Welcome 2014

Despite the anticipated economic downturn and uncertainty in development front for year 2014, life has to move on or else you will become irrelevent as many people would said. I have a wish list in welcoming the year 2014 so that I would not diminish by the high tide of life and society. This includes improving my health, sustaining lifestyle, getting my daughter to improve on her learning skills and knowledge, making sure my parents are in good health and happy, my marriage is getting more harmony and of course my career is getting better from last year. In order to achieve the above, I pledge to work harder, smarter and intelligently with honesty and sincerity. My strategy is to begin early working on my plan and to review any achievements periodically. Hope at the end of the year, I can share with all what I manage to achieve, happily.

Flash Back of 2013

Year 2013 is coming to an end now. The year saw a very challenging happenings in everywhere and every sector or every walk of life. We witness the 13th General Election of Malaysia which was the determining factor for the way how any event been handled and targetted for. Everyone was so occupied by the anticipated outcome of any programmes and who the intended target groups are. Achievements were being measured based on visible benefits that people would obtained. Some people labelled these are superficial phenomenum. Things got moving to the normal way only after election, without much politicking. Petaling Jaya City Council welcomed its first Lady Mayor, Alinah Ahmad. The new mayor brought in with her abundance experiences on housing and property development as well as land administration. A hand on city manager, she believes seeing is believing and no taliking but action first. Under her leadership, changing in administration, management style and approaches are under way and improving for higher efficiency in service delivery. Year 2013 also saw the efforts on low carbon green city initiative paid off. The innovative Property Assessment Rebate Scheme which is running on 3rd year was conferred the Green Apples Award by the Green Organisation of UK in mid of June 2013. Apart from that, the rain water harvesting programme implemented by the Council well before by law made its a mandatory requirement won the Green Neighbourhood Award conferred by the Ministry of Urban Well Beings, Housing and Local Government. Both awards brought joys and recognition to those working on it, especially the Low Carbon Green City of Petaling Jaya Task Force. For the first time also, Sustainability Report of Petaling Jaya outlining the achievements of MBPJ in low carbon initiative and sustainable development was published. The Report has been written based on the structure of Low Carbon City Framework as published by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water or KeTTHA. Although in its infant stage of providing reliable information on carbon emission, it is a try to begin with telling people on achievements that later should be carbon-dimensioned and related. The inaugural traning session for operators and teachers of kindergarden and nursery in PJ was also conducted. As low carbon green city initiative's capacity building program, the training has dual purposes, namely promoting the environmental education amongst small kids and secondly to green the building or physical premises of the kindergarden or nursery. It is critical and important since long ago, this target group has been neglected when environmental requirement mattered the most. I have been frequent traveller too throughout the year. Having visited London 3 times, Melbourne and other domestic destination for seminars and conferences. The opportunities given have broadened my perspective, undersanding and knowledge on new emerging trends and challenges as well as serving as a learning curse for the best practices on urbanisation, planning, transportation and etc. OSC has been moving well with higher record of meetings being achieved since the inception of OSC Unit in 2007. The meetings have managed to provide a platform for fruitful and constructive discussion amongst members on proposed development projects. I am looking forward on 2014 when all submissions include the building plans application will be gone online. On the family front of OSC Unit, relationship is cordial and dynamic of the group is always there. Enhancing better relationship and working together as a team would be the way forwards for next year. Certainly I will miss the good memory of 2013.

Learning City

Learning city means lifelong learning opportunities for everyone either with formal or informal education. Similarly, either learning on applied science or skill learning. With the World getting more complex and demand from the people and community is escalating, the demand for knowledge is also higher especially in the field that might have not been covered under the existing formal education system. Some underprivileged people might also found that attending to formal education is too costly and beyond their affordability. Some might find that certain compulsory subjects are of their disliking. Some might think that they need extra curriculum fulfilling their own need pursuing knowledge. Thereby, a thriving city must be able to provide and cater for multiple learning needs of the people from diverse background. Learning through social media and internet have provided new paradigm to the meaning of learning. Learning can be done with a group of people sharing the same interest and hobby. Learning can be done on real time and with people from different physical community, but rather the cyber world. Learning can be fast with the availability of information over the web. Learning can be multi-discipline and do not necessary follow the sequence. Learning can be fun without the guidance of teachers. Learning can be experiential. For a learning city, the above are required pre-requisite. To make this happen I believe, good and affordable infrastructure especially the ICT, provision of a conducive environment and community for learning must be provided by the city government.

