Free spectacles for 100 students

With recipients of the free spectacles together with their parents

SUBANG JAYA, 25 FEB : Seramai 100 kanak-kanak berusia 7 hingga 12 tahun daripada empat buah sekolah gembira apabila menerima bantuan cermin mata hasil tajaan Kerajaan Negeri dengan kerjasama Hospital Mata Tun Hussein Onn.

Adun Subang Jaya, Hannah Yeoh yang turut hadir dalam upacara penyerahan itu berharap dengan adanya pemberian cermin mata ini dapat sedikit sebanyak membantu meringankan beban ibubapa pelajar.

"Kerana sekarang bukan murah perbelanjaan sebulan bagi menghantar anak-anak ke kelas tuisyen, pengangkutan ke sekolah, duit susu dan sebagainya.

"Jadi kita berharap cermin mata ini akan dihargai oleh para pelajar," ujar Hannah yang turut memberitahu kerajaan negeri memperuntukkan RM 10,000 bagi kos bantuan cermin mata ini.

Selain itu, Hannah juga mengumumkan pelbagai lagi program kebajikan yang disediakan Kerajaan Pakatan untuk dinikmati pelbagai lapisan masyarakat termasuk golongan pelajar.

"Contohnya pemberian beg sekolah oleh Kerajaan Negeri Selangor yang diberikan setiap tahun kepada golongan pelajar kurang berkemampuan.

"Kita juga memperuntukkan lebih kurang RM 10,000 hingga RM 20,000 untuk bantuan uniform, kasut sekolah serta peralatan alat tulis lain yang disampaikan melalui Subang Jaya Buddhist Association, masjid dan surau," beritahu Hannah dalam ucapannya di hadapan ibu bapa pelajar yang hadir pada majlis penyerahan tersebut di Dewan Kenangan, Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya hari ini.

Sementara itu, ibu kepada pelajar Darjah Dua yang menerima sumbangan cermin mata, Kang Cheng Lai gembira dan berbesar hati dengan sikap mesra rakyat yang ditunjukkan Hannah Yeoh.

"Saya harap kerajaan yang ada ini akan kekal dan seterusnya dapat meneruskan usaha membantu rakyat Selangor," ucap ibu tersebut sambil menambah pelbagai perubahan dapat dilihat sejak Pakatan Rakyat mengambil alih pemerintahan negeri.

Untuk kawasan Dun Subang Jaya, sekolah-sekolah yang terlibat untuk menerima bantuan cermin mata ini adalah Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (T) Tun Sambathan, Sekolah Kebangsaan Datuk Onn Jaafar serta Sekolah Agama Masjid Darul Ehsan.

Sumbangan pemberian cermin mata ini diberikan kepada keluarga yang berpendapatan RM1,500 sebulan dan ke bawah. Satu program pemeriksaan mata juga telah diadakan sebelum ini bagi para pelajar yang layak.

Upgraded park at USJ 2

With the residents of USJ 2

Article in NST - Residents welcome upgraded park

SUBANG JAYA: The request of visitors for the park in USJ 2/2R to be lit and furnished with benches has been fulfilled.

Residents get together at the park. Pic by Rosela Ismail

The park now has a unit of floodlights at the badminton court and two sets of benches and tables, thanks to Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh and Zone 3 councillor Rajiv Rishyakaran.

Yeoh said the requests were made during a dialogue held in September.

The fund for upgrading the park which amounted to RM14,000 came from Zone 3 Residents Committee as well as Yeoh's allocation from the state government.

Yeoh said the floodlights, which will be switched on from 7pm to 7am daily, was installed by contractor Timur Elektrikal. It  will be maintained by Subang Jaya Municipal Council.

"The residents here have asked for another set of floodlights to be installed at the other end of the park. I'll request for that in next year's budget.

"We will continue to improve the recreational facilities for park users, especially the senior citizens.

"I would also like the police to patrol the park," she said.

Yeoh also called on dog owners to ensure their dog are leashed and pick up after their dogs when visiting the park.

Lisa Lim, who has been living in USJ 2 for the past 21 years, said she would visit the park at night now as it is brightly lit.

Lim, who does tai chi exercises on weekdays with her neighbours, said they are exposed to danger and undesirable characters when they go to the park as early as 7am.

"It can be quite dark at that time. Now that there are floodlights here, my neighbours and I feel safe coming here early in the morning.

