Last week, Wuan went to the market and came back with more than groceries and breakfast. She brought a stinky and dirty ginger-coloured kitten back as well. She gave him a thorough bath after which he looked adorable with his fur clean and smelling nice. The intention was to clean him up, feed him and put him up for adoption.

After being with us for one week, we decided to keep him instead. Three felines is about as many as we can manage at the moment. Fei Por had not taken a liking to him. They both would hiss and take swipes at each other whenever Wuan brought them close together. That was the least of our concern. Fei Por stays outside. We did not want him running around outside anyway and would be keeping him indoors.

Ginger kitten that Wuan rescued from Pandan Perdana bus stop near the wet market.
Photo by Wuan.

The real test was whether Cheeky would accept him. They both would have to share the same room and same space indoors. I was skeptical. Cheeky was aggressive whenever other cats came into the compound. He would look out from the grille door and growl. The fur on his tail would become puffed. Wuan and I would not want to anywhere close to him during those times.

There were a few anxious moments after Wuan let the kitten into the house. Cheeky approached him cautiously and both stood frozen in close proximity, sizing each other up. True to his fashion, the kitten took a swipe at Cheeky. My heart skipped a beat. I was sure Cheeky would retaliate. It was not a pretty sight the last time Cheeky jumped on me and sank his fangs into my elbow.

Cute ginger kitten.
Photo by Wuan.

Cheeky took a few steps back and scooted off. What happened next surprised us. The kitten crouched behind a stack of old newspaper. Cheeky hid behind the coffee table. They then approached stealthily, pounced on each other and then ran away helter skelter in the opposite direction. This they repeated countless times. They were having fun! We finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing them warming up to each other so playfully.

We have yet to give him a name. That responsibility falls on Wuan again as she was the one who rescued the kitten. As for me, he has been keeping me occupied. He likes to climb onto my lap. I could not do much with him clambering all over and had to keep pushing him off. He would jump right back on again. I hope he outgrows this antic soon. My thights are now full of fine scars from him clawing his way up.

There has been no water supply since early yesterday. According to the recorded message at the toll free number (1-800-88-5252) at Puspel, Customer Services Department of Syabas, there would be a disruption of supply for 15 hours on Wednesday from 8am to 12am. Affected areas were large parts of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. This was due to the upgrade and maintenance of the Sungai Langat water treatment plant.

I called the toll free line at 6am just now when the taps were still dry. The call went unanswered for 10 minutes. 24 hours without water is a great inconvenience. Not knowing when the supply will be restored is even more disconcerting. I have to wash up after catheterising every 3 hours. Wuan could not cook this morning. It is ham sandwich for lunch today. She bought two bottles of drinking water when she came back from work yesterday. We did not bathe yesterday. Flushing the toilet is like playing Russian roulette, not knowing whether the water reserve would run out the next round. Our daily routine is greatly affected.

Syabas and Puspel could do better managing this matter. Since they are already in Twitter and Facebook, the least they could do is to provide regular updates on the progress of water supply restoration. Keeping customers in the dark by announcing the disruption and keeping quiet after that, and not answering calls to the toll free number is sure to raise the ire of many. I am going back to sleep in a while. Hopefully by the time I wake up, water will be flowing from the taps once again.

Affected areas as listed at SYABAS website:

