Distribution centres to be set up in Perak to stabilise prices of greens
Monday November 20, 2006
PUTRAJAYA: Two distribution centres will be set up in Perak in an effort to stabilise the prices of local greens, especially in the run-up to the festive season.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said these centres would act as a converging point for vegetables and fruits grown in Cameron Highlands.
“At these centres, vegetable and fruit farmers will be encouraged to sell their produce directly to the wholesalers, without having to go through many middlemen.
“In the long run, we hope such a move will benefit consumers by reducing the prices of greens, particularly when there are still some unscrupulous traders who continue to take advantage of the festive season by increasing the prices of goods during the festive season.
“We have found out that usually, the prices may increase during this period by a few sen, but by the time these reach the consumers, it will have increased manifold,” he told reporters after launching the Smart Consumer Day seminar here on Monday.
Shafie said the ministry was currently discussing with hypermarket chains Tesco and Giant to manage these centres, which would serve markets in the northern and southern regions of the peninsula respectively.
“We hope to set up these centres by the middle of next year, the latest by August or September.
“We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of such a scheme because we hope to set up similar centres in other parts of the country as well as to handle the distribution of fish and marine products at the country’s many jetties,” he said.
On the supply of sugar in the country, Shafie said the manufacturers in the country were still required to increase production by 50%.
“The directive is for them to increase production until such time when the ministry feels is no longer necessary,” he said. - The Star.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Council issues second stop work order
Council issues second stop work order
Saturday November 4, 2006
CAMERON HIGHLANDS district council has issued its second order against a developer to stop work on an eight-unit shoplot project in Tanah Rata.
Council president Datuk Mohd Noor Abdul Rani said for the time being, the developer was only allowed to build a new retaining wall after the existing one collapsed following a landslip last week.
The landslip had cut off portions of a hill right in front of two houses in Lorong Perdah, raising fear among residents living directly above the project site.
“We have been monitoring the project from time to time. From now on the developer has to adhere to our safety requirements before they can continue,” said Mohd Noor when contacted yesterday.
It was reported on Wednesday that one of the residents, housewife Caroline Tuijthof, 46, claimed the project had caused cracks to appear in the foundation of her house.
”We hope the developer could at least build a stronger retaining wall with proper drainage to check landslides,” she said.
However, another resident who only wanted to be known as Chendru, 39, denied that cracks had appeared in his house after the project started.
“The cracks have always been there,” he insisted.
Lebih Jaya Development Sdn Bhd director Low Ah Keong had said they had started building the second retaining wall in stages. He said the wall would be 9m high and would be completed in three months. - The Star.
Saturday November 4, 2006
CAMERON HIGHLANDS district council has issued its second order against a developer to stop work on an eight-unit shoplot project in Tanah Rata.
Council president Datuk Mohd Noor Abdul Rani said for the time being, the developer was only allowed to build a new retaining wall after the existing one collapsed following a landslip last week.
The landslip had cut off portions of a hill right in front of two houses in Lorong Perdah, raising fear among residents living directly above the project site.
“We have been monitoring the project from time to time. From now on the developer has to adhere to our safety requirements before they can continue,” said Mohd Noor when contacted yesterday.
It was reported on Wednesday that one of the residents, housewife Caroline Tuijthof, 46, claimed the project had caused cracks to appear in the foundation of her house.
”We hope the developer could at least build a stronger retaining wall with proper drainage to check landslides,” she said.
However, another resident who only wanted to be known as Chendru, 39, denied that cracks had appeared in his house after the project started.
“The cracks have always been there,” he insisted.
Lebih Jaya Development Sdn Bhd director Low Ah Keong had said they had started building the second retaining wall in stages. He said the wall would be 9m high and would be completed in three months. - The Star.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Residents living in fear after landslip
Wednesday November 1, 2006
By Christina Koh
CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Portions of a hill in Tanah Rata here has been cut for an eight-unit shop lot, allegedly causing cracks and fear to families living on the same slope.
