It is a shame that damage caused by mistakes or poor planning of projects can typically only be addressed by the courts once evidence presents itself. Nevertheless, such a state of things does not excuse the authorities or parties involved in projects from themselves taking steps to mitigate from such damage occurring.
In the case of the MRT construction along Pinggir Za'aba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, evidence is mounting that damage to property and quality of life will be suffered by the neighbourhood is mounting:
1 - A request by residents to ensure no personnel involved in the construction be allowed on Pinggir Za'aba, agreed to by the CEO Datuk Azhar, which seemed impractical even as promised, had long proven farcical. Even the pathetic offer to set up a hut to assist in managing residents' grouses has not materialised.
2 - Vibration from construction works object the median of Jalan Damansara resulted in automatic gates going faulty at houses about 30 meters away! MRT Co agreed to a vibration study to verify this, then refused to share the results nor compensate those affected.
3 - The photos above show of tree cutting along Pinggir Za'aba. These photos demonstrates how even for the simple act of tree clearing, the project team has obstructed half the street! In fact, the workers set up cones barely a meter or so away from the 6 meter limit which would have forced the government to legally compensate the residents affected or even perform compulsory acquisition!
4 - The traffic community along Jalan Damansara have of course been witness to countless safety near-misses along the MRT construction areas (final image above), with personnel seemingly part of a pathological safety culture; a necessity perhaps following bullish promises by the CEO of MRT Co? (A Pathological Safety Culture is a technical term by the way, denoting the lowest rung of the Safety Culture Ladder)
This blog will continue to collect and as best possible record and share evidence of wrong-doing by MRT Co which we believe will escalate, in part due to the project NOT BEING ON TRACK FOR COMPLETION as claimed by the CEO in recent media reports. Well, at least along Pinggir Za'aba it isn't. The tree felling pictured? They planned that MONTHS ago!
We certainly hope someone in power wakes up to the reality of MRT Co's incompetence soon. We the affected residents have our interest of course, but I am sure the BN government wants to ensure the MRT remains a vote winner and not morph into an election loser!
Did you know that there were evidently quite a number of news reporters on that eventful day (I was there incidentally), when the Writ of Summons was filed and was registered with the Jalan Duta High Court (believe me, there were easily more than 8 (AT THE LEAST) present on that day as written press statements were distributed, certainly, handed out to more than 8) and also TV-crews were there TOO but only ONE newspaper published this story (The Star - on 6th Feb 2013) and know what??? This story coverage was only carried and printed on PAGE 27 in the Nation column... UNBELIEVABLE !!!! I find this mind-boggling, inconceivable and MOST astonishing. Well! SIGH !!…. I guess that “this kind of thingy” ONLY happens in Malaysia. Truth is: The PRESS must be FREE to disseminate information of this nature UNHINDERED and ALLOW the general public to ADJUDGE. What is happening is incredibly appalling. Looks like to me… the GAG is on and someone or (GROUP) want this “ON WRAPS”. This case (if given its FREE course) will be a TEST CASE and will prove to be an “eye-opener”. Or is this exactly as what one of the petitioners’ is decrying:
ReplyDelete“Our quiet cooperation was instead rewarded by neglect and deceit”.
“The PZ residents’ predicament certainly bears merit considering the fact that their homes are within the railway protection zone under the law. Homes within the said Railway Protection Zone will be automatically deemed uninhabitable and subsequently worthless in the market. As Taman Tun Dr Ismail is a highly sought after residential locale, the arrival of the MRT project that is too close for comfort near the homes of the Plaintiffs, this will change the landscape into an area that is shunned by public, property investors and potential house buyers alike. The MRT infrastructure will deprive the PZ residents of their private and proprietary rights as well as the enjoyment of their land.”
“MRT Corporation continually refuses to acknowledge this reality. There is certainly no compassion shown towards the PZ residents which seems to pay lip service to the Government’s slogan of “Rakyat didahulukan, Pencapaian diutamakan” as demonstrated by MRT Corporation’s apathy towards the PZ residents plight.”