Wilayah Kuala Lumpur Taman Connaught; Taman Taynton View; Taman Segar; Taman Gemilang; Taman Bukit Segar; Taman Mutiara; Taman Supreme Jaya; Taman Bukit Hijau; Desa Tun Razak; Taman Jaya; Taman Mulia; TUDM Sungai Besi; Jalan Lapangan Terbang; Jalan Lapangan Terbang Lama; Jalan Sungai Besi Batu 4 ½ (JKME dan Kuarters JKR); Jalan Chan Sow Lin; Kampung Batu Kong; Jalan Wisma Putra; Jalan Bellamy; Jalan Bukit Petaling; Jalan Kerayong; Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka; Wisma Putra; Wisma Perwira; GAPENA; Jalan San Peng; Dataran F&N; Persiaran Syed Putra; Persiaran Putra; Jalan Robson; Taman Seputeh; Taman Desa Seputeh; Taman Bukit Seputeh Heights; KL Sentral dan kawasan sekitarnya; Taman Midah; Taman Cantik; Taman Pandan Hilir; Taman Angsana Hilir; Taman Desa Aman; Taman Rajawali; Taman Cheras Makmur; Taman Bukit Ria; Taman Pertama; Taman Ikan Emas; Taman Tenaga; Taman Maluri; Taman Ampang Putra; Taman Bukit Pandan; Taman Pandan Pertama; Kampung Cheras Baru Bukit A; Kampung Sungai Kerayong; Kampung Pandan Luar; Kampung Pandan Dalam; Jalan Tenteram; Jalan Salak Selatan; Taman Billion; Taman Cheras Makmur; Taman Bukit Mewah; Taman Sri Bahtera; Taman Supreme; Taman Mutiara Timur; Taman Mutiara Barat; Cheras Hartamas; Taman Bukit Segar Jaya; Taman Orkid Desa; Taman SPPK Bukit Cheras; Alam Damai; Taman Bukit Anggerik; Taman Len Seng; Taman Suria Jaya; Taman Cheras Mewah; Taman Bukit Angsana; Taman Seri Bahagia; Taman Minang; Taman Damai Indah; Taman Cheras Baru; Taman Koperasi Polis; Taman Desa Baiduri; Taman Cheras Utama; Taman Desa Cheras; Bandar Damai Perdana; Taman Desa Bukit Cahaya; Taman Damai Impian; Taman Alam Jaya; Taman Emas Cheras; Taman Mudun; Taman Hijauan Residen; Taman Sunway Cheras; Taman Wangsa Cheras; Taman Cheras Permata; Taman Cheras Awana; Taman Masria; Taman Cuepacs; Taman Fern Grove; Kem PGA; Kem FRU; Taman Cheras Zen; Segar Perdana; Bukit Hartamas; Kampung Cheras Baru; Taman Muda; Taman Mawar; Taman Mastika; Taman Putra; Taman Pandan Mewah; Taman Lembah Maju Taman Teratai; Taman Saga; Taman Melur; Taman Seraya; Taman Mega Jaya; Taman Maju Jaya; Taman Bukit Permai; Taman Kencana; Taman Pandan Indah; Taman Pandan Perdana; Taman Cheras Utama; Taman Cheras Indah. Wilayah Hulu Langat Taman Desa Budiman; Taman Ikhlas; Taman Makmur; Taman Rakan; Taman Bukit Permai; Taman Seri Kenangan Sungai Long; Taman Suria Sungai Long; Taman Cheras Idaman; Cheras Perdana; Batu 10 (Jalan Puyuh, Nuri, Cecawi, Balam); Taman Damai Indah; Taman Murni; Taman Megah; Taman Megah 2; Taman Sri Cheras; Taman Seri Cheras Jaya; Kuari; Bukit Dukong; Jalan Suasana Seksyen 1, Bandar Tun Hussein Onn; Taman Cheras Permai; Pekan Suntex; Putri Jaya; Sungai Ramal Dalam; Sungai Ramal Luar; Desa Meringin; Taman Ramal Indah; Taman Sri Kenari; Rumah Murah PKNS Sungai Ramal Luar; Kampung Sungai Ramal Baru; Desa Surada; kawasan industri Bukit Angkat; Bandar Sungai Long; Taman Sejati; Jalan Suasana 2, 3, 4; Suasana Damai; Jalan Suakasih, Sri Tanming; Koperasi Maju Jaya; seluruh Puncak Perdana; seluruh Taman Kota Cheras; seluruh Taman Tun Perak; Saujana Impian; Impian Murni, Impian Indah; Inpian Gemilang, Impian Jaya; Taman Sri Aman; Taman Rasa Sayang; Taman Cheras Mas; Taman Lagenda Mas 1; Taman Lagenda Mas 2; Taman Uda; Jalan Kuari Sungai Long; Taman Lagenda Suria; Kampung Sungai Sop; kawasan industri Sungai Tekali; Kemacahaya; Taman Pinggiran Delima; Taman Wawasan; Taman Perkasa Fasa 1; Taman Perkasa Fasa 2; Taman Sri Nanding; Taman Putri (Venicehill); Rancangan Peringkat 1, 2 dan 3; Taman Perkasa Indah; Sungai Michu; Taman Impian Den; Felcra Semungkis; Sungai gahal; Taman Desa Pelangi; Taman Impian Langat; Taman Langat Ceria; Taman Desa Raya; Jalan Dusun Taman Bukit Raya; Kuarters Loji Langat; Sekolah Dusun Nanding; Lorong Serai 5; Kampung Bukit Kudang; Kampung Kenanga; Flat Sri Kundang Dusun Tua; Taman Titiwangsa; Kampung Sungai Kapor; Kampung Sungai Makau; Kampung Kenangan 18; Taman Indah Jaya; Lestari Indah; Taman Sungai Sering; Taman Orkid; Bandar Mahkota Cheras; Jalan Sungai Lalang; Kampung Pasir; Jalan Kacau; Kampung Sungai Pening-pening; Kampung Pasir Baru; PLKN Sungai Lalang; Rumah Murah Sungai Lalang; Taman Impian Semenyih; Taman Semenyih Ria; Taman Aik Ann; Taman Utama; Taman Hiew Piow; Kampung Baru China Semenyih; Taman Gembira; Taman Desa Semenyih; Taman Baiduri Jaya; Taman Semenyih; Taman Paling Jaya; Taman Manikavasagam; Pekan Semenyih; Kampung Sungai Buluh; seluruh Taman Sri Haneco; seluruh Industri Villa Raya; seluruh Taman Desa Mewah; seluruh Sunway Semenyih; seluruh Industri Kajang Jaya; seluruh Tasik Kesuma; PKNS Beranang; seluruh Taman Pelangi Semenyih; seluruh Beranang; Universiti Nottingham; seluruh Pekan Beroga.

