Contrast@PJ: We Serve

Community service is a noble move considering that it is done with tirelessly, self determined effort and voluntarily to benefit the public at large. It is a powerful tool for any like-minded individual, organisations, agencies or even politicians communicating with their objects, provided that it is doing right and for the right thing. For example, if a service centre is established for all groups of people, then it must be friendly and accessible to all, the operation time shall be convenient to all and appropriate to all, the services rendered shall be effective and solution-oriented and more importantly the service staff are friendly and approachable or else it will become a white elephant and many might not appreciate the services provided. It is no point of having a community service for the sake of doing it without proper and thoughtful planning. I have always reminded my fellow friends from the Lions, planners, community members and office fraternity that providing a service without beneficiaries appreciating it is tantamount to a "shook sendiri" self endeavour.

Having said this, We must pay high respect to those scarifying their own time and money to serve. We must not asking too much until stepping into the server's personal life. For this to happen, proper communication and creating mutual understandings are important, even prior to starting the community service.

Branding

Everybody talks about branding to enhance the corporate and product image. Without a clear image, it is hard to compete with your competitors and at time be marginalised by the others. For the past one week, few occasions i attended, the question of branding was touched. MBPJ is talking about the identity associated to PJ. What people look at PJ and how best to describe PJ? My professional institute, MIP is talking about the planning profession is the eye of general public and other stakeholders.

To me, brand is associated closely to the image that an organisation projected to the general public. It can be positive or negative depending on how you projected yourselves. In order to project an image that an organisation envisions to have, comprehensive marketing and PR campaign, and of course follow through actions on what you say is critically important. For example, the vision for PJ as a healthy and dynamic city for all shall be translated into visible actions and strategies. Similarly the pledge of having a world class service delivery system should be communicated with the community so that every stakeholders are agreeable to the standard and indicators set or else it will remain as a PR gimmick. Some time it is good to response proactively on issues brought up so that the wrong perceptions, if any onto the organisation can be diminished. For instance, responding immediately to the public out cry on landslide, traffic congestion, crime and safety, city local plan, non public consultation for proposed development projects etc will help in projecting the image of planners as the social guardian for a sustainable living environment. This should also be done consistently.

Some time we have been so busy to "fire-fighting" the piece meal and petty issues rather than looking things in macro perspective and comprehensively. This becomes the main constraint for a good branding exercise. We need to be forceful and thoughtful, and importantly passionate and patience enough to see changes, gradually or over night.

Contrast@PJ: Say No To Plastic

Plastic bag is not guilty of polluting the environment, i presume everybody agrees with that but not many like to acknowledge this fact. This is being so as the main culprit is the behaviour of the human. As a matter of convenience, plastic bags are used so rampantly. It is easy and cheap to acquire a bag, be it at the store, market, hospital and any way. Hence, people do not appreciate the value of plastic bag and forget to calculate of cost disposing it since we are not the direct party to folk out the money for disposal. No pain, No care is the exact mentality. For easy way out, many advocate the "ban" of plastic bag to solve this land fill based problem. To me, unless we have alternative solution, call for total ban is unbecoming and unsustainable. We are advocating the integration and balance of 3 different dimensional of development, yet our action might kill off some related industries. So, perhaps the campaign of saying no to plastic shall be rephrase. Instead of going hard, give people a choice with economic incentive or penalty. For example, reuse the bag for substantial economic gain or excessive payment for using more than the normal consumption. It is fair trade.

Catch 22@PJ: Roles of Local Authorities

Everybody understands well the roles of local authorities in Malaysia. The Local Authorities were established under the Local Government Act, 1976 to provide urban services and facilities, to control urban development and to collect taxes. These are basically the traditional roles of local authorities in Malaysia. However, over the years, due to neo-centralism, many services such as sewerage, expressway construction, public transportation and in near future the solid waste management have been given away. The rapid urbanisation process in which new type of activities emerge and new lifestyle have also affected the operation model of local authorities. Local Authorities are now spending more time on enforcing and regulating wrong doings, maintaining peace and safety, providing welfare aids to the needy, mediating conflicts amongst stakeholders and promoting sustainable development.

Local Authorities as the third tier government and the closet to the grassroots, have no other choice, but to evolve meeting the new expectations and new aspirations of the people. People expect to see a more proactive and friendly urban service provider, firm with affirmative actions enforcer, forward looking planner and socio-economic facilitator or promoter. Local authorities have to venture out from the traditional cocoon of mentality, operation, mind set and modus operandi. Matters like global warming and climate change, trans-national migration, economic development, gender equity, inter-generational gap, disabled challenges, resolving the conflicts etc are new, but unavoidable encounterings for local authorities. These are events by themselves or link to other consequences, and if not check from the starting will have far reaching effects on urban environment. For instance, although the competency level on soft skills for fresh graduates is not directly under the purview of local authorities, any good gesture of local authorities to look into it and to find an amicable solution complimenting the efforts done by any other agencies or partners who offer their inputs and help, why not? Similarly, local authorities have role to play in minimising the impacts of economic recession on urban development and the residents. Although Federal and State Government with bigger fiscal muscle and authorities can make adjustment on fiscal and tax structure to revive the economic situation or to help public on reducing financial burden, local authorities can with their own small way to compliment the efforts. For example, expedite the process of licensing and allowing more business opportunities can be of help.

Now, the local authorities come to the Catch 22 situation. It is a matter of wanting to remain as a local authority with traditional roles or venture into emerging roles in parallel with the desires and aspiration of its' objects.

