
Concern over Seremban Forest Heights roundabout plan
The proposal has received approval from Seremban City Council (MBS), with construction costs to be borne by the company.
While the roundabout is meant to improve traffic flow into Forest Heights, many residents are uncertain whether this measure adequately addresses the broader safety and congestion issues.
Forest Heights comprises a primary school, a college and multiple residential areas.
Notably, Taman Dusun Setia, which is accessed via a narrow sloped road, contributes significantly to traffic congestion, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up hours.
Vehicles entering and exiting the neighbourhood add to the peak-hour bottlenecks on Persiaran Forest Heights 2.
The junction at Taman Dusun Setia is also situated on an incline, posing a serious safety hazard.
It is not uncommon to witness drivers attempting to turn left or right without properly yielding to oncoming traffic, leading to several near-misses.
Given all this, it is unclear whether a roundabout alone can resolve the existing traffic congestion or improve safety.
Without accompanying measures such as traffic lights or better regulation at the Persiaran Forest Heights 2 junction, the situation may worsen or merely shift congestion to another point.
A more comprehensive traffic management solution is needed, one that accounts for peak-hour congestion, school zones and the unique road layout of the area.
We urge the authorities and the developer to engage with the local community and traffic experts to explore safer and more effective long-term solutions.
Public safety and proper traffic regulation must remain the top priorities in all urban planning decisions.
Additionally, existing sodium vapour streetlights along Persiaran Forest Heights 2 are dim, making it difficult to see clearly at night.
MBS should look into replacing these streetlights with LED lights which are brighter and more energy efficient, which can also lead to long-term cost savings.
Michael Ng
Forest Heights, Seremban

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Going grassroots to save our tiger
Dedicated guardian: Lara awarding a certificate of appreciation to an Orang Asli ranger under Rimau. Orang Asli-led patrols, eye on youth offer new hope PETALING JAYA: A revolution to save our critically endangered Malayan tiger is unfolding, led by the Orang Asli who have called the forests home for generations. The community is not alone in this cause as the Tiger Protection Society of Malaysia (Rimau) is there to lend a helping hand. Since its founding in 2018, Rimau continues to empower the Orang Asli in Perak by training them to become skilled patrollers and guardians of their ancestral forests where the tigers live. Rimau president Lara Ariffin said that they have made major strides in improving their conservation efforts' effectiveness and reach through expanded patrols and improved equipment since November last year. 'We have increased the number of trained Indigenous rangers, particularly in Amanjaya, Korbu and Piah forest reserves, allowing for wider patrol coverage and quicker response to poaching threats. 'With support from our partners, we've also acquired new field equipment, including GPS units, camera traps and a communication tool. 'All these have helped us improve data collection and ranger safety during operations,' she said in an interview. She said that training has also seen a significant boost with new modules in SMART monitoring, bush craft, first aid and navigation added to the training curriculum for patrollers. She added that Rimau's Menraq Muda youth programmes are helping instil a sense of stewardship in the next generation through hands-on learning. 'We are looking to expand our patrols to the Bintang Hijau forest reserve by next year with the goal of treating all forests in Perak as one connected landscape. 'While progress has been made, we have yet to reach the optimum ratio of 10 patrollers per 100 square kilometres, which is crucial for effective forest monitoring and anti-poaching efforts.' Lara added that Rimau has trained four young women from the Jahai community to be pre-school teachers at Rumah Baca with the mission of nurturing the community's children to inherit the mantle of forest guardianship. But it hasn't been without setbacks, including the death of a female tiger they had tracked for over two years on the East-West Highway, as well as a notable decline in wild boar populations due to African swine fever. On the bright side, Lara said that winning the Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA) last November put a much-needed national spotlight on their cause. The recognition led to new partnerships, more sponsors and increased volunteer interest. 'The award affirmed that community-driven conservation can be both effective and inspiring, encouraging more people to support, share and take part in protecting Malaysia's natural heritage,' she said. The SGHA returns for the 11th edition to honour everyday Malaysians whose compassion and selflessness have made a lasting impact on others. With McDonald's Malaysia as the new strategic partner, SGHA is poised to broaden its reach and deepen its impact nationwide. This year also marks the debut of the McDonald's Caring Hearts Award – a special recognition honouring individuals or grassroots groups whose heartfelt acts of kindness have uplifted lives in profound and lasting ways. Since its inception in 2015, SGHA has honoured over 100 individuals and organisations whose efforts have inspired action, transformed lives and strengthened communities nationwide.

