The Ugly Side of Misused Public Funds

Taman Desa has plenty of good points. But there's an ugly side that we sometimes can't ignore. It seems we have our own White Elephant to add to the list of the many that exist in Malaysia. White Elephants are abandoned buildings of course, and I'm referring to this school just across from the Plaza Danau shops.

When it was being constructed almost a decade ago it seemed like an avant garde school, perhaps of even international grade. It certainly didn't look like your typical sekolah kebangsaan. There was a buzz about it from residents who had something to look forward to as another bragging point for our suburb.

Sadly, the school never was completed and it stands today as another monumental reminder that our civil service is lacking in planning an accountability. It's been used for filming by production crews lately, but that's about it. The disrepair is amazing and the photos say it all.

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The ironic and saddest sight would be the one showing a homeless man who obviously made one of the classrooms his makeshift accommodation. To block out the sun's glare he has used this banner below.

I hope someone reads this and can do something about it. It has all the potential for a useful public or even private enterprise. Not it just stands as a reminder of waste of the highest order.

Election Matters

Police making their presence known right after dawn

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The rush was on at 7.45am for the 'early birds'

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5 minutes to 5pm and this couple get their chance to finally cast a vote'

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Taman Desa was full of life just after dawn this 5th of May. A crowd of people joined me to line up at SMK Perdana Taman Desa as we waited impatiently to make one of the most important choices of our lives.

I was up even earlier.

As an eager, first time volunteer, I had already arrived at 6am in the morning to get the DAP pondok panas ready for action. A small group of us were involved and we helped point people to the right voting stations around Taman Desa (as the stations are mainly in schools, people inevitably got lost finding which of the 3 schools in Taman Desa was which). By 7.20am there were enough people to form a 50m queue outside the gates of our school. I joined in and at 7.45am the gates opened.

My vote was cast and I was on my way out by 8.15am, passing by a couple of familiar faces on the way out.

The shop-lot eateries up the road were full of people who had either just voted or were about to. There was a lot of hopeful chatter - we were sure Seputeh, of which Taman Desa is a part of - would continue to carry as a DAP stronghold - but there was fear about how neighbouring constituencies would perform.

It was back home to Casa Desa for a short nap. Then back to the pondok at lunchtime to continue my duties. Surprisingly, voters continued to arrive in sizeable numbers. Even one of my close buddies from work dropped by. Coincidentally, he was also registered to vote and did his bit in no time. Throughout the afternoon folks idled around to chat with us and share updates from our smart phones every now and then. Even a thunderstorm didn't dampen voters and they continued to trickle in right up to the last few minutes before 5pm.

Taman Desa continues to be the staunch home of DAP supporters, there's no denying it. A lot of us were hopeful of the future that day, even though the results were ultimately disappointing. But life goes on in Taman Desa. As it always will.

Guarded and Gated: Taman Desa's Lock on Safety

I don't know about you but it's been a long time now since the first controversial 'pondok' sprouted a few doors down our condo and 'guards' appeared manning its boom gate. I thought Taman Desa was relatively safe so this was a surprise. But I should have seen it coming. Back in 2005, we already had motorcyle-bound security that provided 24-hour patrols to some effect (they weren't very helpful as some roadside car burglars would break windows, steal stuff and then easily out-speed them with faster bikes). I hoped the patrols would be better-equipped but I certainly didn't expect permanent structures, barriers and a plethora of booms that barred your entrance to what is essential a public space.

The alleged illegality of the actions don't trouble me as much as the fact that people do accept them. We've become tolerant of the fact that crime is not abating. There is a perception that we don't feel safe anymore to trust our fate in the police.

But seriously? Boom gates?

Anyway, they are almost everywhere in Taman Desa now and the quality of the work by the attendants has been patchy. In the last couple of weeks, they suddenly improved and took down registration plate numbers religiously before letting cars pass in-bound. The funny part is that out-bound cars only need to press a button that allows the boom gate to open automatically. I don't know about this last part as, if I were an escaping burglar, this means I would have an easier time getting away from my victim's suburb!

