Household Waste Composting

An agreement between MBPJ, DANIDA-SWMC and CETDEM for Community Initiative on Household Waste Composting at PJ was signed on 28.5.2008. The 18 month project is to recruit 50 families in PJ, to provide them the bins, enzyme and material, to teach and facilitate them the techniques of doing compost in their house compound. This project aims at reducing waste at source, and hence to reduce waste collection and disposal cost as well financial burden of MBPJ. If successful, 3R program implementation and solid waste management in Malaysia and in particularly PJ will be getting a moral boost. So far, 3R has not met its desire objectives yet simply because of the approaches. Neither direct economic incentives nor penalties were provided for and this has not encouraged Malaysian to learn and practice 3R in full force. LA 21 PJ always believes on building the capacity of the grassroot and get them to do right for the first time. By educating and monitoring their progress in composting over a long period, it is LA 21 PJ in practice. Please sign up to help you and to help the environment.

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Mother's Day Celebration

For the past 6 years, Rukun Tetangga Petaling Utama Flat organised the Mother's Day Celebration without fail. This spirit of celebrating contribution and recognising sacrifies of mothers are commendable. This year, they did it again on 24.5.2008. I was there together with the judges for PJ Best Neighbourhood Competition and about 300 crowds. The judges were there as part of this year's competition evaluation process as we have informed them to organise an activity of their choice and activity that they are believing in and value-added to their community sustainable initiatives. I think, most of us are impressed.

Chapter 24 of Agenda 21 advocates for a proactive participation of women in the sustainable development. The blueprint recognises the urgent need to get women's involvement, not only merely on attending and receiving gift, but along the planning process and decision making as well as taking the lead. In this respect, some of the activities on that night can be given proper thought and best reflect the constructive involvement of women. Perhaps mother's day celebration should be done By women For Women. What a wonder if everyday is the Mother Day so that we will not have the gender inequitability issue again.

Blue Ocean Strategy

Everybody irrespective of the private or public sector is discussing about Blue Ocean Strategy and how to apply the strategy into their fields in order to leverage to their competitive edge. I was asked to present an overview on the planning and management of MBPJ with regards to "How BLUE we are" to visitors yesterday. I spoke about the convention roles and functions of the local authorities, the challenges that we are facing now and the needs to reinvent. Challenges such as globalisation, global warming, aging society, ICT advancement and demographic change are forcing local authorities to readjust, adopt and adapt or else efficiency and effectiveness of the governance, service delivery and living environment will be affected. To do that, i suggested that local authorities should identify their SWOT, reinvent their concept of establishment, to apply appropriate technologies and be innovative. This is important to create value innovation by cutting down the cost of living, play, shop and working in the city in parrallel with the enhancement of value for service delivery, living environment and governance system. Innovations of MBPJ such as focus on participatory planning, Local Agenda 21, Barrier Free City Concept, Complaints Management System, Prudent Financial Management were deliberated. Having said this, one of the pertinent question asked was while creating an uncontested space to avoid competition is important in the Blue Ocean Strategy, doesn't it worth thinking to strengthen the originial concpet of PJ New Township will further consolidate the pioneer role of MBPJ. It is unneccessary for MBPJ to pursuit non core development such as tourism, finance service, economic etc as robust development of these sector might have adverse impact on the residents, the back bone of PJ City. Well, while integrating and balancing social, economy and environmental dimension of development will solve this dilemma, proper execution with higher integrity, competency and commitment is critically important. Perhaps this is worth giving a thought to explore...

Hawkers' Mentality

We conveyed a meeting with the hawkers of Section 17 Morning Market and Night Food Stalls on Tuesday to discuss about the proposed development plan of market at Jalan 17/27. The proposed plan consists of basement level of parking inclusive 28 lorry parking and loading and unloading area, 4 levels of shoppoing mall, 2 levels of market and 2 tower blocks of apartment. Interest of the attendees was focusing on the market. They are more concerned about getting free stalls, lower rental and maintenance fee, better stall utensils, longer operation hours, accessibility from outside and within etc. While all the concerns are valid and need to refine, the mentality of "I MUST HAVE" during discussion without considering other contributing factors are of my concern. There are quaters suggesting to increase the height of the ramp ingress to the basement level as their 5 tonnes lorry height is 11 feet, a foot higher than the proposal. It is only 2 of them, out of 142. Another lady suggested not to build the market as her stall is catering to the passer by only and the nature of her business might be difficult for the customer to park and shop. The suggestions have adverse impact on the construction cost and schedulling of work. As informal sector is a nature of life in Malaysia, the entry requirement for this sector is rather easier and economic prospect is not encouraging, i believe that the number of hawkers will increase and we have no other alternative but to deal with them. In order to manage informal sector properly so not to jeopardise orderly urban development, it is neccessary to formulate a comprehensive blue print for informal sector. Definitely a paradigm shift on mentality is an important component.

