No Plastic

Penang State Government announced recently that No-Plastic Day for Georgetown starting from 1st January 2009. Kudos.

It must be very braved of engaging the businesses to do that and to discipline the users to comply with. Nobody should complain except for the manufacturers of the plastic bag, I guess. The businesses albeit worried on competition should be happy as they are saving cost on purchasing the bag. The public especially the environmental conscious one is happy that something is done for conserving the environment. The Council is pleased that waste treatment is getting easier and life span for the waste disposal site can be prolonged.

This change is inevitable as we are facing tremendous pressure from global warming. CO2 emission and greenhouse gas and of course the escalating cost for waste treatment is getting serious now, and if we do not take any drastic action, we are in the losing side.

The question is what are we going to do during the 4 days that plastic bags are provided? Are they dare and willing to say NO to the businesses? Can businesses just say a big NO to customers for the whole week? Even without the plastic bag from businesses, are we started using other substitution? If we use paper bag, have we gave a thought on the food print for producing the paper bag as someone is claiming that food print for producing the paper bag is higher than the paper bag. Many questions need answers.

Whatever it is, it is a good start and sustainability is visible if support from all stakeholders are forth coming. I hope other States are doing it, and fast.

Public Opinion

Public opinion is always changing according to circumstances and interests involved. While someone might fight tirelessly over something benefited them, they might not willing to do so if it goes against their interest. For example, recently a group of residents demonstrated against the closure of an access road with the reasoning that it will inconvenience them. However, someone rebuked saying that the same group of people have objected to the linking of an access road bypassing their neighbourhood few years ago with the same reason. Public opinion can be a sword with double edge, it is useful as a tool to gauge public views and people's acceptance, but at the same time can be annoying if minority of the people have different views from the majority. Under such circumstances, the authority should be brave enough to make a decision that benefited the community at large. The sentiment, emotion and individual self interest should be put a side. Having said this, it is always a difficult decision to make as both side of the divide will try to lobby for decision favoured them. It must be tough for decision makers.

What went wrong then? Somebody said prevention is better than cure. We should have planned comprehensively and thoughtful first. We should have put a threshold on development in relation to the capacity of infrastructure. This must be an ideal situation. Planning is very dynamic and the effect of planning is only can be seen with effective of execution. If a planned township is supposed to be supported by efficient public transport so that private trip generation and car ownership is reduced, but is not there, then I think planning per say should not be blamed in total.

Similarly, according to the early agreement, an access road should have built after 10 years, but it did not materialise for reasons that best known to the developer. In this case, the buyers must have felt short changed and they should have demanded a valid reason from the developer, i guess.

Nobody should be hypocrite.

Effective Message Dissemination

It is definitely a strategic move by getting someone from other respectful organisation to come and share their thought that is similar to what our own self would like to see. For example, we ask people to have sustainable lifestyle but the result might not as what we envision if people perceived that we are not serious. Hence, getting someone known for the very purpose and who has achieved it to share might be more convincing. Alternatively, getting someone with authority to appeal might have convinced people that this is the way forward. I learned this during a working discussion with Marang District Council yesterday. The Council came to discuss with me for organising a LA 21 workshop on 3rd December 2009 to identify issues and to formulate community vision. I was asked to facilitate the workshop and to share with the participants on the LA 21 implementation. Apart from that, officer from Ministry of Housing and Local Government will also be there to enlighten the participants on LA 21 implementation world wide and in Malaysia.

A question was prompted during the discussion. Someone mentioned about why Marang should implement LA 21 now as the initiative has been 10 years old in Malaysia. Well, many reasons for doing so and it is better late than not doing anything. We did agree that instead of Marang District Council telling others why, it is better for the reasons to come from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the focal point for Local Agenda 21. It must be more convincing if the announcement attached with incentive such as grant for programmes implementation. More than often, communities are excited for having a programmes funded or endorsed by external agencies rather than the local. They feel proud of associating with respectful organisations. More so if certificate of participation bearing the name and logo of that particular organisation. This must have become an important ingredient for the success of the programmes. MBPJ has gone through that stage during the LA 21 pilot project implementation. Stakeholders came forward were so excited of partnering a programme with participation from UNDP, UPE and Ministry. To me, it is also a form of recognition.

Perhaps this is because we are so familiar with each others locally that we have always paying high regard to the people from outside. I guess this might be one of the reasons why I am invited.

