My sufferings to get CF for renovated house

A bit of history :
(1) In March 2007, I finally completed the S & P to take delivery of an old double story house in OUG, Kuala Lumpur.
(2) I then approached few builidng contractors on proper procedure to get approved renovation from DBKL and also quotation of the renovation. Contractors recommended few draughtsmen or architects. I gatherd some costing information (both DBKL approval and my required renovations) from the survey. Due to cost consideration as well as doubt on the backgroud of the recommended draghtsmen, I went to seek help from DBKL in July 2008.
(3) At DBKL, I asked for help and advice from the Technical Assistant (TA) sitting at the helpdesk at ground floor. The TA pulled cards from few name cardholders on his desk and asked me to discussed further with these guys whom he said know the approval processes on house renovation in DBKL. ( During the discussion, he never offered any direction to me to ask Board of Architect for the list of Buidling Draughtsman who can submit plans to DBKL!)
(4) I called few of these guys, and one of them, Afizul Bin Tajuddin (IC 790420-10-5335 H/P; 012-343 4766) answered and we discussed further at the project site (the house in OUG). We negotiated the price, scheduled payment and works. I took his particulars (IC, phone and photo). I then paid him the deposit as first payment.
(5) Afizul quickly came out with the plan and made further amendments to meet quirement. On 22/09/2008, I went with him to DBKL and submitted the plan to Planning Department (DBKL). At that moment, I realised the signature was 'Jamali Basir -Building Draughtsman at Pandan Jaya. I was concern and asked Afizul if he wotked for this Jamali. He did not answer but proceeded to submit the builing plan to DBKL which accepted the submission and gave me the receipt. He then smiled and said 'don't worry, the proof is here that I am genuine'
(6) On 13 Oct 2008, Planning Department (DBKL) issued a green form which is the approval for the submitted plan. Afizul then proceeded to prepare the strucural plan and later submitted the plan to Buiilding Department (DBKL) . (My fault for not noting there is a directive stated in the Green form of Planning Department that we have to submit a sanitory drawing!). I paid Afizul for the completed works to submit the sructural plan to Budiling Department.
(7) Problems started from here. Since the submission, we did not hear further from DBKL. Afizul did not answer all my phone calls. We then call the Jamali Basir who claimed he 'makan tulang, while others makan daging'. I then realised that Jamali 'sold his signature to Afizul!!.
(8) My wife managed to conatct a En Tahir of Building Department. En Tahir informed that his office had sent letter and contacted Jamali on a minor amendment on the submitted plan. However, Jamali did not respond. He said it was lucky we contacted him, as he was about to reject the plan due to non-action by Jamali. He advsied my wife to come to office to do the amendment herself. My wife called Afizul but again no reply. She then bought the necessary stationary and at that time Afizul retuned the call. He and my wife then rushed to DBKL yo make the amendment (just 2 short strokes of pencil on the gutter).
(9) Tahir reminded my wife on the sanitary plan infront of Afizul. She requested Afizul to complete the plan.
(10) Thereafter, we did not hear further from Afizul.
(11) On 27/03/09, We got the approval from Building Department (yelloe form). We engaged a contractor to execute the renovation. Meanwhile, we kept up contact with Afizul and Jamali. Afizul did not return our call, while Jamali came twice to building site.
(12) On these 2 visits by Jamali, I urged him to submit the sanitary plan and asked him to help to complete the last process (Form F) to get CF (from DBKL) for my renovated house. This Jamali always stated ' dia makan tulang, while others makan daging'. I did say ' so, give me quotation and we would then discuss further on an agreed price'
(13) Alas, this Jamali never responded. I went to Building Department DBKL to seek advice. Their view is ' the builing by-law does not permit me to change Building draughtman on my renovation' . feedback form staff of DBKL indicated this Jamali is a 'rouge' Building Draughtsmand with problems similar to mine (i.e. selling names to submit plans, but no follow up). I then wrote to Jamali Basir (by AR letter) asking him to release himself. He did not reply despite acknowledgement of my letter. I then wrote to DBKL to ask DBKL to release this Jamali Basir.
(14) 01/12/09, DBKL issued me a letter to release Jamali Basir. Upon the receipt of this letter, I googled the web page of Board of Architects (as advised by a friend) to look for registered Building Draughtsman (BD) . I called up few of these BD to seek their service. Their responses were (a) DBKL letter to me to release Jamali Basir ias the BD of my house is not valid for the other BD to take over the works I requested, i.e prepare the sanitory plan and later to complete the Form F to get CF, and (ii) They consider other basis such as responsibilty, legal, etc which are not advisable for them to take over the work of Jamali Basir as the BD.

