Photo taken on 4th January 2012 showing the delayed road construction (on the left of the photo).

The dual carriage way to Taman Tunku/Taman Jelita and Taman Tunku Phase 3 is supposed to be completed in February 2011. But today, almost a year has gone by, the residents of nearby housing areas and kampungs have yet to enjoy the new road.

The delay was partly due to some squatters resistant to dismantle their homes which were built along the path of the new road. With the help of YB Tuan Hj. Ahmad Lai and the Land & Survey Dept., the squatters issue was recently solved. All six squatters agreed to move to a new site at Kampung Lusut Jaya.

With all the issues being settled, we do not see any reason for further delay by Rich Venture, the contractor of the project. Six months is all we need, said Mr. Hii (the owner of Rich Venture).

Unfortunately, the people do not see or understand of this issues. The GE13 is coming up fast and the opposition will be focusing on this delayed project. Any further delay will be seen as an act to sabotage the BN candidate for this Parliamentary seat of Sibuti.

During peak hours, it will easily takes an hour to reach the city centre. The situation becomes worst if an accident happen along the only road excess (i.e the current Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman) to the huge residential area. An emergency case is the last thing the resident would want to happen.

After I purchase my house at Taman Jelita more than two years ago, I have submitted various proposal to our local wakil rakyat with copies to our City Hall on how to improve the traffic system in Taman Tunku.

Of course that include the construction of a second link-road excess, currently being constructed, the trimming of trees along the various road and lanes in Taman Tunku, the removal of soil that blocked the water outlet to the main and major drainage in the residential areas. Although all this didn’t affect me directly, but it is sad to notice flash flood happening during rainy days.

The second-link road construction had a grand launching by our Chief Minister, YAB Pehin Sri Taib, just before the state election. The contractor promised that it should be completed in less than a year.

Today, many months have passed by, we noticed that the construction work have slowed down. A quick check with our ex-YB, Andy Chia and the contractor (Rich Venture) this morning, revealed a stubborn and selfish owner of an illegal extension (circled below) that refused to dissemble the structure.

To those who thought that it was due to the defeat of SUPP in Miri, nope.. it is not due to that.

Just because of one stubborn fella, the over 20,000 household have to suffer bad traffic, noise and dust pollution, wasted time on travelling, etc.

The contractor is leaving the issue to the hands of the Miri Land and Survey Dept. to tackle the owner of that illegal extension.

The residents of Taman Tunku, Kampung Lusut Jaya and Taman Jelita, and soon – Taman Tunku Phase III hopes this issue can be resolve fast to make way for the completion of the much needed second-link road.

Sarawak memerlukan jurutera jalan raya yang lebih efisen dan kreatif. Buat jalan, buat longkang, tapi pengaliran air drpd jalan raya ke longkang sik ada. Perlukah rakyat Sarawak nunggu 10 tahun sebelum Datuk Yong buat penilaian baharu? Jalan (JKR), longkang (DID), pembersihan jalan raya (MBM), hujan (MOSTI), bersih lon…gkang (Alam Sekitar).. byk juak menteri diperlukan molah kerja tok.

The road is named after the first Malaysian Prime Minister. The condition is probably not as grand as the ex-Prime Minister.

Don’t blame it on the weather or the monsoon season. It doesn’t take a day of non-stop rain to cause this road, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Miri City, to get flooded.

No drain? Yes it does have, and as a matter of fact, it has drain up to the traffic lights at Servay Supermarket. But why the flooding or pool of water happen?

Simply because there is no inlet from the road to the drain! Plain simple, kan? Or if it does have, at some portion of the stretch, its clogged with sand or rubbish.

How long has this been going on? Years my friend, year in and year out. Bet they’ll wait for Rich Venture to finish the dual carriage highway, then to ‘extend’ their contract to include a proper drainage system for this jurassic problem.

Why is it so difficult to build water inlet to the main drain for roads in Miri? Do we need a Super Engineer to redesign our road and its drainage system?

The next thing we know is that the rakyat will blame the Yang Berhormat for this issue! Kesian YB YB.. Tapi apa-apa pun, YB YB sekalian, kalau boleh tolong uruskan hal ini dengan secepat mungkin sebab perkara ini sudah bertahun lama nya berlaku. Mungkin YB YB sekalian tidak tinggal dikawasan ini dan mungkin hanya berada di kawasan ini jika ada urusan rasmi kerajaan, jangan lah bagi alasan tidak ada peruntukkan. Tu dah cerita lama.

Fixed Deposit with Low Return (FDLR)!

It started with a simple gathering with YB Dato Sri William Mawan and the members of SPDP Lambir at Kampung Lusut, where Dato Sri advised me to write officially to the government on the problem of traffic heading towards Taman Tunku, Taman Jelita and residents of Kampung Lusut.