"More children can also come to the park and play," she said.

The former teacher said the  benches and tables would encourage residents to get together at the park.

Residents happy with the new floodlights, benches and tables they requested

Press Conference with Parents of SMK USJ 12

When parents of SMK USJ 12 first contacted me about the distribution of Maths and Science books in BM by the school (though the parents have opted for English for these two subjects), I immediately called the school to verify. The school confirmed two things:

(a) that they didn't have enough English books; and

(b) that the teaching of Maths and Science would be conducted in dual language "dwibahasa".

I informed the school about our proposed gathering with concerned parents. Just before the gathering took place, miraculously there were sufficient English books being distributed to the students. I personally think we need a new Education Minister who spends less time politicking and one who has the children's interest as a priority. 

You can read more about the gathering in the article below.

Concerned Parents of Selangor will be having a rally on 10 March 2012 to express support for PPSMI. For more details, click here.

Photo courtesy of pcyeoh (taken from his posting here)

Article in Selangor Times : Parents want PPSMI back

SUBANG JAYA: Parents who claim a school here is ignoring their children’s choice to continue learning Mathematics and Science in English held a protest last Saturday (Jan 7).


Some 100 outraged parents gathered outside SMK USJ 12 in Persiaran Setia at 10am for 45 minutes to express their unhappiness with the school.

Yeoh speaking while Shamsudin (in white) and Loh (front row, right) look  on.

Moves by the secondary school to distribute text books for the subjects in both English and Bahasa Malaysia (BM) to all students  at the start of the school term  sparked concern among the parents.


“Teaching in two languages will confuse my children. They’re already feeling demotivated with studying,” said 47-year-old homemaker Sue Pillai.


Pillai said her daughter (Form Four) and son (Form One) were among those who received text books in both languages from the school.


The Education Ministry announced last year that students who started learning the subjects in English will be allowed to do so until Form Five, but schools were also given the option to teach the subjects in both languages.


This has caused some parents to worry that the teachers could just ignore English. As such, some parents are asking for the reinstatement of the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) policy.


Pillia, who was with her husband M Ramachandran, said some parents are already considering transferring their children to international schools for their English syllabus.


“At least let them finish a whole cycle. If they started studying in English from Standard One, let them finish until Form Five,” said homemaker Malarkodi Krishnasamy, 50.


Echoing her sentiments was engineer Albert Lim, who has a Form Four son in SMK USJ 12 who also started studying Science and Math from Standard One in English.


He said it made no sense for his son to revert to studying the subjects in BM for Form Four and Five only to change back to English when he goes to college.

(From left) Malarkodi, her husband Annanda Perisamy, Lim, Ng.

Lim added that his children will be further confused when the scientific terms his children learnt in English are translated into Malay.


“The parents don’t object to BM but  the Education Ministry should not change the syllabus at will,” said 46-year-old manager Peter Ng, who has two sons in the school.


Also at the protest was Concerned Parents of Selangor (CPS) organising coordinator Shamsudin Hamid, who said the parents should have a say in their children’s education.


CPS recently collected 12,000 written letters within two weeks from parents across Selangor calling for the reinstatement of the PPSMI policy.


“We have sent the letters to the Prime Minister. This issue has become so serious that it should be taken out of the Education Ministry’s portfolio,” said Shamsudin.


Also present were Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo-Burne and Subang Jaya assemblyperson Hannah Yeoh, who criticised the school for reinstating the policy without sufficient planning and consultation with the parents.

Snatch thieves mistake baby for bag

3 days ago I held a press conference in my office for the victim of an attempted snatch theft. This incident happened at Persiaran Kewajipan. The press conference was intended to highlight the modus operandi of such cases and to warn the other road users to be wary of similar attacks. As a mother, I cringe just thinking of what the baby experienced and how traumatising it must have been for both mom and baby. I have already met the OCPD Tuan Yahaya Ramli in relation to this case and have requested for an increase of police presence on this road.

 

The victim's car

The weapon used

You may read more about it in the article in SJ Echo below or from the Malay Mail:

SUBANG JAYA: A 17-month old toddler nearly got whisked off from her baby seat in her mother's car by two men along Persiaran Kewajipan on Feb 10.

The two suspects who are still at large, had smashed the side window of the vehicle and reached out for the 'handbag' they thought was on the passenger seat only to realise it was a toddler.

