The judges for sustainable community award of Petaling Jaya have finished their assessment on ground last week. It is such an refreshing experience to learn that many of the community groups including the newcomers have done so many initiatives, either one off or long term programmes over the last one year. We reckoned that perhaps the blossom of the initiatives is mainly due to the able leadership of the organisations. We witnessed how enthutiasme of the chairs in deliberating the programmes they have done and very few have actually mentioned about the difficulty they have encountered along the process. To me, it showed that while meeting obstacles are common, the most important thing for them is the process and outcome. They did not surrender to the pressue but continue to seek for success. I salute almost all of them for the persistence.
Having said this, many improvement are still required. For example, doing the wrong thing for right purpose. One of them suggested to utilise the open space for relocating the hawkers and to build a connecting road between two blocks of flat over the open space. Even some have shown their innocience for allowing car wash operation over the drain without any filtering of waste water measure and covering the drain without any manhole. Some have built the toilet on buffer zone. All these although with good intention of solving their problems and trying to bring community activities on board, do not augur well for the environmental sustainability. I presume many have focusing on social sustainability. On this, promotion on Local Agenda 21 with 3 developmental dimensions, namely social, economy and environment is critical.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Expel
It is extremely difficult to expel someone from your family or office. If possible, nobody would like to go through this painful process, not even the one who is going to be sacked. However, if you have done your most best to not expelling someone, then what choice do you have? You have given them the chance to improve but nothing has been done. You told them to change for a better person but turned out to be worse than previously. You advised them to observe the work ethic and conduct without much success. So, enough is enough although sympathy is always there for someone, decision has to be made.
In my whole working life, I have done my very best not to bring disruption to anyone legitimate earning and rice bowl. We tend to care about what happen next to our subordinates if he is not working and earning for his siblings. We want to make sure that everyone is well taken care of so that he will do his utmost best. However, this can only work if he is reciprocating by improving himself for betterment, even with little changes.
I hope I will never embroil into this kind of position again.
In my whole working life, I have done my very best not to bring disruption to anyone legitimate earning and rice bowl. We tend to care about what happen next to our subordinates if he is not working and earning for his siblings. We want to make sure that everyone is well taken care of so that he will do his utmost best. However, this can only work if he is reciprocating by improving himself for betterment, even with little changes.
I hope I will never embroil into this kind of position again.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Budget 2012
The 2012 Budget Announcement last Friday brought much cheers to many especially the lower income segment of the community and public servants. It is said a people friendly budget. The measures have been focusing on minimising the pain for escalating cost of living in the urban area, reducing the cost of doing business, ensuring general public of affordable housing and transportation as well as maintaining the competitiveness environment of Malaysia for investors and businesses. It is also the hope of improving the benefits of public servants will help in enhancing the effectiveness and quality of public delivery service. Although nothing is sure on this, the measure has however uplifted the morale of the public work force. Hopefully with the emphasize on innovation, public service will be more creative, innovative and leading the way in enhancing the quality service delivery. I believe we can produce more Steve Jobbs alike by giving individual public servant a chance to be innovated instead of the conventional bureaucratise way of protocol.
For environmental front, the tax incentive for hybrid and electric car will be extended until 2013. It is in fact a good move of encouraging hybrid car as an alternative to the present mode of transportation. Perhaps the local authority can compliment this effort by offering some incentive to encourage more such model replacing the existing vehicle. For example, car parking incentive and priority parking. Having said this, the changes might have help in reducing the emission of CO2, it does not help in reducing the car volume on the road. At the end of the day, I presume providing efficient and affordable public transportation is still the way forwards. It will be nicer also if more incentives have been provided for corporates and individual to do more greenery things. For example, shall i enjoy some tax rebate for recycling waste in my house, for reducing rubbish generation, for using less water and electricity, for supporting local products and etc.
For social front, this year must be a good starting for many good years to come. For the household earning RM3000 and below, a hand out of RM500 is given. For taxi drivers buying local made model vehicle is also getting big relief. For family with schooling children, the offering for education is also good. Basically nobody is left out from the list. It is only hope that what have been intended for will be utilised 100% for the purpose for greatest benefits, and no other else.
For local authority, it must be a year full with challenges. The challenge of businesses encountering stir competition and possible economic slow down, the residents facing with escalating cost of living and jobs opportunity, the bulky public service and the work performance of the service contractors. It is especially so for local authorities in Selangor, they will have to learn and relearn how to manage the solid waste and area cleansing after a lapse of 12 years of not doing so. It is an area so visible to the public and have an immediate impact on performance of the local authorities because you cannot hide the problem of cleanliness as what most people said you cannot sweep the rubbish under the carpet without others knowing about it.
For me, the budget is definitely a morale booster if not for career advancement but at least financially YES. I wish the new assessment scheme of SPBA replacing the SSM will right the previous wrong. Qualified servants will be notified and given the chance to serve. It is who you are that count rather than who you know or who you are with.
