Comments received in April 2008

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I would like to query on who to contact and to whom I should voice my disatisfaction at the lack of playing fields in Taman Melawati. I note with utter disbelief the ongoing construction of a mosque at the playing field behind the SKTM2 and in front of the Phase J. It was being used daily by local lads of all ages and races for football and also there was occassionally a horse grazing there. Now it's to be built up . Although I do not object to mosques, there are already mosques in nearby localities and there isn't any playing field nearby unless the school opens its field to the public!I know its private land but if the residents have no say as to how the Taman Melawati is developed, this is a ridiculous situation! Before I implode with frustration, appreciate it if you can advise on the right forum to register our protest. I am seriously considering moving out of the locality as it is absolutely heartbreaking at the way greed is taking over nature.

Thank you.

Best Regards,

i lived in Taman Melawati during my childhood. that time, the recreational park was green and the water was clear and comfortably deep. i went there every week with my friend and family. for us it's the ultimate green gateway...

that was 15 years ago.

now the park is filthy with garbage. the melawati hills are being corroded with more houses and projects. during my tenure in WWF, my peers exhibited the pictures of animals and told the public that they were endangered. i realized its ineffectiveness then i changed them with pictures with poachers slaughtering the animals and statistical facts of the numbers of species and their survival rate. the reality was indeed horrible, but it was successful in alarming the public regarding the reality of the endangered species.

so, i suggest a more radical approach such as computer graphic of how melawati would look like if the clearance continues. or the dangerous effects to the existing houses. we must make list of exotic animals that live in melawati hills and consequences upon their survival if the projects continue. we can also requested help from UNESCO in fortifying the melawati hill as one of the mankind heritage. we can also ask for other international like Greenpeace. It sounds ambitious, but at least we inform them how serious this case to us Malaysians. having their support is the ultimate legal weapon against the unnecessary development in melawati. we must make our message heard. and we must make it aggressive in fully legitimate way.

i hope my small opinion would help you guys in our noble green cause. may God help us all.

Yup, IJM has done it again. I checked out the metro's article. On their web site, they advertised for two properties in Cheras , Bukit Manda'rina and (located on elevated primeland, nestled near a lush forest reserve) and Montebayu (trees causing rocks to fall on slopes!!).Not sure whick one this Bayu Segar is.

But, its obviously on hill( mud normally flows from up to down, for example well from a cleared denuded hill to people's homes below) Once the mudflow happened in October, another time in march this year. IJM's two goons brought the Cheras MP and residents to the site to tell the steps they will take to ensure a THIRD, FOURT, FIFTH and SIXTH mudflow does not occur. Among others, they plan to

1. Built extra silt traps, to reduce 90% of the silt. The other 10 percent should not be problem for residents of Taman Mutiara Timur.
2. They will build more drains, upgrade monsoon drains and generously helped clear the remaining drains of silt they helped form. Bad city hall boys seems to be delaying the approval for the monsoon drain. The Cheras MP, told them to speed up the approval.

IJM generously agreed to bear the cost of all these. to quoteproject manager 'The company dosent mind the extra cost and will do its best to ensure safety of the residents'. So dont anyone feel bad about IJM bearing the cost, they dont mind the extra cost.

I want to vomit blood.

IJM, like so many things in this world, mud flows from up to down.When you strip a hill dry, you expose earth. And water (rain if you like) and you get mud. once again, mud flows tends to follow gravity.

its all very nice of you to be building other silts, drains etc after a second mudflow instead of waiting for a third and fourth.

Once again, there is a reason hills should not be cleared. Things tend to flow from up to down.

IJM guys, why dont you build all the silt traps and what not before you bald the hills, if you dont mind bearing the cost.

Anyone with some common sense would have given the IJM boys a good scolding, told them to reform and not clear hills and stop being a pain to the planet. Be more responsible to the planet. Not everything is about money.

The Cheras M.P said they are very sweet guys and commended the developer for their prompt response and sincerity. People power for you.

Prompt is when you ANTICIPATE problems caused by your own actions and take PREVENTIVE action. Sincere is when you realise that while everthing can be bought, the hills should be left alone for future generations, water catchment, greenlungs etc.

IJM got a free advertisment and earn praised yesterday and today from various agencies and a member of the state government. Interesting.

I hate to burst everyone's bubble about this cool new pakatan thingy but i think that these guys have the new state government on their side. Hope I am wrong. Time will tell.

End of the day, there is so much politicians, regardless of their intentions can do. We as a people must be more aware of the damage caused by hill clearing and boycott all this projects.

When you think about it, its very silly putting hard earned money in the developers pockets for a hillside project.

The lush, cool forest you paid good money for will no longer be in existance after bulldozers have done their handiwork.

These houses are not exactly on primeland and cost only a fraction of what the developers will charge you.

And most importantly, they only benefit a few select rich. And forest and hillside clearing destroys the environment. We need to leave some green for our kids.

Well done MPAJ, thanks to you, irresponsible developers like IJM can "contribute" to the country's growth and your pockets too!! What's the point of having laws to protect the environment if they aren't going to be enforced? Those corrupted pea brains that make up MPAJ will only go around for collections (which in most other countries is technically termed as "bribes") when you renovate your house or if you're trying to run a business. The best part is they believe the Rakyat are too stupid to notice this! Yes, MPAJ, you optimize that famous phrase, "Malaysia Boleh".

As for the developer, Mr. IJM, people aren't as ill-informed as you think they are. You keep on coming up with these stupid excuses to ruin our landscapes just so that you can fill your egos and pockets. For once, think about what you're doing. As this is a public forum, with my expressions limited for the sake decency, please stop this. Send one of your people over in the morning on any day and have a look at the number of people walking up our beloved hill. Send someone else later in the evening and take note of the even bigger number of walkers admiring the fresh air and natural beauty that we're trying to save. Actually you don't have to send anyone as one of your idiot directors lives at the base of the hill so you can as him yourself!