Sunday, January 27, 2008

Identifying Stroke - S.T.R.

Just wanted to share with all of you on how we can identify or recognize a stroke victim. Both the death rate and level of disability resulting from strokes can be dramatically reduced by immediate and appropriate medical care. This article was forwarded by our Head of Social, Lily Wong. Please read on, you may make a difference.

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STROKE IDENTIFICATION - S.T.R.

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) ..... she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die .... they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within three (3) hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke ... totally! He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE. Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke .

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
  • S : Ask the individual to SMILE

  • T : Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently i.e. It is sunny out today)

  • R : Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE o f these tasks, call 999 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke - Stick out Your Tongue.

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue ... If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other , that is also an indication of a stroke.

Share this with your love ones, friends, neighbours, colleagues ... You may help a person or two and even save their lives!

Here are some other sites where you can learn more:

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Recycling Day (February 2008)

Our monthly recycling event is on next Sunday. Here are some of the common "recycables" items listed below. We also take Aluminium, Besi Buruk, and heck, even your old/out-of-function refrigerator/tread mill/washing machine.

When: 3rd February 2008 (Sunday), 10am - 3pm / Where: Gazebo Near 2nd Exit

See you, you and you there!

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


Rinse and empty the content, keep them in plastic bag(s).

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.




Rinse and empty the content, keep them in plastic bag(s).

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. Even old Yellow Pages (Phone) books are welcome!


Help us by tying the papers ... Easier to weight and load into the lorry. Many thanks!

EPF Monhtly Withdrawal

Many of us still aren't very sure on how the EPF monhtly withdrawal works. Just wanted to share the following article with you, from The Star: EPF withdrawals to go into members’ bank accounts

In summary, the EPF monthly withdrawal for reducing housing loans will be credited directly into the contributor's personal bank account and not to the lending bank.

Checkout KWSP website for information related to withdrawals. Try this one here.

Friday, January 25, 2008

More info on LKSA

Pluck this article from mstar, dated 6th December 2007. I have reproduced the relevant information with regards to Lebuhraya Kemuning Shah Alam (LKSA) below. Now it seems to take approximately RM850m!!!

Read here on our older post.

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Mengenai Lebuhraya Kemuning-Shah Alam, beliau (Samy Vellu) berkata lebuh raya sepanjang 14.7km yang menelan belanja RM850 juta itu akan disiapkan dalam tempoh 24 bulan atau lebih cepat oleh Projek Lintasan Shah Alam Sdn Bhd.

Lebuh raya baru dengan tiga lorong dua hala itu akan bermula dari Persimpangan Kota Kemuning di Lebuhraya KESAS dan akan menyeberang ke arah timur laut melalui Jalan Bukit Kemuning, Jalan Mantap, Sungai Klang, Bulatan Jubli Perak, Landasan Keretapi Tanah Melayu di Jalan Parang dan Bulatan Selangor ke arah Lebuhraya Persekutuan (Laluan 2).

Ia juga mempunyai enam persimpangan bertingkat di Kota Kemuning, Jalan Bukit Kemuning, Seksyen 35, Bulatan Jubli Perak, Bulatan Selangor dan Laluan Kedua Lebuhraya Persekutuan (Federal Highway Route 2).

Selain memberi kapasiti tambahan untuk menampung pertambahan lalu lintas, lebuh raya ini bakal mengubah laluan kenderaan serta mengurangkan kesesakan lalu lintas di Jalan Bukit Kemuning, Persiaran Budiman dan Persiaran Tengku Ampuan di Shah Alam.

Dua tol plaza akan dibina secara sistem terbuka dan maklumat lalu lintas terkini di lebuh raya itu nanti akan dihubungkan ke Pusat Pengurusan Trafik Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia yang akan membolehkan pengguna lebuh raya mendapatkan maklumat trafik terkini secara "tepat masa" melalui laman web dan khidmat pesanan ringkas.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Happy Thaipusam

Wishing Happy Thaipusam to all our Hindu friends. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai. To learn more about Thaipusam Festiavel, please read here.

Anyone of you going to Batu Caves?

Exit Autogate is functioning

Our Exit Autogate is finally working. It took more than one month for HGD Property Services to rectify this problem. But then again, do you notice that the other one seems to be not functioning? Seems that these gates are taking turn to rosak!!!

Anyway, checkout our complaint on this gate here.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Lebuhraya Kemuning Shah Alam (LKSA)

This article was featured in The Star (Metro Section) today, 22nd January 2008. I googled and found the following news on LKSA - The Edge Daily (27th Nov 2006). This is a whopping RM600m project and guess what ... a 40-year concession (toll lah apa lagi).