For environmental front, the tax incentive for hybrid and electric car will be extended until 2013. It is in fact a good move of encouraging hybrid car as an alternative to the present mode of transportation. Perhaps the local authority can compliment this effort by offering some incentive to encourage more such model replacing the existing vehicle. For example, car parking incentive and priority parking. Having said this, the changes might have help in reducing the emission of CO2, it does not help in reducing the car volume on the road. At the end of the day, I presume providing efficient and affordable public transportation is still the way forwards. It will be nicer also if more incentives have been provided for corporates and individual to do more greenery things. For example, shall i enjoy some tax rebate for recycling waste in my house, for reducing rubbish generation, for using less water and electricity, for supporting local products and etc.
For social front, this year must be a good starting for many good years to come. For the household earning RM3000 and below, a hand out of RM500 is given. For taxi drivers buying local made model vehicle is also getting big relief. For family with schooling children, the offering for education is also good. Basically nobody is left out from the list. It is only hope that what have been intended for will be utilised 100% for the purpose for greatest benefits, and no other else.
For local authority, it must be a year full with challenges. The challenge of businesses encountering stir competition and possible economic slow down, the residents facing with escalating cost of living and jobs opportunity, the bulky public service and the work performance of the service contractors. It is especially so for local authorities in Selangor, they will have to learn and relearn how to manage the solid waste and area cleansing after a lapse of 12 years of not doing so. It is an area so visible to the public and have an immediate impact on performance of the local authorities because you cannot hide the problem of cleanliness as what most people said you cannot sweep the rubbish under the carpet without others knowing about it.
For me, the budget is definitely a morale booster if not for career advancement but at least financially YES. I wish the new assessment scheme of SPBA replacing the SSM will right the previous wrong. Qualified servants will be notified and given the chance to serve. It is who you are that count rather than who you know or who you are with.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Sustainable City
The panel of judges for the PJ Sustainable Community Award have an interesting discussion over the concept of sustainable development during a visit to neighbourhood area last week. We spoke about the sustainable city that we envision in years to come. While many aspired to have a peaceful living, quality and comfortable lifestyle, safer environment, affordable home, a lot of greenery, unpolluted water supply, good and sufficient infrastruture and facilities and etc, many admitted also what we envisioned today are related to our past experience and present encountering. We have not taken into consideration what is happening now and in future will become a trend or norm. For example, the concept of R-Urban will change our living environment and lifestyle. The Y Generation will have different aspiration and skill of dealing with others. The youth will be more global and mobile. They will not stay put permanently in a city. They might have working from a remote area but accessible with internet connection. They might even settle their meal without lighting up their kitchen. That's mean the interior design of a house will also need to revisit. For example, having multiple space arrangement within a small area in which change of usage will be every fleasible and according to the need of the occupants. The so-call living area now can be turned into a dining space or music room or study area or meeting space with ease. The need for having a permanent facilities with less usage is reduced tremendously. In this respect, the definition for sustainable living will have to be fine tuned.
Travelling need for essential daily goods will also be reduced. Even travelling to the work place, leisure and study will be deminished. We might have facilities complexes atop of the residential podium that will cut down trip generation tremendously. We do not need the vehicles as a basic need but rather a luxury item.
So, with less opportunity for travelling and inter-human interation as well as returning to basic lifestyle, the creation of sustainable city and its formation will change to futuristic that many of us cannot describe with sure.
The model and facade of sustainable city will change according to time and desire of people. Although all uncertainties are there, one thing for sure will remain is whatever we do and pursue cannot surpass the limit and capacity of our mother nature and creation of GOD, I presume.
Travelling need for essential daily goods will also be reduced. Even travelling to the work place, leisure and study will be deminished. We might have facilities complexes atop of the residential podium that will cut down trip generation tremendously. We do not need the vehicles as a basic need but rather a luxury item.
So, with less opportunity for travelling and inter-human interation as well as returning to basic lifestyle, the creation of sustainable city and its formation will change to futuristic that many of us cannot describe with sure.
The model and facade of sustainable city will change according to time and desire of people. Although all uncertainties are there, one thing for sure will remain is whatever we do and pursue cannot surpass the limit and capacity of our mother nature and creation of GOD, I presume.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Concept of Urban Village
We talked about urban village because we felt we have lost the touch of village living while staying put in the urban area. We remembered how closet the relationship amongst villagers. We cannot forget the kindness, self-help spirit and down to earth attitude of our childhood friends. It is always in our memory of going to river for a swim and hiding behind the trees to play the game of seek and hide. We walked to the school every early morning and rode on motorcycle without helmet for afternoon drive throughout the whole village. We have our dinner at evening instead of night time because we did not encounter any traffic problem as what the hardship urban people are encountering. We got plenty of fruits free of charge during the season rather than spending money to buy. We walked through our neighbours' house behind us without people calling us trespassing. All these are rather to freedom of doing things closer to our heart and nature without fear and favour. It is our true self. We fond of having village spirit because it bring back good old days memory that brought us up. We cannot tolerate with the urban circumstances simply because we have experienced the goodness of village before us. That's why many especially for those migrating from village and rural area are talking about creating urban village in the cities.
