The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Posted: 01 Dec 2011 02:33 AM PST WHO says loving the planet isn't worth its salt? The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is offering year-end goodies to owners of hybrid cars. First, the city council announced free car parking for three months for owners of fuel-efficient hybrid cars and secondly, a 25% rebate on the annual assessment under its Low Carbon Green Rebate Assessment Scheme. However, there is a catch. The cars should be bought within Petaling Jaya. The free car parking for the said period alone will save the car owners RM300. MBPJ councillor and Green City committee chairman Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainudin said the council had approved the green initiative to entice residents to go green, cut carbon emissions and at the same time save money in a whole new way. "We are encouraging people to improve the environment while they spend less, earn more, save more and enjoy rebates on their assessment. "We have recognised that the city council is moving forward with these initiatives - offering more incentives rather than regulatory means," Khairul told Star Metro after the council's full board meeting yesterday. MBPJ One-Stop Centre chief Lee Lih Shyan, who has drawn up various green initiatives, explained that the free hybrid car parking was included in the 2012 council budget thus adding up to the earlier introduced 25% rebate on the annual assessment. "Our free hybrid car parking for three months is done without hassle. "Owners of the cars are required to make available photocopies of the car registration document and receipt of purchase to the MBPJ's Treasury department at Jalan Yoong Shook Lin," he said. Lee added that only after verifying the documents, the free parking coupons would be issued. "For the 25% rebate offered on the annual assessment, the owner of the car can claim it at the end of 2012 in the annual assessment," he said. Lee said green investing is finally making its impact which is great news for the environment and a chance to save costs. "Our aim is to create the concept of responsible investments through the Petaling Jaya Low Carbon Green Rebate Assessment Scheme to give rebates of up to RM500 to residents who incorporate energy efficient upgrades or follow a green lifestyle," he added. On July 21, StarMetro had reported on the scheme titled "Green giveaways" where residents who cycle to work get 25% discount and those who install a solar water heater at their homes would also get 25% discount. As of Oct 21 under the pilot project, only 49 took up the scheme as opposed to the council's target of 100. MBPJ mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman said the council is trying to promote green incentives and eco-friendly policies to reduce carbon footprint. "I hope the scheme is adopted by all. Our approach is to engage the people to become environmentally smarter, through economic incentives," he added. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Residents cry foul over acquisition by KL Monorail Posted: 01 Dec 2011 02:30 AM PST RESIDENTS of Tong Weng Mansion situated on Jalan Berhala in Brickfields are seeing red as their property price is expected to drop after a small part of "their land" area has been carved up. Residents' association chairman G. Subramanian said KL Monorail Systems Sdn Bhd's contractor has already taken up about 10 feet of their land and hoarded up the area. "We have lost our badminton court which we also use to conduct activities such as gatherings and funeral services," said Subramaniam. The residents have been using the plot of land, situated at the fringe of their property for these activities for the last 37 years. A committee member, K. Tangaperumal, who has two units at the Tong Weng Mansion, next to the Temple of Fine Arts, said to add salt to injury, the residents have to bear with the noise from passing coaches. "The property market will definitely depreciate with the loss of the essential facilities and the noise pollution." He said the apartment was a sought-after place for people looking for a place to rent in Brickfields because the place was relatively quiet and lush greenery its backyard added value to the property, he said. "Furthermore, we have come to understand that KL Monorail has agreed in principle to allow the Seng Hong Temple, which is to make way partly, to occupy the space underneath the pier," he added. The residents claim the toilets and exorcism chamber of the temple would be erected underneath the pier. They fear these factors would decrease the price of their property, which is currently going at RM200,000 per unit. "We also want KL Monorail to erect a noise barrier to cushion the noise," said Tangaperumal, who is also the deputy president of the Sri Krishna temple which is also making way for the KL Monorail project. The chairman said Sri Krishna will be relocated to a new site in Jalan Scott alongside two other existing Hindu temples. The temple has been at its present location for the last 13 years after it moved out of Pantai Dalam. KL Monorail, a subsidiary of Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd, has already started work and piling works is underway. The committee has also appealed to Prasarana for compensation in view of the "loss" of their land, future noise level and the depreciation of their property. S. Tiagarajah, a parcel owner and a resident of some 30-plus years said KL Monorail should pay compensation based on humanitarian grounds. "KL Monorail has taken a piece of land that we have been using for over 30 years and the residents feel that it is only fair we too get something in return," said another resident who did not want to be named. When contacted, Prasarana spokesman Chelam Vasudevan said Tong Weng residents had been illegally occupying the "extra plot" of land which they claim as theirs. "We make absolutely sure of this before we start any work and the records show that part of the land in dispute does not belong to Tong Weng Mansion,'' he told Star Metro in a telephone interview. As far as compensation is concerned, he said the residents could request and send an appeal letter. "We are not promising anything but the management will look into their request," he said. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online: Metro: Central To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan