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<strong>KUALA LUMPUR</strong>: Taman Kepong residents are up in arms over the construction of a metal fence behind their houses by the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) as it posed inconvenience and danger to them.

Residents Association of Taman Kepong chairman V. Sivaram said the 600m stretch of fencing in their backyard has resulted in them not being able to park their vehicles there, thus causing traffic congestion along the main road.

"The fence should have been built within their reserve land but instead it is constructed 20ft away from their plot, more towards the residential houses, thus causing a lot of problems to house owners," he added.

He said RAC should have embarked on a study or discussion with the residents before constructing the fence.

"Not only is the fence posing a problem to the residents but also to the public," said Sivaram.

RAC had put up the fence at the site over the last two weeks without notifying the 285 house owners of their intention.

Sivaram said every year, some 15 dengue cases are reported within the housing estate and now they expect the situation to worsen with the fencing.

"We cannot (access and) destroy the mosquito breeding sites beyond the fence," said Sivaram, adding that the fence has also caused narrowing of the road.

"What will happen if there is a fire? The Fire and Rescue Department vehicles will have a problem getting into the area," he added.

The residents have urged RAC to look into their plight and move the fence 10ft away from the existing site.

Meanwhile, Kepong Member of Parliament Dr Tan Seng Giaw urged RAC to manage their reserved lands properly, especially in high populated areas, to curb the issue of mosquito breeding as they are badly managed.

"There is no point in fencing the area if it is poorly maintained and managed," he added.

<strong>GEORGE TOWN</strong>: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng wants the federal government, via the energy, green technology and water ministry to be mediator to resolve talks on water supplied by Perak.

He said the supply of raw water from Perak as suggested by the Penang Government under the Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Project Scheme was aimed at ensuring sufficient raw water supply to the state until 2050.

"Penang needs an alternative source of raw water supply to prevent water rationing and ensure sufficient water supply in the future.

"However, the problem is that the Perak Government does not want to sell raw water but treated water.

"We (Penang Government) do not agree as the cost is high and could result in an increase in water tariffs which are now low…this is not fair to the people of Penang," he said in a media conference here today.

Lim was commenting on a statement by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir who confirmed that a state wanted to buy raw water from Perak.

In that statement, Zambry was reported as saying he would not sell raw water but only treated water.

Lim said the new rate for domestic water tariff for the first 35,000 litres a month suggested by the state government was RM0.32 for every 1,000 litres while the Perak water tariff for the same category was RM0.73 every 1,000 litres.

"Imagine how expensive it would be if we buy treated water from Perak. Thus, we hope the federal government will be the mediator to resolve this problem. We will pay for raw water bought from Perak," he said. – <em>Bernama</em>

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The shipwrecked Costa Concordia has been successfully refloated in preparation for towing away to Genoa for scrapping.

Technicians on Monday began a complex operation to refloat and tow away the wreck of the Costa Concordia, two and a half years after the luxury liner capsized off the Italian coast, killing 32 people.