Save Bukit Gasing

Passing of champion of the people

savegasinghill — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 01:24:08 +0000

By Terence Fernandez | Malay Mail – Fri, Dec 23, 2011

PETALING JAYA: It was sometime in February 2008 that Charles Santiago, who I then knew as a leading voice against water privatisation, called me for a chat.

“Can Edward and I see you for a bit? Need to ask your opinion on something,” he said over the phone.

Journalistic curiosity and common courtesy prompted me to say “yes” immediately.

After all Edward Lee, the then president of the All Petaling Jaya Selangor Residents’ Association Coalition (APPAC) was instrumental in many initiatives that changed the course of how the local authorities dealt with ratepayers.

These include pressuring the State government to gazette Bukit Gasing as a green lung.

As one of the prime movers of the Save Bukit Gasing Committee, he had laboriously taken us up the hill to show us the destruction caused by multi-million ringgit bungalow and condominium projects.

Also, Edward, could always be relied on to give us a scoop or at least a “strong quote” on anything ranging from indiscriminate planning approvals and increase in assessment rates – where he was also an advocate of transparency and good governance.

Always emphasising that ratepayers’ interest — not corporate interest — should come first.

And so we were seated around a table in a container that was the home of the Section 5 Residents’ Association administrative office and recycling collection centre in Jalan Chantek.

Somehow, as election fever was in the air and there was talk of Pakatan Rakyat fielding non-politicians as candidates, I had a gut feeling what this “chat was about”.

“They want us to stand as DAP candidates. Me in Klang and Edward in Bukit Gasing. What do you think?” asked Charles.

My response was simple: “Charles, you’ll lose your deposit. (MCA’s) Ch’ng Toh Eng is a powerhouse. You’ll be slaughtered.”

Edward, however, I predicted would win hands down against Gerakan’s Lim Thuan Seng.

“He’s a community leader and everyone in Section 5 at least will vote for him,” I said, adding that the encroachment by developers on Bukit Gasing and the shenanigans at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had turned the people here against the State government.

Turned out I was only right about Edward. He went on to win the Bukit Gasing State seat by 8,812 votes, polling a massive 15,735 votes.

Charles surprised everyone by taking the Klang parliamentary seat with 37,940 votes.

We had a good laugh over it when the three of us met after the elections but they knew what was in store for them.

“Now I have to deliver in a different way,” said Edward. From being a community leader, he was now a politician – but one who genuinely had the people at heart.

He even questioned the DAP leadership when he demanded why the 8-8-8 formula for local council representation was not honoured i.e. eight politicians, eight professionals and eight civil society representatives.

He further earned their wrath following a story I wrote about developers approaching senior DAP officials to get the State government to reverse its no hillslope development policy.

“I was voted in based largely on this premise (no hillside development), and I am very upset that I was not even consulted about this attempt to compromise on this policy,” Edward said when he spoke to me later.

However, it was not all that rosy for Edward too as he was accused of interfering in local council affairs with regards to the billboard affair in Petaling Jaya. Outdoor advertising tycoons were alleged to be lobbying him to help reverse a new policy for erecting structures and tearing down all unlicensed ones.

But Edward explained: “It is our job to hear all sides. But I represent people first not political parties or business interests.”

But even the DAP leadership was cautious in handling Edward, aware that he delivered a crucial seat for them by the strength of his own personality and influence in the 2008 tsunami.

Edward after all was well liked by his fellow-PJ-ites familiar with his voluntary nature, from driving children with disabilities for outings under the Malaysia Care initiative or starting signature drives to save a green lung.

Even as the colon cancer he had been battling since 2009 started taking its toll, Edward was still working.

Juggling chemotherapy and his duties as an assemblyman, husband and father of three.

But working for the community was what he had always been doing since he moved to Section 5 from Kampung Baru in 1969.

He was instrumental in getting all the 52 RAs in Petaling Jaya to come under one umbrella body, APPAC.

With APPAC, the city council was dealing with a united front of ratepayers and found themselves under the microscope, especially with regards to annual budgets and dubious deals.

