung the city of Padang while rescuers tried in vain to find people still alive.

Clean water supply, electricity and telecommunication facilities were reported to be partially restored in Padang.

If not for Sumatra, we could have been heavily punished by mother nature twice in a time frame of 5 years. So far, Sumatra has been protecting the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia…respect her as she has been our saviour for centuries….

No U Turn Sign...Good or Bad?

I was thinking the other day about getting the authorities to put up the No U Turn sign to deter or at least reduce the accident rate in front of Pearl Garden entrance. Recently, there was accident between a bus and a Honda Civic owned by the SASA Security boss. The bus driver had to pay RM 300.00 after being "harassed" by our security guards. Any way, I personally think that both drivers are in the wrong, one parked at the side of the main road (illegal) and the other made a U Turn at a restricted area (also illegal).

By getting the No U Turn sign, it will also create another big issue like prohibiting car owners from parking at the side main road (99.99% car owners from Pearl Garden).

If the "No U Turn" signage is up, I am sure it will also attract policemen to issue summon to those Pearl Garden car owners. But I guess, if we want to see less accidents, such policing method will have a toll on the residents. What do you guys think?

Should I pursue this further to get the No U Turn sign from the state government?

J's Pride

J's pride, his goldfish....

The Debate Is On !!!!

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is prepared to have a nationally televised debate with Gerakan President and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon without any ‘buts’ anytime, anyplace, anywhere even in the Gerakan Headquarters. DAP is disappointed that Koh has shown his trademark indecisiveness and evasiveness by setting pre-conditions to Lim before this nationally televised debate can happen.

To ensure that Koh does not wriggle out of the nationally televised debate with evasive tactics, Lim has unreservedly agreed to debate Koh without any conditions, even if it is held in the Gerakan headquarters, on the Kampung Buah Pala and any land issues.

Koh had said that Gerakan leaders are willing to debate with Lim while attending the Penang Gerakan AGM on 30 August 2009. On the next day, Lim immediately replied that he will accept Koh’s challenge, only if Koh himself debated with Lim. However, Koh did not take up the challenge, but instead sent Gerakan Youth as his proxies. Trying to help out Koh to avoid the debate, Penang Gerakan Chairman Teng Hock Nan even claimed a few days ago that Koh only suggested and did not challenge Lim for the debate.

Under pressure to prove his courage, Koh has pretended to accept the nationally televised debate. The pre-conditions Koh placed for the debate gives the impression that Koh has no sincerity at all to debate. All this clearly shows that Koh’s indecisiveness and evasiveness has not changed at all, even after the 308 political tsunami. He is still the same Koh Tsu Koon. He lost more than 10,000 votes during the 2008 General Election, precisely because of his indecisive and evasive nature.

If Koh dare not debate with Lim without any conditions one to one, how can he stand up to UMNO’s corruption and political dominance that denies equal political rights, equal economic opportunities and socio-economic justice.

Koh should explain his double standards and inconsistency of fighting corruption when he can support BN leaders associated with corruption. How he can talk of political morality and ethics but yet support the UMNO and BN candidate for Bagan Pinang who was suspended for money politics in UMNO and described as unsuitable by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad?

LIM GUAN ENG

Tsunami Warning Lifted, Penang Safe

Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng was at the Department of Meteorology, Bayan Lepas, Penang briefing reporters that the recent tsunami warning has been lifted and there was no cause for concern as Penang is safe.

A strong earthquake of magnitude 7.6 struck off the city of Padang on the coast of Indonesias Sumatra island on Wednesday, triggering a tsunami warning and witness reports of house damage and fires.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a tsunami watch for Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Thailand.The tsunami alert was canceled after no significant waves were generated.

The quake was felt around the region, with some high-rise buildings in the city state of Singapore, 275 miles to the northeast, evacuating their staff.

Padang, the capital of Indonesias West Sumatra province, sits on one of the worlds most active fault lines where the Indo-Australia plate grinds against the Eurasia plate to create regular earth tremors and sometimes quakes.

Video by Jimmy Leow

Slow Internet Connection

Just wanted to put a short note that due to slow internet connection experienced through out the region. I am taking time off in updating the blog, just for a while, but I will be back....