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Kota Kemuning folks all set for new highway by Elan Perumal (The Star / 22nd January 2008) (Used Without Permission)

Kota Kemuning residents will be able to enjoy a smooth ride to and from the township once the Lebuhraya Kemuning Shah Alam (LKSA) is completed. Work on the multi-million ringgit highway project started at the end of last year and it is scheduled for completion by the end of next year. According to Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) public relations officer Shahrin Ahmad, the highway will link the Kuala Lumpur-Klang Federal Higway to Kota Kemuning.

Shahrin said the new highway would run across the existing Shah Alam interchange from the Federal Highway to Kota Kemuning via Section 15 and between Section 18 and Section 19. “It will be an easy road home for the Kota Kemuning residents who are currently experiencing constant bottleneck traffic jams from the Kesas Highway en route to the housing estate and vice versa,” he said. “They are having a frustrating time because of the heavy traffic chaos when they go to work in the morning and when they return home in the evening,” he said, Shahrin said the new highway would also provide the people with the option of an alternative route since there currently was only one way in and out of Kota Kemuning.

Once the highway was completed, he said, the residents would be able to bypass the Kesas Highway and the congestion along the Kesas Highway would also be eased. “It will also ease traffic flow along the Kuala Lumpur-Klang Federal Highway,” he said.

According to Shahrin, the highway project undertaken by the Pro Lintas Sdn Bhd stretched to a total of 14.5km. Shahrin also said that the MBSA had only felled trees that could not be uprooted at the project site. He said most of the roadside trees were removed and transplanted at other areas as part of the MBSA green environment policy.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Renew Your Driving License Online

This article was featured in The Star today, 20th January 2008. Never knew that there is this online facility. In fact, I just renewed mine over the Post-Office counter which is done within two minutes including queing time. But I understood that only selected post-office is equipped to do the renewal. Anyway, if anyone of us has tried this online facility, do share with us your experience, thanks!

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The best kept e-secret at JPJ by Teh Eng Hock (The Star / 20th Jan 2008) (Used Without Permission)

Few drivers realise that they can renew their driving licences online without having to leave the comfort of their homes. And for a small fee, they can even have their licence renewal slip delivered to them by registered mail or courier.

With few knowing about the facility available on the Road Transport Department's (JPJ) website since April last year, the response to the online renewal service has been poor. JPJ director-general Datuk Ahmad Mustapha Abdul Rashid said only 687 people renewed their licences online so far, way short of the 1,000-driver target expected in the first year of implementation. Every year, some seven million motorist renew their licences.

“Maybe it is because it has not been promoted enough by the e-services (concessionaires).
“But hopefully things will pick up. Malaysians are a bit sceptical at first (about new technology), but later on they will accept and use it, like on-line banking,” he told The Star. He also added that there were 11 million Competent Driver’s Licence (CDL) holders in the country. Drivers' may renew their CDL by accessing the JPJ website at www.jpj.gov.my, and clicking on the CDL Renewal Online link.

Applicants need to provide the usual personal particulars, such as their MyKad number, licence expiry date and their mobile phone number. Via the online form, they can choose to renew their licences from one to five years, as well as decide on how they would like to collect and pay for the renewal slip. The fee remain the same – a renewal fee of RM30 per year and a processing fee of RM2. Drivers who want their licences delivered to them will be charged a small delivery fee between RM5 and RM10, depending on location. Those who do not want the renewal slip may head to any state JPJ branch to upload the renewal information into their MyKad.

Applicants can also choose to collect their renewal slip from one of the many e-service centres in the country, which are operated by e-services concessionaires MyEG Services Bhd and mySPEED Sdn Bhd. Payment can be made via credit card, or electronic online payment systems such as e-cash and e-debit.

Ahmad Mustapha assured users that the system was secure and reliable. “So far, I haven’t heard anything about the system going down. And it is safe to provide your financial details. There have been no complaints,” he said.

By renewing their licences online, drivers will no longer have to worry about forgetting to renew their licences in future, as the system will send a reminder via SMS to the mobile phone number provided.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Sponsorship for Canal Gardens Golf Tournament 2008

Interested to become one of the SPONSOR to our upcoming event - Canal Gardens Golf Tournament 2008? Sponsorship can be in the form of gifts, cash, vouchers etc. which will be used as the prizes and goodies for this tournament.

Yes... then please contact: Steven Lim (012-366-1166 / kblim3322@gmail.com) and/or Brandon Chin (019-381-9818 / brandonstar@gmail.com)

Canal Gardens Golf Tournament is On!