I don't know if anyone has stats to show that this whole scheme has helped drive crime rates down in Taman Desa. The truth is that things have traditionally been very quite here. People were careful and supportive of neighbours. They still are, I'm sure. However, the act of gating our suburb's many entry points is communicating a perception that we fear for our safety enough to act this desperately. We've lost the art of the old Rukun Tetangga or Neighbourhood Watch. We've almost stopped becoming the vibrant community we were a long time ago. Don't get me wrong. Taman Desa is still a great place to live in if you're in Kuala Lumpur. But now we're like other similar communities. And it's sad that we lost our unique identity.

Security Matters in Casa Desa

Casa Desa is more than four years old now - I know because I got married at about the same time we moved in - and we celebrated another AGM and more milestones. As one of the best managed condominiums in Taman Desa/Seputeh district (ask any property agent in the area) we've manage to run our community prudently and keep it safe. Credit goes to the JMB and Izrin & Tan for really turning things around after the developer's initial bad management.

On the safety aspects, we really only had one bad episode a year ago, where a fellow resident got attacked in a work-related incident. Apparently, he was a victim of jealousy and the assailants got through unnoticed or without due diligence from the guardhouse. It was messy. The ambulance and cops came. We made the national news.

The next day, the residents rallied around as the JMB called for an emergency 'town hall' meeting. There and then, we decided that the best way to start safety was to really police visitors from the guardhouse and put in more stringent controls. Using my own workplace experience, we formed a Security Sub-Committee and drafted Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that we felt could be used by the new Security Management firm we hired.

Working amongst us, we fleshed out several key areas of concern and shared our proposal with the JMB. After feedback, we introduced it to the Security firm and its designated supervisor for our condo.

A year later, I can proudly say that Casa Desa can look back and see this as a landmark. We've not only steadily updated our SOPs but the security guards have managed to get residents to comply peacefully 99% of the time. Next to come are the CCTVs that will control security from within, especially around our carparks. Obviously, the best security will always be vigilant residents who care about safety in the community.

Taman Desa's Perfect Storm

If you happened to be in Taman Desa on the 25th of January this year, you would have seen something pretty amazing at around 6.30pm. Out of nowhere, a storm hit Kuala Lumpur and Taman Desa seemed to have borne the brunt of it. Picture a scene from the movie The Perfect Storm (George Clooney's epic battle against an Atlantic storm) and simply take out the waves. What's left were hurricane-like winds that literally tore roofs of buildings and uprooted trees. I only realized it after driving home to find my preferred entrance to Taman Desa (via the Waterpark) blocked by trees. Then I found the lakeside entrance also blocked. Finally, I had to enter via Taman Bukit Desa and navigated my way through the main street - Jalan Desa Utama - as a drizzle continued unabated. The sight of huge trees uprooted and leaning on house walls was humbling. Then came the sight of felled lamp-posts and low-hanging cables. Trees criss-crossed the road, making the journey look more like an off-road trail in the rainforest. Here's a glimpse of what I took:

Rain made navigating a real challenge for motorists

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Cables and debris forced cars to slow down

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Inevitably, we all encountered a jam as we made our way closer to Casa Desa

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This guy had a very lucky escape

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The other down-side is that - with the time it took to get home from work - a planned attendance with some other relatives for our CNY dinner had to called off. Here's a glimpse of the wreckage the day after. It was taken on the same street as I made my way to work:

Small trees weren't spared the damage

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The scary part was seeing lamp-posts bringing down live cables with them on the road

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I used to buy fruits from this seller. Thankfully, it was business as usual a couple of days later

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One of Taman Desa's best-known features is its leafy ambiance. Large trees can be found all over the place, providing a useful shade for pedestrians and a welcome verdant view that few KL-ites would enjoy (you'd have to reside in the fringes of the city to really see something better). The recent windy calamity highlighted an obvious weakness. But I doubt anyone will be spooked by this. The trees will continue to be a part of the suburb, and nature will continue to sometimes mete out a forced trim or two.

