Come on, MPS - get real here!!

Lately Majlis Perbandaran Selayang seems to be working very hard at "upholding the law" - apparently they're simply "enforcing".
I must say that they're quite enthusiastic about it - so much so, that they brought some clueless Policemen (who of course are the "Saya yang Menurut Perintah" variety, lah) to help them along in catching dogs on private property.

Actually, I'm all for MPS enforcing the law, which I intend to abide by.
In this post, I don't wish to bring up the contentions of residents on the attitude or actions of the enforcement officers (which may be controversial or debatable). In this post, let us just dwell on the legal aspect of their action in "pounding" the dogs which were never a nuisance in the first place and were on private property.

Their contention is this - they're enforcing Seksyen 6(d), Akta Hakmilik Strata 1985 (Akta 318).

Now, This is how the Section 6(d) goes:-

Larangan-larangan bagi pemilik petak

6. Seseorang pemilik petak tidaklah boleh-

• (d) memelihara apa-apa binatang dalam petaknya atau atas harta bersama yang boleh menyebabkan gangguan kepada man-mana pemilik lain.

Okay ...... basically what the law is saying here is -
"you cannot keep your dogs on shared property" - and that's fine by me.
This statement would cover all Condominiums/Apartments/Flats etc which do not have anything like an accesory plot ("petak aksesori")- and therein lies the catch!!

Here are some FAQs (Soalan Lazim) on the local bylaws at the Pejabat Tanah Dan Galian website:

S :Apakah yang dimaksudkan Hakmilik Strata?
J : Hakmilik yang dikeluarkan untuk setiap unit (petak) bagi sesebuah bangunan yang mempunyai dua tingkat atau lebih atas tanah berimilik yang dipegang sebagai satu lot dimana kelulusan bagi memecah bahagi bangunan tersebut telah diluluskan (Seksyen 6 AHS). Contohnya, Rumah Pangsa, Pangsapuri, Kondominium, Penthouse, Kompleks Komersial dan Rumah Kedai.

**(Please note that landed properties aren't included in examples)

S:Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan Petak?
J:Di dalam skim strata, unit strata dikenali sebagai ‘petak’.

S:Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan Petak Aksesori?

J:Petak aksesori adalah petak lain yang digunakan secara eksklusif oleh tuan punya petak hakmilik strata. Contohnya, tempat letak kereta yang hanya boleh digunakan secara eksklusif oleh pemilik petak.

S:Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan Perbadanan Pengurusan?
J:Terdiri daripada pemilik-pemilik petak di dalam skim strata. Ia terbentuk secara automatik bila hakmilik strata didaftarkan melalui Buku Daftar Strata.

S:Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan Harta Bersama?

J:Harta Bersama ditakrifkan sebagai semua di atas tanah berimilik kecuali petak dan petak aksesori seperti tangga, bumbung, taman dan sebagainya.

What they call the "petak aksesori" are those which defines the private porch or even extra lands on corner lots of Townhouses/link houses/semi-D homes which aren't included in the examples. These areas are "PRIVATE PROPERTIES", and any trespassing of these properties even by those who may be enforcers of the law, violates the law - unless they are there to uphold the law.

Now the law clearly states that animal cannot be kept on properties which are - "HARTA BERSAMA" which are quite different from "Petak Aksesori" as stated above.

Is it not the resident's right to used the private property as he deems fit - so long as he doesn't flout the law? Does MPS have the right to dictate terms to residents on what they can do & keep on their private property?
Now is MPS trying to redefine the law, or am I mistaken here?

Somehow I cannot accept the claim that MPS has the right to restrict the keeping of pets in areas beyond "harta bersama".

Let's not even begin discussing the shooting of Nine defenceless & hungry pedigree dogs (which would've been grabbed-up immediately, if put up for adoption) recently by some two-legged dogs with guns ..... It is bad enough aslo, that "some muncipalities" got a bad name from ill-treating animals or even holding stray-dog shooting competitions.

Even if you were right - you should at least have the humanity of "the prostitute who is said to have entered heaven for showing compassion to a stray dog" which the scripture speak of.
Let the owners at least make arrangements before you intrude on private properties- give them enough time (not 24 hrs la .....).

