International Relationship for Local Authorities

The Panel for Quality Award from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government visited MBPJ last week. The Panel was here to evaluate the quality performance of MBPJ. While many criteria touching on administration and management of the local authorities were brought up to scrutinise the performance of MBPJ, one of the interesting criteria is on international relationship. This criteria looks at the position of the Council in international arena such as membership affiliation with international groupings, participation and contribution in the international affair for good urban planning and management and even sharing of Council's experiences with others from outside the country on good governance and practices are counted. This is extremely different from what others are promoting local authorities should focus on, that is back to basic on urban services delivery.

This prompted me to think about the future for a city in this globalised World. Marketing and positioning a city in the radar of capital investment, skillful human resources and in flow of stakeholders is a must for a city to fence off competition. That explain why many cities are planning for excellence towards sustainable, liveable, healthy and the happiest by associating themselves with international groupings and complying with global requirements. Such cities are having targets and strategies for reducing carbon emission as their commitment towards climate change. It is still rare for city managers in Malaysia for incorporating these into the urban planning and management policies and programmes.

In order to closing the gap, I presume more international relationship should be in place and of course the competency, knowledge and skill of those entrusted should also be at par with their counterpart elsewhere.

Community Event

I attended the preparatory meeting for Christmas Day celebration last week. The meeting is to discuss the activities in celebrating this year's Christmas Day. We agreed to organise a concert featuring popular artists and choir groups in the Auditorium, Civic Hall of MBPJ. Everybody anticipates a big turnout as the Ester Concert held in last April attracted many audiences. Some of us tried to figure out of how to control the crowd. There are suggestions of getting a bigger place, installing audio-visual at the car park of Banquet Hall next door or even restricting the crowd by having a by-invitation only concert. We are still trying to figure out on what to do next if the feedback on attending is overwhelming.

Some members have reservation about organising a concert exclusively for invited guests only. As a local authority for all, MBPJ initiated program should have opened to every stakeholders. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate and integrate with all segments of society, after all organising an open event celebrating a festive season is embedded in the culture of this multi-ethnic nation, and of course for MBPJ, spirit of Local Agenda 21 counts. I tend to agree with that.

Sustainable Planning Profession

Planning Students Assembly funded by the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP), the umbrella body for practicing planners in Malaysia was held last Saturday at UITM, Shah Alam. The attendance by students from local planning schools was overwhelming. I saw a brighter prospect for planning profession in Malaysia, and more so after witnessing how active the students took part in question and answer session. Planners are championing the challenges of sustainable development, that is how to plan and develop a sustainable, liveable and healthy township. While this is ultimate aim of planners to contribute towards sustainability, without having a constant supply of quality, competent and high integrity of planners it will not be an easy task. I was particularly happy with the performance of students from institutions teaching subjects with English medium since first semester. I notice that these students are very confident in articulating issues and presenting their views. Perhaps it is the way forward, by enhancing the learning of soft skills amongst planning students.

Sustainable Festive Celebration

For the past one month, I have attended many open house parties. Some are hosted by people or organisations that are championing good environmental practices and sustainability lifestyle. I have high regard for many of them as they have been promoting sustainable development tirelessly and with commitment. Many of us believe that inculcating value about good sustainable practice shall start with own self and with small daily encountering. We can reduce the usage of water and resources, or reuse durable and usable items or recycle or even eat little and healthier. A simple gesture will do as our contribution towards the Mother Earth.

While saying is easy, doing it is always difficult if the little gesture has not inbuilt with our conscience and way of life. I was taken aback seeing parties are I attended using polystyrene containers for food serving, plastic wrapping extensively for door gifts and buffet-style of meal. If years in years out we are still practicing this during festive celebration, I would not think we can change for better, in terms of sustainable lifestyle.

Climate Change Refugees

I was attracted to an article about climate change refugees. While we understand that refugees are the person run away from war, displacement of people for shelter due to natural disaster might be the result of emerging challenge to us in present day, the climate change. We witness the melting of ice in the North Pole that increase the sea level, the presence of Tsunami and Earthquake, the flash flood, forestry fire, drought and etc. When people are fighting for survival, shelter, food and rights, they will have, no choice but to look for better place that offer them these need, even the basic one. That's how migration of people started, by those uninvited or cannot meet the stringent criteria set by most of the countries.

