Local Management for Night Market

Panel of Judges for the PJ best Neighbourhood Competition visited Damansara Permai Apartment at the Damansara Damai last Sunday. The judges were told by Mr Hamzah Zakaria, the Chairman for the Residents Association that they managed the cleanliness of the night market. Stall owners pay RM3 per night for the Association to maintain the cleanliness of the premise which occupied their apartment area.

While Residents Association in collaboration with the hawkers help in managing the place is commendable, it is also food for thought that why don't the stall owners themselves organise to not dirty the premise in the first place, and if not then to clean the premise by themselves? It should be the principle of "polluter pay".

Having said this, if the residents associations showed their capability in managing local premises and have the cooperation from other stakeholders, is this vindicated that MBPJ should delegate more responsibility and authority to the local residents group for managing their neighbourhood? Can MBPJ get the local residents groups to do cleaning jobs, to monitor the safety at the park, to supervise the contractor on infrastructure works, to organise community activities, to provide feedback on the quality of service delivery etc? If this can be done, i personally think that improvement on service delivery can be done and good governance can be achieved.

What say you?