I showed Dato Sri on my suggestion with a simple Google map. The same map was forwarded to YB Datuk Aidan Wing (ADUN Lambir) and YB Tuan Haji Ahmad Lai, the MP for Sibuti (covering Taman Tunku).

The idea was also forwarded to my good friend ADUN Pujut, YB Andy Chia who has never failed in giving me the update to this second link road.

Today, we are happy to see that Kumpulan Parabena together with the Barisan Nasional government in solving traffic woes of Taman Tunku and its surrounding. The expected date of completion is February 2011.

Ground Breaking Ceremony for the second link road to Taman Tunku and Taman Jelita will be done on 5th November by our YAB Chief Minister at 10.30am. All residents of Taman Tunku, Taman Jelita and Kpg. Lusut are welcome to witness this special occasion.

Vote for Barisan Nasional!

Finally… a BIG THANK YOU to Miri City Council for the upgrading works. We hope the various contractors will perform a good work, and we should be expecting a smooth ride on it (not like the current Pujut Flyover-GK-Pujut 7 Roundabout which features a slight shake-on-your-butt ride, after the recent resurfacing work!!)

We would like to thank Kumpulan Parabena and the Barisan Nasional government for making this dream road a reality. The second linkage is definitely a time saver for most of us who resides in Taman Tunku, Taman Jelita as well as Kampung Lusut.

My first post on the second link road, and request via Talikhimat refers. Read my last update here.

RM18 mln access road for Miri’s southern sector

by Philip Kiew
February 6, 2010, Saturday
Source: Borneo Post

MIRI: An RM18 million access road fringing the runway of Miri Airport will be built by developer and landowner Kumpulan Parabena Sdn Bhd together with several other infrastructures to turn the southern sector of Miri into a throbbing hub.This much-awaited road will ease congestion during peak hours in Taman Tunku and surrounding residential areas, slashing off travelling time and distance for the public.

Coming up is relocated Chinese primary school, SJKC Chiaw Nan from Lubok Nibong, Marudi to Taman Jelita Phase II, expected to ready for the first intake by 2012, while Parabena is also mulling the proposal for a university campus, polyclinic and other infrastructures in this strategic location.

Announcing this yesterday, managing director Datuk Raziah Mahmud said this 5-kilometre access road will link Taman Jelita to Miri-Bintulu road, easing congestion of the present route in Taman Tunku.

The government has already approved the proposed road linkage, and work is expected to start by the first half of this year.

Both Taman Tunku, Taman Jelita and other surrounding housing estates have a burgeoning population of 35,000, and Raziah said it could increase to 50,000 within the next five to 10 years.

Parabena, which owns nearly 2,000 acres of land on the left side of the runway, has developed 900 acres since it started 27 years ago with the development of Taman Tunku township.

Taman Tunku is designed for 3,500 houses and the second phase undertaken by Rich Venture Construction Sdn Bhd will build 750 units under the RV Housing estate.

Raziah pointed out that Parabena is looking forward to another school, university or college and medical facilities in this sprawling residential area in Miri due to the rising population and demand from surrounding areas.

“We are open to either private or public university campus and healthcare facilities such as clinics,” she said.

There are currently two secondary schools and  a primary school in the township, and Parabena is willing to discuss with interested parties the setting up of tertiary education institutions in this growing township.

The introduction of the new link road from Miri-Bintulu road fringing the airport runway will open up the southern sector of this township to the city centre, and sources said there are plans to connect it to the coastal road and Airport Road.

It also eliminates the hassle of going through residential roads in Taman Tunku to reach SMK Taman Tunku.

Manned by only one medical assistant, a nurse and one attendant, Klinik Komuniti 1Malaysia was officially opened by YB Tuan Haji Ahmad Lai, the Member of Parliament for Sebuti this afternoon.

Despite the limited budget from the federal government, the resident of Taman Tunku and its surrounding are generally pleased with the opening of the clinic.

YB Aidan Wing who spoked at the function told us that it would cost the patient RM6.80 for a return trip to the Polyclinic in town. Hence, with the opening of Klinik 1Malaysia, it will definitely save and benefits the lower income group, who are mostly from the nearby village of Kpg. Lusut.

YB Tuan Haji Ahmad Lai urged the people to continue supporting the Barisan Nasional in order to benefit from the various development plan that will be implemented in his area.

I was personally told that, the government is seriously identifying a suitable site for the Klinik Kesihatan Ibu dan Anak and probably a dental clinic.

jamesjg.com thank the government for the quick implementation of this clinic, since it was brought up last year, following the relocation of the Klinik Kesihatan Ibu dan Anak to a shoplot in town.