C'mon MPS - get real, and try to understand the laws you wish to enforce .....

PS
A note of appreciation must be mentioned to a certain individual from MPS, who has been very understanding on this issue - Thank You, Puan.

1-MALAYSIA'S CARTOON-O-PHOBIA!!!

Charter 2000-Aliran condemns the unfair and unwarranted detention of cartoonist Zunar by the Malaysian government last night as it violates the basic principle of freedom of expression in a democracy.

The police have also seized seized 66 copies of Zunar’s latest book, ‘Cartoon-O-Phobia’ – a worrying testimony of the state of freedom of expression in the country. But until now, the authorities don’t even seem to be sure whether his “offence” falls under the Sedition Act or the Printing Presses and Publications Act.

Known for his wit and grit and critical observations of Malaysia’s political scene through his hilarious sketches, Zunar has always shown his determination in calling a spade a spade. He has effectively exposed abuse and corruption in a simplistic manner, which a thousand words would find difficult to achieve. He should not be penalised for doing a great service to the nation even if his views came into conflict with those of the powers-that-be.

If expressing views that are critical of the government and its policies are deemed to be an offence, then this unfortunately may be construed as a warning to not only other cartoonists but also critical political commentators, analysts and oppositionists.

Given the severe political constraints that exist in our society, we commend Zunar for his courage in soldiering on. His arrest and harassment will not deter him from his mission to expose the dirt in our political system.

Amidst this darkness, there are rays of light. We would like to congratulate the new president of the National Union of Journalists of Malaysia, journalist Mohamed Ha’ta Wahari, for being bold and brave in championing the freedom of the press in the face of criticism and political pressure from within and outside Utusan Malaysia, where he works. It is commendable that Mohamed Ha’ta has strived to be fair and independent by being equally critical of both BN and Pakatan Rakyat politicians particularly over issues relating to press freedom and freedom of information.

If a free and responsible press is the cornerstone of a democracy, then the political and legal constraints that have been placed against journalists and cartoonists, among others, must be removed to promote democracy, the free flow of information and honest journalism. In the case of Malaysia, the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act must be repealed.

We urge the government to release Zunar immediately and unconditionally and to show maturity and tolerance when poring over critical cartoons such as Zunar’s. A sense of humour might help to lighten up the nation!

Dr Mustafa K Anuar and Anil Netto
Coordinators
Charter 2000-Aliran

"FB"-ciency at your service?

My matters with regard to telephone/streamyx/banking etc are usually conducted online or through "authorized personnel" most (if not all) of the time, simply becos I cannot leave my workplace. Phones could be transfered without a hitch, with just a phone call. Those good ol' days, before the "co-piratization" trend of "one who believes that meritocracy is racism".

Lately I was faced with the same predicament- (which I had mentioned on my FB page some time back) .... I needed to do something about my phoneline/streamyx- (something which I could once do without leaving my home/work .... )
Going thru the TMPoint website was pointless - it is the most useless website .... they had no downloadable forms, no customer feedback on problems, no transactions possible - practically no avenue to do anything beyond seeing their "latest offers"!!
Now why would anyone wanna visit their site if there wasn't anything they could do there?

Calling them was useless.
After following the instructions from the automaton on the other side & pressing God-knows-what buttons for this & that, the "customer service executives" (who are usually busy) are trained to say only one thing in very polite language - "Go to TMPoint to sort out your problem, mate - I'm just doing my job here"!! (If it was streamyx, they'll tell you to do the usual cable gymnastics & rebooting everything before they take your complaint or resetting things- but I must admit that they're better of late).

So, what which once could be settled without a hitch by phone, in the 1-Malaysia Boleh spirit of "Rakyat DiUtamakan, Pencapaian DiDahulukan"- today, I, at the instruction of "DYMM" TMPoint "have to go to TMPoint" to get the very same things done!!