Getting Caught in the property boom

Is Taman Desa part of the Property Bubble?

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I was in the Casa Desa gym today and I overhead two guys talking excitedly in Cantonese. Now, I know a little Cantonese but by the names these guys were mentioning it was clear they were talking about properties worth buying nearby. And about property prices in general. Go around town these days and you'll pretty much hear the same topic being discussed at mamak stalls, office canteens, family gatherings and meeting room small-talk. Everyone is either keen on investing in property - both commercial and residential - or keen on attending a property investment seminar. Some, naturally, are into both.

It goes without saying that Taman Desa comes into the conversation due to the rapidly appreciating property prices here. Our own condo has nearly doubled in price since we moved in three years ago and real estate agents keep spamming my mobile with SMSs about 'potential' buyers. It's annoying about I'm not the only person getting such attention. Check out the Absolute Taman Desa Facebook page by the way, where you'll see similar complaints.

Anyway, condos are now launching in KLCC reaching the RM1,500 p.sq ft threshold selling price already, while in the inner suburbs a luxury condo can already fetch RM1,000 p.sq ft. Don't even dream of landed properties being less than that. Simple terrace houses within the KL and PJ area can go from RM600,000 upwards and the general price for an average semi-D will break the million mark. You have to go to Shah Alam to find cheaper semi-Ds under a mill.

Bubble or not, I think a smart colleague of mine who works in Finance said the simplest, smartest thing about surviving your investment. What will withstand the test of the bubble being burst and speculations gone bad are three simple things: location, location, location. Just get the best location you can find. Unless, you plan to make it your permanent home.

Thus, spend wisely. And that means you'll probably end up investing in Taman Desa! But who knows how much the prices are going up? It's your pick. I already made mine.

Another Great Reason

No hypermarket opening is complete with the directional buntings

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This place is huge, and the residences are yet to come too

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I'm not a huge fan of Tesco but I do admit that as far as hypermarkets go, they've got a good brand and a good service offering. (I prefer Cold Storage but that's only because they've got a wider range of gourmet foods).

Thus, what started out as just rumours apparently became true when I saw what an advertising balloon in the sky above a huge building under construction near the Taman Desa intersection. It then dawned on me that Tesco was well and truly in (our part of) town. It opened for business this March in the Scott Garden mall.

Previously, Taman Desans had two choices: the local supermarket in nearby Danau Desa known as Sri Kota (which my parents always mistakenly refer to as 'Kota Raya') and the other choice, Carrefour or Jusco, in Mid Valley. Most people would try to avoid the latter due to the jam on weekends and the long queues at the check-out lanes. You'd really only want to go there if you had other things to do in 'one shot' as well.

But we checked out Tesco and it seems to be convenient in so many ways. Firstly, the parking is free. For now. Secondly, the carpark has great indicator lights for vacant lots that you can spot a mile away and even tells you which areas to find your vacant spot in. Thirdly, Tesco is famous for their generous number of lanes which reduces waiting time. Fourthly, Scott Garden is just mere minutes from our condo - you could even walk there if you wanted. Finally, it offers a tremendous breadth of goods that you just can't get in the smaller supermarket.

Granted, many of us will still use Sri Kota if we only want a couple of items. For now, Tesco has made a difference for those of us in Taman Desa.

Food Boo-Boos... Anyone need a copywriter?

Cheeky sense of adult humour? I doubt

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Someone invented an edible lamp!

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So we know that some people just can't spell, and they happen to be the printers/designers for lots of restaurants out there in Malaysia. (Note: never blame the owner of the restaurant unless they're the ones who were the actual copywriters).

As a former copywriter myself, I have to cringe when I see these mistakes creep into our vocabulary. Why couldn't they just check with a friend or go online and Google the damn word they loved so much.