Just above the project of the affected slope in Lorong Perdah lives housewife Caroline Tuijthof, 46, who claimed that the project had caused cracks to appear in the foundation of her home.
The final straw was when a landslip occurred last week, aggravated by heavy rain, causing a 3.6m-wide section of the foundation of a neighbour’s house to collapse, said Tuijthof.
The landslip had also caused the collapse of its existing retaining wall that had helped support the slope, she said.
“At its worst, there is only one metre of ground from my neighbour’s house and the edge of the cliff. I don’t dare let my five-year-old daughter Joy play around here,” she said.
“We want to know how the Department of Environment (DOE) allowed the project.”
Tuijthof wanted the construction to stop until the developer could guarantee their safety, failing which, the family wanted the developer to at least build a stronger retaining wall with proper drainage so that their homes would not be vulnerable to landslides.
Her jewellery seller husband Ong Boon Beng, 51, said it seemed as if the developers were only concerned about finishing the project, which began in May this year.
Another resident K. Mogan, a nature guide, said the developer cut a large part of the hill, right up to their houses, until he felt like his home was at the edge of the hill.
“I’ve been scared out of my wits but feel a bit safer now that the developer has put in some sheet piling,” he said.
Cameron Highlands DOE branch head Ajis Hamjah said the department approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the 0.2ha project on March 31 this year.
“As far as I know, this is the smallest project in Malaysia with an EIA. Under the Environmental Quality Act, an EIA is only needed for projects exceeding 50ha. However, an EIA was provided here under the development guidelines,” he said.
Lebih Jaya Development Sdn Bhd director Low Ah Keong said they had started building a second retaining wall in stages, which would measure over 9m high, in three months’ time.
“It’s very safe. We have already received all the approvals and documentation from the DOE and council,” said Low.
Asked if their piling works could have caused the landslip, Low said: “We do not know. Since it has already happened, what matters now is building the retaining wall to rectify the situation.” - The Star
By Christina Koh
CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Portions of a hill in Tanah Rata here has been cut for an eight-unit shop lot, allegedly causing cracks and fear to families living on the same slope.
Just above the project of the affected slope in Lorong Perdah lives housewife Caroline Tuijthof, 46, who claimed that the project had caused cracks to appear in the foundation of her home.
The final straw was when a landslip occurred last week, aggravated by heavy rain, causing a 3.6m-wide section of the foundation of a neighbour’s house to collapse, said Tuijthof.
The landslip had also caused the collapse of its existing retaining wall that had helped support the slope, she said.
“At its worst, there is only one metre of ground from my neighbour’s house and the edge of the cliff. I don’t dare let my five-year-old daughter Joy play around here,” she said.
“We want to know how the Department of Environment (DOE) allowed the project.”
Tuijthof wanted the construction to stop until the developer could guarantee their safety, failing which, the family wanted the developer to at least build a stronger retaining wall with proper drainage so that their homes would not be vulnerable to landslides.
Her jewellery seller husband Ong Boon Beng, 51, said it seemed as if the developers were only concerned about finishing the project, which began in May this year.
Another resident K. Mogan, a nature guide, said the developer cut a large part of the hill, right up to their houses, until he felt like his home was at the edge of the hill.
“I’ve been scared out of my wits but feel a bit safer now that the developer has put in some sheet piling,” he said.
Cameron Highlands DOE branch head Ajis Hamjah said the department approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the 0.2ha project on March 31 this year.
“As far as I know, this is the smallest project in Malaysia with an EIA. Under the Environmental Quality Act, an EIA is only needed for projects exceeding 50ha. However, an EIA was provided here under the development guidelines,” he said.
Lebih Jaya Development Sdn Bhd director Low Ah Keong said they had started building a second retaining wall in stages, which would measure over 9m high, in three months’ time.
“It’s very safe. We have already received all the approvals and documentation from the DOE and council,” said Low.
Asked if their piling works could have caused the landslip, Low said: “We do not know. Since it has already happened, what matters now is building the retaining wall to rectify the situation.” - The Star
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