The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Stop further destruction of Bukit Kiara park
Over 300 trees were felled on the hill slope adjacent to Jalan Abang Haji Openg in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. I REFER to the article 'Trees felled in Bukit Kiara Park will be replaced' in StarMetro on July 19. As a long-time resident of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), I am writing with deep anguish and frustration over the massive destruction that has occurred in Taman Persekutuan Bukit Kiara − ironically carried out by the very agency entrusted with protecting it: National Landscape Department (JLN). The destruction of over 300 trees on the hill slope adjacent to Jalan Abang Haji Openg in TTDI is nothing short of heartbreaking. JLN's justification that many of the felled trees were invasive rubber trees is misleading. Yes, Bukit Kiara was once a commercial rubber estate, and yes, some of the trees were non-native. But what about the many other non-invasive species? Could none of them be preserved? Why was every single tree removed without exception? Couldn't JLN, as an agency that preaches the preservation of biodiversity, have saved some trees and built around them? Apparently not, because it's far more convenient for the contractors to work on a completely barren, obstacle-free site. So instead of planning with nature, JLN chose to plan against it, wiping the hill clean for ease of construction. And now the residents must live with the consequences; bare slopes, exposed soil, rising temperatures, dust, noise and an ever-present fear of landslides. Even more distressing is that this environmental desecration occurred without any prior engagement with residents or stakeholders. The affected community was only informed after the trees were gone. That is simply unacceptable. JLN defended its actions by pledging to plant 614 new trees and over 3,700 shrubs. But anyone who knows trees knows that no number of saplings can immediately replicate the cooling shade, carbon capture, soil stability and biodiversity supported by mature trees. That will take decades. In the meantime, residents suffer. The rationale given – that JLN needs a physical presence on-site to manage Bukit Kiara – is not convincing. There is ample existing office space in the vicinity that could have easily accommodated JLN staff. There was absolutely no need to build a new four-storey structure at the expense of our already threatened green lung. What we need now is a clear and committed way forward to restore trust, limit further damage and ensure this never happens again. As such: 1. Early and genuine engagement with major stakeholders must be the norm. The voices of the rakyat, especially those directly affected, must be heard before projects begin – not after bulldozers have done their work. 2. Strict project timelines must be enforced. The current JLN-led upgrade of the Lake Park is already showing signs of stagnation, with days of inactivity and no visible progress. JLN must be present on-site to ensure contractors don't drag their feet. 3. No more concrete structures in Bukit Kiara. Let this be the last of such buildings. The soul of Bukit Kiara is its nature – not its walls. 4. During the 2.5-year construction phase, all environmental and community safeguards must be observed. These include keeping noise levels within legal limits, preventing soil erosion and landslides, not carrying out work after sunset, and minimising dust pollution. 5. A six-monthly public progress report must be issued. This is essential to keep the community informed, hold contractors accountable and ensure timely completion. The report should detail the percentage of work completed, upcoming phases, issues faced and steps taken. JLN must also continue engaging residents until final handover. This isn't just about buildings or trees; it is about public trust, transparency and doing right by future generations. DR POLA SINGH Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur The writer is co-founder of Friends of Bukit Kiara


The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Jeju Air jet still had a working engine when it crashed, investigation update says