I do remember one time seeing the signboard for a shop in Taman Desa that said Puer Tea and I almost wanted to write to them to ask if they knew they made such a blatant error? Then I made a check of my own one day and found out that puer is a brand of tea leaf!

Okay, but back to the merits of copywriting. I hope you folks out there got a small laugh and learn that we need to improve our branding awareness - even if its a small stall that you run.

Lifting the Kimono - OBD's Secret Restaurant

Modern styling is evident from the ground floor

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Matsuba restaurant is tucked away on the right-hand side of the pool

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It was packed on a Sunday night. This was taken before we left, long after dinner time!

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Many people know about OBD Garden Tower in Taman Desa. One of the pioneering condos in our suburb, it stands prominently in white and was constructed NOT by Faber Union, which is a good thing indeed. Famed for having its Japanese residents it is kind of cloaked in secrecy-cum-good security.

My Mum and Dad were intrigued by the restaurant that started advertising itself and eventually tried it out. After more than 11 years of living in Taman Desa (since I returned from Oz) Nim, Elle and myself accompanied the parents and our cousin Diane to try it out.

The first thing that strikes me is how beautiful and clean the condo is. This one almost sparkles. The interior common areas clearly show off the Zen-style architecture that is minimalist, yet so distinctive of what we have seen of Japan. The pool is wide and at the centre of the property. Next to it, lies the restaurant.

It was packed and slightly noisy. Typical of a Sunday. We took our seats and ordered. As usual I tried out the bento set comprising of Unagi which was very reasonably priced (RM20?) while the others tried their own sets too. It was air-conditioned.

Service was prompt and our meals got the proverbial thumbs up.

We didn't really go anywhere else but toured more of the common area on our way out to the carpark. Two well-maintained tennis courts were occupied.

Overall, I'd say OBD is a true pride of Taman Desa and a model for other developers. I'm not sure but it must be pricey, either for buying or for renting. Which is the way it should be, I believe.

Seeing Through The (KL) Clutter

Didn't the govt blacklist these numbers? Who's going to take them down now?

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There are green trees and there are man-made trees. I know which ones look better

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One thing that all Malaysians are used to is clutter. I'm not talking about our work desks (although I could supply good blog material on that topic alone) but about our culture of encouraging clutter. Or tolerating illegal signage.

As the pix I've taken so visibly demonstrate, we are a messy lot. Signboards abound in every corner of our streets. From the humble papan plank to the larger and bolder illegal tarpaulin canvass. Anything and everything is advertised but of course, the lion's share goes to the few hundred thousand or so freelance lorry drivers with mobile numbers.

In any other (Western) country this sort of thing would have been torn down the minute after it was put up. Over here, it's become a household sport to put things up. It's like a race to see who can populate the newest lamp-post or tree bark with the most stickers or papan planks. Earlier this year I had to help out in putting up directional signage for the Australian Rules Football Asian Championships. I was amazed how every lamp-post I came across already had wires wrapped around its base so that signage contractors can do an 'easy-install'.

And screw aesthetics. These advertisers go for the dirtiest, nastiest way to brand themselves, often with a two-inch brush and a dirty piece of wood. Sadly, our enforcement brethren seem a little busy (enforcing other things?) to take note of this endemic riddling our suburbs.

Don't believe me? Take a look for yourself. You don't really have to go far too, sadly.

Signage clutter. Rubbish clutter. Sticker clutter. It's a KL way of life. Probably our answer to Scandinavia's minimalism movement. Now I'm just waiting for a coffee table book of the best of our clutter to appear. Calling all publishers..?

Food For Thought

Yes, it's been almost two months since my posting but a lot has happened at work in that time. I've been kept super busy, of course.