When we broke the story on billboard licence fees being siphoned to the MBPJ Football Club, Edward was among the first to demand that residents be given the right to look through the books. We pored through documents together where his eye for detail from his business background could spot dubious entries.

With many issues plaguing high-rise properties, Edward helped initiate the setting up of the Condominium, Apartment and High-rise Committee (CAHC) to compel the authorities to grant individual water meters to high-rise residential properties.

This also gave property owners a louder voice in addressing issues such as strata titles and poor services by building managements.

After becoming a Yang Berhormat, Edward’s portfolio grew where he became assistant to executive councillor to state Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong. He was a natural choice as he shared a similar passion for the environment as Elizabeth.

Edward was also a member of the Special Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat), lending his trained eye on issues such as the siphoning of funds from the Wives of Selangor Assemblymen and MPs Welfare and Charity Organisation (Balkis).

For someone like Edward, his work was never done. Even during his last days he was campaigning for transparency in water concession agreements, waiting for the outcome of a judicial review application to compel Syabas to open the books. But this was one fight he would not be able to see to the end.

Jotting down his contributions lays bare the void Edward had left, with his passing on Dec 20.

That he died on my 40th birthday brings an added awareness of one’s mortality.

After all, what defines you as a person is once you are gone and in what context your name will be mentioned.

In Edward’s case it will be mentioned with fondness.

Here was someone who really believed that one person could make a difference; and for the best part of his 64 years of life, showed us how.

YB Edward Lee: Gone but not forgotten

savegasinghill — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:49:11 +0000

THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 2011

Many friends, co-workers and residents of Petaling Jaya has gathered to pay their last respect to YB Edward Lee. As many more will gather with his family to bid a final farewell to him this Friday before he journeys on to his final resting place, memories of his dedication and concern for his fellow men will remain.

YB Edward Lee has dedicated many of his years working for communities in PJ. As founder member of APAC (All Petaling Jaya Residents’ Association Coalition) and then the Adun for Bukit Gasing, he had been an ardent worker, striving to resolve problems and issues faced by many in PJ and Selangor. Despite his illness, he had continued to be actively engaged in resolving issues presented to him until he was physically unable to do so in the final few days of his life.

For us in Joint Action Committee for Bukit Gasing, we are grateful for his strong support for our cause. His decade and more dedication to preserve Bukit Gasing both in PJ and KL will be remembered by many. Many he has met considered him a friend and will miss him.

YB Edward may be gone, but many of us will remember him for his “to live is to care” attitude in serving his constituency and fellow men. Our world will be a little poorer. However, he will remain an inspiration to many who strive to serve and contribute to the communities we live in.

JAC for Bukit Gasing.

Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee dies

savegasinghill — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:17:42 +0000

December 20, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — DAP assemblyman for Bukit Gasing, Edward Lee, died early this morning, a party member said.

He was 61.

Lee (picture), a first-term lawmaker, had been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and underwent an operation to treat it, but it spread to his liver and bones.

“We knew he had been sick but his death was still a surprise,” said the DAP official, who declined to be named as she is not authorised to speak.

Lee’s family could not be immediately reached for confirmation.

He was hospitalised on December 14 and his family had planned to take him home today but he died before that, a church friend close to the family said. He leaves wife Christina Lee and three sons.

Lee was a member in the state Special Select Committee on Competency Accountability and Transparency (Selcat).

Before he made his foray into politics, he was well known as a vocal champion of local issues. He was a former president of the All Petaling Jaya Residents’ Association Coalition and ex- head of the Section 5 residents association.

In 1999, he started the Save Bukit Gasing campaign with some neighbours to protect the few green lungs left in Petaling Jaya against further development and erosion.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/bukit-gasing-assemblyman-edward-lee-dies/

update: http://edwardleepj.blogspot.com/

Bukit Gasing Court of Appeal Case Hearing – Monday 12th Dec 2011

savegasinghill — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:04:58 +0000

After many Court hearings, we lost our case at the High Court in September 2010. Our appeal to the Court of Appeal is fixed for hearing on Monday, 12th December, 2011. However, the Developer has already started clearing the trees near Pantai Dalam.