Convergence

Convergence means collaboration between different force from multi-discipline and diverse background. It is also refered to rethinking different ideas and making it a shared one by different contributors of ideas. Some also said convergence is a combination of many multi-facet, ideas or even thoughts for the benefit of bringing greater impact. Convergence is the new paradigm of city, and for the changes and betterment of environment and community. People who are once the receipent of information from the media, now has also become the producer or provider of information. They can choose and pick information relevent to them for consumption. They can even broadcast the news for wider audience. This emerging trend is so powerful that nothing, wrong doing or good things can be hidden from the general public. This, bring in new level of accountability and transparency. For knowledge sharing as well, people can access to information within split second and without much hassle. Thereby, the information providers must ensure that information as published is accurate and update. The urbanisation process is so complex nowasday and it need city management of multi approaches and solution. No single profession can solve the city problem by themselves, but wider collaboration and engagement are required. Convergence, in this sense is critical. We need personal who are good in converge different ideas, meeting different people and able to solicit different ideas and finally to melt and incorporate the ideas into a workable solution, that is understood by all. Perhaps, we need a new profession, the convergent.

Melbourne - A Liveable City

Melbourne Knowledge Week held throughout the week in different venue saw the presentation of more than 60 events. The Week saw the presentation of various knowledge gained from initiatives by the Council, Government Agencies, Universities, Private Sector, NGOs and more importantly the community and people. It is fascinating to witness many innovations and creativity on displayed and shared out with others. Melbourne voted as the most liveable city in the World for many years has certainly have many to share. Its planning, management, innovation, administration, social development, environmental and heritage conservation, transportation, education and learning. Walking on the streets is such a wonderful experience that you feel the most welcome and peaceful. Enjoying what on the Collins and Swanston Street are fantastic and bring back good memory. Observing the way construction work is carried out, so neat and tidy will make you refresh on why such a work ethic cannot be achieved back home. It is such a surprise to see a hawker conducting in a pretty small stall, but well managed and clean compared to the escalating high demand for bigger space from our own hawkers. These are perhaps the things we should learn and listen from the mouth of the Melbourne City Council. I am eargerly excited to wait for 31st October 2013 when we have the opportunity to meet them up.

Innovation

Henry Ford once said "If I asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse." Customers feedbacks are important to evaluate on the performance of your organisation, products or services, but it does not neccessary tell you beyond what they engaged for. If Mr Henry Ford did not think beyond the faster horse, then invention of a motorised vehicle might not become a reality. The history of automobile industry might be deferred to many years later or not at all. This sum up the important of pioneering and innovation. Innovation will come from a great thinker, who dare to think differently and to look at thing from "adnormal" angkle. However, thinking without going into front end innovation process will not make the innovation into a reality. Firstly, the idea must be framed, followed by organising the resources, collecting customer data, understanding the requirements and then selecting a solution. It takes time, persistent and passion. A leader must have the quality of innovation. As Steve Jobs said innovation distinguishes the leader from followers. The leader must be able to illustrate some visionary scene to the followers, and to ensure that the followers are convinced with the illustrations. However, it is easy said than done, and that explained why we have many followers and always have a leader only.

