Upgrading of BK3 basketball court

Besides improving the securtiy in BK3, Suria BK3 committee is also working hard to help improve the public amenities in our area for our residents.

Although BK3 has some great recreational facilities for children such as a playground, football field, a futsal court, and a basketball court, construction of these facilities was not always good.

The basketball court especially was probably done by a contractor with very little or no knowledge of basketball at all.

As a result, we have a basketball court that has crack backboards and flimsy rims after a few years.

Old cracked back board and loose rim at BK3

Basketball being the number two most popular sports (behind soccer) in the world, it is a favorite sport for kids at BK3 as well. It is a shame that we couldn't provide good facilities for them to enjoy the game better.

After years of request by Suria BK3 committee to MPSJ (the request was put in to MPSJ even before the RA committee was formed), they finally approved some fund to upgrade the backboards for us a few months ago.

In fact they went one step further, they will even install a couple of spectator stands for us.

To ensure the backboards were installed properly with quality material this time, Suria BK3 committee was involved in advising, and help to get the right people with basketball knowledge to install the new backboards for MPSJ.

The contractors finally showed up last week and finished the work in a couple of days.

So now we have high quality tampered glass backboards with solid rims for our courts.

We can proudly say BK3 probably has one of the best basketball courts around our area now.

New backboard and rim

New backboard and rim

The contractor also installed two spectator stands right next to the court at the same time.

Spectator stand

We really want to thank MPSJ for putting their fund to good use. Hopefully they continue to do good work in our area to improve the quality of our life.

Now our kids have one more good sports facility to use for the sport they love. Who knows? We may be able to produce a few Jeremy Lin of our own in the future :)
  

Future basketball star from BK3?

The new and improved BK3

Thanks to the support of the residents, BK3 has been transformed.

From Jalan BK3/3A to BK3/6, our community has been secured with chain-link fence to provide a safer living environment for the residents.

Just to keep everyone up to date, these are the things done by Suria BK3 RA to safe guard our community since middle of March this year.

Security guard, guard house and boom gate at Jalan BK 3/3A

Chain-link fence along Jalan BK3/3A

A small gate at Jalan BK3/3B for access to BK2
(Note: the stairs, railings and small bridge funded by others)

Chain-link fence along Jalan BK3/3B joining to LRT construction hoarding

Security guard, guard house and boom gate at Jalan BK3/3B

Main gate at Jalan BK3/6 with small access gate at the side

Main gate at Jalan BK3/5 with small access gate at the side

Main gate at Jalan BK3/4 with small access gate at the side

Car stickers for residents

 

 

 

Additional street lights (RA provides contact, installation cost by house owners)

A big "Thank you" for everyone who has supported the RA so far. None of these can be accomplished without the support from all the residents. However, the RA still needs continuing support and cooperation from every resident to ensure the success of the system in the long run.

The RA committee will continue to improve on the security system to make our community as safe as it can be. There are still a lot of details to work out at this initial stage.

Let's work together to make BK3 crime free, a better place to stay, and put a smile back on every resident's face.

 

 

Q & A on Suria BK3 RA and the security systems

Some of the common questions the residents have asked the RA so far:

Question: What is a Residents Association (RA)?
Answer:  RA is an organization set up by a residents within the same community to address issues and provide voices for that community.

Question: How do you set up a RA?
Answer: A RA has to be officially registered with The Registry of Societies Malaysia. The ROS web page is here. Our RA covers only Jalan BK3/3A, 3/3B, 3/4, 3/5 and 3/6 only, not the entire BK3.

Question: Is our RA officially registered with ROS?

Answer: Yes.

Question:  What is the name of our RA?
Answer:  The official name is Persatuan Penduduk Jalan B/K 3, Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, Selangor. The name of a RA has to be approved by ROS. Our RA has proposed a few names to them and this is the one they chose.

Question: It is a rather long name, is there a short name for the RA?
Answer: Yes, our RA has a shorter unofficial name of Suria BK3. However, for anything official like cheque payment, the long name has to be used.

Question: What is the main issue facing our BK3 community?
Answer: Over the past three few years alone, our own statistic shows about 22% of the houses in our area were broken into. In other words, for every 5 houses, 1 was broken into. Security is the number one issue we face in our community.

Question: Why is BK3 so unsafe?
Answer: There are just too many open area and roads that intruders can use to get into our area.

Question: Is there any solution to that problem?
Answer: The best way is to provide perimeter fencing, temporary barriers at secondary roads and have reliable guards to patrol our area.

Question: Can we do the perimeter fencing and barriers to make the area more secure?
Answer: Yes, we need minimum 75% of the residents' consent to do that. Besides that, it also requires some fund. That's why our RA has started to collect a life time membership fee for all members. The amount collected is used mainly for that purpose.

Question: How about security guards?
Answer: The RA has decided to look into hiring some reliable guards to patrol our area twenty four hours a day.

Question: Who provides the fund to hire security guards?
Answer: In order for it to work, all the household must come together and contribute a monthly fee for the security guard fees. The RA has started a drive to get as many household as possible to contribute in order to have enough fund to hire the guards.

Question: What is the monthly contribution fee for each household?
Answer: It depends on the number of households contributing. The more residents contribute, the cheaper it will get.

Question: How many houses are there in our community?
Answer: 216.

Question: Is it mandatory for all household to contribute?
Answer: No, it is all voluntary basis. However, since it is for the good of the community, close to 80% of the households have decided to participate. We encourage everyone to participate to make this possible.

Question: If I decide not to contribute now, but want to at a later time, can I do it?
Answer: Yes. There is no time frame when one must decide. As mentioned before, the more residents contribute, the cheaper the rate is.

Question: Who keeps and decides how we use the money?
Answer: The RA has a committee chosen by the residents that decides on the activities organized by the RA. The treasurer is responsible to keep a proper account on the funds collected and spent. Everything is recorded and transparent. You can find the current committee member list here. The term for committee members is two years. After that, a new committee will be chosen by the residents.

Question: How do the RA keep the residents informed of what is going on?
Answer: There are regular briefing sessions,  news letters, as well as a Facebook page providing all the information about the RA.

Question: What happen when there is not enough fund to hire security guards?
Answer: Well, if for example, most residents decided not to contribute the monthly fee, and the RA run out of fund, it may have to stop hiring security guards all together. That's why it is important for all the resident members to work together to make it happen.

Question: Is the RA for security purpose only?
Answer: No, anyone has ideas about activities for the whole community can make suggestions. The RA can do many other things for the community such as organizing a family day, and so on.

Question: Can I volunteer to help out the RA?
Answer: Yes, the more people participate, the better. The RA is always looking for helpers. Please contact one of the committee members if you wish to help. All the committee members are working also on voluntary basis at this moment.

Suria BK3 Residents Association briefing on 30th April, 2013

For residents who were not able to attend the briefing, below are the slides on the matters discussed during that briefing session:

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.

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)

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”.