Her mother Yap Yann Fang, 31 who was driving home to Damansara Idaman in Petaling Jaya from her babysitter's home in USJ1 at 9pm was left in shock with the incident.

'I had stopped at the traffic lights along Persiaran Kewajipan and in just a split second, my side window was smashed, scattering the glass all over me and my daughter Giselle.'

'The pillion reached out for Giselle only to realise it wasn't a handbag on my two-door vehicle passenger seat. They scooted off empty-handed,' she said during a press conference at ADUN Subang Jaya Hannah Yeoh's office.

Yap said she was relieved that her toddler was secured to her baby seat and this had deterred the suspect from yanking her out of her seat.

'Both Giselle and I could only cry after the incident. When I regained my composure, I called my brother who told me to head for the nearest petrol kiosk.'

'I had to use a vacuum cleaner to remove all the glass pieces form Giselle's hair and clothes. I am glad we were not injured in the incident,' she said, adding that the incident had however robbed her of the right to feel secure in her own car.

Hannah said Yap's ordeal was the second incident along Persiaran Kewajipan in recent weeks.

'I would like to request for more police presence along this road especially near the Summit junction to deter crime.'

'Assailants appear to be targeting women drivers,' she said.

Yap and eight of her friends who were dressed in their white t-shirts bearing the message 'Say No to Snatch Theft' later held up placards and a banner to emphasise their point.

Affordable healthcare has come to town!

Tired of waiting for the Barisan Nasional Federal Government to build us a government clinic in Subang Jaya? Don't worry - thanks to Klinik Waqaf An-Nur in USJ 9 now provides good affordable healthcare services for only RM5!

At the press conference together with representatives from Masjid Al-Falah and KPJ Healthcare

Presenting a cheque of RM17,000 [RM7,000 from my 2011 state allocation and another RM10,000 from my 2012 allocation] to help fund the running of Klinik Waqaf An-Nur.

I will continue to speak up for the people of DUN Subang Jaya and will continuously demand from the Health Ministry to give us our very own government clinic. Subang Jaya residents pay a lot of taxes to the Federal Government and it is time for them to fulfill their pledges. Back in 2007, it has already been announced that RM8 Million had been allocated under the Ninth Malaysia Plan for a government clinic in Subang Jaya. Click here to read the old article. MPSJ has since then allocated a plot of land in Jalan USJ 1/33 for the Health Ministry for this purpose.

You can read more about this community clinic from Selangor Times, the Malay Mail and SJ Echo.

Community Clinic for DUN Subang Jaya

Article from SJ Echo

SUBANG JAYA: The days of hefty and expensive health care bills for the poor living in Subang Jaya are over.

A joint effort by the private health care sector and Masjid Al-Falah in USJ9 will be setting up a community clinic to see to the needs of the poor in this neighbourhood, ADUN Subang Jaya Hannah Yeoh said.

"A joint partnership between KPJ healthcare group and Masjid Al-Falah has been formed to establish a community clinic at their premises in USJ9."

"We do not have a government clinic in Subang Jaya at this point. We are still asking for this from the Health Ministry but since we do not have one, I am so glad that the private sector has come forward to help," she said.

Hannah said the clinic is now serving the community twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from a cabin put up at the mosque in USJ9.

"It is open for all races who are poor and cannot afford hefty bills in private healthcare. They charge only RM5 per consultation."

"Please make full use of this facility but don't abuse it. If you can afford to go to private clinics, please go to private clinics and let the deserving people benefit from this new facility we have for them," Hannah added.

A new building will be constructed to house this clinic at the mosque compound by June this year to properly serve even kidney failure patients with dialysis machines at their disposal.

More on illegal dumping

Article in SJ Echo - RM1K fine for illegal dumping

Eyesore...Hannah with MPSJ councilors and urban services department staff looking at one of the dumping spots in USJ2

SUBANG JAYA: RESIDENTS who are in the habit of dumping their rubbish indiscriminately along the roads will find themselves RM1,000 poorer if they are caught in the act.

ADUN Subang Jaya Hannah Yeoh said those caught in the act would have to face the music since all efforts by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council to deter such irresponsible behaviour had failed to stem the worsening problem of indiscriminate dumping.

"I urge residents to be more civic conscious and to dispose of their rubbish properly. Don't just throw it anywhere you like."

"If you see your neighbour dumping their rubbish improperly, advise them. If they still do it, call MPSJ for them to take action," she said during a press conference held in USJ2 to highlight the worsening problem.