Residents may get light treatment there for as low as RM1 per treatment, RM15 for foreigners and free for children.  We hope the medical department could seek more funding and staff to manned the clinic, as three staff is sure not enough. I was told by an officer that yesterday the three staff attended to 130 patients from 10am – 10pm. It also mean, those staff could have skipped their meals!

Be thankful and for those who can afford to pay, kindly proceed to a private clinic, as the main objective of setting up this clinic is for the benefit of the lower income group, and hence, is not a competitor to the nearby private clinics.

This is another piece of good news that I would like to share with you guys.

My reply:

Good afternoon Mr. Tay,

This is indeed a good news to the residents concerned. We hope the project shall be supported by the State and Federal Government in term of funding to expedite the construction of the road. If the authorities leave the financial part entirely to the developer concerned, it might be a little too slow.

On the contrary, we would appreciate it so much if the City Council could expedite the issuance of Occupation Permits to the new housing areas around Taman Tunku, Taman Jelita and Holiday Park.

On copy to YB Tuan Fadillah, I hope you could bring the matter to the Federal Cabinet for quick funding.

Thank you and have a pleasant week.

JAMES JOSHUA
KETUA PERGERAKAN PEMUDA SPDP BAHAGIAN PIASAU

The email I received from the Miri City Council

—–Original Message—–
From: Tay Boon Pang [mailto:tayspamc@miricouncil.gov.my]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 2:41 PM
To: Talikhidmat
Cc: Encik James Anak Joshua Guang
Subject: E-Request MCC/022/10/2009 or Talikhidmat T-7WU64Q

Dear Sir,

The above complaint refers.

According to record available in the Council, there will be a second road connecting Taman Tunku, Taman Jelita and the surrounding new residence next to Holiday Park, being part of the housing development undertaken by one private sector, please.

For your necessary information, please.

Sekian, harap maklum dan terima kasih.
Pegawai Perhubungan Awam, MBM.

Just to share with you, my readers on the status of our request for a second-link road linking Taman Tunku, Taman Jelita, Holiday Park, Luak Residences with the Miri-Bintulu Highway and Airport Road.

My reply to Talikhidmat:

We hope MIDCOM can look into this proposal seriously. Although we have received a call from JKR Miri, it doesn’t mean this issue is closed.

JKR Miri is aware of this traffic congestion issue and should send their proposal to MIDCOM even before the public lodge a complaint. This should be the proactive step and measure taken by government agencies in addressing public matters.

Do the agencies need the public to complaint before acting on it despite them knowing it better on the ground?

Thank you.

JAMES JOSHUA
EASTERNPOINTS LOGISTIC (M) SDN. BHD.
LOT 2204, FIRST FLOOR, SEBERKAS COMMERCIAL CENTRE
JALAN PUJUT-LUTONG, 98000 MIRI, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA
MOBILE: +6012-8776213 TEL.: +6085-661980 FAX.: +6085-622980

—–Original Message—–
From: 555999@sarawaknet.gov.my [mailto:555999@sarawaknet.gov.my]
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 7:32 AM
To: james@eplogistic.com
Subject: TALIKHIDMAT: FYI: T-7WU64Q

Dear Sir/Mdm,

We have received your case and did the necessary actions in making sure
that it gets the desired attention. However, we have not received any
feedback from the relevant agency as they might have contacted you
directly. We appreciate it if you could confirm with us whether your call
below has been attended to satisfactorily by the said agency.

Ref No : T-7WU64Q

Reported matters:

“Attn:JKR Miri
Dear Sir, I propose for the extension and
expansion of the second road connecting Taman Tunku, Taman Jelita and the
surrounding new residences next to Holiday Park or Luak Residential.Please
see the attachment. Hope the authority can take note on this and
solve the traffic jam issue there.  Thanks. ”

Kindly reply to this email within 3 days if you find our service
unsatisfactory else we may close this case.
Your feedback is important for us. Please check [x] where appropriate:

[ ] Request attended and satisfactorily
[ ] Request not attended at all
[X] Request attended but unsatisfactorily (please attached your remarks)

Regards,
TALIKHIDMAT Centre

********************************

Thank you for contacting TALIKHIDMAT (Public Service hotline).
Your one stop channel to reach Sarawak State Government.
Tel : 555999 (Applicable throughout Sarawak); Fax : 555888
Email :555999@sarawaknet.gov.my

And here is an update from YB Andy Chia, the ADUN for N.64 Pujut.

Good morning all,
I have info that there will be a proposed new road that links the back of Taman Tunku to the Luak Bay highway eventually….that will give the people of Tmn Tunku an alterantive access.  Hopefully it can be done within the next 2 years.

TQ all.
Rgds,
ANdy Chia

Well, YB.. we hope the road becomes a reality because we really need it there.