All my sufferings !!!! Due to one man - this Jamali Basir who lent his signature to draughtsman.


On 11/12/09, I have written a letter to tell the Board of Architect on my present sufferings and chronology of the events listed above

Public beware---- This Jamali Basir is still on the registered list of BD in the Board Of Architects.

East coast Peninsular Malaysia will 2nd flood on 29-30 Nov 2009

For many years, I have been monitoring the changes of wind flow, resultant high waves and rain for Malaysian region /other areas (overseas) of interest.

On first week of Nov 2009, A strong NE monsoon surge coupled with a incoming 'weather system'. brought heavy rainfall (and resultant flood) to the NE coast and Kedah/Perlis.

On 21-23rd Nov 2009, a weather system ('low pressure' which was advised by Guan Typhon Centre as a possibility to develop into a more severe weather system) developed in-situ off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and brought heavy rain again to east coast states. This pressure system was advised by the Malaysian Weather Department to hit the land of east coast to result to more rain /thus flood , but I preferred movement away (to East towards central South China Sea) from Peninsular Malaysia. Indeed, this weather pattern moved away to East and We in Peninsular Malaysia has beautiful sunshine from 25/11/09 (and relatively calm sea for fishermen to get their catch).

Alas, this weather system is now making a U-turn tn head back towards Peninsular to bring strong winds, high waves and heavy rain again (and thus flood to east coast states) by 29-30 Nov 2009.

I attach a image of the path of this weather system (a 'low pressure')

Police's resources should be used diligently by its men

What is the purpose of police patrol cars? They enable mobility of policement to deter crimes, right? Between 10am till 1pm on Sunday 22/11/09, 3 patrol cars parked by the road between Kesas Highway and OUG. The men put cones to narrow passge to one lane- few of them checked on motocylists (mostly) and motorists, while one stood to direct traffic. Their action did not look an 'operation', more adhoc type. Even if they intend to deter crime, why 3 patrol cars parked at same spot, back-to-back at this spot? These men wasted expensive and useful assets to deter crime in OUG and surrounding areas!

Check your medical insurance policy and the underwriter

BEWARE of your medical insurance policy!
I have been renewing a family medical insurance (with Sihat Rakyat (SR) / Jerneh Insurance JI) for the last 4 years (annual renewal). I first bought this insurance when I was working as a contract staff with a company where I was introduced by other contractor staff to the agent who was selling the medical insurance. The man introduced himself as an agent of SR and my collegues had expressed satisfaction using the insurance policy. The agent /colleagues told me that SR is an appointed agent of JI and this huge company will take care of my medical needs. I checked with JI to confirm SR is its agent to sell the medical insuarance. I then signed up and later received a medial card cum policy from JI. The logo and name of JI appeared prominantly on the medical card and policy document. I have called JI which confirmed the validity of the policy number on the card and document.
In the past few years, I have used the medical card for my wife and daughter at private hospitals. Each time, Jerneh Insurance guaranteed the payment, and thus I have been very happy with the medical insurance of SR and JI.

