NST Online: StreetsJohor
NST Online: StreetsJohor |
| Posted: 24 Aug 2011 09:55 AM PDT 2011/08/24 Taman Mount Austin residents held a community policing seminar with Johor Baru South traffic police recently RECENTLY, Persatuan Muhibbah Penduduk Taman Mount Austin Fasa 2 and 3 jointly organised a community policing seminar with Johor Baru South traffic police in Jalan Mutiara Emas, Taman Mount Austin. The seminar highlighted among others, the need for cooperation between residents in the drive to improve security in both areas.
Event organising chairman Mohd Zainuddin from Fasa 3 urged residents to work closely with the police in the fight against crime. "With your monthly contributions, we have been successful in protecting our area from snatch thieves, robbers and other crimes," he said, adding that the monthly cost to maintain security in the neighbourhoods is RM10,000.
However, he said only half of the contributors from the 490 houses in the area are contributing the RM50 security fee per month. "We hope those hesitant to contribute will change their lackadaisical attitude, as security is a serious matter," he said.
He also urged the police to install traffic lights to control heavy traffic at the Jalan Mutiara Emas 3 junction, especially at peak hours. There are three to four accidents every month at the junction. He also requested a pedestrian bridge at Jalan Mutiara Utama for the safety of schoolchildren and the elderly. Johor Baru South traffic police chief Deputy Supt Ooi Kok Seong in his speech praised the residents for holding the seminar with the police. "I know there are those who are not taking the fight against crime seriously. Such attitudes should be dropped. "I propose a neighbourhood watch programme in the future. With such a programme, you and the police can work hand in hand to tackle crime," he said in a crime-prevention presentation recently. With 1.3 million people in south Johor Baru, there are as many as 1,300 to one police officer. "In Singapore, the ratio is one policeman to 250 people," he added. He also encouraged residents to bring up any complaints by putting them in writing and placing them in complaint boxes installed in designated areas in Fasa 2 and 3. "Your complaints will be collected and addressed accordingly," he said. Ooi promised the residents that he would act immediately to address traffic matters with the relevant authorities. "In our view, the residents' association of Fasa 3 acted wisely by fencing up their area to tackle crime in their area. "Sometimes being a busy-body is a necessary evil, especially in view of the increasing crime in housing estates these days," he added. Meanwhile, Ooi urged the residents not to offer bribes to policemen on duty. "When you are given a summons, take it and pay it according to the law. "Don't blame the police for asking for bribes. You offer, they take. You don't offer, they don't take," he said. Fasa 3 resident Tea Siau Fang, 33, praised the community policing effort, saying it is helping to protect the lives of innocent people. "Such programmes give residents peace of mind. Our children can now move about the area freely," she said. Taman Molek resident Sam Chong, 44, said he came for the seminar to lend support to Taman Mount Austin residents "In Taman Molek, security activities have been successful. I hope to share ideas with the residents here in tackling their security problems," he said. A member of the Bendahara Biker club, Jamil Kadiron, 37, said he supports such security efforts not only in urban areas, but also in villages. Serene Park resident in Johor Baru, Eric You, 33, said there are no longer any crime in his area of late. "Before setting up community policing, we had at least one crime each month," he said. A community information presentation session involving representatives from Fasa 2 and 3, together with Ooi, was also held with residents with a tour around Fasa 2 and 3 after the seminar. |
| Capitalising on government's offer Posted: 24 Aug 2011 07:01 AM PDT 2011/08/24 DECADES ago, the palm oil industry was dominated by men but by the 1970s things changed when women were allowed to take the lead. It was at this time when the govenment, through the Johor Land and Mines Department, introduced the Rancangan Belia Waris programme. The programme was meant for unmarried women who were keen on venturing into this sector.
The programme was aimed at giving women a secure job with a regular income and training them to be financially independent. I attended three interviews before I was selected for the programme. A total of 83 women in two batches were selected to participate in the programme.
I had to leave my hometown in Kampung Sri Bengkal in Batu Pahat to join the programme in Kampung Bukit Mambai, which is in the Labis subdistrict in Segamat. I was sad as I had never been away from my family. With the blessings of my parents, I embarked on my journey.
It was in the 1980s that we were given a wooden house each. Life in the estate started at 7am and ended at 2pm daily. Our daily chore involved planting and fertilising oil palm trees and treating them with pesticides. Harvesting is heavy work and we left it to the men who were employed for the task. All the 83 participants worked on the estate collectively and shared the profits. Under the agreement, we were not supposed to get married in the first five years and we adhered to the ruling. I got married in the 1980s and my husband moved in to the village. All the participants have retired and the foreigners are doing the work. Our cooperative handles all distribution of profits. In those days, there was no entertainment in the village. We had to go to Segamat to catch a movie and that was considered a luxury in those days. These days, I keep myself busy with my rattan handicraft with my husband's help. Our products are for sale and we also offer classes to those who are interested in learning about the craft. Halimah Atan, 58, is staying with her family in Kampung Bukit Mambai in Segamat. Interview by Sim Bak Heng |
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