Professionalism

Professionalism means handling a job with higher code of ethic and technical specification for the optimum return of resources spent. Why are we engaging the expert of doing a specific task that we might not familiar with? This is because we want to ensure that it is done with professional care and worth the money spent. We want to get professional input and advice even though we ourselves might be a professional ourselves because it is always good to have a technical expertise to oversee the project. Further to that, we want to get the best person, best deal, and best work coverage for better return of resources. We always advocate of getting the best person to do the job. So when it comes to preparing and submitting the development layout plan, who is the best person of doing it? Some say the town planners because it was allocated for under the law and by training, planners are trained to do allocation and placement of land use and resources to the optimum level. However, the architect will argue that they can perform equally good or better because they are expert in arranging of building and facilities for better circulation, accessibility and networking. The surveyors by virtue of working with land day in and out claim that they know how to subdivide parcels of land efficiently. All claim they are the best person. For project proponents, they will rate the best person for his ability to deliver with cost effectiveness within the time frame. He might not care about the process of achieving it but rather the outcome that he envisions. For general public, the best person must be the one who safeguard the interest of the community, economically, socially and environmentally. For local authorities, the best person must be the one who come out with a win-win solution that taking care the interest of all parties. The best person must be the one if interest and agenda of the designer, the client, the beneficiaries and the regulator are considered and well managed. Any element of compromising for making good on professionalism is not professional. For example, calculating every inch of open land as green space regardless of its functionality but just for the sake of providing minimum required green land under the guideline, to me is unprofessional. Any designer of fond doing this is not the best person. Project proponents requesting his designer of doing this is not the best person. An authority approving the substandard provision is not the best person. No point of protecting own rice bowl without uplifting the knowledge and skill for performing professional duties and for the greatest benefits of all stakeholders. This is tantamount of asking for compromise in professionalism. Thereby, asking for recognition and entitlement for performing a professional duty is not only a right, but rather a heavy responsibility as well, at least to become the best person.

Mother Day

Mother Day is a Day for all the moms. It is a Day remembering the contribution and scarify mother have made and the hardship they have gone through for the family and upbringing of children, and some even looking after the grand children. Mother works relentlessly and unswervingly throughout the Year. Therefore, only celebrating it on the 2nd Sunday of May is, to me an unfair treatment to the mother. Perhaps, we should have all year celebration for our mom rather than a specific Day. Many might not agree with this as it is human nature of forgetting to appreciate good work because we always take for granted what we are receiving every day. For example, we always think mother wake up early preparing the breakfast for us is a normal daily routine. We presume mother will up keep the house and wash our dirty linen without any notification. We make so much assumption about our mother. We thought our mother is our maid, our banker, our protector during hardship and our friend during unhappiness. Of course, our mother will never say NO for playing these roles. When we have this perception implanted with us, then presumably we will not remember to repay the good gesture of our mother, let alone celebrating it. Hence, sparing a day to remind us about what our mother has done and deserving some recognition, perhaps is not a bad thing to do. Of course, businesses especially the gift shop, restaurant, bakery outlet, jewellery shop and hospitality sector will support the Day. Happy Mother Day P/s: This year 2012 is so special for me because my mom is celebrating her birthday same day with the Mother Day. A Double Joyful Celebration for my family

Green Developer

I attended a meeting discussing the implementation of low carbon cities in Malaysia last week. It was an enlightening experience with the chances of hearing what others have done and also sharing of knowledge and opinion with others on the way forward. One of the particular people impressed me the most must be a young developer with plenty of ideas and actions of going green in his development projects. More than often we hear others of wanting to do it but might not have even started it, but Sam Tan of Ken Property Holding Bhd has so much showcases and good green practices to share. He reckoned that how extra steps and effort have to be taken for enduring green route. His maiden trial was converting an abandoned office project into a service apartment in Bangsar area. The green beginning did not stop there but continue with other development projects having green facade and elements. The green building is not mere compliance of minimum guidelines for being accredited, but a lot of innovation and creative design are incorporated. For example, designing a pathway for flow of natural ventilation in order to reduce capture of hot air and locating space for optimisation in natural lighting are some of the example. Of course, the design has eaten into the bottom line of profit margin. This however does not prevent them to experience with new green ideas and design. Their good gesture was paid back with overwhelming response from the buyers who do not mind to pay extra for getting a green home. After all, in long run, the house buyers are able to save from the green gestures. For example, the pre-installed rain water harvesting tanks will help reduce the water bill. This has obviously brought in new dimension to the property development and construction sector. I wish to have more property developers with such "green and low carbon" features in mind come on board.