At least, one milestone was achieved on the home front. Casa Desa has its very own cafe and a place for residents to grab a quick and easy bite. It was a two-month process that I was personally handling, from getting in the prospective applicants and choosing the right one. In the end, the owner of Bakeroni (a well-known café in Taman Desa) won us over with her experience and passion. That wasn't the end of it though, as I had to make sure that we (Casa Desa) signed a rock-solid tenancy agreement with her and ensured a smooth setting-up period.

The launch went well and barring an episode where someone tried to steal the cafe's speakers after hours (!) business is on track. Residents seem happy, overall.

Yes, the food is a tad pricey but it is all about convenience. No more car trips to the shops over yonder, or forced walks to the nearby shops in the rain. Or expensive home-delivery. Just a walk downstairs for me! You can't really put a price to that, actually.

That's one more reason to brag about Casa Desa too.

A New Horizon

Sometimes change is necessary and a bit painful. But you get over it sooner than you expect.

A new management company is in effect here after our gutsy Chairman of the Joint Management Body forced the old company to resign their services. Boy, she was really on their case for so many outstanding issues (defects, mismanagement, etc). I guess in the end, they just couldn't take it.

I don't want to air dirty laundry but the old management team were really bad. Incompetent is too understated to describe it. But this is where we find opportunities. We're like the Israelites being led out of Egypt by our version of Moses. Hopefully, unlike the Israelites there'll be no wandering for 40 years - just a straight road to the Promised Land of Casa Desa.

Someone uttered to me recently: "There's light at the end of the tunnel but it could be another train". I laughed. After spending one day in the management office today I think we're on the right track. Better processes and a better system. Might be time for another recycling day again to get the residents together. Hmmm...

Times Are Changing. Are We?

Not long ago I did something I've been wanting to do since 8 March, 2008. I signed up for DAP membership at the newly-opened Taman Desa branch.

Oh gosh, you're probably thinking, he's getting political now. Not the case really. But I'm going to at least be bi-partisan.

Life was all about work and play until my brother-in-law Anan lent me a fantastic book around late 2004/early 2005. Entitled Natural Capitalism, it sort of awakened me to the world around my family and friends and drew my attention to sustainable living. Since that fateful month of March, I've also felt an urge to donate more time to political causes.

No, I'm not going through a mid-life crisis either. I guess it was just time to act like a concerned citizen.


Something I just had to do: Visit the DAP Community Centre and fill out membership.



First was getting elected to the Casa Desa JMB committee. Then it was the Recycling Fair at Casa Desa which was a great learning and motivating experience for me. Then there was my rally to the DAP cause. And after that, my decision to train Under-18s Australian Football at St John's voluntarily.

Lately, for some reason, I felt compelled to take part in the series of 1Black Malaysia gatherings at Old Town White Coffee - a passive protest where everyone wears black and discusses community issues openly. 1Black Malaysia is also a direct answer to the PM's 1Malaysia vision. Okay, I won't get into details here. Let Raja Petra write about that...

Truth is, the people and old friends I've been catching up with lately in line with these activities have taught me a lot. Just through exchange of information (through discussions) I see flashes of insight, sparks of inspiration and seeds for future ideas and action. I'm not sure yet but I know I need to get involved more with my community.

There's one thing that I still need to do and that is to register as a voter. That's far more important. You can be a member of a political party but you still need to vote to influence any outcome, right? So, I'm going to do that this month.

But I hope that, in this day and age, we can also make a stand about the way we live and how we can improve things. So please register to vote if you already haven't. Then, if you want to be political about it, you can make a stand.

For me, I'm Taman Desa's number 1 supporter and I think I need to improve things in Casa Desa first, and then hopefully in the suburb too. There are still a lot of issues that need to be resolved before this charming, popular suburb becomes a renowned one.

Just the thought of what's achievable is already making me feel better.

Food, Food, Food in Taman Desa

A while back I wrote about Cafe Libre in Taman Danau Desa (part of the Greater Taman Desa area many lucky people call home). Well, it wouldn't be fair to leave out all the great restaurants in this area. I'm not an expert in all the food outlets here so I've decided to make it easier by compiling reviews from various bloggers. Then, my dear friends you can make up your minds better.

