Donate Online to Sichuan Quake Fund

You can also donate to the Sichuan Quake Fund through the Star Online here: https://mystar.com.my/donation/sichuan



How to make a donation?

1. Fill in your personal particulars and the amount you would like to donate.
2. Key in your credit card information.
3. Wait for a response to see if your transaction is successful.

They accept all Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Please note that not all credit cards are online transaction-ready. Kindly check with your card issuing bank for details if you encounter problems. All donations to the Sichuan Quake Fund will be channelled to China Embassy in Malaysia. Donations are not tax-exempted.

Sichuan Quake Fund (Cheque & Cash) - The Star in association with the China Embassy in Malaysia

The Star, in association with the China Embassy in Malaysia, is organising a Sichuan Quake Fund, which starts today (25 May 2008) for a period of two weeks.

Readers can either send cheques made payable to The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China at Menara Star here or drop off their cheques at any of the collection boxes at The Star bureaus during office hours on weekdays.

The cheques can also be mailed to Sichuan Quake Fund, Star Publications (M) Bhd, Menara Star, 15, Jalan 16/11, Petaling Jaya, 46350 Selangor.

Those interested in donating cash can also drop them in the donation box at Menara Star here during office hours.

Donations are not tax-exempted.

Residents' Associations - Why Do We Need One?

A Residents' Association of owners formed will be advantageous in serving the community. Among the reasons for forming one are:

• To act as a "watchdog" for their future community.
• To have a cohesive voice in the interest of their community.
• To be organized when there is a need for contacts and communication.
• To share the workload should there be a need for sharing tasks.
• To share resources in materials or in ideas to maintain or improve their community
• To volunteer for a good cause towards an enjoyable life in their community

We may formally form our very own official Residents' Association in the future. And when the time comes, we will need strong participation and support from all the residents of Canal Gardens. We are currently working under the support and patronage of PPKK.

Recent examples of how residents can come together and achieve the above stated "reasons". Here are some recent articles on Residents' Associations from all over KL, coming together, forming alliances, playing their parts to put forward their views and objections on the KL Draft City, to ensure "fair play".

Read more from the Star: Residents' Associations Unite Against KL Draft Plan, Cheras folks debate on KL City draft plan, Alliance on KL draft plan formed and from the Malay Mail: KL plan ‘fatally flawed’.

Recycling Day - Next Sunday, 8th June 2008

Please join us on our monthly recycling event next Sunday, 8th June 2008, from 10am - 3pm. You can drop-off the "recyables" at Gazebo Near 2nd Exit.

Follow Up Part 1: Rumput dan Lalang

Follow-up to the eAduan which was lodged on last Wednesday, 21 May 2008 @ 9:25 PM:

• Case Attended by maz (BADPA) on last Thursday, 22 May 08 @ 08:26:46 AM
• Case Routed to hnazmi (PCKK) on Monday, 26 May 08 @ 12:32:41 PM

So ... we are still waiting for siasatan from MBSA. Let's keep our fingers crossed that they will send a squad soon to clear the grasses.

Rumput dan Lalang

I noticed that the rumput and lalang sudah lama tidak dipotong. So I launched a complaint throught the MBSA eAduan. Let's see how soon can they reply or help us sort out the problems.

You can do your part too ... please call MBSA (03-5510-5133). Terima kasih!

Environmental Pollution Hotline

Complaints pertaining to the environmental pollution can be made through 03-8889-1972 or JAS LINE :1-800-88-2727. DOE's HQ Control Room in Putrajaya operates 24 hours.

Read here for the rest of the environmental pollution affecting Kota Kemuning.

Residents protest in front of Police Beat - Bandar Country Homes (Rawang)

The increasing number of snatch thefts, robberies and car thefts in Bandar Country Homes in Rawang has led residents to hold a protest in front of the police beat base last Saturday.

Read more here. from The Star, 19th May 2008: Bandar Country Homes folks call for stronger police presence.

We can consider ourselves quite lucky that our security and safety is relatively better compared to other Taman in Selangor, or even within Kota Kemuning. We thank all residents for cooperation.

We continue to ask for all residents to help us out and keep an eye on our security guard's performance. If you see anyone of them not performing their duty e.g. not taking down particulars and issuing cards to visitors, or angkat tangan only, please make a report to us via email: canalgardens@gmail.com.

Please also keep an eye to strangers. See anyone suspicious loitering around, waiting in a car with the engine running ... buzz the security 03-5121-5076 and get them to come over and handle these "strangers".

Get set for hazy skies again

From The Star, 19 May 2008:

Malaysia's annual problem of dry weather and hazy skies look to be here again. A check with the Malaysian Meteorological Services Department revealed 207 hotspots in Sumatra on Sunday, a drop from Saturday's 372 hotspots in that area. Peninsular Malaysia had four hotspots, while Borneo had 52.

A spokesman on Sunday said that Malaysians could expect dry weather over the next few days.
“With the current southwest monsoon, it is quite normal to have dry weather,” he said.
“This weather pattern is generally expected to last until September, especially in the Peninsular and Sarawak.”

Sabah might have wetter weather, as there are tropical storms over the Pacific region.
The dry weather, coupled with the large number of hotspots in Sumatra, could cause the haze here.

“The hazy conditions, of course, also depend on the number of hotspots, but it is hard to say what exactly causes the hotspots. Some are natural,” he said.

According to the Department of Environment website, www.doe.gov.my, the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings showed Port Klang's reading was 100 at about 8pm Sunday.

