Saturday, April 27, 2013

A piece of nature right at our door step

Tired of the hustle bustle city life? Want to get in touch with nature, but too lazy to travel too far?

Welcome to Air Hitam forest reserve.

It is no secret Puchong folks have been trekking the Air Hitam forest reserve trails for some time now. At around 3000 acres, the reserve is a surprise survivor of green lung encompassed by rapidly ongoing  development of Bandar Kinrara, Pusat Bandar Puchong, Equine Park and a few other developments.

Green lung in Puchong surrounded by developments

The Air Hitam forest reserve belongs to the Selangor Forestry Department, leased to University of Putra (UPM) for research purpose. There had been some altercations between hikers and UPM officers who were trying to prevent hikers from entering the forest reserve before, but that matter had been resolved.

Now hikers are free to trek the trails without any worries even though there are still Selangor Forestry Department signs warning hikers to stay away.

The Selangor Forestry Department does not interfere with hiker activities as long as they stay within the trails, without damaging the surrounding, and keeping the forest the way it is.

Warning sign from Selangor Forestry Department

The beginning of the trail is at Jalan Bukit, Pusat Bandar Puchong, not far away from Wawasan Park in Pusat Bandar Puchong.

From BK3, it is only around 5 to 7 km away depending on which road you take.

There are plenty of car park spaces around but don't be surprise it is packed during the weekends, especially in the mornings and evenings, as trekking activity is gaining popularity.

Map from BK3 to the start of trail

From the snap shot of Google earth aerial view below, the beginning of the trail is just right next to a few shop lots. The trail then gradually winding up the hill and slowly disappearing into the lush green forest.

Google earth view of the trail
Trail entrance

Once inside the forest, the hikers can choose to take the trail that goes one loop, which will take about 1 hour or more. Alternatively, the more popular and less strenuous route is just trek up to one of the peaks and turn back, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

The trails are just moderately tough (quite similar to Gasing Hill), suitable for people of all ages. Anyone in reasonably good health will have no problem handling the walk.

Part of the trail
Small stream with crystal clear water
Great view of Puchong skyline from the trail

Every morning and evening plenty of nature lovers are enjoying the hiking activities in the forest. It is a great way to do some exercise, meet like-minded people, and enjoy perhaps the last piece of untouched forest in Puchong.

The best thing is, it is only a few minutes drive away from BK 3.

It is a great alternative for BK3 residents who frequently walk up to the BK3 water reservoir in the morning, who are looking for something slightly more challenging.

At the same time getting in touch with nature.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Suria BK3 has a Facebook page

In case you are not aware, the Residents Association (RA) of BK3/3A to BK3/6 has a name - Suria BK3, and a logo.

Logo designed by Hilson Yeap

The RA committee likes the design of the logo with the sun, smiling face and the colours. It is friendly, green and ecstatically pleasing. The committee also like the sunny word "Suria", which happens to fit really well with the logo, and was unanimously chosen by the committee members as the name of the RA.

On top of that, the RA also has a Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bandarkinrara3/

Some of you may have stumbled upon this blog via the Facebook page. If that is not the case, you can join the page by clicking here. Since it is the Facebook page for the RA of BK3/3A to BK3/6 residents, it is kept private, limited to the residents who stay in this area only.

The RA committee always find reaching out to all the residents as the biggest challenge. Residents always complain somehow the information never reached them, or they were not well informed.

Previously the RA committee has tried using SMS to communicate with the residents, but it is very costly. The RA committee also tried using WhatsApp, which is free, but not everyone uses it.



Finally the RA committee decided on setting up an RA Facebook page. Not only the whole community can share information, but also create events, post photos, links and videos, to reach out to the whole community.

However, what good is a Facebook page if no one is joining? Therefore please do your part, spread the news, and ask all your friends and neighbors from BK3/3A to BK3/6 area to sign up to the page in order to get the latest information about what is happening in our community.

Everyone should sign up to the Facebook page

This Facebook page will be used by the RA committee as a two-way communication platform to share information with the residents, as well as getting feedback from the residents.


(Note: As the setting up of RA is still at its infancy stage, most of the committee members are still feeling their ways to serve the community better. Please work with the committee members, and support them to get through this initial learning stage. Hopefully by working together, the community can become better and stronger in the future)


Monday, April 22, 2013

In cyberspace, a daughter remembers ‘mother, hero’

The daughter remembers her mother who was stabbed to death while jogging near Bukit Gasing a few days ago. This appears in Malaysian Insider today.

The original news click here.

Malaysia

In cyberspace, a daughter remembers ‘mother, hero’

April 22, 2013
People trek on a hiking trail at Bukit Gasing, in Petaling Jaya February 22, 2011.—File pic  KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 — On Saturday, Ong Ai Sam, 52, fended off two robbers in a desperate bid to buy her daughter time to escape. She succeeded, but paid for it with her life. 

