The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Eye-opening programme for students Posted: 09 Jun 2011 03:19 AM PDT THE 11th Toyota Eco Youth (TEY) programme, organised by UMW Toyota Motor, saw 88 students, principals and teachers from eight secondary schools gathered at Lembah Kiara go through a series of environmental auditing conducted by the Global Environment Centre (GEC) recently. Among the activities were identifying the sources of pollution in the drains, issues surrounding the wet market as well as river monitoring around the area. The schools were selected by the Education Ministry to participate in the programme — SMKA Maahad Hamidiah, Selangor; SMK Ayer Keroh, Melaka; SMK Bukit Jambul, Pulau Pinang; SMK Pendang, Kedah; SMK Tanjung Datuk, Johor; SMK Chalok, Terengganu; SMK Takis, Sabah and SMK Lundu, Sarawak. With the help of GEC, the programme aims to provide knowledge and assist the schools to initiate their environment project with the community. The TEY programme was officially launched by Education Ministry co-curriculum and arts department director Muhamat Roli Hassan, UMW Toyota Motor deputy chairman Takashi Hibi and president Ismet Suki. "It will conclude with a convention and prize-giving ceremony, which will be held at the end of this year. "Upon the success of this new programme, we will explore the possibility of having more schools to compete next year," said Ismet. The winner will receive a cash prize of RM7,000, while the second and third place winners will each receive RM5,000 and RM3,000, respectively. The programme was first conceptualised in 2001. Through the years, some 138 schools with more than 1,500 students, principals and teachers have been involved. UMW Toyota Motor has spent over RM4mil to organise and run the programme. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Reconditioned generator causes lift to breakdown Posted: 09 Jun 2011 03:18 AM PDT RESIDENTS of Avilla Apartment in Jalan Bangau 11 at Bandar Puchong Jaya were shocked to discover that the generator set provided by the developer was a reconditioned unit. The generator, which is supposed to switch on automatically during power outage — to supply electricity to lifts and emergency lights in common areas — was found out to be a 10-year-old unit. Joint management body (JMB) chairman Madan Mohan said the residents engaged an engineer to inspect the unit following the machine's failure to activate during a blackout. "Three girls were trapped in the lift and we had to call the Fire and Rescue Department to get them out. "The inspection report stated that the generator was manufactured in July 1998 and engine oil was leaking from the top gasket of the diesel engine, a sign that the generator has been used extensively for long hours," he said. Upon discovering this in 2009, the JMB terminated the service of the property manager, who was responsible for carrying out a building audit and looking out for defects before taking over the buildings from the developer. Madan added that JMB had to get a technician to turn on the machine manually during blackouts. Requests to the developer to reimburse the JMB for the repair costs and to replace the reconditioned unit with a brand new one were denied. "The developer acknowledged that the generator is a 10-year-old unit and told us that as long as it could be started with three cranks then it is alright for them to install it. "They offered to give us another two years warranty which includes bearing the costs of repairs and that the repair works should be carried out by their contractor. "We didn't accept the offer because we want a new unit. Furthermore, if a blackout occurs in the middle of the night, would their contractor be able to come and help us out?" Madan asked. There are 240 units in the two-block 15-storey apartments. The generator is installed in a room located at the ground floor. Its exhaust pipe is exposed and the smoke emitted had blackened the foyer ceiling. When the residents turned on the generator on Tuesday evening, a bird's nest shot out from the exhaust pipe. Resident Yong Zen Feng, who lives in a unit adjacent to the generator, said they have to shut all windows whenever the generator is switched on. "The black smoke has a stench," he said. JMB secretary Syariza Odman added that the residents did not expect the apartments to be equipped with a reconditioned generator when they purchased the units from the developer. "We want to highlight this case to warn other house buyers," she said. Madan added that the JMB had forked out about RM9,000 to repair and service the generator and a new set would cost around RM120,000 depending on capacity. House Buyers Association honourary legal advisor Tan Cheng Siong said the developer should provide a new generator for the new apartments, as repair or replacement costs might be incurred to the residents when they inherit the building and reconditioned generator from the developer. "Although there is no rule in black and white that requires the developer to provide a brand new unit, common sense tells us that a new building should have a new generator. "The residents can lodge a complaint with the Commissioner of Buildings, or take the case to the court," he said. When contacted, a spokesperson from the developer said a reconditioned generator could be installed as long as it was in good working condition. "Bomba tested the unit before approving our application for Certificate of Fitness," she said. She added that the developer offered to change the parts when the machine needed to be repaired. "A new unit comes with a year warranty and yet we are willing to offer them a two-year warranty, even though we have already handed over the apartment to them a few years ago. "This shows that we are confident of the condition of the machine," she said. She added that the developer had sent a friendly reminder to the JMB regarding the offer but has yet to hear from them. On the exposed exhaust pipe, she said it was installed according to the specifications. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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