Last Friday, for the first time in MBPJ's history, a public forum involving all stakeholders for outdoor billboard was held. More than 80 people representing the billboard companies, residents groups, media and Council's staff were in attendance. It was widely reported and commended. The attendance is expected as billboard issues and illegal erection as well as irregularities have been hotly debated since two years ago.
I do not want to discuss on the issue as many will come back again this coming Friday to seek for an amicable solution, the outcome that will benefit the Council and the residents financially and aesthetically. What i am interested is the approach in participatory planning. For an effective public participation to take place, aspects of context, content and process have to be looked into.
Context is referred to the appropriateness of venue, time and conduct of the consultation whereas content is the topic to be discusses and its relevant. Process refers to the methods of preparing, conducting and post-consultation. Lacking of any one of the above or showing the bias towards any one aspect can result in unsatisfactory and inactive or nonconstructive participation by any parties.
It was reported that the billboard contractors were not too happy as they have only received notification two days before the meeting. They were also not too happy to share the profit with Council. The residents were not pleased with the inaction of Council in tearing down the illegal billboard. It seems that everyone has something to say. Any resolution without affirmative actions will not stop people from continually talking.
Perhaps it is time to record what transpired and become a lesson learnt. A book outlining the process of this case study will be good as a guide for future forum. It is definitely a quantum leap in participatory planning, if the outcome is of help financially and aesthetically to PJ.
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