Networking

Networking is about two way communication and mutual respect for both parties rather than one party is trying to get something out of it from the relationship. Networking is like dating. If you meet someone online and keep talking to each other but never ever to meet face to face, then it will not work at the end of the day. Similarly, networking means we start a relationship and followed with cultivating the relationship to a fruitful and meaningful bonding. The question is who do we want to network with? We should apply strategic marketing approach otherwise we will end up with networking with wrong people. First identify who are they and then where to find them and how to introduce yourself. It is priority matter. Secondly, once a meet up started, trying to find some common things for further discussion and interested other to go for second meet up. You must raise the eyebrow of others, and of course the positive impression from the way you behavior, present, talk and making joke, perhaps. Thirdly, you must follow up on useful meetings and importantly be more persistent. Most of the time, you will come across people of calling you for help but disappear from you after thing get done or worst still that they are of opinion that you are not of help to them. If you come across these people, please avoid them at all cost. These are people who would most likely take advantage of you without seriously looking into maintaining the relationship and growing of networking. For this, the last thing to do is do not waste time.

Competitive Factor of City

Dr Anil Menon of CISCO shared his thought with audience of the IFHP London Congress on competitiveness of a city. He reckoned that 5 criteria are essential for a city to attract talents and investment, and hence the preferred choice of corporate. Firstly, the visionary leadership of city. A city without vision is a city without future. Secondly the readiness of global standard in business dealing. In the absence of global standard, rules and guidelines might be changed more often than one's can imagine. This will become a business risk that many corporate might not want to undertake. Thirdly, smart regulations is critically needed as companies would like to have rules with social and scientific backing. No foolish action is welcome. Forthly, is the presence of public and private partnership policy. While public sector like to reduce cost in providing services or infrastructure, the private sector would like to minimise the risk of doing business. Hence, this policy must be a deciding factor for businesses to make choices. Lastly but not least, it is innovation in economic and ecological system that will attract the attention of investors and talents. In the green era and everyone is pursuing sustainability, it is not a choice for corporates of not embracing the green movement. Perhaps, these thoughts should become the underlying principles for city managers to plan their cities.

Talking

While talking without action is cheap, keeping quiet and do nothing is more horrible. This is especially true if our conscience requesting us to do something but we fail to execute it. While No Action Talk Only symptom is rampant and unacceptable, but if we never say something even though during the time saying is warranted, then perhaps said it out loud and clear with empty promises is preferred. People say better than nothing. That's explained why many people are attracted to prolific speaker or those leaders with charisma. Under normal circumstances, saying it out with the facts and actions should be the way forward. Promises with the knowledge that what have been said is unworkable, it is considered bull shitting and perhaps cheating as well. During the time of election for example, promises and pledges are given for securing the votes and pre-requisite is one must got elected first or else the chances of promises cannot be fulfilled is there. Even then according to a recent court judgement in Malaysia, promises can still be not delivered as it is not binding on the candidates. So, it is very must up to the intelligent of voters and their choice to believe on which candidates are more trustworthy. Similarly to the general audience, analyse and make your own conclusion after listening is much desired.

Professional Views

When it comes to the financial management, public service in Malaysia practices the concept of let managers manage. This is rightly so as professional knowing the best what they have been entrusted to perform. The policy makers will set the policies and let the managers to execute the policies. The policy makers will monitor and review the performance. In other words, the views of professional are very much respected, if provided no untoward happenings. With the trust given, it is also rightly for the public officers to exercise higher integrity and perform the best out of his ability. Hence, also assuming full responsibility of the action taken. If this separation of roles and duties are clearly stated and observed in full, I presume that the pretext of politic interference will be diminished, or if not can be marginalised. However, the pledges given in the manifesto at recent concluded election proved me wrong. There are instances professional views being by-passed or over ruled. Some turned out to be decisions implementable with the political will in which the earliest professional views were set aside.

