Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/182994 (By Hazlan Zakaria, 2/12/2011) The Election Commission (EC) is ready to adopt indelible ink usage during elections, pending the final approval from the National Fatwa Council. "EC secretary Kamaruddin Ahmad Baria told us they are ready and can use indelible ink. "They are waiting final approval from the National Fatwa Council to ensure that the materials used in the ink comply with syariah (Islamic law)," Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng told reporters after a meeting between DAP parliamentarians and Kamaruddin in Putrajaya today. Among the issues include halal content of the ink and whether it interferes with the process of ablution. However, fellow MP Teresa Kok, who joined Lim, said Kamaruddin told them at the meeting, lasting over an hour, that voting abroad is still under careful study by the commission and implementation will not be anytime soon. Both overseas voting and indelible ink usage are part of 10 interim recommendations that the bipartisan parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform had tabled and were endorsed by the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, on the final day of its sitting for this year. Agencies such as the EC, which were named as implementers, have two weeks from today to give the timetable for the execution of the recommendation or list out to the PSC the hurdles to be overcome. Electoral roll irregularities also raised During the meeting, the DAP also raised several complaints with the commission on electoral roll irregularities and difficulties faced by voters who want to amend their voting records at post offices. Kok said the EC secretary pledged to accept the hundreds of voter registration forms, which had been stranded after the EC, without notice, implemented a new regulation requiring all new voter registrations to be accompanied with photocopies of the MyKad. "It is a huge relief for us, as we have hundreds of forms that were stranded," said the MP. Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai told reporters at the same press conference that he brought up the case of a 24-year-old voter who tried to change the address in his voter registration at two post offices, to no avail as the staff on duty were unable to find his records, and in he ended up registering as a new voter. Tan said that the EC admitted at the meeting that it was their mistake, since some of the more than 600 post offices nationwide authorised to handle EC business were not given access to the up-to-date electoral roll. Lim said the EC also admitted that the current crop of postal workers are not adequately trained on EC procedures, relating instances where postal workers themselves were unable to tell voters how to fill in the forms. 'Last training session was five years ago' "Kamaruddin admitted to us that the last training session for postal workers was five years ago and since then, there has been a staff turnover, seeing many new postal workers. But he promised to hold more training sessions for post office staff." Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Loon, who was also at the meeting, had complained about two men aged 83 and 52 who found that they were listed as "deceased" in voting records. "They blamed the National Registration Department for this. The EC had recorded that the duo were 'orang dah mati' (already deceased)," Fong said. Concern whether the use of indelible ink would contravene Muslim restrictions from permanently marking their skin and body was raised by Independent Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, when debating the PSC report. Ibrahim worried that the ink could render Muslims unable to perform their ablutions, as water may be prevented from reaching the skin by the layer of ink, thus making them unable to perform prayers during the 24-hour period that the ink is applied.
MAKING WAY FOR DEVELOPMENT: Ahmad Fuad said City Hall wants to maximise the use of the land which is valued at RM60mil Photo & story from: http://www.mmail.com.my/content/86900-ttdi-market-has-no-heritage-value (By MEENA LAKSHANA, 2/12/2011) The 25-year-old wet market in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) that is slated for demolition does not have an heritage value. Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said this following objections from residents and traders on the proposal to have the market make way for new development. This sparked an uproar among traders and residents who wanted the market spared and upgraded instead. The traders, who were relocated there from the former Central Market in Jalan Hang Kasturi, argued the market should be maintained for its sentimental value and history. Stressing City Hall had not decided on the development at the market site, Ahmad Fuad said it would provide better facilities for both traders and customers. "The market has no heritage element. We want to maximise the use of the land, which is valued at RM60 million. The revenue we receive from the proposed development, when completed, would trickle down so we can provide proper facilities to traders and their customers. "Under the proposed development, there would be an extra 200 parking spots available for the public." The mayor said City Hall was losing out on land capitalisation, as the market's 300 to 400 traders were only paying RM10 in monthly rent for the past 30 years. Ahmad Fuad said the proposed development involved service apartments that would be linked to the proposed Sungai Buloh-Kajang Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station nearby. He said City Hall had, however, imposed conditions on the developer for it to monetarily compensate traders or provide them an alternative business site. "We have already identified a 0.5-acre plot of land nearby but the developer has to get back to us with their decision." When contacted, TTDI Market Traders Association president Jenny Loo said City Hall should explain details of the plan to them. She said the market was being patronised by residents from Sungai Buloh, Hartamas and Kota Damansara. TTDI RA chairman Mohd Hatim Abdullah said they opposed the proposed development, pending its details. He said City Hall had yet to meet residents on the proposed development.
