Good time in bad times

After blowing RM3 million on the Millennium Park in SS13, Subang Jaya and turning it into a monument to ineptitude and poor planning, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council has gone one better.

Now, it plans to spend RM216,800 of ratepayers’ money on a lavish dinner for 1,200 people at a five-star hotel in Bandar Sunway. The one-night affair tomorrow at Sunway Hotels and Resorts is to honour its staff and 25 councillors for their contributions.

On the night, 100 employees will be awarded RM1,000 each for their “stellar” performance. That’s RM100,000. The remaining RM116,800 will go to the event itself, which includes the use of function rooms and a five-course Chinese dinner.

This expenditure of public funds in light of the current economic uncertainty has drawn the ire of residents’ associations and NGOs, who have lambasted the council for it. The Malay Mail

Ah, power is lovely in Malaysia. The hotel and the councils "star" performers receiving their rewards are not complaining, are they?

RON 97 price to be floated

KUALA LUMPUR: The price of premium grade petrol RON 97 will be floated according to international oil prices from July.

It is understood that oil companies briefed their retailers this week that there will also be changes to grades of fuel sold at pumps.

Several retailers said the "regular" grade RON 92 fuel would be phased out and a new grade, RON 95, would be introduced, in addition to RON 97.

The retailers said there would be a subsidy on the price of RON 95 fuel used by a majority of cars in Malaysia. more at NST

Power rates cut

PUTRAJAYA (Feb 11, 2009): Pressure from manufacturers hit by the economic crisis has caused the electricity tariff to be lowered by an average of 3.7% from March 1, with industrial users being the biggest beneficiary.

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor today announced that industrial users will get a 5% reduction, while commercial and residential users will get a 2.7% and 2.54% reduction respectively.

He said the average 3.7% reduction will mean a drop from 32.5sen/kWh to 31.31sen/kWh.

He said domestic users from the lower-income group whose bills are below RM20 will continue to receive an exemption till Dec 31.

"The government has also set the life-line band for domestic users who use 200kwj and below a month. The current tariff of 21.8sen/kWh will be retained as this category has not seen an increase since 1998," said Shaziman.

The new tarif will be reviewed every six months to standardise the tariff amid volatile prices of fuel and gas in the international market. The Sun

Basically we are still screwed!

Kelana Jaya lake is toxic

THE water in the Kelana Jaya lake at SS7 in Petaling Jaya is so dreadfully polluted that even touching it is not advisable.

This sorry state of affairs was confirmed by an ongoing study conducted jointly by the Global Environment Centre (GEC) and the Department of Chemistry Malaysia.

According to GEC River Care Programe officer Shafinaz Shahabudin, the first phase of the Kelana Jaya Lake rehabilitation programme began in 2002. full story at The Star

Bad Times = More Crimes

I have not been meeting up with D'Putera neighbours recently except for the brief hellos in the elevator so I have not heard anything positive nor negative. My own impression of the security firm is good and if I am right I hope they continue to do a good job.

I did meet up with some friends in SS2 last Thursday and as all of them (there were 10 altogether) lived in various parts of PJ like SS2 itself, SS21, SS23 and SS25 I was shocked to hear some true stories they shared. One was of an elderly woman (over 55) who was robbed on SS2/40 (behind Sri Siam) during her morning walk. The poor woman did not have a sen on her and despite her age the scums (there were four Malay or Indon looking males in a car) punched her in the face for not carrying any cash or jewelry. The old lady can't describe the car or number plates as she was too shocked and who could blame her.

Last Friday we went to Yoon Tai medical shop in SS2/75 and was surprised that they had installed an electrical door lock. Apparently they were robbed by a couple of Chinese (Malaysian most likely) knife-weilding thugs. If you guys know SS2 you'd know that the Police Station is just 200 meters away.

Be very careful everywhere but more so when you are in SS2 or any "taman" without security guards. Common sense tells us that it is now harder to "roam" in guarded tamans like SS22, SS23, SS24, etc so SS2 is a "gangsta's paradise"!