Chinese New Year Celebration with LA 21 PJ

We have the celebration attended by more than 3000 people, well over and above the estimated figure. Hence, people was complaining about the shortage of food, or even the food prepared was not what they anticipated. Many said they have thought lavish and abundance sort of food as what have been served during the previous open house hosted by MBPJ during festive celebration will be there for them. But, this is not the case for last Saturday's function. Only finger food was served as Committee has thought that promoting culture and enhancing interaction is much more important than giving people FREE MAKAN and CABUT immediately. Of course, the way people "fought" for their food is also another contributing factor for the insufficient of food. This was proven wrong as many cannot change their mind set and expected the same style of service has happened. Perhaps the organising committee has to think about it and if decided so, to communicate well with the audience.

Then, we have the prize presentation for the winners of calligraphy and children art contest being held in between the stage performance. This was criticised for making the program bored. The original program has not included the prize presentation during the stage performance, but changes were made to accommodate the circumstances then. The young participants felt tired and have to leave early after spending 4 hours there and the proposed time slot for prize presentation was over shadowed by the possession. Everyone included the VIP were so excited to do the parade that the stage was neglected.

Then, we have people complaining about not being given proper "respect" and attention. We have invited the participation of 400 inmates from different underprivileged homes. The invitees were supposed to take care by respective CBOs for food and token. I must admit better coordination can be done so that nobody has been neglected. My sincere apologies.

Having said so, I personally have thought this inaugural event encompassing the exhibition on environment and welfare, calligraphy and children art contest, possession of cultural troops and stage cultural performance is a good try and set the precedence for the future event. We should incorporate sustainability principles into event that held by the Council. The active participation and partnership with stakeholders namely the residents groups is another good model. It is Chinese New Year Celebration with LA 21 PJ, a theme that emphasizes so much on the involvement of stakeholders. I salute those who have contributed with full commitment. I am sincerely hope to working with you.

Green Award

Anugerah Hijau or Green Award, a contest for the secondary school in PJ was launched early February 2009. The inaugural Contest organised by Ecoknights, an environmental NGO and MBPJ is aimed at encouraging the students and schools to undertake environmental conservation programmes in school and to express their love towards environment with creative and innovation. 2 categories are opened for contest and the entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, impacts and appropriateness.

The contest is a form of environmental education to raise awareness amongst pupils and the youth as provided for under Chapter 25 and 36 of the Agenda 21. Inculcating awareness and love our environment mentality starting from young is critical as the learning of good value will steer the youth to do better when they grow older and wiser. Hence, running an innovative and marketable environmental education programmes is always remained a main focus of the Local Agenda 21 Petaling Jaya and our partners.

Please visit http://anugerahhijau.my/ for details.

Composting of Household waste

After 7 months of implementing the household waste composting program, 51 participating households showed their happiness and satisfaction. The participants for the Community Initiative on Household Waste Composting organised by MBPJ and Cetdem under the concept of Local Agenda 21 have helped to reduce at least 40% of their daily waste from going into the rubbish bin, and then to the landfill. This is an example of reduction at source, the fundamental of 3R concept. For a successful campaign on effective solid waste management, it is important to encourage reduction of consumption and if this is not possible, then reduction of generating the waste in which the resources or products are used with optimisation. The household waste composting is a DIY method for every individual to help reducing the waste for disposal, hence helping the local authority to save on solid waste management cost and to conserve the environment. It is truly an individual and localised action for city and global concern.

The 18-month pilot project is hoped to train 51 household as pioneer and trainers so that waste composting can be further introduced to the community at large for Petaling Jaya. By reducing the waste, it will definitely lead to a sustainable and livable city of Petaling Jaya, i am sure.

Chinese Ox Year 2009

Celebration for this year was over. Life is back to normal again for many people after having so many Yee Sang, but not me with the Majlis Mesra Gong Xi Fa Cai with Local Agenda 21 Petaling Jaya is set to take the centre stage this coming Saturday. Plenty of preparation and last minute adjustment is on going now. This is the first time in PJ history that a Chinese New Year celebration by MBPJ in collaboration with over 20 organisations and also the first time that a possession surrounding the Town Centre of Section 52 is going to be held. The partnership and participation spirit in line with the Local Agenda 21 Petaling Jaya is on practice. Festive season is used as a platform for promoting social interaction and environmental awareness.

Although with bullish style of the Ox, this year is seeing a turbulence economic situation with many uncertainty globally and locally. It is anticipated that businesses will encounter bigger challenge than 1990s as demand is diminishing, inflation, personal spending power is shrinking and etc. As a local authority to facilitate socio-economic development in PJ, MBPJ has the responsibility to ensure quality of life is enhanced and adverse economic impact on city development and its' people is minimised. MBPJ can enact policies to lessen businesses and people's commitment for doing business or for living here, to improve conducive environment for conducting businesses here such as infrastructure improvement and support on encouraging the influx of visitors and consumers to patronise business premises in PJ. Of course, expedite the process of business and provision of facilities are of help.

On the personal note, my wish is to having NGOs and CBOs as well as the community leaders to continue their valuable voluntary community services for a sustainable and livable city of PJ amidst facing the difficulty for a worsen economy. People might not have spare time to attend to community service or to be involved actively. It is difficult for and effective community development towards sustainable development without full participation of NGOs and CBOs and dedicated leaders. This will have far reaching effect... Perhaps PR effort to encourage and to acknowledge their contribution is a must and should be continued.

Catch 22@PJ: Road or dining area

This is common phenomenon during any festive season, and Chinese New Year cannot spare from this. The sudden surge of business "forced" restaurant operators to put tables and chairs onto the road. Occupying the public space and thus taking over the car park lots. This has worsened the traffic situation in some commercial area. While this is an opportunity once in a year and considering that the uncertainty for the coming year economic situation, the act of operators to defy the law is "understood". Having said this, what should be done? Perhaps allowing operators to do this with better control on traffic flow.