MBPJ has once again gone beyond the thinking box by introducing few measures on encouraging Go Green Movement. Started from the offering of assessment rate rebate to the environmental friendly house owners in PJ for year 2011, recent 2012 Budget announcement reinforced the green and low carbon efforts by offering residents buying hybrid car from dealers in PJ to enjoy a three months free parking in the city, further expand the rebate scheme to cover wider group of people, allocating RM100,000 to install LED and energy saving lighting at the back lane of housing scheme provided that owners agree to pay for the monthly electricity bill. The rebate scheme is not possible with the provision of current Local Government Act, 1976 (Act 171). Section 134, Act 171 does not provide exemption to owners who go green or even doing some other social responsibility programmes. Hence, implementing some good green gesture beyond the legal provision, to me is itself an achievement. What can a local government do in supporting the local economy and policy of Federal and State Government in going green? Many will look inward to see how can they perform within their juridic ion. For example, planting more trees, conducting recycling, energy saving within their compound as well as carrying out education and awareness campaign. Having said this, many will just wait and see how other level of government will offer to assist them in implementing the programmes.
By offering free parking to buyers of hybrid car from the shops in PJ, MBPJ has set milestone on sustainable development. On the environmental front, encouraging the use of hybrid car will reduce emission of carbon. On the social dimension, it is a way of changing people's lifestyle and awareness about green transportation. On the benefit of economy, it is a gesture of helping the automobiles shops in PJ and also to assist the buyers to save on fuel. Of course, offering free parking that within the purview of MBPJ's juridic ion and means is sensible from the economic and management point view.
To me, this is a form of innovation that local government can think of and of course welcome even though it has been carried out beyond what was provided for. To stakeholders and other level of governments, I believe these are innovations that they are all waiting for.
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