We urge you to attend the Court of Appeal hearing to support our case at 9:00am. The Court of Appeal is at Istana Kehakiman, Precint 3, Putrajaya. Condo and Gasing Indah residents are requested to car pool for transport to the Court of Appeal.

From:
Joint Action Committee for Bukit Gasing (made up of owners and residents from Fraser, Cameron and Maxwell Towers, and Gasing Indah)

DBKL sanctioned destruction of Bukit Gasing has started yet again.

savegasinghill — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 05:24:04 +0000

Kuala Lumpur – October 10, 2011

DBKL signed yet another death warrant on Bukit Gasing (KL side) back in October 2007 and in January 2008 approved earthworks on the hill. These actions were taken without any objections public hearing. DBKL even denied any development approvals were given at a meeting between concerned residents and them in November 2007.

Concerned residents against the proposed development filed for a Judicial Review (JR) in February 2008 against DBKL after DBKL officially denied them the rights to a public hearing. DBKL and the developer challenged the right of the High Court (YA Datuk Lau Bee Lan) to hear the JR, resulting in a 2 year delay before the JR hearing was held. Sadly, in September 2010, a different High Court Judge ruled against the concerned residents. However, an appeal against the decision was filed and the appeal hearing has been set for 12^th^.December, 2011.

Gasing Meridian started the destruction of trees on Bukit Gasing before end of August 2011. The pictures below shows the current rate of destruction of the forest on the steep hill slopes.

It seems that for DBKL, residents have fewer rights than developers. Their fear of risks to their lives and homes are secondary to the rights of land owners. The deaths and destruction of homes in Highland Towers and in Bukit Antarabangsa are of no concern to DBKL.

It is a sad fact that DBKL and the Federal Territory minister are more intent on development of KL without paying heed to the quality of living, good environmental planning, sustainable development and much more that are required to make KL City a world class city.

To wit, in Medan Damansara, DBKL claimed that the building of 21 bungalows on steep hill slopes were safe. It took a huge landslide that almost claimed the lives of a family there for them to issue a stop work order. Unsurprisingly, it was determined that DBKL had not adequately reviewed the development plans. The developer can now only build 16 bungalows. Now DBKL is in negotiations to compensate the developer for the loss of 5 bungalows at KL rate payers’ expense.

In the meantime, residents at the foot hill of the proposed development will have to live in fear of landslides during rainy seasons.

DBKL is under the control of the Federal Government. We can only wonder to the reality of a more open government when DBKL is permitted to ignore genuine concerns of residents of potentially unsafe and unsustainable developments.

Bukit Gasing should be preserved substantially as a green heritage for KL city and future generations in KL and Petaling Jaya. What will it take before DBKL and the Federal Government step up to the challenge of providing more transparent and responsible town planning? Perhaps another carnage from landslides at Bukit Gasing?

Gary Yeoh – JAC for Bukit Gasing.

More Phtotos here….

Earthworks begins at Bukit Gasing…

savegasinghill — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 11:40:31 +0000

The start of earthworks at Bukit Gasing. October 2011

Gasing Meridian Sdn. Bhd, the developer of the a low-density development of 69 luxury bungalows in Bukit Gasing, Kuala Lumpur has appointed a contractor for the job after a nine-month tender exercise. Kumpulan Ikram, a government-appointed independent consultancy with expertise in hill slope developments, has also been appointed by Gasing Meridian to oversee and inspect the project as it progresses. The 38-acre project offers bungalows on land averaging 19,000 sq ft each.

http://www.theedgeproperty.com/news-a-views/8171-earthworks-begins-at-sanctuary-ridge-bukit-gasing.html

More Photos here….

DBKL to get Ikram to check integrity of OUG slope

savegasinghill — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:43:11 +0000

Thursday June 16, 2011

By TAN KARR WEI
karrwei@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR City Hall (DBKL) will engage the Public Works Institute of Malaysia (Ikram) to determine if it is safe to carry out works on the land next to the Bukit OUG condominiums.