Puspel Twitter update at 10:29am
@Hiphog Now water resume by stages and expect will fully recover by 12am (3/6). Thank you.

It has been a while since I wheeled to the Pandan Perdana wet market with Wuan. Most of the time we just drive there although it is just a short walk from where we live due to the various barriers we encounter on the pavements along the way. Last Sunday, we decided to take a leisurely walk to the market for breakfast. What I encountered that morning reminded me of why I had seldom gone on such strolls.

Wheelchair user on the road to avoid the broken pavement at Pandan Perdana.

A damaged section of the pavement forced me to go on the road. This broken pavement at Jalan Perdana 3/1 of Pandan Perdana has gone unrepaired for the past few months. A heavy crane truck that parked on it broke the concrete and gouged a big hole in the turfing. Many residents use this route to go to the wet market and also to the bus stop situated just down the road. Pedestrians, especially senior citizens, may trip on the broken slabs of concrete. Wheelchair users like me have no choice but go on the road and risk getting run over by passing vehicles.

It is very common to see vehicles parked on it causing pedestrians to go on the road as well. Such inconsiderate drivers should be heavily penalised for illegal parking, causing obstruction and endangering pedestrians. The Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya should step up its enforcement against these law breakers. Another alternative is to put up bollards or rails to prevent vehicles from parking on the pavements. However, the pavements needs to be widened to 1200 mm to conform to the MS 1184 and MS 1331. It is a tight fit for wheelchair in its current form at 900 mm.