Other areas with relatively high readings were Taiping (71), Muar (68), Kuala Terengganu (67), Kuala Selangor (63), Ipoh (62), Putrajaya (59), Prai (58) and Kuala Lumpur (55). API readings of 0 to 50 is good, 51 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy and above 300 is hazardous.

The spokesman said visibility was still good ranging between 7km and 9km.

Happy Wesak Day

Wishing all our Buddhist friends and families a Happy Wesak Day!

This auspicious day is the most holy holiday on the Buddhist calendar. The exact date of Wesak is defined according to the lunar calendar, as the first full moon of May, which corresponds to the birth, enlightenment (nirvana) and the passing away (sarinirvana) of the Buddha.

Smoky and Hazy Days ... Again

The smoky and hazy days are here again (sigh!!!!). We blogged about it sometime back in February 2008, see here.

So dear residents, help buzz the Jabatan Alam Sekitar Negeri Selangor (03-5521-4000) and Department of EnvironmentMinistry of Natural Resources and Environment (03-88891972) and let them know our "pains". Susah mahu tahan lah!!!

CGRC Monthly Meeting - May 2008

The CGRC (Canal Gardens Residents Committee) had our 7th Monthly Meeting on 9th May, albeit a quick one as most of the team was not able to attend due to some last minute work schedule and appointments. Anyway, here are some of the key summaries of items discussed, which are more or less the same issues affecting most of us:

1. Canal
Design should be ready by anytime now. MBSA is working on it. More info to be shared with the residents when we have more clearer updates.

2. Lighting
MBSA is making rounds to “upgrade” the lightings from 70W to 125W/150W. As they ran out of "bulbs", we will have to wait for the stock to arrive soon. All the street lights will be replaced. We have also requested for better lighting for the Basketball, Parks and Central Park lighting.

3. PPKK Membership Drive
Canal Gardens Residents’ Committee was formed under the patronage of Persatuan Penduduk Kota Kemuning (PPKK). We have received superb support from PPKK. Your road reps will be visiting you soon to help recruit more residents to join PPKK. Read here for more info: PPKK (Persatuan Penduduk Kota Kemuning).

Free Wireless Internet Access in KL

Good news for those of you who worked in KL ... especially those road-warrior who is on the constant run from one appointment to another. Fret not, free wireless internet access is available from today, at least from selective spots and free for the next two years.

With the launch of the Kuala Lumpur wireless metropolitan project at the City Hall headquarters yesterday, the entire capital city will be covered by a wireless broadband access network in the near future. This means that if you are in KL, you will not need to patronise certain cafes or pay for Internet services to go wireless.

Read the entire article here from The Star Metro Section, dated 13th May 2008.

Myanmar Relief Fund: How You Can Help

Join The Star in extending a helping hand to the people of Myanmar. The Star is working together with Mercy Malaysia to collect funds to buy items that are urgently needed by those affected by Cyclone Nargis on Friday. Among the things required are water purification sachets, medicine, tarpaulins and plastic sheets for temporary shelter.

Cheques must be made payable to Mercy Malaysia. Write Myanmar Relief Fund on the back of the cheques as well as your name and address so that receipts can be issued.

Because of the urgency of the matter, our collection will only be for two weeks.

Cheques can be sent to:
Myanmar Relief Fund Star Publications (M) Bhd Menara Star 15, Jalan 16/11 Petaling Jaya 46350 Selangor.

Readers can also drop off their cheques at our collection box at the above address.

For inquiries, call: 03-79671388 ext 1121.

New Links

Added a few links (which you can access from MISC Sites located on the right hand side of this portal ... scroll down) which should be interesting and helpful (hopefully) to our readers covering a few "genre":

• BBC News - International News
• The Edge Daily - Malaysian Business News
• Bursa Malaysia Stock Quote - KLSE
• The Malaysian Insider - Malaysian Political News
• ESPN Soccernet - Sports Soccer
• Golf - Sports Golf
• Movies Trailers from Apple - Entertainment
• Mayo Clinic - Health
• Fodors Travel Guide - Travel Lesiure

Interesting Articles from National House Buyers Association of Malaysia

Some interesting property articles from National House Buyers Association of Malaysia (HBA), which is a voluntary non-governmental, non-profit and non-political organization. Click here to access them ... among others:

• Understanding Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA)
• Law of Landlord and Tenant
• Purchasing A New Property
• Gated & Guarded Communities
• How Much Should You Pay A Lawyer In A Property Transaction?

Brighter, Better

Did you notice the nights are getting "brighter"?

MBSA has “upgraded” or in the process of "upgrading" the lightings from 70W to 125W/150W. At least it is a little bit brighter ... making night jogging / biking a much safer routine. We will be requesting for better lighting for the Basketball, Parks and Central Park lighting as well. Will keep all posted.

Recycling Day - May 2008

Please join us on our monthly recycling event this Sunday, 4th May 2008, from 10am - 3pm. You can drop-off the "recyables" at Gazebo Near 2nd Exit.

We collect the following "recyables":



Beverage Tin Cans
We take soft drink / beer / coffee drink tin cans.

Plastics
We take plastic bottles and this includes mineral water bottles, many juice or milk containers, some shampoo bottles, many household cleaning containers like washing detergent etc.

Papers
We take all clean dry paper that come in many forms like newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper, letters, envelopes, cardboard and boxboard like cereal, soap and tea packets and greetings cards, egg cartons and cardboard milk cartons etc.

So see you there and come join us for a quick chat with your friendly CGRC committees as well.