More than 20 Bukit OUG residents turned up at the DBKL headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut with Seputeh MP Teresa Kok to hand in a memorandum to voice their objections against the proposed developments on the land neighbouring their property.

Residents had previously called for a press conference at their condominiums last Saturday to highlight the issue after a notice board was erected to inform the public that there was an application to increase the density of the middle plot of land from 60 people per acre to 500.

Among their concerns were that earth works and land clearing have commenced even before the June 18 objection deadline.

“We are also not happy that we have not been informed about other developments in the area that has already been approved.

“We have not been presented with any EIA (environmental impact assessment) and traffic dispersal study reports,” said resident Tan Jo Hann, who was among the residents who met with KL mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ahmad Fuad said there were several proposed developments on the parcels of land near the condominiums.

“One of them is a mixed development that has been approved at the One-Stop Centre (OSC) but the official approval has not been issued to them,” he said.

He also said that under the KL Structure Plan, the allowable density in the area was 400 people per acre and the approved development was only 240 people per acre.

“We received an application for a project that had a density of 500 people per acre and we would consider the application because there would be an LRT station there.

“However, we would take into account the feedback and opinions of the residents,” he added.

Ahmad Fuad said they would seek the help of Ikram to check on the safety of the slope and the types of reinforcement needed to be carried out.

He added that DBKL would investigate whether the landowners had flouted any regulations when they started land-clearing works before getting the approval to do so.

After the meeting, Tan said they would still insist on a public hearing to voice their opinions and would also get residents from other condominiums in the area for their support in the matter

Siva Temple Landslides – signs of weak enforcement and more

savegasinghill — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:02:21 +0000

The article below was sent to a major MSM, but was not published and is put here to record ongoing residents’ concern for public safety.

The saga of Siva Temple and landslides epitomize how our authorities have failed the public in so many ways. Sadly, it’s just one of many examples all over the country where our authorities failed in their duties of implementing proper planning approvals and enforcement of laws. Steep hill slope developments present real and imminent risks to lives. Yet, year after year, we continue to see landslides caused by hill slope developments whilst the authorities continue to bow to hill slope developers’ demand for profit over lives and sustainable environment.

What is often forgotten is that hill slope developments leave in place time bombs that await the unsuspecting public. Highland Towers, Hulu Klang, Medan Damansara, Bukit Antarabangsa and the most recent tragic Ulu Langat orphanage disaster are all ample proof of failure of our authorities in enforcement of laws and regulations.

Siva Temple extensions caused its first landslide in March 2007. Despite the extensions being found to be illegal, it had remained and whatever remedial and risk mitigation works that were supposed to have been put in placed were so lacking that it resulted in a further landslide in January 2011. Warnings by concerned residents to the pending disaster back in 2007 were all in vain.

Whilst residents applaud the efforts of Derek Fernandez (councillor for the area) in ensuring that the exposed slopes are protected against further erosion, it must rest squarely on MBPJ to enforce the law. We wait with baited breath for much more substantial and tangible actions to be taken to right the wrong that has been inflicted against public safety and the beauty of Bukit Gasing.

The Siva Temple landslides should ring alarm bells to the public at how lacking our authorities are in monitoring potential risk zones and the prompt enforcement of laws to protect public safety. We now have to keep our fingers crossed that the “Aprons of Bukit Gasing” will be enough to prevent further landslides and risks to the Syabas pump station whilst MBPJ enforcement officers and Siva Temple committees hold meetings and discussions.

Notwithstanding the above remarks, we thank Derek Fernandez for his assertiveness in ensuring MBPJ acts to prevent the exposed slopes from becoming a mud flow.

As residents facing the threat of development on the steep hill slopes of Bukit Gasing, we continue to be alarm at how Bukit Gasing is reminding us all that we should leave it alone. Will DBKL take note of what is happening? Given the ample signs of instability of exposed slopes and buildings on Bukit Gasing, will DBKL now admit that they have a duty to give us a hearing before development is allowed?

DBKL approved the development of Medan Damansara 21. However, after the landslides and aprons on the steep hill slopes, the development had to reduce number of properties planned from 21 to 16 units for safety reasons. Yet, the developer sued DBKL and the Mayor of DBKL is seeking to settle it out of court. No doubt any payments to the developer will be at the expense of KL ratepayers.