As for me, you can simply find me at Cafe Libre still! The reviews are:

Restaurant Hao Wei Dao - Hong Kong-style dishes

Fat Rock Cafe - Cheap and tasty Chinese cooking

Ben Sang Ipoh Ho Fun - Ipoh broth noodles

Woo Pin Fish Head Noodle - one of my favourites

Woo Pin again - a second opinion

Boon Boon Cafe - good value dishes

Tiang Seng Pulau Ketam Steambot - unique steamboat

Tiang Seng again - a second opinion

H.L. Huat Restaurant - value Chinese and tasty dishes

Sri Neela's - good but pricey banana leaf

Paradiso - cosy Italian place

Mai Thai - one of my favourites

Seoul Korea - great value barbecue

Kajitsu Nihon Ryori - one out of many here

Okay, so there's a whole lot here. I've tried them all and love some a lot, love some a little. I'll let you make up your mind but one thing's for sure. Taman Desa has the best food in KL!

In The Name Of A Good Cause

Some highlights of the day... participants and winners of the colouring contest...


Indah Water's En Ahmad Budaya taking a mundane subject...


...and having us in stitches several times as he entertained.












Finally, Bernard getting the money from Alam Flora for our recycled goods. I'm sure the next one will yield a lot more.


Gosh, this may sound sheepish but I felt proud having co-organized the first big community event in Casa Desa. Being a proud environmentalists I always believe actions speak louder than words. Thus, when fellow committee member Bernard proposed the Recycling Day I jumped on the chance to work with him.

Trust me, it was a hell of a lot of work. Organizing, learning, communicating and even putting in the hard work like carrying chairs and speakers from our cars to the condo.

We learnt a lot and that's the best thing about it: the next ones will be better and better. We had a few nervous moments though.

The morning started really well and we had most of the furniture set up in our vacant restaurant/common area by 9.45am. Then the weather threatened to intervene. The clouds got dark and started coming our way. After a few minutes it finally gate-crashed the party by introducing gale-force winds. The buntings and exhibition panels that Indah Water put up were inadvertent sail boards for a wind force right out of Wolfgang Petersen's A Perfect Storm.

Running for our lives, we grabbed everything and turned our outdoor fair into an indoor one. Within half an hour it was settled.

The colouring contest (organized by Bernard's wife Celine) next door was a hit with families but everyone seemed diverted from the Indah Water talk that was scheduled to go on so I ushered the parents and got as many people as I could to sit in. Some might have been moaning internally about a perceived 'lecture' heading their way. But Indah Water's rep En Ahmad Budaya gave a remarkable and funny explanation on the state of the nation's wastewater and the role Indah Water plays. The man himself is a hilarious character, part-comedian, part-educator.

Alam Flora, Hong Leong bank (who were our main sponsors), Streamyx and a few others played their part in the event. Committee president Lai Fong was there, as were other members Alifah, Ramlan, Jonathan and my beloved Nim too.

Of course, we wanted people to come down with their recycled goods; or we'd even go to them if they needed help. Which is what Bernard and a few committee members did, going from block to block. My good friend Charles helped me out too, although he found our second-hand book sale too good to ignore at times.

Due to some technical problems our planned movie screening didn't get underway but we managed to get people involved, meet some new friends and collect over RM200 dollars worth of goods to raise for our residents' leisure needs.

Malaysians can be a shy lot but it was great to meet a few people concerned about their neigbourhood. It's a start for us. And a good one at that.

Getting Down To The Nitty Gritty

Above: A pretty good bunch of people. I look petrified for some unknown reason. Below: It's all work at 10am in the morning on a Saturday!





