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.