ALL residents of Kg Kerinchi four-storey flats will be temporarily moved to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) flats in three weeks to make way for redevelopment.

DBKL will also help them in the shifting process to the flats at Seri Cempaka and Kerinchi.

Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin announced this during a mock key-handover ceremony at Kg Kerinchi Empat Tingkat in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

Citing Singapore’s flat redevelopment policy, Nong Chik said flats which were more than 10 years old were redeveloped to offer better facilities and enhance living condition of its people.

He said a redevelopment required only 75% of the people’s concensus and a project would carry on even if there were 25% protesters.

“But here in Malaysia we need 100% concensus and sometimes it may delay development processes in many areas due to a small group of residents. Perhaps, we should also look into our own policies pertaining this so it will be easier and faster for us to work on redevelopment programmes,” said Nong Chik, adding that 90% of the people at Kg.Kerinchi Empat Tingkat agreed to the redevelopment and temporary settlement.

He said 10% of the residents had doubts pertaining to the credibility of the developer. What they fear most is that the project would be abandoned.

“The residents should not worry because this is a redevelopment project.

“What we are doing is to re-develop these one-room and no-room flats into bigger homes, complete with facilities for the old and young. To do that, we need to temporarily relocate the residents.

“Some still do fear of project mismanagement and if the contractor goes bankrupt. I can’t be sure it won’t happen but the ministry and the DBKL will make sure that a good contractor, which will be chosen through an open tender, takes up the project,” he added.

However, Nong Chik promised the residents that should any mishap befall the project due to the contractor, the ministry would make the DBKL flats available for sale to them.

At the moment, the flats are not for sale. There are 480 households from the flat blocks.

“Hopefully the project will kick off by the end of the year or early next year as the government cannot leave the premises empty for long,” he said.

Also present were Lembah Pantai Wanita Umno chief Datuk Sharifah Aminah Syed Ahmad, Kg Kerinchi branch Umno chief Aziz Abdul Rahman and Adlan Lok from Kg. Kerinchi Empant Tingkat Umno branch.

source : The Star

GOING green all the way, Carrefour Market at the Sphere in Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur has implemented its no-plastic-bag policy starting last week.

Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bags, or buy recyclable bags sold at the market.

The attractive bags cost between RM4 and RM4.90.

Otherwise, they can make use of carton boxes provided at the check-out counters.

 

The initiative is Carrefour Group’s target to stop the free distribution of plastic bags to shoppers in all countries by 2012.

With 19 stores in Malaysia, the company has currently implemented the concept at Carrefour Bandar Tun Hussein Onn and Carrefour Penang.

Carrefour at Tropicana Mall in Petaling Jaya is also in the midst of a conversion. Next in line to adopt the “no plastic bag” policy is Carrefour Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur.

Carrefour Malaysia chief executive officer Guillaume de Colonges said although environment conservation was an uphill task, the company was not discouraged.

“To succeed, we are planning more effective programmes, taking with us the learnings from the best practices of other Carrefour stores around the world.

“In our business, we have the advantage of a large consumer base and because of this we know we can make an impact to promote public awareness on the need to protect and conserve our environmental heritage,” he said at the grand opening of Carrefour Market.

Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan officiated at the opening.

Also present to support the company’s efforts in going green were model Amber Chia, actress Vanidah Imran and husband Rashidi Ishak.

Chia, who often carried her own shopping bags instead of using plastic bags, said it was about time that Malaysians picked up and followed through on the habit of bringing their own shopping bags.

“Abroad, people do that all the time. It is a habit that reduces waste and helps protect the environment. I can see the trend of bringing recyclable bags is slowly picking up here but more people should be educated and be aware of it. So let’s start from somewhere.

“These days recyclable bags are also attractive, so it’s good,” she said.

At 2,000 square meter, Carrefour Market in Bangsar South is the first of its kind in Malaysia.

The mini hypermarket has 16,000 stock keeping units with a wide range of grocery items, including beauty and health products.

Source : The Star

Source : SRA Blog

THE plan to turn Brickfields into “Little India” will start next year.

Brickfields got the nod from the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to be tranformed into a cultural hub teeming with the sights, sounds and smells of all things Indian.

The proposed RM30mil project will provide a tourism boost for the township with refurbishing and upgrading of buildings and widening of roads throughout the area.

Federal Territories Minister Senator Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin announced that the construction works will be carried out next year and that Brickfields will be totally transformed.

He said Brickfields would be able to generate and attract more foreign tourists especially those who stop over at KL Sentral.

 

“Brickfields has great potential in attracting tourists especially with the celebration of Deepavali as it is where the majority of the city’s Indian community do their shopping.

“And with the proposed traffic solution for Brickfields, it will smoothen traffic flow in and out of the area,’’ said Nong Chik during a visit with Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan last week.

Last month, Saravanan, who is also MIC vice-president, announced that the first fruits of the mega project could be seen with the widening of the inner roads in Brickfields, as well as the beautification of Jalan Berhala.

He added that Brickfields had been getting a makeover gradually and this could be seen in the tiled pavements, public walkways and new street lighting in various locations in the area.

“Main roads will be made into one-way streets for smoother traffic flow as well as to bring some order to a very chaotic part of the city,’’ he said.

Saravanan said the plan, which would take about six months to complete, would include an entrance archway located at the tail end of Jalan Brickfields near the Naga restaurant and the Brickfields police station and a fountain at the junction of Jalan Travers and Brickfields.

‘’There will also be an information pavilion and food bazaars in Jalan Chan Ah Tong, fruit kiosks along Jalan Thamby Abdullah and flower kiosks behind the KFC.

‘’Hawkers and petty traders will be relocated to a food court and multi-storey car parks will be built. Right now everything is everywhere, and we hope things will be more orderly and systematic,’’ Saravanan added.

When asked on the dissatisfaction of residents as Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad will be turned into a one-way street under a proposed traffic solution for Brickfields, Nong Chik said that the proposal was still under review and that residents had one month to give their feedback before making a final decision.

“There were mixed feedback from the public. We want to have a win-win situation for the benefit of everyone,” he said.

source : The Star