Steven Lim, our Head of Sports (Canal Gardens Residents' Committee), is calling out to all fellow golfers. Yes, the Canal Gardens Golf Tournament is back! Let's come and join us for some fun. Our road reps will be distributing the Registration Form within the next couple of days. In the meanwhile, here are the details for your information.



Dear Fellow Golfers,

We are starting off 2008 Canal Gardens' sports event by organizing a Golf Tournament which will be played over 18 holes at the Bukit Kemuning Golf & Country Resort on Sunday, 24th February 2008. For full details, please see below. We are expecting between 10 - 15 flights and this event is for Canal Gardens residents, but guests are most welcome.

In addition, participants will also be playing for a worthy cause as the net proceeds from the tournament will be earmarked towards our Canal Gardens Fund to subsidize all future in-house sports and social events.

For those who register, we will be getting in touch with you later on the programme, competition details and flight schedules but meanwhile we would appreciate if you could, time permitting, keep this day free and join us for this event.

Kindly confirm your participation by completing and returning the attached registration form to the following no later than 12th February 2008 together with your cash payment of RM200.00 only.

Canal Gardens Golf Tournament 2008

  • Venue: Bukit Kemuning Golf & Country Resort

  • Date & Time: Sunday, 24th February 2008 - 1.30pm

  • Mode of Play: Stableford Modified

  • Fees: RM200.00 only (Green Fees, Buggy, Insurance, Dinner, Prizes & Lucky Draws)

Best regards and looking forward to your support and participation (from Steven Lim).

Friday, January 18, 2008

Do you have something to share? Any suggestions? Feedback?

Canal Gardens Residents' Committee welcome any suggestions for improvement towards this blog and any other matters beneficial to the residents of Canal Gardens.

You may email your suggestions to CanalGardens@gmail.com. Please leave your name and contact info for our administration purposes.

We will look into your suggestions and discuss it on our monthly meetings.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

The Dog "Pooh" Lifecycle

We would like to put forward a friendly reminder to all, especially pet owners on the importance of scooping your dog’s "pooh" i.e. feces and dispose them accordingly. Don’t just let them do their business along the walkway, in the park or worse, on your neighbours’ garden.

Something interesting to share. Want to know the impacts on our environment, check it out here.

Please help keep our environment clean and safe. Thanks!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Other Community Portal within Kota Kemuning

We are sharing with you on a few other community websites within Kota Kemuning:
  1. Persatuan Penduduk Kota Kemuning (PPKK): http://ppkk.org.my
  2. Doritis Zone 1: http://doritis1.org/

It is good to know what's happening around and within Kota Kemuning. So if you know of any other websites, please share with us. Email us at CanalGardens@gmail.com

Another Robbery Case

Received this unconfirmed information from one of the community groups within Kota Kemuning (Anggerik Aranda). Would appreciate if anyone can confirm or verify this.

Please beware and take extra precaution when you withdraw your money from ATM/Bank. See if you are being followed. If yes, then drive to the nearest police station or brightly lighted and crowded area.

And we would also like to highlight the importance of getting and letting our security do their job! Let them take down the particulars and check on every non-residents that come into Canal Gardens. And if you have to get into Canal Gardens without the access card, please ... please ... please let them do their job. They have to take down your particulars. No access card, no entry without taking down your information. Do not expect these security guards to be able to recognize everyone. We need to make this a habit to ensure this Standard Operating Procedure is followed and practiced by all. This is for our own good ... for our safety!

We thank you for the patience and support!

Robbery Case
There is a robbery which happened on 7th or 8th Jan 2008. A 'muhibbah' gang trailed somebody staying in 31/35 from the bank and robbed him. The robbers were driving a Mercedes. One of their modus operandi is to drive some decent looking cars like Perdana or BMW and knock you from behind, hoping you will stop your car to assess your damage. That's when they will attack and rob you of everything.

Latest Robbery / Car-Jack Tactic

A friend of mine emailed me the latest robbery / car-jack tactic ... I am not sure how "true" is this story but the tactics engaged by these robbers seems to be quite creative and therefore, I'll just share for the benefits of all.

There is another tactic used by these robbers - you can refer to our previous post here. These robbers / jack-ass typically work in groups. Be safe!