Accordingly, I went to the "DYMM" TMPoint's office which was "fortunate" to see me - a faithful customer ....
Even as I walked in, I was so disgusted with what I saw - I saw people being told-off, and were leaving disappointed. Poor consumers probably didn't know how to get things done, & took it all sitting down ....
When I aproached this jackass at the counter, he just told me off without batting an eyelid (& sans courtesy), that they were "offline" and hence, "Tak Boleh Buat Apa-apa"!!
Somehow, I managed to have them "get cracking or else ..."("my own 'courteous' way, la)!!

Yes- from "offline" (while being able make collection of payments only!!),
tthen tried "we'll just callect data",
then "we'll do our best",
then "it'll take a week",
then "it'll take 3 days",
then after the prodding & threats - "definitely 24-hrs",
and have the free phone delivered too my home, on top of that!!
One lady, seeing how they (TMPoint) suddenly got working, came complaing to my better-half .... apparently, this "offline" response had been going on for more than two weeks!!
Really didn't know that this was what the people on the street faced on a daily basis.
**Makes you want to scream out expletives while pulling on your hair, doesn't it?

In the interest of keeping my end of the bargain (since I managed to get things done), I will not expose the location of my experience, nor the faces/names of those who put me in that predicament. Anyways -this phenomenon (of "Rakyat DiUtamakan, Pencapaian DiDahulukan") isn't as isolated as it may seem .... and I also kinda put it behind me.
Today though, I got a pic (of I-don't-know which office) from a friend in my email :-

(it definitely wasn't a "photoshop" job, as there were two shots
- and note the man waiting at the counter.
I have also removed parts that may identify people/place)
They say "A picture paints a thousand words" ....

P.S.
Apparently, this is something that goes on in many offices in the civil service, while customers wait!!
They are definitely not "private sector" by any measure ....
Who cares about the private sector anyway - if they go bankrupt & die out- that's their funeral. This is the civil service & the corporotized, monopolized (& piratized) public sector we speak of- for which we pay taxes!!
Yes - I've experienced this myself in certain other offices, which I wouldn't want to mention- lest I "ruffle feathers" - but I certainly hope Mr. 1-Malaysia's henchmen can do something about this "FBciency-at-work" disease ......

SELAMAT HARI RAYA!!

This year's Raya wishes on this blog, presented a dilemma to me - I had a problem with the imagery I wanted to use as the background.....
With making "polis repot" being the latest past-time/hobby/craze in town & with so many people being very "sensitive" these days, I didn't want one more hobbyist lodging a "polis repot" against me for sincere Hari Raya wishes on this blog.

Wanted to put some ketupat pics - but I thought the chequered image might offend those who believe that it was "unsur-unsur Kafir laknatullah" Masonic.

The Pelita didn't cut it either- some said it had the Illuminati symbolism (after all, the bulb did evoke such perceptions in some).

The crescent - well, some say it is associated with ...... I better not say it ...

The kampung house would've risked offending those who associated it with backwardness. Don't say I'm paranoid- that's what the TV3 ad did!! Don't believe me? Check this out HERE.

The Malay boy in kain pelikat & ketayap walking to the mosque to pray might've offended someone who thought the boy should've been chauffeur driven by a Muthu or Ah Beng ...

Depicting people partying would've offended those who think Raya is a solemn affair, plus "immorality" of dancing could lead to sex - at least that's what some people say.

Those flickering (what do you call them - tinsels?) Lights could be regarded as too "christmassy".

Mercun wasn't "Islamic culture" .... neither were "baju baru" or presents .... Flowers- I'm not sure. Animals were out of the picture. So were cartoons- lest I get banned!!

The green Duit Raya packets would've been associated with decadent Capitalism & the Chinese "ang-pow" (but of course, we all know kids don't give a damn as long as the money comes in ...)

In the end, I settled for the beautiful, the spectacular pedestrian skybridge in Langkawi.
I have no idea what purpose it serves beyond that of a photo op - but it is beautiful nevertheless (despite the cost). Maybe someone made some halal duit raya out of this thing - but at least it was a bridge built between two point that didn't meet earlier.

So- Selamat Hari Raya Guys - have a blast!!