SLAPPED WITH SUMMONSES DESPITE PAYING

MOTORISTS in Seremban are complaining of faulty parking meters which do not indicate time credit when coins are put in. They end up getting parking summonses from the local authority.

They are also complaining of parking meters with frosty display screens that are not easily readable, leaving them to wonder if it was safe to park their vehicles at the chosen parking bays.

Not working: A piece of paper has been placed into the coin slot to indicate that this parking meter in Seremban is faulty.

With parking space a scarce commodity here, motorists who parked at bays with “dead” meters frequently returned to find a summons on their car windscreens.

Retired teacher Anthony Pillay, 71, said he had been a victim many times over because there were so many faulty parking meters in town and the authorities had not taken the trouble to replace these contraptions.

He added that most meters simply swallow the coins without registering any time credit.

Pillay said motorists were losing the right to park their vehicles despite slotting in the right amount of coins.

“I have been slapped with several summonses but who is to know which meter is functioning until we have parked our vehicle there. With limited parking bays, there is no room to troop in and out in search of a parking meter that works,” said Pillay.

He added that at one instance he had parked his vehicle at a bay where the display screen on the parking meter was frosty and the information could not be read clearly.

“I slotted in a 20sen coin and instead of giving me 20-minute credit, the meter did not show any difference in the reading,” said Pillay.

Another motorist who had parked his vehicle at one of the parking bays in front of the Maybank building in Jalan Tunaku Munawi, said he had also experienced a similar situation.

The motorist who only wanted to be known as Khoo, said as regular visitor to town, he had noticed so many parking meters with either the “Rosak” sign stuck to it or papers stuck into the coin slots to indicate a non-functional meter.

“And despite this motorists still received parking summonses for not paying and it is not fair to them,” added Khoo.

Khoo said if the Seremban Municipal Council (MPS) could install new parking meters at new commercial areas, they could also do the same in the town area.

“Some of the parking meters are outdated. Alternatively the council must ensure that the meters are upgraded regularly,” he said.

When contacted MPS public relations officer Nor Mursydah Chik said they were aware of the problem and the maintenance team was always on their rounds to ensure the parking meters were in good working condition.

She said there was also a team going round to get the day’s collections and would submit a report if a particular meter has recorded a poor collection.

“However, there are some faulty meters despite regular checks,” said Nor Mursydah.

She said if motorists have received summonses because of non-functional parking meters, they can apply to have their summonses rescinded by quoting the serial numbers displayed on the parking meters.

THIRTY YEARS AND STILL WAITING FOR AUTHORITIES TO ACT

SEVERAL abandoned bungalow houses in Taman South-East-Asia, Seremban, are giving residents the creeps and they want the Seremban Municipal Council (MPS) to clean up the unwelcoming sight.

Over the years, the residents here have voiced concern as the unoccupied units covered with thick undergrowth have served as a haven for drug addicts, a convenient hideout for thieves and breeding ground for snakes and rodents.

Most of the residents have been living in the neighbourhood since they bought their properties and are not ready to move out because of its strategic location and easy access to public amenities.

Many of them have also spent a fortune renovating their homes.

Creepy crawlies: An abandoned unit covered with thick undergrowth in Taman South-East Asia, Seremban.

Taman SEA Residents Association president Jeffrey Chua said this is an affluent residential area and it is sad to see so many bungalow lots either not sold, unoccupied or simply abandoned by the owners.

Chua said since he moved there 10 years ago, he had many unwelcome visitors like reptiles to his home as his unit is right next to a row of four abandoned units covered with thick undergrowth from ground to the roof.

He said the residents association (RA) met once every quarterly and the issue of abandoned units always topped the list of issues to be discussed.

Chua, who is serving his third term as president of the RA, said this was not a new problem as those before him had also tried to get the authorities to solve their problems, but no action has been taken.

The residents are hoping this time the local authority would step in immediately to clear up the areas around the abandoned units and charge the fees to the owners as thirty-years is too long a wait.

RA secretary Ruben Rajkumar said what is more frightening is that large reptiles were seen lurking in the undergrowth and it is difficult to locate them despite the services of firefighters.
As secretary of the RA, Rajkumar have sent several appeal letters, e-mails and even to the council’s complaints website, but there was no reply from them.

But when he went to see them personally, he was told that MPS could not do anything as they were private properties and the council does not have the authority to enter the premises.

Most of the units are abandoned by the owners and residents are opined that MPS know the owners; therefore they can clear the areas and charge the fees to the owners.