Recently, I told the urban village promoters to revisit the concept of urban village simply because time change and aspiration of new generation evolves as well. We cannot expect our youngster to appreciate what we have enjoyed formally. They might not understand what we are talking about and so fond about past moment. For some of them, perhaps spending hours in front of computer screen chit-chatting with friends worldwide is better rather than going outing and picnicking under the hot sun. Some might have thought fried chicken serving in the restaurant is "chicken" instead of those running around in the compound of a village house. We need to apply new terminology, approaches and concept of discussing with them and along the process in building the underlying concept of urban village into their mind. For example, since many have acquitted with the idea of going green as a cool thing, perhaps asking the youth to plant trees while going for outing should be the way forwards.
Urban village is there to stay, but to create that environment in the city with many of its population born in the city and without any experience of village living is a challenge itself. New strategies are needed.
Recently, I told the urban village promoters to revisit the concept of urban village simply because time change and aspiration of new generation evolves as well. We cannot expect our youngster to appreciate what we have enjoyed formally. They might not understand what we are talking about and so fond about past moment. For some of them, perhaps spending hours in front of computer screen chit-chatting with friends worldwide is better rather than going outing and picnicking under the hot sun. Some might have thought fried chicken serving in the restaurant is "chicken" instead of those running around in the compound of a village house. We need to apply new terminology, approaches and concept of discussing with them and along the process in building the underlying concept of urban village into their mind. For example, since many have acquitted with the idea of going green as a cool thing, perhaps asking the youth to plant trees while going for outing should be the way forwards.
Urban village is there to stay, but to create that environment in the city with many of its population born in the city and without any experience of village living is a challenge itself. New strategies are needed.
Monday, October 3, 2011
World Habitat Day 2011
First Monday of October every year is declared World Habitat Day. Today, 3rd of October is the Day. World Habitat Day is organised to raise awareness on the need of having quality, affordable and sustainable settlements and at the same time to celebrate achievements that enhancing the living environment for human being. It is a Day celebrated world wide especially in UN-Habitat at Nairobi, Africa.
While many have been achieved for improving the living environment and shelter for people, many have yet to be done simply because of the effectiveness of programmes and capacity of the organisers and beneficiaries. For example, eradicating the poverty is top agenda of the list, but the income disparity is getting wider now not only between the developed and undeveloped countries but also inter cities or even rural and urban area in a developed country. The job opportunity is shrinking in the developed nation because of shifting of industries based to other countries. The quality of living environment in the urban area is not at par with those in the rural area due to high cost of living expenses. The vircious circle of poverty amongst the agriculture society at rural area is repeating for the service oriented society in the urban area simply because the earning is never sufficient to cover the cost of living.
Definitely some structural change of the economic model, governance system and society norm or value need to be revisited. Perhaps it is time to refresh all these in this Day.
Happy World Habitat Day 2011.
While many have been achieved for improving the living environment and shelter for people, many have yet to be done simply because of the effectiveness of programmes and capacity of the organisers and beneficiaries. For example, eradicating the poverty is top agenda of the list, but the income disparity is getting wider now not only between the developed and undeveloped countries but also inter cities or even rural and urban area in a developed country. The job opportunity is shrinking in the developed nation because of shifting of industries based to other countries. The quality of living environment in the urban area is not at par with those in the rural area due to high cost of living expenses. The vircious circle of poverty amongst the agriculture society at rural area is repeating for the service oriented society in the urban area simply because the earning is never sufficient to cover the cost of living.
Definitely some structural change of the economic model, governance system and society norm or value need to be revisited. Perhaps it is time to refresh all these in this Day.
Happy World Habitat Day 2011.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Art of Rejecting
How to reject a person although it is not right to do so under normal circumstances? Everyone has the right to claim his/her share provided that he/she is qualified. The approving agency has the obligation to grant such right if the applicant has fulfilled the requirements as stated. This is what supposed to be, I thought. However, I was proved wrong when people start quoting on the discretion of the agency to disapprove based on some preempt reasons or even without any valid reason but followed the preference of the people who have been entrusted to make decision.
For example, an application for operating a budget hotel was rejected even though all technical and statutory requirements were complied because of fear by some quarters that the accommodation facilities might be mis-used for immoral activities. Although preempt action to curb possible social problems is good, denying the right of operator to prove that he is starting a legitimate business is questionable. Similarly, it is morally wrong if a person with right qualification and appropriateness is not given opportunity to be consider for stall application. It is not ethical if a candidate with proper and recognised academia qualification is not considered for membership admission into an institution without valid reason even though no clauses in the rules prevent it.
I presume in the era of openness, transparency and good governance, the practice of working with reasonably should be enhanced further.
For example, an application for operating a budget hotel was rejected even though all technical and statutory requirements were complied because of fear by some quarters that the accommodation facilities might be mis-used for immoral activities. Although preempt action to curb possible social problems is good, denying the right of operator to prove that he is starting a legitimate business is questionable. Similarly, it is morally wrong if a person with right qualification and appropriateness is not given opportunity to be consider for stall application. It is not ethical if a candidate with proper and recognised academia qualification is not considered for membership admission into an institution without valid reason even though no clauses in the rules prevent it.
I presume in the era of openness, transparency and good governance, the practice of working with reasonably should be enhanced further.
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