World Class Sustainable Cities

I attended the World Class Sustainable Cities Conference organised by the MIP, PAM and REHDA WP on 24 and 25 March 2009. Apart from the 6 foreign speakers sharing their experiences and best practices on sustainability and world class, we have the opportunity amongst the local participants brainstorming on ways achieving world class sustainability for Kuala Lumpur. It is interesting to share with each others on their perception, opinion and understanding about the topic and ways of transforming KL towards a world class sustainable city.


Having said this, to me, one of the main concern is about defining the meaning of world class and sustainable cities. While it is essential to follow some accredited guideline on world class and sustainable development if the city is aspired comparable to other cities in the World, it is also critical to tailor make with one's own circumstances after all sustainability is meant for having a quality living for its citizenry. For example, in Bhutan, level of happiness of people is more important than material enjoyment and for that it can be proclaimed as world class. Similarly, multi-cultures society like Malaysia is definitely having other considerations compared to the mono cultural society.


Secondly, the Conference was also told about the important of city branding. City branding is not about coming a marketing jargon or an amazing slogan. It is about impressing people with the uniqueness about the city, it is about making people convinces that you have a strong and visible character that others do not have. It is about telling people the shared vision the city stakeholders have and proud of. A city with a successful branding is one of the main considerations for investors and residents to invest, work, shop, play and to live.


Too much bureaucratic is another identified hassle for the execution of a world class city. It was agreed that too many hands for a specific scope of works will create a lot of coordination challenge. One of the classic examples quoted was the traffic and transportation sector. It was highlighted that at least 13 agencies are having their says in the transportation planning and development in KL. These include the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board for issuing public transportation licenses and routing, City Hall for providing infrastructure and traffic management, Police and Road Transport Department on traffic offences enforcement, Department of Environment for pollution enforcement and the bus companies for providing the operation and services.

Another observation was while other world class cities have a target on carbon emission reduction for the fight against global warming, Malaysian cities have not looked into it at all. No statement let alone the target was recorded in the vision statement or strategic plan of any particular city. If our cities are aspired to be world class, then the pre-requisite is definitely for us having look into the challenge of climate change, i believe.

Generally, i found the conference is refreshing and organising another one next year will be good to follow through with the discussed and agreed actions.

Award for Excellent Service

I was happy to receive the MBPJ 2008 Award for Excellent Service last Friday. While the Award is a form of recognition given to the staffs who have performed extra ordinary for the whole year of 2008, it is also a wake up call to others for doing better in years to come. Indeed it is a gesture of killing two birds with one stone.

Recognition and acknowledgement by far the best form of motivating people for carrying out their outstanding tasks continually. Undoubtedly people need motivation and incentives apart from joining a healthy environment for competition. By competing each others with the understanding that reward is based on merit will create an energetic organisation and satisfied staff force with pride. This is an important elements in the human capital master plan as staff force is the back bone for an organisation. Re-branding of an organisation has to start from within, the inner self or else whatever slogans and statement that have been put forth will remain achievable. Without having a clear understanding, the work force might not be able to visualise and appreciate what was aspired, let alone to do it.

Recognition does not necessary associate to huge cash reward or come in expensively. It can be in various forms to suit to circumstances. For a project well done, sending a thank you note is considered good. Inviting people to a special function or providing preferential treatment to them is another way of saying thank you. Even the mentioning of job well done and the people who have done it in a speech or remarks can be of help. Sending a press release attached with a photos showing the particular staff in working itself indirectly is a small but good gesture. The types of recognition can go on with little bit of innovation and creativity, but more importantly passion of wanting to do it.

Recognition alone is not enough without continue capacity development program to improve the staff's knowledge and skill. While a person can be motivated by getting the incentives, it is very rare a person can perform better and better by doing the same routine job without innovating it according to the changes. For example, a clerk used to issue a hand written receipt would have to key in the particulars for computer print out in which acquiring good typing skill is definitely of help. Hence, perhaps Award for Excellent Service should consider the adaptation and adoption ability towards changes as well.

I am happy with the recognition provided by the employer. I think I deserve it and I believe I have a bigger responsibilities now to work smarter and harder.