Succession in Leadership

My Neighbourhood Watch Committee or commonly known as RT of SS25A has a meeting last week. While the main focus was on the security issue and performance of the patrolling service, we discussed the proposed new committee line up for next year. Although Mr Loh, the current chairman has done a good job, he declined to continue citing job commitment as a reason. We pushed amongst ourselves on who should lead, who should serve and who should be there. At the end of the meeting, we cannot reach a consensus and nobody has volunteered to take over the chairmanship and key positions. Many have, however offered to serve as committee members. The RT is definitely having a succession problem.

It is not new to all residents organisations in Petaling Jaya. We saw the fall of an active residents groups after the leadership lost their interest or the change of new personnel. Serving community in voluntary basis is a job not welcome by everyone as you will not praise by those you served, but rather a blame if some unbecoming happened.

I saw some excellent organisations with the chairman running around. Then, it means time is at his leisure. Many of the time, these organisations are serving by retirees or those who are not worried financially. That explain why most of the time we saw the same face of people attending functions. Obviously, it is not healthy for the development and growth of community based organisations.

Towards a local sustainable community, succession in leadership is a big challenge. Younger stakeholders have to be groomed and prepared to take over the helm. The soonest better. Young adult has to be exposed to various community challenges and opportunities. Hence, organising activities with youth flavour should be planned, I guess.

If succession in leadership is not looked into seriously, I presume years in years out we are fighting for the same issues and challenges --- To get people to aware, understand and appreciate the meaning of sustainable development and Local Agenda 21.

Community Household Composting

The 18 months Community Initiative for Urban Household Waste Composting Pilot Project organised by MBPJ and CETDEM with funding from the DANIDA-SWMC and Ministry of Housing and Local Government came to an end last Saturday. The day marked 46 households from an initial of 52 pax graduated with flying colour. They have been learning, coaching, mentoring and producing compost from their kitchen waste for the past one and half year. It is very encouraging and inspiring of listening to their stories. Many of them encountering problem of odours, maggot and complaints before mastering the skill of doing compost. It is never an easy task. Now, they are prepared to be the resource person for disseminating their knowledge and skills to their neighbours and friends. We are talking about getting them to coach others in replicating this project. It is truly a waste solution AT Source, something we have forgotten conveniently due to the complicated steps involved, and of course the perception of attitude of individual is difficult to change.

I think the project proved that it is not impossible if plenty of guidance and support is given.

People Centric Development

Planning for the Urban Future is the theme for this year's World Habitat Day and Sustainable Development - People First is the national theme for this year's World Town Planning Day celebration in Malaysia. The themes were unveiled yesterday at the PWTC. I was impressed with the focus on people centric development in which participatory and consultative planning as well as partnership is the call of the day. Many are agreeable with the need to consult stakeholders and to convince people, the majority of them on the benefits of developmental planning. Many, have however cannot differentiate between the right and rights. While many acknowledge the rights of stakeholders to be consulted, many have not done the right things to justify their commitment. For example, consultation session might have done exclusively or during inappropriate time.

Many have not done so sufficiently due to capacity and competency problems. There are people who might have afraid fronting with their opponents because lacking of communication and negotiation skills. We saw instances of people confronting each others not because of different in ideology and views, but rather personality.

People centric development for sustainability does not mean providing the fishes for the people, but rather facilitating them with the fishing rob and skill of fishing. We cannot assume that providing physical infrastructure equivalent to the urban standard without giving them the soft skills and continue support is people centric. It is pointless to build community centre with the IT equipment but without the resource person to teach them the techniques of mastering the computer. Similarly, ultimately for PJ people it is not a matter of many policemen on the street, but rather the crime rate has dropped. It is not a matter of how bright the city with all the decorative lamp posts, but rather it is bright enough preventing crime from happening.

Toward this end, perhaps we should first create consensus on what do we mean people centric and people first.

Consultation Session on Special Area Plan

These pictures showing stakeholders representing different groups of PJ community at work. They are the participants at the MBPJ workshop last week for discussing proposed Special Area Plan for SS area. This consultation session was held by MBPJ to hear the views, challenges and aspiration of the people on future planning of these area. As many of these areas have been well developed, many of the views were focusing on enhancing the quality of living environment instead of redevelopment. The participants were talking about safety, crime, service delivery, greenery, facilities and state of infrastructure. Many were emphasizing on solving the present problems.

I pointed out to the group that we should talk about solving the future problem rather than discussing solution for the visible problems. For example, what is the effect of ICT on future planning of neighbourhood. ICT might have made working at home possible and therefore reducing the need for travelling and other supporting services. If the trip generation is reduced, then the need for commercial land use might have also minimised, I guess. Similarly, requirement for facilities catering to an aging society is also becoming critical.