With all avenues failed with MPS, the residents met Rasah MP Anthony Loke and the local councillor recently to help solve the problem

CHURCH ORGANIZES CHRISTMAS CHARITY CAMPAIGN FOR THE POOR

THE Visitation Church Seremban’s Christmas Campaign for the Poor has been on the move since 1968, mobilising parishioners to come forward to help raise funds and have been reaching out to some of the poorest.

Many dedicated individuals have braved muddy and inaccessible roads to reach out to the poor and needy under this campaign.

The Christmas Campaign for the Poor has become synonymous with the church that every November there will be offers of donations and volunteers even before a committee is formed to spearhead the campaign.

Christmas Campaign committee chairman Spencer Sequerah said the objective of this campaign is to share the spirit of Christmas with the ‘poor’ in the community irrespective of race or creed.

Sequerah added that since Christmas was a season for giving and sharing, the committee has conducted a two-day survey to ensure that only the deserving poor were approached during this auspicious season.

The church has come yet again to appeal for donations, be it in cash or kind towards this project, to provide poor families with sundry goods, school uniforms, shoes and stationery for schoolgoing children.

He said other goods would be given to the families identified on a case-to-case basis and the distributions would be made shortly before Christmas.

The committee will be singing carols and bringing Christmas cheer when visiting these poor families.

Parish priest Reverend Fr. John Gnanapiragasam, meanwhile, said the well-wishers’ generosity and the donations received would go a long way in helping the church to continue supporting the poor families throughout the year.

To complement the campaign, there will also be a flea market at the church premises on Nov 20.

Those wishing to help in this worthy cause can send their cheques crossed and made payable to “Church of Visitation” by indicating on the reverse side of the cheque “For the Christmas Campaign”.

Donations may also be sent by post or handed over to the parish priest. Official receipts will be issued for all donations received.

For more information, call 06-762 4468.

TRAINING THE TRAINERS

IF you think you are professional enough, THINK AGAIN!. Even professional trainers need to go for training to take their skills to a higher level, through the application of new principles and taxonomies.

Recently, 15 participants who attended a five-day “Training the Trainer” programme certified by the Human Resources Ministry at the Klana Resort in Seremban, realised there is much to learn in order to become a competent trainer.

Rita Krishnan, who was the facilitator in the Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (PSMB) Certified Trainer programme, said there had been a paradigm shift in the way training programmes were conducted.

Paying attention: A group of participants in discussion during the programme.

Rita said the core aspect of the programme was on honing the participants’ presentation skills to help identify potential trainers within their organisation.

“It was once an instructor-led work-based process while today’s trainers must ensure that learning is aligned with practical experiences,’’ she said.

Trainers today, she added, must know how to use various kinds of media and come out with their own modules to make training sessions interesting.

During the five-day course held over two weekends, participants had to produce their own modules in their fields of interest to be recognised as a PSMB-certified trainer.

Negri Sembilan deputy director of health (management) Nantha-kumaran Manickam who presented a module on his pet project “Helping the Needy and the Abandoned”, said he had learnt much from the course.

“I am involved in the department’s inhouse training. I can now use what I have learnt here to make my training sessions more interesting. Now I can create some excitement with the module I have done,’’ said Nanthakumaran

Husain Saini, a product manager with Databridge ICT Network Sdn Bhd in Kelana Jaya, said he could now include interactive and ice-breaking activities he has picked up at the training.

“I am raring to go. I now know my directions much better and will be more focused with my target audience,’’ said Husain.

Like Husain and Nanthakumaran, the other participants said they were more competent and confident to train their associates at their respective workplaces.

For the next “Training the Trainer” programme,  call 019-3894419 (Rita)

A FAMILIARIZATION TOUR OF BANGKOK AND AYUTTHAYA

IT HAS been seven months since I took part in a week-long familiarisation tour of Bangkok, also known as krungthep, “City of Angels” and yet I still recall fondly the simple greeting sawasdee, which means hello in Thai.

The greeting that entails hands clasped in prayer-like fashion is enough to warm any visitor’s heart.

The visit, with a group of travel agents and members of the media, was a real eye-opener.

The visit, with a group of travel agents and members of the media, was a real eye-opener.

Unforgettable journey: Performers at Siam Niramit, one of the nightlife entertainment centres in Thailand where visitors are taken on a captivating journey of the country.