Happy Celebrating Earth Hour

Today marks the celebration of Earth Hour. A day in which millions of people world wide to switch off their light between 8.30pm to 9.30pm to call for actions on global warming healing. Started in year 2007, the campaign has garnered support from all walk of life as an awareness raising call by getting people to pay attention on the impacts of climate change. The rising of temperature due to emission of carbon gas has resulted in ice melting at North and South Pole, rising of sea water level that endanger the island states, the destruction of wildlife and natural plants, the uncertainty of weather and etc. It is about the survival of man kind rather than the Earth as many misconstrued. Earth has been here in the universal well before man kind and It will continue there even without the man kind. So, saving our environment is tantamount of saving our life, not the mother nature.

The question is what next after 9.30pm tonight? We cannot simply switch off our light in an hour once a year and claim that we have acquired the awareness and knowledge of loving our environment. More action-oriented and embedded into daily life style activities can be done. While it is good of having celebrities to appeal for public action during the Earth Hour, it is also right to let general public know the good daily environmental examples practiced by our celebrities, I presume. I am thinking aloud, if allowed that it will be more meaningful and wonderful if those who have signed up for the call of Earth Hour practice what they pledged.

Happy Earth Hour.

Child Friendly City of Petaling Jaya

The Community Development Working Committee, Local Agenda 21 Petaling Jaya has decided to making PJ a child friendly city. A Child Friendly City is a local system of good governance committed to fulfilling children's rights. It is a city where the voices, needs, priorities and rights of children are an integral part of public policies, programmes and decisions. Chapter 25, Agenda 21 mentions that as children make up about one third of the total population, they have equal rights as for adult to enjoy their rights and to share their thoughts about making this World, a sustainable place to live, play, study, shop and work later. Presently, many of us tend to ignore the plight of children and work on plans and programmes that are so called "good" for them. We always take thing for granted and presume that children will be in agreement with what we have planned the best for them. However, the rising cases on juvenile, child abuse, abandoned child, gangsterism in the school, children safety, kidnapping of children, school drop out, widening of generational gap and other social ills have some how rather vindicated that this approach of planning everything for the children is not the only solution. Sidelining the children without involving them into the planning and decision making process over matters concerning about their future personal, community and city development is not right.

The proposed plan is envisioned to making PJ a child friendly city by focusing into the development and participation aspects. Children will be the equal partner in development process. Children is at the centric of development. Children will be given amble opportunities for good personal development. For all these to happen, they are the drivers, participants and beneficiaries.

The famous saying of "do not plan for me without me" is very much applicable here.

Children have been chosen as this age group is the easiest entry point for engaging wider participation of community members. Presently attracting the participation of adult for community development is rather difficult. Members of the community except the senior citizen and unless the issues are crucially relevant to them always cite work commitment for an excuse of not participating in the community groups. This ends up with most of the community groups are managed by senior citizens in which social activities are also centred for this group of community members. Community development movement has slowly losing its preference to the other segment of community. Thereby having children-centred programmes is hopefully can help to attract participation from wider groups of community members. Past experiences have shown that children art contest, children talent contest, parenting talk, free nutritional talk and family medical check up are programmes that are able to attract good participation.

Hopefully the choice is right in enlarging the movement for community development, and i believe it can subjected to strong will and support from multi stakeholders as well as efficient mechanism of service delivery.

Klang River Rehabilitation

Klang River was highlighted again recently. The Chief Minister of Selangor told the State Assembly of Selangor that a 20-year plan costing RM 10 billion will be drawn out to rehabilitate the Klang River. Once rehabilitated, Klang River is comparable to the Singapore River and Cheonggycheon River in Seoul, Korea in becoming the icon for Selangor as well as bringing in RM 5 billion revenue. 9 strategies have been outlined in making the project a success. These include relocation of polluted activities along the river reserve, deepening of the river bed, rehabilitation of the river ecological system and beautification of the river bank. In doing so, the participation of various stakeholders are important and critical. As Klang River is running through the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, active involvement and support of Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Federal Agencies is very significant. Similarly, greater tolerance and coordination amongst the stakeholders especially the agencies is another key success factor.

Under current economic situation, investment and financial support from the private sector is equally important. Having said this, to me the success of this program is very much depended on the involvement and support of the people. Rehabilitation is not as easy as solving with the engineering solutions and sufficient resources allocation, but raising the awareness and ownership of the people. The people is the main culprit for river pollution. We know that rubbish is the major polluter of river and it was the people who dumped it into the river. By getting people to not throwing the rubbish in the public area, drain, lake and river, we can see the immediate effect of having a better quality of river water. Thereby, community participation must be the starting and continue effort. Ignoring the individual public effort and participation is a problem by itself.