Residents who have bulky waste to dispose of or for those who wish to lodge complaints can call the council's urban services department hotline at 03-8026 7431 (during office hours) or call MPSJ's main hotline at 03-5637 6545 (24 hours).

More illegal dumping

Article in SJ Echo - What a Lot of Rubbish!

Indiscriminate dumping of rubbish at its worst in affluent neighbourhood of Subang Jaya

SUBANG JAYA: THE CONTINUOUS indiscriminate dumping of rubbish by residents of Subang Jaya and the nonchalant attitude of the Subang Jaya Municipal Council in addressing it has earned the wrath of ADUN Subang Jaya Hannah Yeoh.

Despite it being the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Hannah took to the areas most affected in USJ to look at the situation on the ground with MPSJ councilors Dr KM Loi and Rajiv Rishyakaran, together with officials from MPSJ's urban services department.

The situation along Jalan USJ11/3 was bad, with rubbish piled up along the roads, spaced out between every two trees along the stretch.

"It is crucial for MPSJ YDP Dato' Asmawi Kasbi to address this problem. This area is the closest to the council's location and yet it happens, right at their doorstep."

"He (Asmawi) should turun padang to see the problems for himself. Two 3ton lorries to pick up bulky waste and garden refuse is not enough to cater to the whole municipality," she said.

Hannah said MPSJ needs to mobilise more resources to address this issue and not just turn a blind eye.

"The pattern starts with garden waste bags being placed along the roadside by MPSJ contractors. Uncollected, these bags of grass or leaves attract residents to add on to the pile with their own rubbish."

"Rubbish is piling up everywhere and it appears to be at its worse in affluent areas like USJ4, USJ5 and USJ11," she said, adding that homeowners also needed to be more considerate and refrain from dumping their rubbish everywhere.

Hannah who stopped to ask a security guard at USJ11/3 was told by the guard on duty that domestic maids from the houses were the culprits, dumping rubbish along the road junctions and at the trees.

She said MPSJ had started a pilot project in USJ2 by placing bulky waste bins for residents to dispose of their rubbish at designated spots.

"This is to gauge the volume of rubbish and costings before we will consider extending it all over Subang Jaya as one of several measures to address this nagging problem," she added.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Here's wishing everyone a Happy Chinese New Year! Have a wonderful reunion dinner with your loved ones tonight. May 2012 be a year of hope, peace, joy and good health for all Malaysians. Gong Xi Gong Xi!

When good men do something

My tribute for the late YB Edward Lee which was featured in this month's Rocket:

In loving memory of my friend Edward (I took this photo of Edward at the State Assembly in Selangor in March 2009 during lunch break)

When good men do something, not only is evil defeated, but righteousness gains authority. The passing of YB Edward Lee, State Assemblyman of Bukit Gasing, Selangor on the 20^th of December is the passing of a good man who did more than just something. From an entrepreneur and community leader to a state legislator, Edward has served and impacted his community, state and nation in ways which has indeed brought about meaningful present change but more powerfully, would yield the greatest harvest in years to come.

My husband and I call Edward our friend, even though he was almost twice our age and his children are our peers. Our friendship was forged during the campaign period of the last General Election, when we shared in the same experience of answering the call to be a DAP candidate, despite not having the necessary political experience but simply being guided by the belief in our Christian values that righteousness exalts a nation and it is time for us to do something, to stand up, speak up and act for our nation. Edward came to speak at one of my political rallies in the rain. We both ended up winning against all odds and being elected state assemblypersons along with many of our other colleagues from Pakatan Rakyat. We campaigned to be the stronger opposition in Selangor. We ended up being the new government. Edward took to his new role with gusto and simply relished the challenge.

Back in 2008, I sought much counsel from Edward after winning the state seat of Subang Jaya. I looked to him as a mentor. He was always there to provide guidance. When I protested against the development of utility land in USJ 6 with my residents, Edward was there. When I had to deal with the Subang Ria issue, Edward was there. When I wanted clarification on local government matters, Edward was there for me.

There was a time when we took a road trip up to Penang to campaign for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Permatang Pauh by-election. My husband was driving me and two friends in our car while Edward who was being driven by his son Simon, followed behind at a safe distance in their trusted old Nissan Sunny 120Y. Edward loved that car and he was very proud of it. We had arranged modest accommodation at the Taiping Lake Club, where we put up while campaigning in Permatang Pauh. It was so much like a family road trip for us, a road trip to campaign for Anwar. This memory reminds me of the simple, humble man that Edward is and has always been.