We were taken to many interesting places like Hua Hin, Phetchaburi, Ayutthaya, Ratchaburi, Amphawar, Chaam and, of course, Bangkok which is famous for its temples, the Grand Palace and Asia’s largest outdoor week-end market (Chatuchak).

The seven-day tour by TAT was to usher in the Songkran Water festival which falls in April and is celebrated all across Thailand. The most famous Songkran celebration is in the northern city of Chiang Mai, where it continues for six days and sometimes even longer.

Our first stop that evening after checking into the five-star Amari Watergate hotel was to attend the Siam Niramit dinner and show, a world-class event that depicts Thailand’s historical and spiritual heritage.

Great structure: Visitors making their way up to Khao Wang or also known as Phra Nakhon Khiri historical park located on a hilly area with an old palace and historical temples.

With over 150 dazzling performers and state-of-the-art special effects, it was a captivating journey through history.

With 500 costume changes and one of the largest stage productions in the world, it was also one of the amazing nightlife entertainments in the city centre.

The 90-minute show takes us on a stimulating, very realistic and inspiring journey through the enchanted kingdom of Thailand.

Our actual tour itinerary only started on the second day with a visit to Ayutthaya, a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1351 to 1767.

Ayutthaya is a three-hour drive from Bangkok. Our first stop enroute was the Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand, a large three-storey building used for product display and exhibitions of handicrafts for export.

The Summer Palace, a palace complex formerly used by the Thai Kings, located on the Chao Phraya River bank in the Bang-Pa-in district was our next stop.

The Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, originally built in 1448 as the king’s private chapel, was renovated in the 16th and 17th centuries and houses a 17m bronze standing Buddha which was originally cast and covered in gold in 1500 during the reign of the ninth king, Ramathipodi.

“However, history tells us that in 1967, the invading Burmese tried to melt the gold in the Buddha statue by causing a fire to the building. What we see today is a replica,’’ said TAT director (Malaysia and Brunei) Wiboon Nimitrwanich.

The final stop for the day was the Ayutthaya Floating market that features a water theatre with live performances of Thai folk tales and Sepaa song recital.

Smooth flow: The Amphawa Weekend Floating Marke is occupied by vendors who pack their boats with food and drinks.

Day Three was the launch of the Songkran festival at the Shangri-La hotel, attended by more than 300 overseas travel agents and media members.

This was followed by a presentation on the TAT tourism industry, a river cruise on the famed Chao Phraya river and a cocktail party at the Nagaraphirom Park where the nine wonders of Wat Pho are located.

The visit to the Tham Kao Luang, regarded as the largest and most important cave of Phetchaburi was on the fourth day.

We had to check out from the Amari Watergate for a one-night stay at Tara Mantara in Chaam, a beach resort some 300km from Bangkok.

It was a day to visit caves and hills at Khao Wang or also known as Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park on a hilly area with an old palace and historical temples.

The park is located on three peaks of the 92m high hill.

Thankfully, we didn’t have to climb the hills as the organisers were kind enough to book us seats on the cable railway which charges 10 Baht for a one-way trip or 15 Baht for a round trip.

Old relics: The three Sri Lankan-style chedis built during the 15th century at the Grand Palace area in Ayutthaya.

After a hearty seafood dinner, it was time to do some shopping at the Hua Hin night market. You will find countless outlets selling delicious food that is freshly cooked and served to you within a matter of minutes. Other than the food, you can find a variety of local handicrafts, souvenirs and clothing on sale.

On our last day we went to Ratchaburi to visit the Siam Cultural Park that featuresa life-sized wax and fibre glass statues of famous national and foreign personalities and Lord Buddha and his disciples set amid a beautifully landscaped garden.

After lunch we went to the Damnoen Saduak Hospital, a health tourism award winner, to experience two hours of traditional Thai massage and then Wan Baan Kung, a small chapel enclosed within the roots of a banyan tree called Bot Prok Po.

At the Amphawa Weekend Floating Market, by the canal near Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram we saw vendors selling food and drink items like fried sea mussel, noodles, coffee, O-liang (iced black coffee), and desserts.

Upon our return to Bangkok, the group was taken on a tour of the new addition to the city, Madame Tussauds, the 10th from the Merlin Entertainment Group.

We also visited the Siam Oceanworld, one of the largest in South-East Asia with innovative world-class exhibits and over 3,000 creatures from various depths and aquatic regions across the globe and finally to the JJ Weekend Market (Chatuchak) for a last-minute shopping.