AHMAD FUAD: Not all roads fall under City Hall's jurisdiction
GAPING HOLE: Lim (2nd from left) indicates to the dangerous pothole at a parking lot behind Hong Leong bank at Jalan Segambut Utara Photos & story from: http://www.mmail.com.my/content/86824-rm200m-better-roads (By MEENA LAKSHANA, 1/12/2011) Kuala LumpurCity Hall will allocate RM200 million for road maintenance and resurfacing works next year. Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said the council was taking seriously the rapid deterioration of roads around Kuala Lumpur in deciding to increase the allocation. "This year we assigned a total of RM117 million for road maintenance, out of which RM56 million was for road resurfacing," he said during a press conference at City Hall headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut yesterday. "Next year, we are allocating an additional RM83 million for the exercise. Half of the (RM200 million) allocation will be specifically for road patching," he said. Although City Hall were criticised by residents for the poor quality of roads in the city, Ahmad Fuad said not all roads fell under their jurisdiction. He said about 60 per cent of roads in the city which are in dire conditions were caused by utility companies conducting upgrading works at midnight without City Hall's knowledge. Ahmad Fuad said the council had already informed the utility companies involved to use a new method called horizontal directional digging in their upgrading works. "This technology uses a machine that digs underground sparing the entire stretch of road from damage," he said. "Most utility companies complained it is three to five times more expensive than the conventional method. So far, only Gas Malaysia Berhad utilises the technology with Maxis about to start." Ahmad Fuad said City Hall also proposed to utility companies to set up a fund for road resurfacing works. "For the time being, only Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) had such a fund," he said. Ahmad Fuad said other contributing factors to bad road conditions included the rainy season, spillage of diesel and concrete on roads, as well as illegal digging of roads. He said out of 49 roads identified for resurfacing this year, a total of 37 roads were completed. This included Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Petaling, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Sentul, Jalan Damansara, Jalan Kepong, Jalan Pantai Baru, Taman Sri Petaling and Jalan Damansara. He said 10 other roads were in the midst of completion and City Hall was in the process of appointing contractors for the two remaining roads namely Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz and Jalan Genting Klang. MP claims City Hall using old ways to resurface roads Kuala LumpurCity Hall should do away with outdated technology in repairing potholes around the city. Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng claimed City Hall's present contractors used outdated technology to resurface damaged roads. "They should embrace new technology. Nowadays, City Hall were using steam rollers to patch up roads, which required a longer time," he said after a press conference to highlight three large potholes at a parking lot behind Hong Leong Bank at Jalan Segambut Utara earlier this week. Lim said he received an average of three complaints on potholes daily at various locations in his constituency. "This shows the quality of roads in KL is inferior and resurfacing work is of substandard quality," he said. Lim pointed out the biggest of the three potholes in Jalan Segambut Utara measured five feet in diameter (152cm) and six inches (15cm) deep. "The potholes were here for three months and getting wider by the day and Jalan Segambut Utara is not even a busy street," he said. Lim said complaints were lodged with City Hall but no action was taken to patch the holes. "The contractors just covered it with sand," he said. When met, Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said the potholes at the parking lot are not under City Hall's jurisdiction. Refuting claims it was using dated technology to resurface roads in the city, Ahmad Fuad said materials used for resurfacing roads took precedence over the type of technology used.
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