Secondly, while implementing the new strategies is important, recognising existing initiatives and providing support is equally critical. Existing initiatives gearing toward the river rehabilitation should be given proper support and duplicated elsewhere, if found effective and replicable. Currently, there are many community groups and NGOs have started some minor community projects for the up keeping of the river. Perhaps an inventory study should be carried out and followed by a consultative session with all affected stakeholders will provide a clearer picture on the direction of Klang River Rehabilitation programme.

We cannot afford to fail again after the failure of Klang River Rehabilitation Project in year 1990. I believe, this time we can do it. And I hope to tell my next generation that I am part of the solution to it.

Town Hall Meeting

MBPJ created another history on participatory planning. Last Monday saw the presence of councillors, media, residents groups, NGO, consultants and developers in the "town hall" alike meeting. The stakeholders were given the opportunities to listen to developers and consultants on their proposed projects and then to provide their feedback. It is the first time that media is allowed to attend to cover the proceedings. It is also the first time that even non affected parties are permitted to attend and to voice out.

I believe it is the right way towards good governance, transparency and accountability. Residents have the chance to have direct engagement with the project proponents, and the project proponents have the opportunities to consider views put up by the residents. MBPJ is having the opportunities to listen to both sides of the stories before making an informed decision. Of course the reporting by media will help to alert residents and stakeholders on future development of Petaling Jaya. No doubt all parties are happy and hope this practice of calling all concerned for an open hearing can be continued and extended to other programmes.

Achieving sustainable development requires smart partnership and participation. Without trustworthy partnership and meaningful participation, it is difficult to ensure a livable and sustainable city of PJ for all. While participation is important, the component of sustainable development should not be forgetting. For example, while all parties might agree of constructing a building, the building must have becoming an asset rather than liability to the further environmental deterioration. Elements such as energy efficiency, greenery, sustainable construction, healthy and user friendly building, zero waste, zero carbon emission and others should also be looking into.

Effective Community Communication

Recently during the discussion of organising demonstration sessions for the residents organisations on garbage enzyme making, someone alerted me that inviting the leadership of the residents organisations to attend and giving them a bin to do it might not be working. This recalled me the effectiveness of information dissemination avenue and mobilisation of residents to participate in the community development programmes through the leadership. More than often, it was discovered that the residents or people on the ground was not informed about any programme although it was disseminated earlier to the leadership. It exposed the weaknesses of community communication.

Many organisations assumed that the leadership will help in informing the grassroots on any happenings and bridging any responses to the authorities. However, many events shown that this avenue is not effective of getting message across. Many residents organisations do not have a proper communication mechanism. Some prefer to notify residents by sticking a notice on the notice board in the community centre, some like to get the committee members to notify their immediate neighbours, some might use the newsletter to inform any happenings, some might take the initiative to send fl yer to every household, some might hang up a banner at the strategic location, some might post the news on the website and many might just keep it within himself.

Residents are not forthcoming for any activities if the activities are not of interest to him/her. People tend to wake up only if a controversial issue is warrant his attention. For example, a proposed high rise building in the neighbourhood will get a lot of attention and participation compared to the launching of a cleanliness campaign. Hence, some people have suggested that in order to get good participation for community development programmes, perhaps innovative marketing and/or sensationalise the matter can be of help. For example, organising the children events with the element of competition as many parent is having the "kiasu" mentality and wanting their children to be recognised academically or co-curriculum. Of course, most of the time providing free "makan" will attract many participants, even though some of them are not the immediate stakeholders.

Having said this, effective community communication requires strong leadership from the organisations and sense of ownership from the residents. I believe if the residents feel strongly about their living environment and neighbours, they will try to reach out and participate in any events by all means. Thereby, creating community spirit is critical and important. Meanwhile, MBPJ should change the communication strategy of informing people and expecting people to participate syndrome. MBPJ must be more pro-active in engaging the people. Perhaps calling scheduled and open town hall meeting, sending the van with announcement function to go round the neighbourhood for information dissemination, allowing officers to have a chit-chat teh tarik sessions with the residents, setting up the mobile service counter at the pasar malam or pasar pagi is not a bad idea.

