Break-in at Block A

Sorry for stale news. The break-in happened exactly a week ago. After hearing the "reports" of two residents this is what I gather happened.

Last Saturday between the hours of 1.30pm and 6.00pm a unit at Level 3A Block A was broken into. The thieves cut the two padlocks on the grille door and kicked in the main door. I believe two notebooks, passports and some other valuables were stolen.

I think most if not all break-ins in our condo's history involved units with the original main doors. The original design is very burglar-friendly as after breaking in the front grille, thieves have the option of breaking in via main door or the side door (leading to yard) or even the window at the kitchen sink. Kicking in or prying (with crowbar, etc) the main door is usually the easier option as most locks are the puny cylindrical door set type. What residents should do is remove this door and install a regular-size door just after the front grille. Use a decent dead-bolt or two for the lock and this will deter burglars.

The current work-in-progress of the security upgrades is not helping as the boom gate has been out for months now. Even when the cctv system is in place it will only work if we have proper monitoring. Putting up a surveillance system and using it after a crime is not pro-active.

Residents want tunnel closed

The Star Tuesday Oct 14, 2008: RESIDENTS from Taman Megah Mas and Taman Mayang held a peaceful demonstration last weekend to protest against the use of the Taman Megah Mas tunnel as an access road to the Ara Damansara and Lembah Subang areas.

The rally, organised by the Taman Megah Mas Residents Association (RA) and Taman Mayang Rukun Tetangga (RT), was aimed at highlighting the residents’ concerns about the traffic congestion and pollution they have to endure to the authorities.

The tunnel was originally built as a temporary route for garbage trucks to access Lembah Subang, which was previously designated as a waste disposal area.

However, the Taman Megah Mas tunnel and nearby FAS tunnel are used as alternative access roads linking the eastern side of Petaling Jaya, like Ara Damansara, to the western side like Kelana Jaya and the LDP.

An initial traffic study revealed that an average of 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles cross the Taman Megah Mas tunnel per day and 2,000 vehicles at peak hour.

“The motorists will clog the narrow two-lane residential roads at Jalan Emas 1 and 2 in Tamah Megah Mas and squeeze their way into the tunnel, which measures a mere 8m wide, when the required width for public roads is 12m,” said Taman Megah Mas RA chairman G.C. Goay.

“Motorists from as far as Kota Damansara and Bandar Utama will also cut through Taman Mayang (via Jalan SS25/32 and Jalan SS25/39) to use the tunnel as a short cut to go to Saujana and Ara Damansara,” said Taman Mayang RT chairman Chan Chow Wang.

“The congestion is expected to worsen with future developments in Lembah Subang and Saujana like a four-star 18-storey hotel and several commercial and residential developments.”

Click for full report

Cooking Gas Cheat!

I came across this in the PJNET forum about Cooking Gas Cheat and thought I'd share it with readers. It does not take a lot of effort to jot down the date you got your gas refill and be sure you are not short-changed.

If you did not click the link - the alleged cheat's contact is Tel: 7803 1337

You have been WARNED!

Puncak Seri Kelana & D'aman Crimson

I had the chance to visit these two apartments recently (Crimson in September, Seri Kelana a few days ago) and would like to highlight what I noticed.

Crimson has between 1000 to 1100 units in total. There are four blocks with two floors of shops and offices. To gain entry by car I had to take a parking ticket (or park by the roadside and risk getting fined). The charge is RM1 per day and I can park anywhere on the ground floor commercial area. As for residents, they use their access card to enter via a separate boom gate. They then pass these shops before using their card again to pass a second gate into the basement parking lots. There are no guards posted here and entry is strictly by card. From the parking zone residents have to use the card again to open the door into the lift lobby.

For me I had to press the intercom where security then asked me to hold my MyKad up to the camera and state which unit I was going to. Only then will they open the door remotely. Apparently they used to have guards at the door but the guards were attacked by certain visitors when they refused them entry after midnight. So now these trouble makers have no one to attack and it works.

Once you enter the lift a second camera scans from within. Also the staircase doors on every floor are locked so you cannot use the stairs. I think it opens by remote from the security control room during emergency.

My friend has been staying there since the first day and finds it very safe and convenient.

Puncak Seri Kelana does not have cameras yet except they do have the long range access card reader. It has about 700 units and what I realised was it was so tidy with no traces of graffitti on walls or lifts.

Forum held to address issues related to tunnels on NKVE

The Star, Thursday October 9, 2008

A CONSULTATIVE committee will be formed and a public workshop will be held to discuss the issue of the three tunnels and access to Ara Damansara.

This decision was made at a forum that involved all the affected stakeholders in addressing issues related to the three tunnels located along the NKVE Highway at Taman Megah Mas, FAS and Tropicana. Full Story Here

According to a recent study the Taman Megah Mas tunnel saw an average of 2,000 vehicles crossing at peak hour, and 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles a day. This is madness!

MSC status for Bandar Utama

The Star Monday, Oct. 6, 2008
By TAN KARR WEI

THE Bandar Utama township in Petaling Jaya has been awarded the MSC Malaysia Cybercentre status.

“With this status, Bandar Utama is committed to providing a globally competitive environment integrated with world-class infrastructure to support the growth of ICT and ICT-enabled industries within the Klang Valley,” Bandar Utama City Corporation director Datuk Teo Chiang Kok said during the official launch at the One World Hotel recently.

There are two zones under the Bandar Utama MSC Malaysia Cybercentre: the Bandar Utama City Centre (BUCC) and Bandar Utama Technology Park.

The City Centre houses two office buildings, the Plaza IBM and the KPMG Tower, with another new office tower known as 1, First Avenue scheduled to be completed by the end of next year.

A 1.2ha purpose-built building, a part of the Bandar Utama Technology Park, has been upgraded and ready to receive MSC Status companies as tenants.

Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) chief executive officer Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said there were now 15 MSC Cybercities and Cybercentres nationwide to help address the diverse business needs and locational requirements of different ICT industry segments.

Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Fadillah Yusof launched the event.