THE letter “Why Renovate? Just buy a Bungalow” (The Star, Oct 12) is very well written and has highlighted a host of problems and issues affecting indiscriminate “approvals” given to house owners to renovate their premises.

To illustrate this serious problem, I would like to describe the situation in Section 12, Petaling Jaya, which seems to me is undergoing a “keep up with the Joneses” in the renovation and upgrading exercise.

Jalan 12/14 and Jalan 12/12 used to be two rows of neat single-storey terrace houses in a quiet neighbourhood. Now every third house in Jalan 12/14 is undergoing renovations to see who can build the tallest house.

An old friend of mine had neighbours on either side of him in that area doing renovations at the same time. This friend is over 75 years old, a serious diabetic and living alone with his ailing wife. Can you imagine the torture they undergo? Now, my questions are:

> Are single storey terrace houses allowed to be converted to double-storey houses?

> Do the owners of the houses undergoing conversion need to get the signed approval of his neighbours before he can get the approval from the local authorities?

> What do the authorities do, when the nuisance of such renovation disrupt and affect the health of their neighbours? Can the neighbours claim medical expenses and hotel lodging for the period the houses are undergoing renovation?

Renovation of terrace houses a nuisance for neighbours

murder and mayhem on Malaysian roads.

The latest carnage on the Expressway, caused by a speeding rogue Express bus, 12 killed in Horror Crash & Bus was going way too fast has clearly demonstrated that the Ministry of Transport, and the Govt have failed miserably to eradicate this menace from our roads. Why do I say that? Since the year 2008, I have been writing to the Ministry and to the media to advocate that the only way to stop the "killing machines" was to install Speed limiting Devices on ALL express buses, as no amount of "Standard operating Procedures" and surveillance will do the job. The Police and the JPJ cannot be our Safety custodians for 24 hours 7 days a week, as we know that it's totally impossible, given the "criminal" attitudes of the bus drivers and owners alike.

During the lengthy discourses, the then Minister of Transport, promised to look into the speed limiting device's implementation, and asked for time, as he had to deal with some serious Intra party issues. We were subsequently told that the speed limiting device was being considered in stages, as some of the older buses may not take to the installation effectively. We were pleased, nevertheless, that the Ministry has finally agreed to take proper action on the only effective way to stop the marauding buses.

Much water has flowed under the bridge, and too much politics have also clouded and pushed to the background the important issue of saving lives on the Expressway.

It is needless for me to say that, if the Govt had vigorously and sincerely pushed for the requirement for express buses to be installed the speed limiting devices, the lives that were lost in yesterday's road carnage would have been saved. Should we now still bend towards the "needs' of the bus owners to save money and make a profit, and on a regular basis see innocent lives being squashed on the roads, just so that someone can make a buck?

When are we going to learn? :-(

Bus Accident: Fit speed limit devices
Carnage could have been prevented