Community Leaders

During a dialogue session with the elected representative and community leaders from the DUN Taman Medan recently, it was discovered that we established different interpretation regarding the identity of the community leaders. Under the previous administration, leaders of local political parties have been acknowledged as the community leaders representing the residents bypassing the leaders of community based organisations. Problems arose when some recommendations for action on local issues were made based on political consideration in which sentiment of the mass was ignored. This has not only created community conflict but also tarnished the image of MBPJ. The problem should be rectified immediately or else nation unity and community works at the neighbourhood area will not be attained. Firstly, well respected and unswerving community leader with full commitment and dedication to serve should be properly recognised. To me, community leaders are undisputed representatives of the respective local neighbourhood area. They are capable to mobilise the mass, proactively safeguard the interest of the local community, knowledgable and skillful on community development and become an intermediate between residents and other stakeholder groups. More importantly, they should be abpolitical and non-aligned to any private interest parties. To achieve that, perhaps some form of local election mechanism at the community level should be in place. The appointment system of the Residents Representative Council (MPP) at most of the local authorities in Selangor should be studied.

The 11th Hour

I attended the free film screening of The 11th Hour yesterday night, courtesy of Justlife in conjunction with the Earth Day Celebration. The film produced and narrated by Leonardo Dicaprio describes impacts of humanity on the Earth's Ecosystem and how can we change to survive rather than to save the environment. Contradict with the common believe that human has to save the environment and the Earth, the film potraits that Earth will recover and purify its natural beauty after millions of year, but not the human. Human has no time to rectify our own wrong doings and the longer we wait and do nothing, survivor of human being is at stake. More than 50 experts interviewed agreed that every individual can do something apart from the big corporates especially the oil and gas companies as well as the Government. It is not a matter of action is too small bring change and impact others, but rather have you done enough within your capacity, control and influence. From last year's Oscar winning Film of The Inconvenience Truth to this year's The 11th Hour, we witnessed that celebrities and film industry are joining hand to promote environmental awareness. I believe that by getting a public figure, this mode of publicity will have far reaching effect and perhaps Malaysian's artists can have similar feet. Zainal Abidin's song titled Hijau has been long over due.

Planning For Sustainability

Council members of the Malaysian Institute of Planners debated vigorously on the future direction of planning profession in Malaysia during last week's monthly Council Meeting. The Planning Institute of Australia's (PIA) successful tranformation, overtaking RTPI and AIP was referred. Planning For Sustainability, the jargon has been used by MBPJ during last year's World town Planning Day celebration and it is used extensively now. I am of the opinion that the future of Planning similar to all trade is not how to protect your professional interest, but how to contribute towards sustainable development, to potrait to the World and the community how have you done in minimising the effect of Climate Change, the threat to mankind now. For MIP and in particularly planners to earn due respect and be recognised as a force to be reckoned with, planners have to start talking about SD, to incorporate SD principles in the development plans and layout planning, to engage stakeholders to identify ways and means to further enhance the cause of SD and importantly to establish ourselves as the champion of SD, at least amongst the players in building and construstion sector, if not all. So, the question is, are we ready to face the music, to reinvent and to prepare to sacrifice? It is time to realise the slogan of Planning For Sustainability...

Informal Sector

We have informal discussion on constructing a new and modern market in Section 17, PJ recently. The market is to replace the existing morning wet market and night hawker food stalls that occupied the road reserve. It is a half century old development story of street hawkers, the development path is somehow rather similar to those in other part of Malaysia. By incorporating hawkers in the early stage of planning, MBPJ, elected representative and the developer hoped that a win-win-win solution can be agreed upon. Ultimately, a healthy and sustainable city centre of Section 17 is created. As an easy entry trade without high demand of capital and skill, many people have found the informal sector a convenience starting point for business venture. Many, however bit reluctance to leave the trade after making their fortune and at time prefer their children to inherite their business although the younger generation poses higher education level. This explained why strategic plan of informal sector development formulated by the local authorities is always fail and supplying of stalls is always insufficient. Coupled with Malaysian's preference on patronising the street stall and careless attitude on food hygeine and cleanliness, informal sector problem will always be there, and forever unless we change our lifestyle and way of marketing, eating and leisure. Believe me, it can be done provided...

Symptom or Root Cause

Sustainable Development problems have the root cause, but more than often we are blind folded to believe on the symptom of problem. This simply explained why sustainable development is long over due and difficult to achieve as much efforts have been focused on solving the symptom. It is understandable as people are too impatient to wait for the result to flourish and more than often sustainable development is talking about changing human's behaviour and ways of doing business or ways of life. We have, at time cut down the whole jungle because of a tree. For instance, time for Car parking charge was extended because some decision makers believed that by doing so it can reduce the incidence of money soliciting from the drug addicts; Campaigns on recycling rather than reduce, the higher order in the 3R hierarchy; healthier living by eating the organic food that imported from oversea will cause high level of ecological footprint, a diversion from SD; and many others. Most of us are fire fighters to solve existing problems rather than solving the future challenges. Because of that, we are never able to solve today's problems as time is moving really fast. Until and unless we recognise that solution of problems shall be deep down to the root cause, we are fighting a losing battle.

You might want to share your experiences of real life examples of symptom vs root cause...