These refugees are the victim of the own doing of the people, either they are rich or poor. Our doings in degrading the environment and in depleting the resources as well as finding difficulties in handling waste generated by us. While this will impact everyone in enjoying better quality of life, the poor is feeling the pain the most. The rich can afford to reduce their suffering by investing in better living environment and technology, the poor has no mean to avoid that. Hence, likely they are the potential refugees. Similarly, I presume the former squatters staying many years in the transit house waiting for resettlement are also refugees, due to development.

For sustainable development, I presume we are talking about fairness and justice here.

City Marking

I have an interesting discourse with friends on Marking Georgetown last weekend. We discussed about the challenges and uniqueness of Georgetown for her to declare as an UNESCO heritage site. We thought the former Strait State rich with many old buildings is lively with the presence of living community and legacy. We wondered what will happen if local people leave the streets and shop houses in the inner city of Georgetown. Without life and activities, Georgetown is "dead" and hence the status is "lost". Thus, we thought while making commercially viable project in this heritage site is critical so that the owners and investors are convinced to stay put and to convert their buildings into heritage-related venture, to make sure that local community is staying put is equally important, or more critical. Tourists are attracted to an historical site as they offer many stories to tell or culture to present. If a site is so artificially created without the opportunity for interaction between local residents and tourists, the attraction will be faded sooner or later.

I personally think in deciding what to mark about Georgetown, the participation and involvement of the local community is pertinent. Local community has to be given the opportunity to voice their ideas and desires, to plan what they want to co-exist with the development or even to adopt and adjust their life living next to the outsiders, to implement programmes and projects together and of course to bear responsibility in making Georgetown live up to its reputation.

Mottainai Auntie

I was at Mid Valley with my daughter last Saturday attending the Eco Ideas Exhibition put up by Panasonic. While the expo is displaying many design for environmental products of the company, games and message about 3R and environmental conservation were also disseminated. One of the surprising icon was the appearance of the Mottainai Auntie at the venue. Mottainai means do not waste in Japanese. It is an attraction to the children, and even myself. Using icon or ambassadors or celebrity to promote a good cause is a good social marketing strategy. While educating children on environmental conservation is necessary, doing so without attracting their attention might not have produced the desired result. I presume, companies believe in corporate social responsibility should emulate what Panasonic is doing. I believe, being environmental friendly can be profitable...

2nd Organic Day 2009 PJ

The second Organic Day 2009 PJ was successfully held on the 3rd October 2009 at the 19/22 Field. This time saw bigger crowd and more participation from the organic farmers and shops. More important I noticed the newcomers, non-organic patrons to come forward. This must be a good sign of educating and raising public awareness on organic produces, and at the same time on environmental protection and sustainable lifestyle. I believe when many people go organic, indirectly we are going green. I wish the 3rd Organic Day schedule on 5th December 2009 at the same venue will attract bigger crowd and convert more people towards organic movement. A feet, believe by many that contribute to the sustainable development.

Urban Regeneration

I attended a preparatory meeting on organising a seminar on Urban Regeneration last Thursday. We spoke about inviting eminent speakers to talk about the successful urban regeneration programmes worldwide. While many of them come with distinctive background and vast experiences on the planning and implementation of projects as well as engaging the stakeholders, they are, however people providing consultancy, the developers and authorities. We were not able to identify any beneficiaries such as land owners or communities that directly involved in the urban regeneration process.

We reckoned that it is important and pretty good to identify such individual and group to share their experiences and thought as the saying "from the horses' mouth". Malaysian have a lot of suspicion when it comes to urban renewal or regeneration or revitalisation. Many of them associate these terms to displacement of original residents or communities, tearing down the low rise buildings and substitute with the high rise commercial buildings, taking away the public parks or facilities and even profit making for certain powerful people. Rightly so, as many past projects included the public-private partnership is business-driven and we have not seen a project for the total benefit of the existing community. Even the restoration of heritage buildings has benefited the businesses rather than the dwellers.

Having said this, experiences elsewhere have shown that urban regeneration is an important process to re-energize the city life by injecting new activities while enhancing the special features of the existing urban area. For example, providing better infrastructure to curb urban sprawl. Similarly, to provide better infrastructure and facilities to enhance viability of businesses. Apart from that, to instill new sense of ownership to enhance neighbourhood spirit is also important components of urban regeneration.

