Child Speaker

Who said children cannot perform in front of the adults? Who have thought that children is able to tell us clearly what they want and aspire for PJ? Who is confident enough to let children take the lead in a forum discussing child friendly city of Petaling Jaya? We did it on last Saturday.

The Children representatives deliberated the issues so well during the the opening remarks and followed by a presentation on the findings from the previous Forum. Even the master of ceremony has done so well. More importantly the group discussion with other stakeholders was facilitated by children.

Perhaps now we should let children have more opportunities to involve in the planning and development process rather than making decisions for them without them.

Community Sustainable Initiative - Desa Mentari Block 3, PJS 5

Others are complaining about how well this Block is doing due to resourcefulness of one of its residents as a MBPJ staff and his brother is the Councillor of MBPJ. But, to me this is not entirely correct. The RA of Desa Mentari Block 3 has managed to pull string through with their tireless efforts and persistent of getting things done. People relationship is so warm that you basically enjoy the stay there for any activities. They are helping each others and having the pot luck for their activities. I understood that many of their meetings are flooded with self prepared food by the women group, no special catering is required.

The women group is so active that during the dialogue with judges for the PJ Best Neighbourhood Award that the women dominated the discussion. You can feel the enthusiasm they have.

Inter-ethnic relationship is so cordial that there are no separation of colour in many of their activities. This is reflected with their agreement on demarcating special zone at the car parking area for specific use. For example, a zone is reserved for the non Islamic religious purpose.

I believe when we talk about the realisation of 1Malaysia concept, we do not need to create special programmes, but just to walk the talk and learn practical and pragmatic examples from these neighbourhoods.

Community Sustainable Initiative - Flat PKNS PJS 2

Sustainability is about improving the current initiative for making it leaning towards sustainable development. It can be a simple project, but progress gradually becoming a programme. It can fine tuning the existing imitative for making it more cost effectiveness and environmental friendly. It can a simple gesture embracing other aspects for sustainability. Whatever it is, it should be talking about integrating developmental dimension of social, economy and environment through partnership and participation of government, private sector and the community.

I saw the sustainability element in many programmes undertake by the RT Flat PKNS, Taman Dato' Harun, PJS 2. Their recycling effort has gone into making nature craft with old paper or magazines and more importantly the nature craft is made by the women group and for sale. The business response is very encouraging. I think this is sustainability we are all pursuing for.

They have prepared the succession plan in which youth are groomed to take over and initiate programmes. There is a girl providing tuition classes during weekend. They have also looked into the security and beautification scheme to green their neighbourhood.

I think this is a case study of LA 21 in action.

Community Sustainable Initiative - Kg Chempaka

The RT for Kg Chempaka has done so much for the new village, but little are recorded properly. Judges who visited this area are sympathetic with them. After winning the 3rd and 2nd prize for the PJ Best Neighbourhood Award for year 2007 and 2009, yet they are only able to submit a pictorial report rather than descriptive oriented. They have provided free acupuncture service since 3 years ago, organise give away functions regularly for the needy and poor, initiate the many classes in education and skill nature for the youth and women, participate in many external events organised by agencies and organisation, plant the herbal trees and to beautify the surrounding. In fact, they have done a lot considering that the RT is only one of the 14 organisation in this tiny new village.

Yet, due to their lack of skill in report preparation and oral presentation, they are not that impressive if judging is done based on that 2 components only.

This is a typical scenario for most of the Neighbourhood Watch Groups and Residents Associations in our society. Instead of having capacity on expression and presentation, they are skillful in organising programmes and activities. This scenario has actually brought difficulty for judges to evaluate as many of them might not have the opportunities to take part in the activities. This is very much depended on the sixth sense, I think.

On the other hand, perhaps it is also an opportunity for LA 21 organising workshop on reporting and presentation.

Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) put up an exhibition during the recent Archi Expo at KLCC recently. This is an opportunity to showcase the general public and players in the construction and property sector on what MIP and planning profession about. The exhibition also aimed at communicating MIP's believes and policies with general public on sustainability challenges.

Having said this, I found out that no many have stopped by and tried to look at the exhibits. Perhaps it is because the booth is located at the corridor without any attraction nearby. Maybe we should spend some efforts on making the booth more attractive.

Visit to Recycling Recovery Plant

I visited the recycling recovery plant of IRM, partner of DELL and MBPJ in PC Recycling Campaign in Penang recently. They are doing partial recovery for PC and other wastes. Apparently, many of their collection are collected from the industries. This prompt me to think that the prospect for recovery in the domestic sector is still huge considering that household waste has not been gone into full force.

While many of us try to avoid touching the waste, the workers are working tirelessly to separate the components, and to them it is priceless. I think for future environmental education on children, we should highlight the contribution of these workers or else nobody will want to involve themselves in this trade.

Community Sustainable Initiative - Damai Senja

Women power is very rare to see although many of us encountered the experiences of liaising more and more with women in our working life. I have not seen the committee of a community organisation that is dominated by women. So, when I come across that the RT of Damai Senja Apartment in PJS 1 has more women than men, it comes to my surprise, really.