This is the message her daughter wishes she could hear.
My mother, my hero

I remember. I remember everything.

A few months ago in English class, my teacher asked us to write about the person who we admire. I wrote about my mum. A month ago for my English March Test paper, the topic I wrote about was “My Hero”. I wrote about my mum. During my test, I had writer’s block so I simply wrote out everything i knew about my mum: her childhood, achievements, etc. My mum is my hero. She always has been, she always will be.

20th April 2013.

Mama left early in the morning for some event her Kiwanis Club’s K-Kids had planned. She came back home with lunch for me and Milo ais. I remember grumbling to her because I didn’t want to follow my parents jungle trekking. I did anyway. We had to set up a trail for my father’s running group so mama was carrying a bag with just plain paper in it. I remember grumbling to my mum as we went up and down the hills of Gasing. She told me we’d be out soon. After two hours of trekking in the jungle, we finally hit the road. It was the road in Gasing leading up to the temple. We decided to walk back down to the car.

As we walked down the steep road, there was nobody there. No people, no cars. Just the two of us. As we nearly reached the first house, we heard a motorbike sound from behind. We turned around and saw two men on a motorbike. Mama said walk further in onto the pavement so we did. As the motorbike drove past us, they stopped. The man from behind jumped off. My mum pushed me to the back and told me to go. The man attacked my mum straight away, without saying any words. The knife he used was just a normal kitchen knife, the blade was about 10cm long. As my mum tried to protect herself, she turned to her left, only to be stabbed twice on the back of her right shoulder. She was struggling to escape. The attacker then proceeded to stab the back of her left shoulder. Mama tried so hard to escape. She fell on the ground and the attacker pulled her on the road and stabbed her thigh. I tried to help but the attacker thrust the knife my way so I ran back further. I couldn’t do anything but scream at the top of my lungs. I screamed and screamed. The attacker hopped on the bike and rode off.

I remember.

I remember watching my mum’s body lying on the road, all the blood oozing out. The attacker did not manage to get any of my mum’s belongings. She told me to call my dad. I ran down the hill looking for help. The first house I went to, the maid (who saw everything that happened) ran in and did not even try to help me. I ran further down and saw a car. They saw me and stopped. And I told them what happened. The driver, Mr Lai, told me to get in and we drive up to my mum. Mr Lai called the ambulance and the police while I tried to keep my mum conscious. There was blood everywhere. My mum just kept saying “save me”. Her voice was so week. My dad reached the site 10 minutes later, after running all the way. Mama kept telling us that she couldn’t breathe. I prayed and prayed. She was slowly losing herself. We tried our best to keep her awake and conscious. The police arrived. We put her in the police car since the ambulance hadn’t arrived. As we reached down the road, the ambulance was there so they transferred mum into the ambulance.

I remember.

I remember sitting in the ambulance, holding my mum’s hand and trying to talk to her but she didn’t respond. I remember crying. The paramedics were doing all they could do at that point. I remember calling Eu Lim, who was at church to pray for my mum. We reached the hospital in three minutes. They rushed my mum to the emergency was. I wasn’t allowed to enter and I was so, so scared. My dad had followed Mr Lai’s car and they hadn’t reached yet. I had to settle my mum’s registration and then I had to talk to the police. My dad arrived. Then my friends arrived. I sat at the doorway of the hospital, praying and praying. 10 minutes later, my dad came out and told me my mum didn’t make it. I dropped in the middle of the hospital floor, screaming. Everyone was looking at me, but I didn’t care. A bunch of doctors came out to get me; they took me to a special room. They questioned me and they told me about how my mum was already gone when we were in the ambulance. They tried their best to revive her.

I remember.

I remember coming home. My friends just sat in silence. I just sat in silence. I was covered in blood, mama’s blood. I had to get myself together. I had to bathe. We broke the news to my sister through Face Time and that was really hard to do. Slowly, people started coming. It was hard seeing my aunts and uncles cry, my parent’s close friends, my close friends and to know I had to keep it all together. It was really hard, telling my story to everyone. It’s really hard to even close my eyes for awhile because i see it replaying in my head over and over again. Watching my mum lying in her pool of blood and not being able to do anything. Not being able to save her.

People come, then people leave. All I hear is “I’m so sorry for your loss” or “my condolences”. All I hear is people questioning me about what happened, since I was the sole witness. But I am so tired of telling this story over and over again. I am so tired of hearing other people tell this story. This is my story. This is the truth. Newspapers and reporters may twist it around and exaggerate to the whole world, but this story will remain the truth forever.

I am truly grateful and appreciative to everyone who came, whether it was for a short period, or a long time. Thank you to those who’ve brought a little bit more of hope and joy to me, even though you guys didn’t try. Thank you to those who’ve brought food and drinks, and flowers. Thank you to everyone who called, texted, Whatsapped, Facebook-ed and tweeted me. I don’t know how i became a trending topic overnight (#prayforhuiwei). I was mad at first, but then I realised how much my family had all of your love and support. Whether i know you or not, whether you knew my mum or not, all your kind words really helped. My mother was such an amazing and beautiful person.