Theory and Reality

Reality and actual happening is always different from the theory or untested formula. While many aspire for idealistic and would like to get the best possible, this was often failed to materialise. For example, we try keep ourselves to the best solution possible without considering the possibility of failure. At time, something come out unexpectedly. Thus, how fast and how best we adjust or adapt is much more important to determine how best one's perform and achieve the desired objectives. Some might feel disheartening knowing that the objectives cannot be achieved and just let it go wihtout trying to adjust. Some might take this as a challenge and trying other ways of doing the best. If you are the former, then obviously more sad you might be as life is not that smooth sailing. If you are the person never give up, then you might be the winner at the end of the day. I attended a training last week with the pretext that it is a course to enhance previous knowledge. However, I was proved wrong when the new knowledge told was defered from the previous one. Only after some exchange of ideas, then only the participants were told that new knowledge has to be applied as the previous knowledge could not applied fully on the ground due to data constraints. If we have kept ourselves to the earlier thought and disturbed by the turn of event, then most likely we will not able to learn new knowledge. However, if we come in with open minded and willing to accept new eventualities, then it can be a good learning curve. I choose to be the latter.

4E for Behavioural Change

When it comes to programmes success, 4 key factors are important, namely the machinery, money, method and manpower. Out of the four, manpower is believed to be the tougher. As we are talking about human being, changing their way of life, style of doing thing or even attitude is more difficult than other consideration. Many programmes, for example the waste composting project is not about how best the technologies are and how much money was invested, but rather the software or human part of it. The effectiveness of waste composting project is depending much on the level of stakeholders participation and the level of awareness. If the stakeholders decided not to give full cooperation, the success of the project will definitely in doubt. Changing behaviour of the people, has hence become a major task of gauging the success of a programme. There are 4 processes of changing behaviour of people or commony known as 4E by Jackson (2005), namely enable, encourage, engage and exemplify. We have to enable an individual to change in which authoritative approach without much room of freedom for choice should be avioded. Once enabling environment is created and an individual is happy to change, we must encourage them to do so by facilitating the change. Encouragement without engaging is not guarantee for continuing improvement or change to be sustained. We must hold an individual hand and walking along side them so that change can become a norm and value. Any positive change, then should be highlighted and promoted amongst the peers and even being recognised. After all, human at time need to be acknowledged and motivated for achieving greater height.

Responsibility of Developers

The High Court recently ruled that responsibility of developers in providing the facilities or in building the infrastructure according to approved plan has no limitation on time frame. It means that developer has to provide as such and finish the job no matter how long the projects have been completed. Very often we witnessed the project proponents run away from their duty in providing the facilities and infrastructure after long period especially for the development in phasing or go without notice. This is more so for parcels of land in a larger scheme that have been sold to individual owners. For the individual owners, they have either no knowledge about the requirement or innocent about the conditions imposed. It will come to a time that the new owners claim of unfairness to them as they are only buying a portion of it. The original owners run away from the responsibility after master layout plan approved and individual parcel of land sold. The rulling is timely that local authority should not be blamed for no infrastructure provision, a task supposedly done by the project proponents.

Complacent

What will you do if you are on the top or peak now? If you are the best at present time and everyone comes to you as role model, will you do something new in order to stay ahead than others? Many might be complacent as the desire to do more or better will be diminishing the soonest if a target has been achieved. Human is born to complete a task and the moment it is completed and no further need to do better or to move into new era, no many will on his own initiative trying to enhance the task he has just acoomplished. This requires determination and at time discipline or sometime the incentives of doing so. Perhaps getting new guy to do it will further reinforce the spirit of improving thing or stay on top. This also applies to the planning and maintenance culture. Many are good in planning and finishing the job but will not bother to maintain it. We use to plan new event and have a great starting, but follow through to ensure the planning works or sustains remains a big challenge. That's why some label we have first class planning, but a third class maintenance culture.

Planning vs Implementation

On my way to Shah Alam via Federal Highway this morning to attend a function, I witnessed perhaps one of the longest and biggest car parking at the opposite direction. It was a big traffic congestion from PJ all the way down to the interchange of Shah Alam Stadium. I was made to understand that this is a common phenomenum on every working day. The volume of private vehicles patronising the roads is getting higher per day even though the car price is higher as well. Why are there less people taking public transport. Is that because of the insufficient of vehicles fleets or due to the problem of connectivity and accessibility? We have been debating the issue of traffic congestion decades ago and we have also suggesting public transport as the solution, but problem is remained even til now. My conclusion is the issue is not about failure of planning but rather the capacity of execution. Execution remains the bigger challenge and, sometime obstacle to the fruition of effective planning. Without execution done with planned schedule, a comprehensive and holistic planning is not going to work. Even though implementation is finally done, it will involve many changes and adaptation. For example, a ramp need to be built for a development but construction was deferred to later date due to financial problem might not be suitable anymore as solution to the traffic management as many motorists patronising the building would have developed other type of driving behaviour then. It is difficult to get them to change later, I presume. Hence, planning and implementation must go hand in hand or else the blame of failure in planning will always remain.