We are also talking about bigger picture. For example, while guarded and gated community is a trend now simply due to the fear about safety, we should have also talked about the effect on creating an inclusive society and fairness. The poorer group might not be able to afford having the protection. The fencing might have also discourage interaction and movement of neighbours from neighbouring areas. We will have problem to achieve 1Malaysia, I presume. While everyone agreed that gated and guarded community might not be the only solution, they are not willing to take the chance when it come to safety issue.

I saw the challenge on planning with the people. While planning for the people is easier and less hassle, I presume planners welcome the former for giving the opportunity to draft an inclusive plan for all.

National Recycling Day 2009

Since mid of 1990s, 11th of November has been declared as the National Recycling Day for Malaysia. The Day has, however forgotten by many, even those players in the 3R component. While publicity strategy to publicise the Day has to revisit again, those in the know should have done something to communicate with the mass. Perhaps this phenomena is reflected on the progress and achievement of the 3R effort in Malaysia. The country is aspired to reach 22% of recycling rate by year 2020 but little has been made known to the public on the achievement thus far. Even so, many do not know the strategies in place for reaching this target. Perhaps presently our efforts are very fragmented and disengaged and dis coordinated.

With the introduction of Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act, 2007, the solid waste management service will be handled by the federal corporation. The Local Authority role is less vigorous especially in relation to the 3R. So, the next for Local Authority is a critical question to be answer, perhaps in conjunction with this year celebration.

Meanwhile, for the existing players for their passion towards environmental protection or for economic gain, continuity and seeking for improvement in 3R is important.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to record my sincere thank you and appreciation to them, our 3R champion.

I attended a warm and heartening celebration at the SK Sri Kelana today. A function was held to recognise the contribution of the recycling players. To me, the true players that need to be given due recognition is the pupils and those who are at work. Kudos to all the players behind the scene.

World Town Planning Day 2009

November the 8th every year is celebrated by town planners and those in the planning fraternity worldwide. It is declared as World Town Planning Day. The day is a day for all instead of the planners only to refresh achievement for the past one year and to strategies the way forwards. Perhaps every planner should have a wish list for the coming year. Personally, I would like to see more planners to volunteer their professional service for the general public, to plan for a sustainable living environment, to enhance their knowledge and skills, to network with other players in the property and human development sector for a sustainable, liveable and healthy settlement.

Happy Birthday, my fellow friends.

Media Responsibility

I read news report about MBPJ's proposed budget of allocating RM80,000 for purchasing motorcycle for out riding service. This was announced during the Budget Meeting of MBPJ recently. The service is provided for guiding external guests to functions in Petaling Jaya. The service is used extensively either for the out riding or for patrolling purpose.

It is a news for people as public money is spent. It is nothing wrong for the residents to question on the intended purpose and the necessary for having it. It is all right to report the discourse for approving the procurement of the motorcycle. I think everyone agrees with this.

What I am concerned is the style of reporting. This piece of news was reported in a paper with the headline of PURCHASING FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF CHIEF MINISTER OF SELANGOR. This headline has sensationalised the news. While it created impact on attracting people attention on Budgeting, the reporting might have created some confusion and uneasiness towards good governance.

I certainly do not go along well with this.

Selection of Child Representatives

I attended a group discussion on forming the pro-teem committee leading to the formation of a Child Council for PJ last Wednesday night. The meeting was to to brainstorm on the purpose, objectives, terms of reference, code of conduct and initiation programmes of the proposed committee. While the meeting reached consensus on the above, we have to spend some time on the selection of the committee members.

While everyone agreed that priority is given to the children aged 15-17 years old whom have shown commitment and interest during the recent concluded Child Friendly City Forum, we were also concerned about issue of exclusivity. Selected children should be representing young adult from different walk of life, ethnic, socio-economic, culture and education background and even geographical area or else their discussion and plan of actions might have been confining to certain scope of aspects relating to children. Under the Convention for Rights of Child, 4 major components, namely survival, protection, development and participation have been outlined. The component of survival might have been neglected if the children are coming from well to do family. Similarly, aspect of participation might not have been given thorough consideration if the children have not been exposed to challenges of good governance and democracy.

Hence, having a fair and holistic selection without a clear criteria and sufficient announcement calling for volunteering children is touch. We have, however agreed to give it a try knowing that it is worth to be inclusive and offering opportunity to every eligible, and more importantly committed children in Petaling Jaya