I remember.

My mum’s last words to me were “I love you so much” dying there, on the road. I watched it all. I watched it all slip out of my hands. Now my life feels so empty. I keep thinking to myself that this is all a dream. Maybe I’d wake up and be able to avoid this from happening. Maybe if someone pinched me I’d wake up from this nightmare. But this is reality, and I have to face the facts. I have to face the fact that I’m alone now. I have to face the sounds of crying and wailing from the other room. I have to face the facts that I’m going to grow up motherless, clueless and confused. It won’t be easy, but I will get through this.

Ma,

I love you so much. And I am so sorry I had to watch you die. I am so sorry I couldn’t save you. But you’re with God now. Ma you’re such a great person. Beautiful inside and out. And I thank you for teaching me your ways. Thank you for always teaching (scolding) me to be a better person. Even though we’ve had our moments, and times we didn’t see eye to eye, you’ll always be my best friend. Who’s going to pick me up from school now? Who am I going to say “HEY MA” to and tell them about my day? Who’s going to cuddle up with me on the couch and be lazy for awhile?

Ma,

Remember how you used to come into my room while I was studying, and hug me then tickle me. Remember how you used to sing me to sleep when I was young. Or how you used sing when you’re happy. You had a beautiful voice. Remember how we sat on the couch, looking for coloured beads to do arts and crafts. Remember every single day we spent together.

Ma,

I just saw your body, lying in the coffin. You look so beautiful, peaceful, just like you’re sleeping. And I have the biggest urge to scream “wake up”. Thank you, Ma. For giving me life, for giving me love. You taught me everything good in my life. You were always selfless, God-fearing. You were my strong pillar of hope and love. And even though you’re no longer here with us, you’re with God. And you’re happy, just like how you appeared in Lissa’s dream. And I do hope justice will be served. They’re working on finding the criminals, ma. They will be caught.

We all miss you, ma, we miss you so much. Goh Ee and Sar Ee has already appointed themselves as my “mama” and I see you so much of you in them. And it’s not going to be the same anymore. Nothing will be the same anymore. You’re not going to watch me graduate, you’re not going to watch me get married. You’re not going to be there to take care of my children. But I know you are with us in spirit, and you’re always watching over us. Please give me the strength and courage to move forward with my life. Please give me the motivation to be better. To be more like you. To spread the love and joy. Papa, Tache and I will always be grateful for you are the biggest blessing God has given. And maybe you’ve done too much good so The Lord called you home. And you are safe now, safe with God. He will watch over you (and us) and protect you. You are safe from all the evil now.
I will make you proud, mama. I will make everyone proud. I love you so much. I’ll love you every single day of my life, and I’ll never forget whatever you’ve done for me. Thank you so much. Rest in peace, mama, I love you.

* This is a post written by Hui Wei on the blog, “the ugly truth”.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

A community that works together stays together

The increasing crime rate in BK3 has driven the residents to take matters into their own hands.

With that in mind, the way to go for the residents is to form a Residents Association (RA), and get support from the community to have their own hired security patrols. A few residents took the initiatives, starting to share the thoughts with the community.

As a result, the idea started to gain momentum. A few meetings later, majority of the residents from BK3/3 to BK3/6  have agreed to form an RA, with the purpose of having more controls over the hiring of security guards to patrol the area, at the same time put up some perimeter fencing, boom gates and guard posts at strategic locations, to make the area safer.

Besides that, the RA also hope to organize more community events to get the residents to know each other better in the future.

 
Residents gathered for a briefing

Soon ideas started to become reality. The first order of business is to get the perimeter fencing up, follow by setting up guard posts and boom gates. The residents chose one weekend to come out in droves, to clear the perimeter area of the housing area, and take measurements for the necessary work. It was hard work for the residents over a weekend, but the "gotong royong" effort seemed to bring the community closer, no one was complaining.

Residents "gotong royong" to clean up the area for fencing
George chopping down plants for perimeter fencing
Thumbs up by residents after a hard day of "gotong royong"
 
Sometimes it is hard to imagine how quickly things can move when everyone put their brains together and work as a team. The support from the residents have been overwhelming. Some "rukun tetangga" patrolling by residents, some fund collection; before you know it, the fencing is up, and boom gates were installed. For a safer community, most residents just accept the little inconvenience it caused.

"Rukun tetangga" gang at night
Fencing work in progress
Workers working on boom gates

There is no doubt there are still a lot of details that need to be ironed out. It is far from perfect. However, with the support of the whole community, the RA committee is determined to come up with solutions best suited for all.

It is time to make our home safe, BK3 is our home.