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.