It’s a scary thing, being voted into the Joint Management Body of a condominium. This is where you’re representing 2000 plus residents and their hard earned money that is being poured into making Casa Desa a safe and ideal home. Now I’m sure some of you who are lucky enough to own landed properties probably don’t give a hoot. And those renting out probably couldn’t care less except paying the rent each month. That’s perfectly fine.I wanted the responsibility out of curiousity and out of a need to make things better.

But its scary to have the responsibility. It really is.

Thank God the people elected alongside me are a wonderful, varied bunch of respectable citizens. And it starts with Wong Lai Fong, who was the secretary of the group when it first began (informally) but worked so hard and tirelessly that we HAD to give her the position. I mean, she worked 24/7 to make every building and maintenance fault known to us and to Faber Union, putting them on the backfoot from day one. From potholes to dangling wires, she had an eagle eye for spotting them that would make snipers in Swat Valley green with envy. I’m sure every time she comes around, the staff at the developer office go scrambling for cover. Or take a long toilet break.

Then there’s Jonathan, a la Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, with the toothy smile of an innocent boy and the wisdom of a sage. Can be as fiery as ol’ LKY himself too. Being the owner of another unit in nearby Danau Permai and involved in it’s body corporation he also had Faber Union staff wishing they never had their jobs.

But then again, while the staff at Faber Union have exactly been giving us 5-star service (not even 2, come to think of it) it’s not their fault.

Today, at our first Joint Management Body meeting with the developer representatives, much of it seems to be the fault of sub-contractors who can’t be traced or have problems responding to rectification work. And the problem with middle class condominiums like ours is that there are a lot of these to contend with.

I’m just happy to have the right people by my side. I’ll be content with looking after the residents/owners website which I believe is a great communication tool and can save all the unnecessary costs that go with printing newsletters and flyers, etc. I’ll be ably aided by fellow residents Kok Weng and Kenneth. As they say, things can only get better from here.

Recycling Day - 20th June

It might sound silly but this is something I've always wanted to do. Okay, considering my track record it's obvious that this is what I would do. Bernard, my fellow Casa Desa committee member is a like-minded person too, with his environmental engineering background to boot. Plus, it was actually his idea in the first place. Proceeds actually go towards eventually buying a ping pong table.

So if you're keen and willing, do come down and help recycle unwanted plastics, glass, aluminium and newspapers/magazines.

In fact, we're hoping to make Casa Desa a model residential project for people to look up to. Where waste is regularly recycled, or better still reduced and reused (that's the result of Bernard constantly remind me about the 3Rs; now I had to repeat it myself).

We discussed putting recycled bins around for people to do so at their own initiative, rather than to wait for specific days. I'm all for it. However, there was talk at the planning stages of our event that people would misuse the bins and throw solid waste in there too. Uuggh. Some councils go the the trouble of building fortifications to put the bins in - these look like immobile tanks or bunkers that could withstand a few drone attacks. I'm still wondering if some Malaysians are that bad. Or are we really just imagining all this stuff?

When we visited the management office last week, we were given their blessings too. The irony of it was that the lady at the office even told us we could print multiple flyers and distribute to cars and people that came in to visit! Maybe she missed the point. Probably, it was Saturday and she needed to be at home getting some rest. We just quietly pointed out that a posted sign at the guardhouse and at each block's noticeboard would be good enough.

We're also going to make sure that the soon-to-be-operating restaurant in CD, and other tenants, will have a grease trap installed in sinks and readily prepare recycle bins for customers in the premises.

I don't know. But I hope our recycling day effort pays off. That it becomes a waste effort rather than a wasted effort. Stay tuned for updates and the eventual pictures.

A New Hope

It may sound a little melodramatic, and sorry to steal that title from Star Wars, but I think a new glimmer of hope has indeed shone on Casa Desa.

Okay, it's not that we were living in a slum or that we were conned out of our life savings, but most of us felt a little helpless without a formal body to lodge queries or complaints to Faber Union.

All that changed around 4.30pm yesterday when 12 council members were duly elected in a jam-packed multipurpose hall (air-cond anyone?) with plenty of voices adding to the agenda and overall discussions.