The Latest Robbery / Car-Jack Tactic:
The latest tactic used by robbers to stop you while driving and to rob, kidnap or slash you has come to my attention after a friend of mine was trapped in this situation. My good friend was driving along Kesas Highway with his wife just after Plaza Toll Puchong towards Kajang last Sunday 23rd December at around 11 pm after attending a dinner function at his relative's house in Bandar Sunway. Suddenly, a motorbike overtook them and the pillion rider threw 2 eggs towards his car windscreen. Within seconds, his whole windscreen was smeared with the messy broken eggs. His immediate reflex action was to turn on the windscreen wipers which quickly covered the whole surface and blurred his vision. So he immediately slowed his car and brought it to a halt along the emergency lane. Then he got out of his car and was trying to wipe and wash the windscreen while his wife was seated inside the car. All of a sudden a Proton Satria stopped behind his car and 3 guys came running towards him with Samurai swords screaming at him to surrender his car and wallet. Luckily my friend, who is attached to the police CID, managed to pull his gun out and fire two warning shots in the air. The 3 guys ran helter skelter back into their car and drove off at a very high speed. He called up for assistance and was told the getaway car had a false number plate. Apparently, this tactic has been used quite often in the latest string of road side robberies especially with lady drivers or men driving alone or with women and small children.

So please, should you encounter such a situation, REMEMBER to make sure:

  1. Do Not to turn on your car windscreen wipers.
  2. Continue driving, with whatever available vision, to the nearest petrol station, police station, 7-Eleven store or any other crowded or brightly lit place to attract attention.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Persatuan Penduduk Kota Kemuning (PPKK) Membership Drive

Canal Gardens Residents’ Committee was formed under the patronage of Persatuan Penduduk Kota Kemuning (PPKK). CGRC has been receiving very good support from PPKK. CGRC managed to reach out to the relevant authorities through PPKK as PPKK is recognized as the Persatuan that represents Kota Kemuning residents.

PPKK was registered on the 17th of November 1999 as a non-profit, voluntary organisation to further the following goals:
  • Foster closer relationships amongst all the residents of Kota Kemuning from various races and religion
  • To speak with one voice on issues of importance in order to gain impact, greater acceptance, and avert confusion.
  • Forge better understanding and communications with the goverment agencies, MBSA and others, regarding issues related to residents of Kota Kemuning

CGRC is helping PPKK to "recruit" new members or "renew" existing ones. So we are calling out to all residents of Canal Gardens to join or renew your membership with PPKK.

The annual fee is RM20 only. Our Road Reps will be going round to drop off the New Membership Registration & Renewal Form very soon. We really encourage you to sign up. Once you complete the form, please contact your Road Rep to collect from you (their names/contact numbers should be listed in the form). Please make all cheques payable to "Persatuan Penduduk Kota Kemuning". Receipt will be posted to you once the payment is through.

Should you need more information, please email us at CanalGardens@gmail.com. You can also checkout the PPKK website here: http://www.ppkk.org.my/.

Thanks for your support!

Sunday, January 13, 2008

CGRC 2007/09 - 4th Meeting

On 11th January 2008, we had our 4th Meeting for the Canal Gardens Residents' Committee (CGRC). This is our monthly meeting where the team got together and share feedbacks received from the community, plan for coomunity events, take appropriate actions to resolve issues etc. Here are the key summary on items discussed:

1. Speed Bump / Road Hump is Too "Tall"
We received quite a number of feedback and complaints on the speed bump which was built on Jalan 98J. Apparently this speed bump was built without proper approval from the relevant authority. It is too "tall" and this poses daily problems to the residents who uses Jalan 98F, as this “tall” speed bump is hard to negotiate even at very slow speeds. Bottom kena scratch! A number of residents have written to the MBSA to complaint about this issue. We believe the speed bump is good. However, we would like the authority to “lower” the speed bump (rather than removing it totally).

2. Speeding - Please NO Speeding!
In the first place, the issue above with regards to speed bump would not occur if we all can be more sensible and reasonable when it comes to driving. We need to help one another to make this a better and safer place. If you see someone driving recklessly and speeding, please take down their plate number and buzz our security (03-5121-5076). If you know him or her, why not go over and have a friendly chat? The official speed limit within Canal Gardens is 35KMH. We believe doing a 20KMH – 25KMH would be good enough to get you home within one or two minutes from our main entrance right to your doorstep. Can we have your attention and cooperation to drive carefully and slowly … especially when you are within the Canal Gardens?

3. Taking Care of Your Precious Pets
We are also calling all pet owners to help jaga their pets to ensure that no untoward incidents as there are a few complaints on dogs running loose around the Canal Gardens. We like to have your cooperation to keep your dog on a leash at all times while in public / common areas. Please also refrain your lovely pets from defile, defecate or commit "nuisance" on public / common areas. Should your lovely pets really need to have a “go”, please have the courtesy to immediately remove all feces and dispose them like how you would do so if they have a “go” at your own compound.