Urban regeneration is not only about physical and economy, it is also about human and community. City development is about people. Success or failure of a city is for the people. Hence, urban regeneration without public involvement and people-centric is a failure itself.

Social Sale and Marketing

The different between sale and marketing is while the former is talking about closing deal, the latter is about strengthening the image of a brand. When it comes to businesses, effective marketing but without selling will not make a company to sustain, unless the company has allocated sufficient resources for that purpose. Many companies might not have the capability of launching aggressive marketing exercise but if the sale is not forth coming in the near future. Thereby, it is important to have marketing strategy bridging the selling programmes.

For social marketing, communicating the good causes of an organisation to the target group effectively is critical. People might have many choices for contributing their resources and resources are scarce with many NGOs championing similar social causes. Competition arose and social organisations have to be creative, proactive and pragmatic in soliciting for resources. The final push for selling is important or else people might have sympathy towards the organisations but doing nothing in providing the assistance. The question is how to conduct an effective social sale?

I think social sale is effective with proper marketing, communication and double up with follow through actions. It is important to get people know and understand the organisation better, convince and share the social causes and willing to contribute or "buying" our concerns. At time, persistence, however petty and create uneasiness is important. We tend to ignore those who approach us at the first time and get irritated after second or third time. However, we might have been influenced to listen or to buy after few times. I discovered this tactic when one day having tea with friends in a food court. While we were chit chatting, a lady approached us for contribution. At first we ignored and politely asked her to go away. She obliged but came back again after some time. In order to get her out of our sight, my friend decided to ask for the contact number and promised to call when we want to donate. Reciprocally she asked for my friend's number and so not to disappointed her, my friend did. Well, this is not the end of the story.

My friend received greeting from her the next day and the next day. The message is simple greetings related to the social causes and in between the lines, asking for contribution. Finally, my friend decided to donate after receiving few messages. I believe the persistence and continue follow through action has made the deal a success. I should think she is a good social sale person.

Organic

I was invited to the radio station Ai FM talk show yesterday. The talking point is about organic and environmental protection. The topic of organic ranging from farming, food, production to the waste and composting. While taking organic food for health reason is popular to many people, running an organic farm for love towards environment is not known to many. Many people patronise organic shop and eat organic due to health reason such as illness, presence of heavy metal in the farm grown vegetables and perhaps the feel good factor.

The question to me is the relationship between organic and environment. I reasoned that organic farming is about observing the rules in ecological life cycle system and also focusing on recycling of waste. For example, by composting the solid waste for soil fertilisers will help in reducing the waste problem, and thus global warming. At the same time, not using chemistry fertilisers and no excessive use of pesticide will help in protecting the environment and soils. While there are disputes about the benefits of eating organic, undoubtedly steps associated to organic farming, if observed faithfully is protecting the environment and leading to sustainability.

The practice of organic gardening should become an appropriate activity for urban household. People can utilise the little court yard or even flower pot for planting, watering it with rain harvested from the sky, using compost made from kitchen rubbish and importantly treat that as an exercise after meal. By doing so, we will have small plot of gardens, and collectively making the city a garden city.

Avoidance in 3R

To many, 3R means reduce, reuse and recycle. While many are struggling of put forth the awareness about recycling to the public, there are attempts to further explore the meaning of 3R. Nowadays, some are talking about 4R or even 5R by incorporating the steps of repair, refurnish, replenish or even refuse to buy.When I attended the 3R-Hanoi Seminar recently, I was told about avoidance in the 3R concept. Avoidance means avoiding of using a resource or product or service, if unnecessary. For example, if we can disseminate information in the department through digital means, then it is not necessary to issue memo. Like wise, saving a telephone number in the mobile immediately instead of writing it in a paper before keying it in the phone is a mean of avoiding using the paper. Avoiding the use of new paper or stationary, the purchase of new appliances or phone, multiple travelling to the same destination for the same services and etc.

While many people intend to be thrifty when it comes to spending money, many have not done so as the money spent might be in small amount. We tend to take for granted using something as the value of procuring it is within our means. We are so poor in calculating the value and cost, especially if we need to accumulate the total spending.

Avoidance is a good concept at the beginning of 3R concept. We should try first to avoid over spending or even spending unnecessary, and then try to reduce if not possible to avoid. Of course, this might have affected the economic sector, but for the sake of resources optimisation and environmental conservation, we should try.