Corporate Social Responsibility

We have discussion with Sony Malaysia this morning over their proposal to organise a tree planting cum environmental education campaign in June as part of their corporate social responsibility program. They are proposing to plant forestry trees, to organise children drawing contest, briefing on environmental issues and quiz under the theme of Living with Nature. This annual activity by a MNC is commendable and is supported by MBPJ. Having said this, CSR can go beyond merely doing an annual PR activity but to absorb best social and environmental practices into work culture and processes. In this era of Climate Change with close scrutiny by the stakeholders and consumers, producers are more than willing to DO GOOD and be Looked Good. Rather than maintaining profit as the only bottom line, some have started to profit from engaging in the environmental friendly activities. Companies like Ikea and The Body Shop are good examples to vindicate that CSR is not cutting into the profit margin, but an opportunity to improve the financial cash flow. CSR is not only confined to the big corporate, SME and even the hawkers, government agencies and individual have their respective role to play. To my mind, hawkers occupying the government stall has responsibility to ensure food hygiene, cleanliness of the food court or even to offer lower price to the customers, after all tax payers are the one who foot the construction cost of stall. Businesses, either big or small have CSR to adhere to.

Passion on Enhancing Local Environment

I was approached by Yasmin of EcoKnights to discuss their proposal on organising an inter-school recycling challenge in Bandar Utama today. EcoKnights is a community based environmental organisation working towards sustainable development projects linking up communities and industry players. The volunteers have been working on educational programmes and activities
for children and adults for the past 2 years. According to Yasmin, she is passionate about this project mainly because she has been a resident there for the last 7 years and her child attends school in the neighbourhood of Bandar Utama. I am so proud of local resident with their enthusiasm to start community sustainable initiatives. If more individual can have his or her little action, then collectively we can make a sustainable Petaling Jaya. We certainly welcome such move.

Earth Day Celebration

For the first time, MBPJ in collaboration with the Friends of Kota Damansara celebrated the Earth Day in the Kota Damansara Community Forest Park, Section 10. Earth Day is celebrated on 22nd April each year all over the World to raise people awareness on environmental issues and need to heel the sickness of our Earth, our only home. A turnout of about 500 people for the gathering which included YB Elizaberth Wong, Selangor State Exco for Environment, YB Dr Nasir, ADUN for Kota Damansara, YB Sivarasa, MP for Subang, Mr Puasa, Acting Mayor of MBPJ and other distinguished guests. Apart from the lectures on sustainable development, boat ride and jungle walk were also arranged for the public to feel and experience themselves the beauty of this 100 years old primary forest. I was there to share my view on sustainable development and how to achieve it through LA 21 platform. I told the crowd that while capacity building is important, individual action is equally critical as collectively neighbourhood or city can make substantial impact on global warming and sustainability. It is no point of telling the Government what to do and keep complaining to others we, as an individual is helpless. Different stakeholders have their respective role to play. While Politician can formulate policies, put governance system in place and make the implementation mechanisme more efficient, individual and civil society group can involve actively, providing feedback and their expertise, and importantly become Doer. The event also provided me the opportunity to witness the excitement of the attendees in knowing that all including the VVIP are prepared to contribute towards protecting the forest. I think the forest will be there for us and our children.

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Transit OKU

Finally, a dedicated transport for commuting the people with disabilities in and around Petaling Jaya City is realised. MBPJ will be the first local authority in Malaysia to provide a free door to door service for the people with disabilities. The 4-seated or 2 wheel-chair capacity van named Transit OKU is expected to go on the road by 3rd June 2008. The service is to compliment the free community bus service provided by the Council. This initiative is in parallel with the vision of MBPJ in making PJ a Barrier Free City and a Caring Society. Making an inclusive society by reducing social, economy and physical barrier to enable accessibility and connectivity has long been an ultimate goal of the Local Agenda 21 PJ. This small gesture is hopefully spurred other local authorities to initiate similar service in other part of Malaysia. MBPJ is appealing to the corporate sector to come forward be partner in this initiative.

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Be An Angel Campaign

I was invited to officiate the Telematch at SS2/59 Field yesterday morning organised by Beautiful Gates Disabled Centre in conjunction with the volunteers recruitment scheme for the Be An Angel Campaign. The Campaign is to recruit general public and train them as skilled volunteers to assist the people with disabilities. Also present was Ms Tan Wye Wye, the host of NTV7 program on Finding An Angel cum the Ambassador for the Campaign. I told the 100 attendees that in order for those with passion to help the people with disabilities, we must first understand the challenges as well as enhancing our knowledge and skills or else an individual will end up with frustration of unable to assist much. For instance, we might want to assist a wheel chair bound people to enter a premise but to push the chair without considering the physical environment might endanger the people with disabilities. I also touched on the need to widen our definition on PWD by including those personnel who has lost their abilities temporary or due to old age. For example, we have to consider special needs of the senior citizen, small kid or even the pregnant women. To me, they are classified temporary PWD as these groups are having difficulty to achieve something due to the barrier of physical environment. By embracing this wider scope of definition about PWD, it is easier to convince people that it is critically neccessary to create a Barrier Free City of Petaling Jaya. The criticsm of spending money to provide facilities for minority group will disappear, i believe.