Alas, this October 2009, I receievd a letter from JI that upon the expiray of the policy on 01/01/2010, JI shall NO LONGER support (or underwrite ) the same medical policy of its agent SR. I was thus confused, and made inquiry with both JI and SR. The representative at JI replied that its own discretion of underwriting the risk of its agent (in this case, it decided NOT to continue to underwrite the agent's medical policy), while SR said it could not do anything with JI. Then I became more confused as JI has acknowledged SR as its agent to sell its (JI) policy and thus undetaking the risk of JI policy sold by SR, but now by refusing to underwrite, JI had effectively cancelled its own JI medical policy (and been sold by SR) to the public

I am now retired and this is the time when I/my wife require medical coverage. By refusing to continue to underwrite the same medical policy of its agent SR, we cannot get the medical coverage which will impose extra loading (for senior citizens) as well as restriction on existing medcial conditions.

Gall bladder stones - why specialist doctors are so inhuman ?

In late Sept 2009, my wife went to a gastroenterologist at a private hospital in PJ for a scope on the stomach and colon. My wife has been treated for H Pylori by this Gastro man for past months. The last scope indicated no more H Pylori but instead acute esophagus (as explained by this gastro man). At that time, the specialist attributed the cause of this ‘ new discovery’ as too much treatment on the H Pylori. Of course I inquired then which is the devil- H Pylori or the ‘acute esophagus’. He just laughed it off. We left the hospital and I goggled for treatment on acute esophagus. I later bought marshmallow (recommended as a cure for acute esophagus)

This time (late Sept 09), the scope shows colon is clean while there is recurrence of the H Pylori. The gastro man prescribed medicine (antibiotic with other medicine) to treat H Pylori again. I posed the question that in last session where ’ you advised my wife has acute esophagus due to too much treatment. Is this wise to treat the H Pylori?’ The doctor insisted he did not said too much treatment caused acute esophagus, but rather H Pylori caused the acute esophagus. I was really pissed off with this specialist.

This specialist further made a quick remark; we did a ultrasound scan and detected a stone. Right away he recommended us to see another doctor. We had no chance to inquire further. My wife got worried and insisted to see the recommended doctor in the same hospital.

Within 30 minutes, we go to see this specialist, and it turned out that he is a surgeon. He read the report by the radiologist (on the ultrasound scan) on one stone 7mm with irregular wall of gall bladder. The Radiologist termed it as chronic cholecystitis. We said my wife had never complained of any pain in the abdomen where the gall bladder is located (non –symptom stone). This surgeon painted a very bleak picture of no immediate action to remove by surgery (lapro cholecystitis) and my wife got worried.

We left the hospital and googgled on gall bladder stones. Indeed, it is common for human (especially women ) to have non-symptomatic gall bladder stones. The Web does advise actions to remove stones that show symptoms less there are complication to pancreas, livers and bile ducts. The Web also give alternatives such as ‘blasting’ and ‘dissolution’ by medicine.

We finally went to see a family GP for further advise. He perused the blood test to confirm no tests was done to determine concentration of H Pylori (the gastro man only did a biopsy on one poly he clipped during scoping; In previous sessions with this specialist, my wife had to exhale into a bag to determine H Pylori concentration). The GP recommended 3 months session to try ROWACHOL, a medicine which I have googgled previously. We took this option, rather than to remove the gall bladder.
(P.S the gastro man is a very ambitious man- his takes in patient without appointment and clinic daily finished till 7pm; by 5.30 nearly all other specialists would have closed their clinics in this private hospital. NEVER go to see a specialist who worked ‘hard’ to receive many patients)

Too frequent funerals in past 2 months

From July 2009 till Sept 2009, I attended 4 funerals of persons whom I have been very close or known very well. In early July 2009, my 2nd uncle (mother side) passed away due to 'massive cardiac arrest'. He died in the hospital after complaining difficulty of breathing He was 85 years old. One week later, Chow KK, a good friend and a previous director -general of the Malaysian Met Department, passed away in his sleep. He was 63 years old. Then in early Sept 2009, my mother-in-law passed away. She was 83 years old and had been having medical problem. One week thereafter, a brother-in-law(wife's side) passsed away due to cancer of lung. He was 50 years old, and he left behind 3 kids (eldest is Standard 6 and youngest is Standard 1); fortunately the wife works and is relatively successful in sales.
As I step in the late 50s, seem funerals are common , especially with aunties, uncles, relatives reaching the 70-90 years old. Nowadays, when a phone rings, especially at night, I get jumpy and prepared for the worst