Keeping Promise

Practice as you pledged is a famous quote reminding us on fulfilling our promise. We used to promise others on what we would like to do. More than often our words are very promising and convincing that we will not stop until achieving what we have pledged. However, we are also constantly being reminded that saying is easier than done. It is not difficult to promise but keeping the words is tougher. I believe many of us, me includes making many promises, big or small everyday but not all will be carried out. Perhaps 50% out of the total is considered excellent. For example, we promise our boss to complete a task by a date but cannot deliver on time. We told our other half to go back for dinner or to buy some stuff on the way back but are unable to do so. We will always excuse ourselves by saying just forgot. We tell ourselves to be thrift but cannot resist the temptation of buying something while shopping. We promise ourselves not to over eat but unable to do so because it is always good food on the dining table. To some, while this might be a minor promise that will not hurt others or cause big loss and hence is excusable, the habit of doing it very often will lead to other promises being compromise conveniently. Perhaps to impose penalty for non performance of promises will help in reducing the incidence of breaking promise. I attended an assembly last Monday. Every Monday was declared as Green Vegetarian day by the State Government of Selangor. The public agencies pledge to eat vegetables and practice green acts on that particular day. However, the pledge was not fulfilled during the function. Lunch boxes making of polystyrene, containing meat together with plastic bottle of mineral water packed inside the plastic beg were distributed to the attendees. I presume changing behaviour and attitude towards green and sustainable life style still have a long way to go even with the agency leading others in green movement. Well, keeping promise is easier said been done, continuing it is more difficult, I presume.

Inspiring

My friend sent me a video clip last week. It is so inspiring that some of those who viewed the clip cannot withstand their tear. It is a ballet dance performance by two disabled dancers. One will never imagine that such a high standard show was performed by the people with disabilities. I understand what my disabled friend told me once, "we, the disabled person are multi tasking and talented to live normal way, but unable to do so as the environment has failed us." Providing a universal design environment and platform will see more inspiring stories to blossom, I believe. We always take for granted that for someone to excel in his field; he must be physically fit to do that. For example, for an athlete of sprint run, we presume he must have long legs. Similarly, for an artist, she must have a good looking and charming face. Our frame of mind is confined to the set value we have through our experience along the upbringing process. Some time we tend to concur with what have imposed on us without having second thought. That's why media playing an important role on "fine tuning" on how we think and perceive something. That explain why companies are spending millions for advertising of products and services. That explain why sometime media are frequently used for propaganda purpose. Tat explain why nowadays social media is getting very popular because it is handy for disseminating news and receiving all kind of information we want to have, or most of the time receiving junk that we do not want to have. Of course, this is nothing to do to inspire others. Inspiring can only happen if the person has excellence performance in life or in work to share with others and the one who need inspiration is very distress but open to take stories that will inspire him to improve and relearn. It must be a two way communication at the right time and right forum. You cannot expect much if asking a spoon feed man, even though he is successful to tell an unemployed man how to make it in life through hard work. It is simply will not work as the unemployed person will have already framed up his mind how this man can come through with the family support. However, if a successful man with similar previous experiences or background will have better persuasion power as he will be able to share how he has gone through the hardship of unemployed and push through. The chances for positive impact of inspiring is definitely greater. Inspiring is a required continual process to motivate people to do better. Inspiration can be in different form. Most people will be inspired because of the remuneration or cash reward. For example, receiving bonus or getting promotion for job well done. Some might have the feel good factor. For example, be recognised for carrying out charity activities. Whatever it is, I presume nobody can resist from inspiring by something, it is only a matter of identifying the right form, forum, timing and people.

Art of Leading

Leadership has been perceived wrongly by many people. When we spoke about leadership, we always look upward to our superior or someone holding high position that providing the guidance as our leader. It is nothing wrong with that assumption as considering the views of our boss as guidance and direction in our work is part and parcel of the job specification. However, to me leadership is more than listening to the superior and take queue from him/her what to do. We conveniently make excuse of lacking leadership if something did not perform as desired. To me, leadership exist in all levels and everywhere. It is not confined to our politician who lead the country or our bosses who lead the company or even our community leader who lead the society. You might be the leader on your own field. For example, as head of the household you are definitely a leader. Similarly, become leader of a group if you are leading a tour or a project. In this respect, the assertion that I cannot lead because I have no power is not accurate depending on what circumstances you are in. For example, people always condemn the failure of recycling because of lacking leadership. They reckon that leader must make extra effort to encourage wider recycling programme. They always excuse themselves for not recycling due to other shortcoming such as lack of recycling centre or bins, no proper collection, lack of incentives and etc. For me, this is a mere excuse. As a leader in the house, you can and able to practice 3R at least within your own compound. We have millions household and with that we have millions leaders. Collectively minor acts of these leaders can bring changes, I presume. While everyone is of course the leader on his own account, the quality of his leadership is varied depending on his competency, capacity, knowledge, skill and even to some the charisma he might have. A good leader is the one who are able to command others to listen and work for the causes he envisioned. A bad leader is the one who have nothing to lead but allow the followers to act freely without any direction. Thereby, acquiring the art of leading is very important. While some born leader can lead easily, many have to acquire the skill of leading through learning, relearning and life experiences. Leadership means the leader leads the followers. Being a leader means shouldering a higher responsibility and setting an example for others, either good or bad. To be an effective leader, you must first equip yourselves with the knowledge of managing human and its relationship. You must be able to motivate and encourage the followers to share your vision and actions. You must be able to guide them through even though in the infant stage of a programme and during difficult time. A good leader is the one who is there to cheer you up during bad time and to fire up feel good feeling during good time. A leader who run away from dilemma and take a back seat during controversial time, to me is definitely not qualified being a leader.