Edward’s passion was to serve and serve as the assemblyman he did. When he was first diagnosed with cancer in 2009, I was devastated. He fought the illness without ever slowing down in his responsibilities and duty as an assemblyman. It must be remembered that while he was passionate about his job, he was also a devoted father and loving husband who ensured that while he served the community, he did not falter in his home. Edward could have taken time off and relegated his role as an assemblyman to the periphery while devoting all his time to himself and his loved ones while battling cancer. Many would have done that and there’s absolutely nothing wrong if he had chosen to do that. But he didn’t.  His passion to serve transcended his personal needs.

When my husband and I visited Edward in his home in June/July 2011 as he lay in bed after suffering from a fall, unable to move, he began to discuss with passion the issues that he was working on at that time concerning his constituency and Selangor. As I stood next to the Selangor Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim at Edward’s wake service, I was choked with tears as I heard how the MB recounted that Edward was actually communicating with him on certain issues affecting his constituency very recently before his passing, unbeknownst to the MB at that time that Edward was ill, living his last days as the state assemblyman.

Edward and I often spoke on the phone, more often than not complaining about our frustration with certain issues and the difficulties we faced in discharging our duties. I will miss those calls.

When I delivered Shay, Edward rang me and asked “Hey, I forgot to ask you, what would your little one like as a gift? I haven’t bought her anything.” I replied “No need la Ed, she has a lot of things already. If you want, you can buy her something when she turns one”. Edward said “Sure, OK!”. He couldn’t wait that long. I will miss him on Shay’s first birthday.

When my mother-in-law passed away suddenly on 30^th November 2011, Edward came to see Ram and I at the funeral parlour. He was so weak after his chemo and yet he insisted on coming – to be there for us. That’s Edward – always there for his friends. As he stared at my mother-in-law resting in that coffin, Edward said “Life, shocking huh? But I am convinced by now that if the Lord wants me home, I will go and if He doesn’t think it’s time, He will sustain us”. On the day my mother-in-law was cremated, Edward wanted to be there too but he could not. I received a missed call from him. That was the last call I received from him.

We often seek for elements of hope and inspiration for our nation, especially during these trying times in the course of rebuilding this nation. And we are inclined every time to look for it in the young. But through Edward, I now know that we have unassuming older heroes among us, who are young at heart but filled with wisdom and truthfulness, unpretentious but driven by the simple cause of pursuing justice and righteousness while serving in their noble calling. I trust that the Lord knows it best when Edward breathed his last while serving as a state assemblyman. I don’t think he would have had it any other way. 

• 
  

Below are photos which I have taken of Edward and with Edward since 2008. I would like to share them with you:

With fellow assemblymen at the opening of State Assembly sitting in March 2009

Edward with Dr Nasir (ADUN Kota Damansara) and Ng Suee Lim (ADUN Sekinchan)

Mr & Mrs Edward Lee

Edward and Speaker of Selangor State Assembly Dato' Teng Chang Khim

My husband Ram with Edward, Dr Nasir and Dr Cheah Wing Yin (ADUN Damansara Utama) at the friendly games for assemblymen and spouse

Edward at MBPJ's Easter Concert

Backbenchers meeting in 2008 with Dr Rani (ADUN Meru) and Dr Nasir

Edward and I at the Permatang Pauh by-election campaigning for DSAI

Edward at the protest against development of Telekom land in USJ 6, he came to support my residents together with YB Khalid Samad (MP Shah Alam), Dr Nasir and Tony Pua (MP for PJ Utara)

Edward a member of the SELCAT committee

Happier times at Edward Ling's wedding day

With resident Jeffrey Khoo, MPSJ councillor Rajiv Rishyakaran and Edward at the 1st Citizen Journalist Conference by Malaysiakini in 2010. This photo taken from 1mytomyam.blogspot.com

I miss you Ed and I know you are safe in the Father's arms. Absent in the body, present with the Lord. Each time I think of you, this song comes to mind and the lyrics hold true:

There’s a land that is fairer than day,

And by faith we can see it afar;

For the Father waits over the way

To prepare us a dwelling place there.

• In the sweet by and by,
  We shall meet on that beautiful shore...