Drivers on the North-South Highway beware of this practice

On the 20/09/09 (1st day of 2009 Hari Raya Aidilfitri), I drove from Alor Setar to KL. Somewhere before Tapah, there was this sole motorcylist with his yellow light blinking and he was speeding at 120km/hr catching up on me. I have encountred big-bikers that zoomed at higher speed (and in convoys) and no problem with them passing me in the space between cars. But this motorcyclist (seem like a Vespa -type) insisted on behaving as a 'car' and waved me aside to give way. No problem with that as I'd not want to endanger him. After giving him the way, I then realised there was a car following closely behind this bike; the car did not attempt to overtake. Looked asif a 'private escort' or 'private outrider'.

The highway authority should look out for such practice and put a stop to it, as there could be unpleasant incidents or event accidents by such antics

A 'clash' of 2 events during Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2009

I have all along planned to attend my nephew's wedding in Klang on 1st day Lunar Month August 2009. This'd have been the first wedding of my many nephews.
Unfortunately, my mother-in-law passed away in Alor Setar just 7 days fore the wedding event. We (wife, daughter and I) went to Alor Setar to join the rest of the family for the funeral which went on for 4 days, and on the 5th day of her death, Mother-in-law was cremated in a Thai Wat in Bagan Serai (Kedah) We continued to stay on in Alor Setar, as on the 7th day (the day of my nephew wedding, 1st day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2009), we have to collect her ashes/bones.
On the 7th day, the family went (in a convoy of cars) to Bagan Serai . This was my first experience of seeing the result of a cremation- out came the 'oven bed' on which clearly seen the outline of the remains of human skeleton. The lone worker picked up as many bones and ashes as possible and put them on a tray, the balance was sucked into a vacuum cleaner. The 2 monks then did some chanting after which we (family members) used chop sticks to pick up the small bones that were put inside a vase.
The vase was the wrapped in a yellow cloth and the family brought this vase to another Thai Wat located at the roundabout at Jalan Telok Wanjah. The 'box' of her her vase is beside the father-in-law; may the mather and father -in-law be together again in the 'other side' of the world.

Anyway, regardless whether I could have made it earlier (before the Hari Raya) to KL, I would not be able to attend the wedding of my nephew. By my attendance in the funeral, it is a taboo for me to attend the joyous wedding event of my nephew.

The driving on the 1st Day Hari Raya (20/09/09) was very good, with few cars on the road. There was no accident on North-South Highway from Alor Setar till KL

Another nephew will have his wedding early Jan 2010, and I am looking forward to attend that wedding

DBKL Building Department advised my next step to get my CF

On 07/09/09 I finally managed to call a senior pegawai in Building Department DBKL regarding my present status of not gettiing the registered draughtsman (Hj Jamali Basir, BD/J7, with office in Pandan Indah ) to complete his works on my house renovation works. This draughstman has refused to answer my letter (sent by AR register) requesting him to (i) send me quotation for works to (a) submit a plan on the sanitory, as directed by DBKL Planning Department to the DBKL Building Department, renovation, (b) later works to get the CF by completing Form F, (ii) if he does not wish to continue to be the registered draughtsman for my renovation by doing items (i a) and (i b), then he has to send me a 'discharge letter' to discharge himself from my works - with that letter only does DBKL permits me to engage a new registered draughtsman to complete (i a) and (i b), as advised by pegawai of DBKL on such a by-law. i.e. house owner cannot do such works by themselves.

I have explained the above to the senior Pegawai, and he advised that I then issue my own letter to discharge this draughtsman and send a copy of the letter to DBKL. I have been banging my head with DBKL for such an advise, but none had been forthcoming.
Ok , I shall then doing accoridngly, and see how this goes

Maxis confirmed OUG has poor broadband connectivity

On 24/8, a Maxis technician came to my house in OUG to test the broadband connection which I have been complaining 'bad' since I moved in late July 2009. His test confirmed the poor connectivity (due to Maxis server) and agreed on the intermittent connection which I highlghted to Maxis broadband team (by email). He could not do anything further, except to lodge a report to Maxis on connection status in my area, proposed a rebate to Maxis for my billing and advised me to bring the sim card (inside the broadband) to Mais centre to exchnage for a new card.