The saga of Siva Temple, Ulu Langat and Medan Damansara landslides are warnings to the public that we can no longer rely on our authorities to do right for the safety of the public. Evidence abounds at how our authorities place developers’ rights over the public’s rights to live without fear of death by slope failures.

Gary Yeoh
JAC for Bukit Gasing

MBPJ installs tarpaulin sheets to replace tattered ones at hillslope

savegasinghill — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 05:54:55 +0000

High-risk area: The tattered sheets on the slope below the Bukit Gasing temple

By VIJENTHI NAIR
vijenthi@thestar.com.my

THE Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has installed durable tarpaulin sheets to replace the tattered ones on the hillslope near Bukit Gasing’s Sivan Temple on June 4.

Councillor Derek Fernandez said MBPJ contractors did the installation under the supervision of its engineering department and Public Works Institute of Malaysia (Ikram).

The cost of over RM20,000 was borne by MBPJ and will be charged to the temple trustees, who have agreed.

Early this year there was a landslip and the temple trustees were instructed to install proper tarpaulin sheets which they have failed to do, pending rectification work to reinforce the slope.

Better protection: The durable tarpaulin sheets installed by MBPJ to replace the torn ones.

Derek said the current legal tussle between the temple’s trustees and the newly-formed Bukit Gasing Sivan Temple Association — as to who is the rightful party to manage the temple — is hampering the rectification work.

“This is at best only a temporary solution and I hope the trustees or temple management will act in the best interest of the public and devotees and immediately start the hillslope rectification, reinforcement works and proper drainage.

“After all, both sides want to build a temple on the land for all and presumably both sides want this temple to be safe for the devotees and public. Both sides should put aside their differences and corporate to rectify the slope immediately,” he said.

“However, I would prefer another 150 meters of sheets to cover until the bottom subject to Ikram and engineering assessment,” he added.

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/6/7/central/8846300&sec=central

Update: Sivan Temple Landslide 1st June 2011

savegasinghill — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 05:20:53 +0000

Google Map indicating the recent landslide area (Map by Mircea Tataru)

Upon receiving the photos yesterday, I immediately asked the mbpj engineering team and ikram to inspect site. Although there was no new landslide the situation was unacceptable as the temple trustees and consultant had use low grade covers for the exposed parts when they were specifically instructed by mbpj and ikram to use high quality covers that do not tear easily and degrade when exposed to UV lights. Two months ago the temple trustees agreed to do two things, one reduce load by removing some structures and rectifying slope and in the interim to cover area with proper sheeting. Nothing has been done by them because there is now a legal tussle between the temple trustees and another person both claiming to be the legitimate body to manage the temple. This other person had however entered the temple and did on his own accord remove several structures to lessen load and has submitted an application to start the slope rectification works within 2 weeks. As this drama continues, we cannot wait for them. I today asked the mayor to authorize funds so that MBPJ and IKRAM will put up proper sheeting in the interests of public safety and we can bill the defaulters later. I am pleased to say the mayor immediately approved this and our contractor was up there today and will be there tomorrow with ikram to start getting the material and laying it. I am upset and expressed my disgust to the mayor and State Government for our people and ikram not monitoring and ensuring compliance with the instructions given to the temple trustees to use proper cover material. This lackadaisical attitude makes a mockery of hillsite safety, and its time the state start sacking people. I am thankful for our resident’s vigilance. Such an unacceptable situation can lead to an increased risk of slope failure, if there is say 3 days continuous rain. Anyway this is an interim measure and I hope the slope rectification starts soon. The state government must step in and not wait till the court decides who represents the temple and is responsible to do work. I will keep you informed of any developments.

DEREK FERNANDEZ

MBPJ Councillor

Section 5 & 10

‘Sivan Temple not open, site still unstable’ - YouTube Video

Contrary to claims, the Sivan Temple in Bukit Gasing has not been re-opened to the public, as the Petaling Jaya City Council does not deem the site to be safe as yet.

Full story : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/155517