Power of Local Planning Authority in Plan Making

Who is the Local Authority? Is the staff or President of the Council constituted as Local Authority? I believe a lot of confusion here and misinterpretation about the Local Government system in Malaysia. More than often we heard about the complaints of residents in regards to the non performance of the Council through Councillors. While the Councillors point the finger to the staff, they are equally at fault because they are part and parcel of the Local Authority. The decision of the Council is made by the President and all Councillors sitting in the Full Board meeting. Once the Full Board endorses it, the decision becomes the policy of the Council and binding to all. However, if a practice or rule that have not got the endorsement of the Full Board, then logically and rightfully it should not have become the policy of the Council, rather it is an act of administration. For example, if a by-law provides a penalty of up to RM500 for an offence, but the Council by virtue of passing a policy of keeping it at RM150, then the policy should prevail. Any enforcer trying to impose a fine of more than RM150 is constituted of non binding and against the policy set.

Section 5, Town and Country Planning Act, 1976 (Act 172) assigns the local authority as the local planning authority for its area. Section 16(2) of the same Act requests the Local Planning Authority to alter the local plan with specific direction upon receiving the direction from The State Planning Authority. On top of that, consultation with local planning authority must be held too about the proposed direction. It is very clear that in any case in regards to the alteration and proposal of the local plans, the local planning authority has to be in the know and to propose after taking into consideration of the State Planning Committee. It is a prerogative of the Local Planning Authority. Unless a policy has been passed by the Full Board meeting to delegate the power of taking instruction from the Committee, to make proposal and to further the process of displaying, publicity and approving the plan to the department concerned, in no case the department can carry out that process without referring to the Full Board or any standing committee that has been entrusted to do so. The discreption power is with the Full Board, and not the department.

What if a project endorsed by the State Planning Committee but was rejected by the Local Planning Authority earlier because it went against the provision of gazetted Local Plan? Can the State Planning Committee's decision supersede it? Can the Local Planning Authority still say NO even though the State Planning Committee directed alteration of plan to be made under Section 16(2), Act 172? The Act provides steps of procedures to be followed for completion of the process of altering or replacing the Local Plan. It is the prerogative of the State Planning Committee to direct and it is the duty of the local planning to observe the process as provided for. The direction, must have however with consultation with the Local Planning Authority. The Local Planning Authority should have given their views or any considerations during this period or else any publicity process held later should be construed as with consent of the local planning authority. The Council especially the Councillors should not have disputed the proposed alteration unless no prior approval has been given by the Full Board.

Labour Day

1st of May is the Labour Day. A day in celebrating the employees' contribution and dedication, I think. If this is the spirit, then perhaps the celebration should be initiated by the employers and not entirely the responsibility of the employees to organise event for celebration and hence seeking recognition. Then again, if both the divides can celebrate together, it must be a sign of smart partnership and collaboration. People always say no sound is loud enough without clapping both the hand. It means any work or job is the produce of collaboration between the employers and employees. Without anyone will definitely making the job incomplete. Some would like to name the day as Workers Day because the words of labour implying the contribution of employees have been belittle. This is so because in the past they are providing energy and time only in return for remuneration. In present day, this is not true that only energy and time is paid, but rather other services or talent such as consulting or ideas are getting rewards too. Perhaps workers are also not a word to reflect the emerging changes on employment sector. For proper recognition, perhaps we can have a more appropriate terminology such as Employees Day. Previously, we have a chain of production that demarcated clearly the link between different of workers and the boss. For writer, you will need to get a publisher to publish your works. For song composer, the boss of recording company is important to get your song be sang and produced. Whoever artist he decided to sing it will have a bearing on how popular your song can be in the market. The employers and employees relationship is obvious in making the chain of production work effectively. With the advancement of technology especially the ICT which provide plenty of opportunities and platform for all, the relationship between employers and employees are also evolving. The writer does not necessary to secure a contract with publisher first before writing. He can upload it to the web site and market it with the social media for getting readers. And mind you, world is the market size we are talking about. Similarly, for song composer, he can produce a demo and upload it for sharing and listening. In this respect, no clear employers exist. They are the so call freelancers and their own boss. Is this group of people celebrating the Labour Day? I do not think so because they might have no employees to celebrate with. With the growing number of this group whom relying on ICT to be their own boss as mean of living, will the number of people celebrating Labour Day decreasing? Happy Labour Day, anyway before the time comes for us celebrating the contribution of employers and employees together.