Environmental Education

I have a meeting with different stakeholders ranging from kindergarten operator, educators, NGO representatives to the government officers on the effective implementation of environmental education last Wednesday. Environmental education is about raising public awareness, knowledge and attitude for environmental issues and challenges. Along the process to improve their skill in making an informed decision for actions on environmental conservation and rehabilitation. It is not imposing a specific environmental project for someone to undertake. It is also not a channel to disseminate pure environmental information without teaching or coaching them the knowledge. Having said this, under most circumstances it is difficult to segregate the environmental education with other components of the environmental conservation program. More than often, organising an event in conjunction with the festive celebration is used for environmental education purpose. For example, to organise demonstration session on garbage enzyme making during the Chinese New Year Street Carnival at SS2.

It was also agreed that environmental education is successful if value of an individual changes for better towards the environment. In realising this, the panelists agreed that education should be starting from young age, perhaps childhood pre-school level. In this respect, presently kindergarten and nursery become important, yet forgotten institutions. These institutions can play an important role in moulding the young children to embrace and to love our environment. Many of the time environmental programmes at the primary and secondary school level cannot be sustained as the school pupils are having too many other priorities and focuses and hence those value imposed on him will be getting rid of the earliest possible. For example, recycling exercise as told to do so during the primary school level might not be continued when the students reach secondary level as it is not in-build in their conscience and attitude. Hence, for a successful environmental friendly city to realise, it is important to engage the principals, teachers and pupils of the kindergarten.

Another point of discussion was concentrated on making a program to sustain. Sustainability becomes an issue as many will lost their interest and excitement after some time or at time mission has been accomplished. Panelists agreed that some form of recognitions and awards or even competitions should be designed to keep people continuing with their programmes. People especially the education institutions are competing each others for excellence either academically or co-curriculum. It must be appreciated for them to get a recognition from MBPJ. For privately-operated kindergarten and nursery, recognition will boost up their image, and thus the intake of students, which means income generation. In this sense, it is truly "being environmental friendly can be profitable" in practice.

For Local Agenda 21 Petaling Jaya to improve further and to achieve sustainable development, environmental education is critical and necessary. Integrated and total environmental education incorporated into the administration and planning system should be in place. Without doing so, effective implementation of environmental education can be very tiring.

Open Day of Planning Department

In conjunction with the MBPJ's Quality Assembly for the month of February 2009 on 25/2/2009, my department hosted the Open Day at Banquet Hall, Dewan Sivik. The Open Day featured booths displaying the functions and activities of the Department and various Sections, fun-filled, informative and interactive activities for the staffs and visitors as well as community service activities by various partners of Local Agenda 21 Petaling Jaya. For example, eye and health check, garbage enzyme demonstration, sale of environmental friendly products. The visitors were also served with bio-degradable packing refreshment. On the same day, an initiative called Sustainable Department was launched to promote sustainability amongst staff and departments. The initiative aimed at raising staff awareness on resources saving and thrifty, greenery and caring towards environment.

While the response over the counter was tremendous, the understanding of staffs for planning department and also sustainable development was not that encouraging. Some cannot understand clearly the different between planning approval and building plan approval, some have not known that the Department is custodian over the PJGIS system, some thought Barrier Free City Program is about disabled people only rather than creating an environment accessible by all, some have thought that sustainable development means no cutting down of trees or no further physical development. The exhibition and activities provided in sight for the staff. I believe it is good for every department to do the same so that every staff is alerted on what others are doing, and thus creating better and mutual understanding amongst the staffs.

Mdm Sharipah, the Director must be commended for realising this initiative.

Garbage Enzyme

3R is not only about recycling, it encompasses all ways to reduce the consumption of resources and generation of waste. If generation of waste cannot be avoided totally, then 3R means to try in any efforts to minimise the waste. It is against the believe and knowledge of many people. Hence, under the Local Agenda 21 PJ program, many approaches have been introduced to enrich people's understanding about 3R and to showcase them everything is reducible, reusable and recyclable. Recycling for spectacles, computer, beverage cartons and composting of household waste at source are some of the examples.