On 26/8, I went to Maxis centre at the Garden (Midvalley) to get a new sim card. Testing at that office showed broadband speed reached >2 Mbps- very good. Alas, upon reaching home, same occurrences of frequent breaks in the broadband connection.

On 6/09/09, Maxis rep called me to inform that they had received the technician report. The rep said she would put a remark in the billign that I can terminate my service anytime, without paying a penalty of RM 200 for early termination of the 1 year broadband contract (I signed up in early July 2009 while I was staying in Taman Sri Sentosa where the connectioin was good during the 7 day trial period).
Too bad, I have loved the freedom with broadband, Guess I just have to stick with Streamyx and install a WIFI for home use.

Bandarya Kuala Lumpur cannot help me on my CF for house renovation

Sighhhhhhhhh, I staill cannot get CF for completion of my renovated house, because the bl....y f---k the registered draughtsman (RD) who has been doing thre submission refused to do further works. My reference with DBKL is Ref no. BPS3 OSC 2008 1863.
below is the history on my present quandry

In July 2008, I went DBKL to seek advice on proper procedures/ type of renovations that can be accepted or approved for a double storey linked house in OUG. A Technical Assistant (TA) manning the counter at ground-floor DBKL recommended a few draughtsman whose name-cards he pulled out from the few name-card holders on his desk in front of me. Thinking such personnel would be credible in view of the recommendation, I contacted few of them and finally strike up an agreement on schedule of payment and phases of work (a mistake I made though to have the phase of works till approval by DBKL on the rebnovation, whereas it should be till release of the CF on the renovation completed; ; the draughtsman by name of Afizul did not advise on such incomplete works by him).

With all his particulars in my record, I paid deposit and this draughtsman quickly drew the renovation. After few amendments, Afizul submitted the plan to the Planning Department DBKL. He gave me the receipt by DBKL and I paid him accordingly. Soon, Planning Department gave the green light (on a Green-coloured form) to approve the renovation, subjected to further approval by Building Department (BD) DBKL. I missed reading one condition by Planning Department on submission of sanitary plan of the renovation to the BD DBKL.

Soon, this Afizul again submitted the required structural plan to BD DBKL and I was there with him when he made the submission and I paid accordingly. At that time, I noted the signatory and letter head of submission is not this Afizul, but a registered draughtsman (RD) by name of Haji Jamali. I got curious and asked Afizul on this issue. He said no problem, and I saw no reason to doubt him since the stage had now reached BD DBKL.

My problems then began. After submitting to BD DBKL, we did not get any update on the approval. No replies from this Afizul to my sms or phone calls. My wife called various DBKL departments and finally got to an officer in BD. This officer was kind and patient to inform my wife that his BD has sent out letter to Haji Jamali (the submitting RD) but this RD never replied. The officer said he was about to disapprove the plan, as the letter to the RD was lapsing in 2 days time. He told my wife only minor change (gutter) was required, and advised my wife to go to BD DBKL.

We called up the Afizul many times and finally he answered, and he went with my wife to BD to do the simple amendment- just 2 lines to indicate the gutter location. Thereafter, we could not contact this Afizul again though this BD officer already told him to submit the sanitary plan. Nevertheless, we later received the approval (on blue-coloured form) from BD to proceed with the renovation, but sanitary plan was still required, as advised by BD DBKL..

While the renovation was in progress, we managed to get this Jamali to come to OUG to see the renovation (he came twice). This RD did not event know the issues at hand – a really Ali-Baba business. He kept complaining ‘he makan tulang, while others makan daging’- I responded he already makan much more ‘daging’ by using his license to sign the plans prepared by other draughtsman for submission to DBKL, as the situation I am facing now.