4. Exit Auto Gate
We have been trying to get HGD Property Services to fix this asap. It’s been more than one month. We are still trying. You can do your part by calling them at this number 03 – 5122-8100 and ask them when can they fix it.

5. Sports and Social Event – Golf
We have postponed this event to 24th February 2008 (Sunday). Please stay tune for more detailed information on how you can participate and get to know your fellow golfers from Canal Gardens.

6. Sports and Social Event – Family Day
Our plan is to have this on 22nd March 2008 (Saturday). Our friendly committees and road reps will be making their rounds to get some feedbacks and estimates on the number of people who will be participating in this year’s event.

7. Security - Please Help Our Guards Do Their Jobs
We seek your cooperation to cooperate with our security guards. Please help them do their job as we all want a very safe environment for our family. Please ensure that all your guests are properly informed that they need to let the security guards take down their particulars. For those on renovations, please ensure that your contractors are also registered with the security guards. We all understand that this may cause some inconvenient. But this is a very, very small price to pay to ensure top notch security within Canal Gardens.










CGRC will be meeting up with the relevant authorities to have dialogues and clarifications as well as seek their help to resolve issues faced by our residents (on the above matters). Stay tune for updates.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Selamat Menyambut Awal Muharam

Wishing all our Muslim community Selamat Menyambut Awal Muharam.

Awal Muharam is the start of the Muslim calendar. This day coincides with Prophet Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD, the first Muharam. Muslims celebrate the new year by attending religious talks and Quran reading performances.

Read here to learn more about Awal Muharam.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

HGD Property Services Sdn Bhd - Tel. No. 5122-8100

This is the Customer Service Line Number for Maintenance. So let's try out this number and see for yourself the kind of customer service provided. Calling all Canal Gardens Residents to dial this number and ask them on the status of our Autogate. Call 5122-8100. We need to show our displeasure on the inconvenience caused as well as the impact on our security.

When can we have our Autogate back in proper working condition?

Monday, January 7, 2008

Community & Sports Events - Golf (Postponed)

Our golf event has been postponed to 24th Feb (Sun). We will keep all posted. Stay tune.

Interested to take part, email us at CanalGardens@gmail.com

What Happen to Our Exit Autogate?

Our Exit Autogate has been out of service for many, many weeks... and we were informed by HGD Property Services that they couldn't get the "spare parts i.e. circuit board".

Aiyooorrrr..... so susah to get meh? One month already!!!!! How can????

This post security issues. Our guards just open the gate as and when cars exit from Canal Gardens without proper checking (main tekan butang sahaja).

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Recycling Day (January 2008)

Another round of applause to all of you who supported our monthly Canal Gardens Residents' Recycling Day. We just came back from a very successful campaign where we have collected $752.00 for January 2008.

Our Recycling Day is a monthly campaign, typically organized on first Sunday of the month. We welcome your contribution to our monthly community event. So please bring your recycables like old newspapers, old magazines, cardboards, besi buruk, plastics bottles, aluminium tins / soft drinks / beer cans. Buzz us if you need to dispose your old washing machine or treadmill. The drop-off point is at the Gazebo near 2nd Exit. There will be a bunch of friendly volunteers who will help you with your recycables, from 10am - 3pm.


Our Drop-Off (Collection) Point - Gazebo Near 2nd Exit


Our Volunteers helping out with recycables ... and yeah, I think we need a paint job for the signages


Good time to catch up and have a chat too!


Rest assured... All these recycables are collected and cleared by our appointed Recycling Collector

Checkout our Canal Gardens Residents' Photo Portal for more photos. Want to know more about our past Recycling Campaigns, click here for November 2007 and December 2007.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Slow Down

Consider that speeding often doesn't save much time… Why are we speeding especially when we are driving within housing areas? A study in the United States indicated that driving on an Interstate, the difference between 65 mph (105 kmh) and 80 mph (129 kmh) over 50 miles (80 km) is only 8.7 minutes. Big deal!

So please drive very slowly especially when you are within Canal Gardens. Somewhere along the road, there are young children walking, couples cycling, grandparents strolling with baby pram, mothers/fathers taking a breezily walk with their kids…

Please watch your speed. Slow down! Slow down!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Happy New Year

Wishing all Canal Gardens' Community - Happy New Year 2008!



Have a great and exciting year ahead! Stay tune for more community events and happenings coming your way in 2008!