Garbage enzyme is no exception, becoming another focus for LA 21 PJ after the method was introduced to me by Justlife, a private entity championing the environmental stewardship. It is a multi-functional household, environmental and gardening product produced from the waste. It can be used for cleaning, air purifying, stain removing, farming, deodorising and preventing pipe blockage. It is a D.I.Y method in which everyone can make it in their house or work place, and bottom line is it is cheap.

Based on the public feedback after few rounds of demonstration sessions and roadshows, LA 21 PJ has decided to undertake this project and widen the scope for target coverage. A joint program with Beautiful Gate, Justlife and Section 19 Residents Association is on the drawing board now. It is expected to be launched on April, 2009. The educational project will teach and coach 15,000 people in PJ to experience the benefits of garbage enzyme and to make it on their own.

Please watch out...

The 7th Annual Blind Leading The Blind Charity Walk

It is on again. A walk for community member to experience the blindness and feel so helpless under such circumstances. The Blind Leading the Blind Charity Walk will allow people to donate while making a casual walk partnering with a blind folded people. MBPJ, as a pioneer in championing the creating of Barrier Free City of Petaling Jaya is honour to be partner with the Lions Club of Petaling Jaya in organising this event for the past 7 years. It is an event to raise public awareness on challenges facing by the people with disability. Many of us sympathise with our friends with disabilities and want to provide assistance, but withdraw the intention for fearing to do it wrongly. Hence, forums to raise awareness and capacity building is essential so that the society of all for one and one for all is achievable. By participating in the walk, the participants will be learning how to help the people with visual impaired. For example, how to lead and provide instruction to the people with visual impaired during a walk. If not properly done, it is not uncommon for the people with visual impaired to knock on the lamp post.

Money collected from the charity walk will be channelled to charitable organisations such as the Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital for sight rectification projects, especially for the needy.

So, why don't join the walk on 19th April 2009 at Dewan Sivik MBPJ, Petaling Jaya? Enhancing your good conscience while helping others.

PJ Best Neighbourhood Award for 2008/09

The Award is on again. At least three changes have been made to further improve on the attractiveness and appearance to the residents organisations. Firstly, the competition format has been deleted as this is an award to recognise the sustainable initiatives that have been carried out by the community and not a contest. Secondly, reimbursement of up to RM1,000 will be paid to the participating organisation for their expenses in preparing for the award nomination. Thirdly, a teach in session was conducted to share with the participating organisations on what the judges look for and look at. This session was held to assist the participating organisations understand better on the award. This is timely as the Award has been entering its' 7th Year. The Award was launched by The Selangor State Exco for Local Government with the presence of more than 70 residents representatives.

For details and form, please visit http://www.mbpj.gov.my/home. Closing date is 30th April 2009.

Catch 22@PJ: Too Harsh For Good

Stringent or lenient enforcement when it comes to wrong doings? For many, the choice is varied depending on whom, where and when. We will appeal for lighter punishment if we are the one who will pay for it even though at any price, small or big. We will show our suspicious if someone else is getting light penalty although the offender might be in similar situation as we did. The enforcers might be suspected of on the take. This is a common response as we will only concern if it is directly affected ourselves. So, when the by-laws allowed enforcer to impose higher penalty, the affected parties complained that it is too harsh whereas others who are not penalised yet will keep watching without much concerns. The offenders, many of them are repeat offenders will start out crying and claiming innocent, start appealing to those in power for help, shout at enforcers for being too heartless. Is that wrong for being too harsh if plenty of warnings have been given and the offenders have got the compounds more than once before?

We are in the Catch 22 situation now. On one hand many cannot tolerate with the offences committed and ask for heavy penalty, but when they themselves are getting the compound, complain of too harsh when the enforcers adhere to the book will be forthcoming.

Perhaps the solution is to communicate with all the stakeholders and finding acceptable terms and conditions for all type of penalties. For example, if the RM1,000 per compound is too heavy for the hawkers, then what is the accepted amount? The Authority should discuss and create consensus with all stakeholders on rewards and penalties system. In this respect, informal sector development is not a matter between the Local Authority and the small traders, but also the consumers and community. When consumers and community are involved, their aspirations and expectation from the small traders can be communicated. For example, standard for hygiene, cleanliness, fair pricing, service quality, food quality, social responsibility etc will become a shared responsibility. After all, community which pays assessment tax is contributing towards the provision of trading premises for the small traders. The community should have a say in return for their money spent, i believe.