Congrats to Lai Fong, our hard-working secretary who is now promoted to Chairman. Ramlan is now Vice Chairman and the affable Willie is Treasurer.

What's great is that the 60 or so owners who were there seem to be Taman Desans, many of whom have been living there quite a while. I struck up a conversation with Leonard who previously lived in Danau Impian where I did too. He's been living here his entire life and added to the oft-quoted remark that Taman Desa is still a 'strategic location within Kuala Lumpur.'

Another big step is to have our first meeting today at 5pm and tackle the issue of illegal air-cond piping and the rectification that must be done before the condo's warranty period ends in November.

We started the day uncertain. We ended it knowing there's lots to do. At least, we're now heading in the right direction.

A Liberating Experience

One of my favourite Taman Desa hang-outs, if you've read my Facebook/Twitter status occasionally, is Cafe Libre. Taman Desans, you must try it out at least once. This charming place, located behind the row of shops facing Danau Idaman condo, serves great coffee, great cakes and wonderfully affordable food. Most importantly, it serves its customers really well.

It starts with Jimmy, the young manager. He's friendly and polite without neglecting the art of customer service. His boss and owner, Yasmin, is just as affable. While I can't complain about the cosy yet modern environment Cafe Libre is set in, I enjoy coming here just to have a friendly chat, grab a newspaper and surf the net while waiting for the food and coffee.

Speaking of coffee, Jimmy is a true barister and will give handy advice to those wanting to know more about the art of brewing coffee. A recent, free talk-cum-coffee tasting had the regulars out in force.

Just like the eponymous bar in the sitcom Cheers, this is one place where people will know your name. Okay, maybe my name. Good friend and erstwhile futsal teammate Colin was sighted here once. His fellow business partners also drop by once in a while and it's always great to see. Sunday Star Chief Reporter Andrew walked in recently to both our surprise. Singer Farah Asyikin also came by, although she spotted Nim first (whom she knows well). Oh, and even a fellow committee member from Casa Desa took in the alfresco experience last weekend.

The mains are quite affordable, with Spicy Seafood Spaghetti, cooked in olive oil costing RM10.90. The Nasi Minyak, which Nim loves, comes with rice and a portion of lamb in an aptly oily gravy and costs a bit less. Cakes are priced less than what you'd expect from many branded cafe chains. And their quality coffee? Well, it starts at RM4.50 for an Americano and goes up from there, with many flavours to choose from.

I can't quite put my finger on one good point about Cafe Libre that alone compels me to visit each week. It's the whole package that really makes it the best place in Taman Desa to hang out. Just like a home away from home.

Casa's A Real Home

Casa Desa above and below ground>






Casa Desa’s been slowly flourishing. We’ve got a laundry service shop now, although I think they outsource the work as we didn’t spot any washing machines in the tiny premises. And most noticeably, the swimming pool has become the hang-out area for the residents. With lots of greenery around us, good barbecue facilities and a nature-themed pool layout it all looks homely enough.

I ventured down on with my new Panasonic Lumix camera, underwater housing and all, and took some pix. They turned our great. Nim was in her element – she loves the pool – and some a fellow committee member turned up with her daughter. I even managed to grab some priceless pix of a little maintenance problem (Faber Management take note!). But simply put, it was a great day and the shots turned out well.

What we next need is a proper café and perhaps a mini-mart. But let’s hope we use our creative imagination and put up a professional-looking business. With 5 years of experience in the branding/advertising industry I hereby offer my services free of charge to any fellow Casa Desa/Taman Desa resident submitting a proposal to management.

That’s right, you it heard it – free! I’ll help design the brand identity for your business and design the environmental signage that goes around the premises to make it look good and gel with Casa Desa. If you get the proposal then fine. I’ll might help design the menu too.

Casa Desa’s a great place. With the right effort it could turn out into a wonderful condo with an enviable reputation. But getting the image right is a crucial start. More to update!