Jamali and I had last discussion in June 2009 when he came in the rain on his big bike to my OUG house (at that time, renovation was 90% completion). I told him to provide quotation to complete the sanitary plan for submission to BD DBKL and later to complete the Form F (for CF). Subsequent after that meeting, I called this RD and sms him, but no replies. I sent an AR letter to him with ‘gentle tone’ to ask him for options (i) tell me how much his cost to do the works I asked him (provided we agreed on the cost); (ii) that if he does not want to continue to be the RD my works, then he issues a discharge letter. (DBKL has earlier advised me that such RD must issue discharge letter if the RD refuses to proceed with the work till CF after renovation, and by-laws requires me to engage a RD to do such works!). This Jamali RD acknowledged the AR letter, yet refused to answer w.r.t the options or to provide a discharge letter. Thereafter (n July), I wrote a letter to BD DBKL with a copy of my AR letter to Jamali RD. I asked BD DBKL to permit me to appoint new RD to complete the works i.e. prepare sanitary plan for submission to BDKL and later complete the for F to get the CF.

Since DBKL did not reply my letter, on 28/8/09, I went to DBKL BD to inquire further. Despite my appeal and their comprehension of my predicament, DBKL could not permit me to appoint a new RD. They proposed me to complain to PIAM or the Lembaga Arkitek with which Jamali RD is a member. However, I explained such professional bodies take time to deal with their members by which time the approval by BD BDKL would lapse and clock is ticking (the approval by BDKL is only for 12 months from March 2009). The officers in DBKL understand my situation, yet nothing can be done to help me.

Something is not right in the building by-laws to protect these so called ‘professionals’ and such loopholes are leaving me (house owner) in a quandary. The Ministry of Housing should take a look at these loopholes, but meanwhile I require urgent help.
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP?

Singapore to go to war with Malaysia on water issue? who is the liar ?

I read with concern latest remark by TDM that he did not recall Singapore's Lee Kuan Yiew making threat of war with Malaysia over the water issue. The present DPM has stated such a threat in his public speech in Johor, and the threat was allegedly raised during a meeting between Malaysia (the previous PM (TDM), the Menteri Besar of Johor (present DPM) and Diam) and Singapore (Lee Kuan Yew). If indeed the memory of the TDM is correct, then did our present DPM recalled correctly on that incident (one is is 80+ years old man, while the other is 'relatively' young)
At the moment, there is no serious issue between Singpaore and Malaysia that warrants the of word 'WAR' involving the 2 countries.

Maxis broadband service took long time to resolve

I have experienced constant breaks in MAXIS broadband since I moved to Taman Overseas Union, Jalan Klang Lama K Lumpur in 22 July 2009. I subscriped to MAXIS in mid July to prepare for a delay in TM Streamyx re-cconection /change from my old place at Taman Sri Sentosa to OUG. Indeed, TM also gave me problem as it took them days to resolve connection at their end to enable Streamyx at my new place in OUG. At least Streamyx guy/gal called up constantly to inquire my status (though I said no change, untill finally I got the Steamyx up and running.
In contrast, the MAXIS broadband support team is horrible in their service. Despite sending email to them, they were slow to respond, made me go to their center (at Mid-Valley) to upload latest broadband software (they blamed it on the old software 'Mobile Connect', but the Maxis USB broadband I had already got the latest Maxis Broadband software). Then the Maxis lady representative called me to said their vendor had tested transmission in OUG and rated it as normal, so I should not have problem. I insisted their vendor to come to my house, and finally on 24/08/09, a vendor came to my house. He did on line testing and explained indeed based on the profile of transmission, there are 'spikes' indicating break in broadband. At the monthly payment of RM 138 (with further discount) , I should entitle to 3MB/sec, yet I am getting only 1 MB (as shown on the screen).
The vendor said(i) he'd report to Maxis and recommenda rebate (ii) I have to go to Maxis center to change out the SIM card. Ok I'd do the 2nd part and go to Maxis at Mid Valley.