SEOUL (Reuters) -A Jeju Air plane that crashed in December during an emergency landing after a bird strike could have kept flying on the damaged engine that was still working after pilots shut down the other one, according to an update from South Korean investigators. The Boeing 737-800 instead belly-landed at Muan airport without its landing gear down, overshot the runway and erupted into a fireball after slamminginto an embankment, killing all but two of the 181 people on board. Investigators have not yet produced a final report into the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil, but information about the plane's two engines has begun to emerge. According to a July 19 update prepared by investigators and seen by Reuters but not publicly released following complaints from victims' family members, the left engine sustained less damage than the right following a bird strike, but the left engine was shut down 19 seconds after the bird strike. The right engine experienced a "surge" and emitted flames and black smoke, but investigators said it "was confirmed to be generating output sufficient for flight," in the five-page update, which included post-crash photos of both engines. No reason for the crew's actions was given and the probe is expected to last months as investigators reconstruct the plane's technical state and the picture understood by its pilots. Experts say most air accidents are caused by multiple factors and caution against putting too much weight on incomplete evidence. MORE QUESTIONS So far, public attention has focused on the possibility that the crew may have shut down the less-damaged engine, rekindling memories of a 1989 Boeing 737-400 crash in Kegworth, England, where pilots shut down a non-damaged engine by mistake. The disaster led to multiple changes in regulations including improvements in crew communication and emergency procedures. A source told Reuters on Monday that the South Korea-led probe had "clear evidence" that pilots had shut off the less-damaged left engine after the bird strike, citing the cockpit voice recorder, computer data and a switch found in the wreckage. But the latest update on the crash also raises the possibility that even the more heavily damaged engine that was still running could have kept the plane aloft for longer. It did not say what level of performance the operating engine still had, nor what extra options that might have given to the plane's emergency-focused crew before the jet doubled back and landed in the opposite direction of the runway from its initial plan with its landing gear up. Both engines contained bird strike damage and both experienced engine vibrations after the strike. The right engine showed significant internal damage, the Korean-language update from South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) said, but it did not describe the damage found in the left engine. The update did not say how the left engine was operating nor the state of systems connected to either engine, said former U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Greg Feith when shown the document translated by Reuters. It contains some new facts but omits far more,resulting in a "cryptic" document, he said. ARAIB, which plans to issue a final report next June, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Safety experts say it is common for early reports to contain sparse facts and limited analysis while investigations continue. A preliminary report released in January said feathers and blood stains from ducks were found in both engines. The engines - made by CFM International, jointly owned by GE and France's Safran - were examined in May and no defects or fault datawere found beyond the bird and crash damage, the report said. Families of those who died in the disaster were briefed on the engine findings but asked investigators not to release the July 19 report, saying that it appeared to apportion blame to the pilots without exploring other factors. The report was withheld but Reuters and South Korean media obtained and GE referred questions about the crash to ARAIB. Safran did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jeju Air has previously said it is cooperating with ARAIB and is awaiting publication of the investigation. Under global aviation rules, civil air investigations aim to discover crash causes without assigning blame or liability. The Jeju Air pilots' union said ARAIB was "misleading the public" by suggesting there was no problem with the left engine given that bird remains were found in both. A source who attended the briefing told Reuters that investigators told family members the left engine also experienced a disruptive "surge," citing black box data. The pilot union and representatives of bereaved families have asked that evidence be released to support any findings. Relatives say the investigation also needs to focus on the embankment containing navigation equipment, which safety experts have said likely contributed to the high death toll. Global aviation standards call for any navigation equipment in line with runways to be installed on structures that easily give way in case of impact with an aircraft. South Korea's transport ministry has identified seven domestic airports, including Muan, with structures made of concrete or steel, rather than materials that break apart on impact and has said it will improve them. Designs for the new structures are in progress, a ministry official told Reuters last week. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington and Heekyong Yang in Seoul and Dan Catchpole in Seattle; Additional reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in Seoul; Editing by Jamie Freed)