http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/12/27/central/12492811&sec=central
Thursday December 27, 2012
Shah Alam and Subang saw many interesting personalities in the news
By TAN KARR WEI, JADE CHAN and CHRISTINA LOW
Joe Mahinder Singh
Joe Mahinder Singh, SS17 community policing committee member
AFTER a relative had her gold necklace snatched twice within six months, Joe Mahinder Singh formed a crime watch group back in 1998 with the advice of the Subang Jaya police.
“Crime rate was escalating and a lot of students were also getting robbed. We started the team with about six people and there were also about 10 others, mainly senior citizens and retirees, who would keep a lookout for us. Whenever someone saw something suspicious, they would call us and we would go there on our bikes. We would then assess the situation before calling the police,” said the 55-year-old businessman.
Joe, who is also the SS14 residents association pro tem chairman, was involved with a police volunteer group in the mid-70s and that was where he obtained the experience and knowledge about volunteer policing.
Almost 15 years since starting the crime watch group, he is now the committee member of the SS17 community policing team and has been appointed to act as liaison officer between the people and the police.
He is still actively involved in community policing and has received several recognition awards from the police for his contribution.
“We are grateful to Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, our former Selangor CPO, who saw the potential of our scheme and gave his support for community policing,” said Joe.
Alice Choo, Bandar Puteri 11 Residents Association chairman
In an effort to revive a dormant residents association (RA) in her neighbourhood, Alice Choo walked from door-to-door for two months to convince people in the 300 households of Bandar Puteri 11 to become members.
“We wanted to set up a security scheme and in order to do that, we needed residents to become members of the RA. I eventually was elected as chairman during an AGM three years ago,” said the 53-year-old retiree.
Since then, Choo has been vocal in raising issues affecting not only her neighbourhood but also Bandar Puteri and Puchong as a whole such as security, garbage collection, the development of a townhouse and condominium project in Jalan Puteri 11, and road access issues along the LDP.
Choo is also the Zone 16 Residents’ Committee (JKP) secretary and when two fires broke out in the neighbouring Kampung Tengah within a span of a month, she quickly rounded up support from her contacts to collect funds for the affected families.
“Our aim is to get them settled so that they have a roof over their heads,” Choo had said about her efforts, which also included collecting clothes and food items for the victims.
“I enjoy serving the community and it is something that I would continue to do. It’s fulfilling to see the fruits of your labour, like the zero crime rate in our neighbourhood,” said Choo.
Chang Kim Loong
“Buying a house and buying a suitable house are two different things. The issue is not just being able to buy a property, but being able to maintain that property without causing too much hardship on the owner.”
Chang Kim Loong is a founding member and honorary secretary-general for the National House Buyers Association (HBA).
He sits in several committees on drafting the amendments of the housing developments laws, strata titles and strata management legislation, policies and procedures, and gives public talks to represent HBA views.
Chang is also a member of the Special Task Force on ‘Revival of Abandoned Housing Projects’ and the Pemudah focus group on registration of property that came up with the idea of a “two-day rule” for adjudication and registration of property transaction at the Land Office throughout the country.
Chang returned to serve as councillor with the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) for 2012/2013, after taking a one-term break to concentrate on national issues.
Chang, who was appointed under the NGO/ professional quota, chairs several sub-committees in MPSJ that relates to his expertise.
He was named one of the top three Best Residents’ Committee Leadership at the recent MPSJ 2012 JKP and PeBT Awards.
Chang created the leadership quality award for his community efforts in his zone, which covers Setia Walk, Pusat Bandar Puchong, Taman Wawasan and Bandar Puteri — an area he said is manifested by most political groups.
Kuan Chee Heng
“We cannot leave it up to the police alone as our homes are our responsibility too.”
Kuan Chee Heng is best known for his work with Selangor Community Policing, which he founded to encourage the community to play an active role in fighting crime and keeping their community safe.
Its community policing concept is based on a partnership between the police and the community, whereby the police and the community share responsibilities on identifying, reducing, eliminating and preventing problems that impact community safety and order.
It encourages people to be more aware of what goes on in their neighbourhood and to cooperate with one another.
The group conducts street patrols during festive seasons, organises talks and workshops on safety, first aid, emergency response, and crime awareness, and works closely with the police on issues related to crime, safety and security.
Kuan is such a familiar face in Puchong and the surrounding neighbourhoods that he is often the go-to person between the police and community, such as when assistance is needed to look for missing persons.
Kuan also worked with a private company for the SOS Community Assistance Programme initiative that provides emergency services to victims of crime and emergency cases, particularly in after-crime management.
Datuk Mohd Jaafar Mohd Atan, Shah Alam mayor
It has been a tough year for Shah Alam mayor Datuk Mohd Jaafar Mohd Atan but the hard-working leader has managed to keep his cool despite being greeted by a series of issues this year.
“We cannot run away from such issues as cleaning public areas, disposing rubbish and cutting grass.
“This is what we do and we have to do it well for the residents here and stakeholders who consist of taxpayers,” said Mohd Jaafar when referring to the ‘glamorous’ part of his job at the Shah Alam City Council.
The 58-year-old, who was formerly attached with the Peninsular Malaysia Town and Country Planning Department as its physical planning unit director, is seen as a ‘strict guy’ in the office and is an environmentalist at heart.
He made sure there was always someone in the office to pick-up phone calls during office hours, hence those leaving for lunch or tea had to stagger their time.
The use of paper was also discouraged during meetings, which in turn saw most of the heads of department carrying an iPad each.
On weekends, the Malacca-born Mohd Jaafar can be spotted participating in the council’s River and Trees for Life programme where they work with various non-governmental organisations to plant fruit trees in hopes to beautify the city further.
Fruit trees were chosen as he felt the fruits could be shared by all in the future.
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