Women always play a main supporting role for community development programmes. Without them, nobody will serve the guests for refreshment, nobody will decorate the venue as thoughtful as they have, no one will be bothered much of getting some good souvenirs and other Netty gritty things.

However, after many years of involving with the PJ Best Neighbourhood Award site visits, I noticed the role of women is changing now, with more weight age has been given to them, either with intention or accidentally. I think it is a good sign.

I am happy with what I saw in Damai Senja and hopefully to see more in other neighbourhoods.

Community Sustainable Initiative - Kg Lindungan Indah

While We always hear about "Ibu Tunggal" or single mother as emerging problem in our society, we have always joked about the existence of "Bapa Tunggal" or single father that need attention as well. Perhaps this is not the case.

The Judges met with the committee members RT Kg Lindungan Indah last Sunday. Few of them are actually widower. They spent many hours until the wee hour in their beat base for patrolling and social networking. From their expression, I presume they are happy than ever of having the opportunity to meet and chit-chat with their peers without interruption from the home. I presume they do not need special attention, but guidance to teach them to utilise their time to the fullest and more productive for the community. For example, conducting tuition and inter-generational activities with younger adults.

If we have many single fathers with the luxury of time and experiences to volunteer themselves for inter-generational community activities, I believe the social ills involving the children and youth we are experiencing at the moment can be minimised.

Community Sustainable Initiative - Petaling Utama

Self esteem was mentioned when it come to the justification of building a wall surrounding the low cost flat in Petaling Jaya. While we have reasons such as security, sense of ownership creation, reduce vandalism and crime, trespassing and etc, for enhancing self esteem amongst dwellers of an area, socially and economically below par compared to other neighbourhood area must be the first time ever we have heard of.

Petaling Utama Neighbourhood Watch, PJS 1 briefed the judges last Sunday on their present initiative. According to them, the children and youth have low self esteem whenever the opportunities of mixing with people from other residential areas. They felt they are living in an area with low standard of facilities and services. In order to minimise this impact on the kids, they hope to install facilities and services at par with other residential areas. For example, having the gated and guarded community, play ground and others.

I personally think this is a well thought and pragmatic solution for social development. Children have the rights on survival, protection, development and participation. Before this rights can be exercised, we need to build up their believe on their own abilities, and to do that, self esteem is critical. Kudos to them.

Community Sustainable Initiative - Damansara Residence

For a neighbourhood with 90 odds houses, the spirit amongst residents is extremely high and warm. I wondered how can this young association has done so much just because the believe of having a safe and green estate. The feeling of having entering a neighbourhood is extra ordinary. Something that I do not know how to describe. The atmosphere of neighbourliness is so warm and cordial.

They are the backbone for Friends of Kota Damansara Community Forest Park. A group advocating the protection and gazetting of the 100 years forest from development.

The organised amongst themselves for security, maintenance of the park and social activities organising. They proactively looking for ways to enhance quality of their living environment. Amazingly every household does not mind to pay RM300 per month for that purpose, and more importantly paying 6 months in advance.

I am wondering perhaps we can have similar communities if PJ is divided to smaller and manageable neighbourhood. This must be something everyone can ponder upon.

PJ Children Forum 2009

It is truly a forum for children and teenagers and by the young adults. It is a forum without academic discourse and theoretical flavour, but lend towards fun-filled exercise for participants to express their views and ideas for a child friendly city of Petaling Jaya via graphic, illustrations, models and games. This is the inaugural Children Forum for Child Friendly City of Petaling Jaya held in conjunction with the 3rd Anniversary of PJ City last Saturday.

At the end of the day, the ideas are exactly similar to the views brought out by the adults during other occasions, but with more creativity and innovations. The children envision creating a safe, healthy, sustainable, fun, comfortable and futuristic city from their points of view. For example, building a child friendly toilet for the children. We have not thoughtful about making our toilet conducive enough for the children, isn't it? For an inclusive society, we have to listen to all stakeholders especially the children as a city friendly to children is a friendly city for all.

The one-day Forum was full of music and surprises, and gifts. Such circumstances might not be welcome by the adult as the loud music and "hot" environment is a bit disturbing. However, judging from the response of the participants, I was convinced that the methodology and approaches are what needed for the children and teenagers. For effective engagement with the children, we need to revamp our approaches.

I observed the non-commitment of particular group of children as well. The group sat among themselves and shy away from many of the group activities. While others enjoyed meeting with new friends and interacted actively, these groups isolated themselves. This must be a miniature of community grouping in Petaling Jaya waiting to be broke. We have to minimise the segregation of people by providing them opportunities to interact, to reach out, to understand each others, to create consensus and to work together for an united PJ. We have to do it fast, especially with the children as value imposed on them during childhood time will growth deeper over years.

I am of opinion that the Children Forum should become an annual event. Children is our future, without the involvement of children, development of PJ will not have a bright future, I presume.