Bye 2012

Another year is gone and we are awaiting the arrival of New year, 2013. It is time now to share the endeavour of last one year. For the MBPJ OSC Unit, end of October must be a time to be remembered. The Unit moved to a new office after squatting in a highly congested space since its' inception in Year 2007. Early of 2013, the Unit will also welcome its' 3 new staff which is long over due. Such an amazing transformation is in waiting. The full force will hopefully gear the Unit forward in achieving targets set. With less manpower, however the staff has given all they can afford and managed to pull through a tall order on enhancing the efficiency, reputation and image of MBPJ and in particular the Unit. Thousand thanks also to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillors and technical departments for realising the target set, e.g. OSC MBPJ: Pioneering the Gateway of Development. On the core business of OSC, it is also time for celebration as many innovations/activities were carried out. These include the achievemenet of 85% KPI compared to 84% last year. The publishing of policies and guidelines via the web site of MBPJ. The requirement for planning permission application for development project be submitted through the OSC Online system. The workshop amongst all technical departments resulting in better coordination. The inception of OSC Technical Committee Meeting to discuss technicalities of project before forwarded to the OSC Committee for discussion. The exemption of planning permission given to detached houses in the residential area with previous master plan approval. Starting from 1st January 2013, all submission for development will be done through the OSC Online and at the same time, lanscape plan approval will have to be submitted together with planning permission application. For low carbon green initiative, many were done and preparation for a hectic 2013 is anticipating. These include the implementation of Strategic Partnership with KeTTHA, the setting up of organic waste composting centre in Jalan Othman Market, Retrofiting HQ of MBPJ for green features, potential use of wastewater for landscaping purpose, organising the Green Tour, capacity building programme for kindergarten teachers and others ongoing programmes. Without initiatives and cooperation from other stakeholders especially the departments, I believe the achievement can be possibly meeting its target effectively. Green Assessment Rebate MBPJ's Efforts Are Commendable Recycle for Good Reason Going Green for CNY Cycleways LED Lighting for Backlanes Launching of 2012 Green Assessment Rebate Online Billing for Low Carbon Green Personality I thank you all. Happy New Year 2013.

Level of Playing Field

Same level of playing field is always used either as an excuse or justification for failure or success. For example, if a team lossed in a competition, the team might want to find an excuse and the playing field is not equal was always quoted. When we want to help someone by creating criteria or category that will flavour to our prefered team, then this is called justification. After involving with many community development programmes on the grassroot level for many years, I could conclude that no level of playing field is the same. The nature of neighbourhood, the demographic profile of the community, the different of socio-economic status, the difference in upbringing path, education and even the living environment make it very difficult for having an identical neighbourhood. When this happened, to set a criteria that give upmost advantages to a particular neighbourhood is, to me very tough unless we tailored made it. Having said this, the very best can do for many who run a competition is to set criteria or standard that become norm and accepted to the majority. It is important these criteria to make known to everyone well in advance, to communicate effectively with everyone include the jury and prospective participants. More critically everyone should know in advance so that they are not caught off guard in making the preparation. If an international or national or city standard has been set, made known to everyone and has been accepted, are we going to lower our criteria so that the individual who cannot meet the standard can have a same level of playing field? Some might think so. For example, to lower the passing mark in an examiniation so that the passing rate can maintain or improve. Similarly if a quota to be met, perhaps it is not uncommon that the checking criteria be changed. However, in most of the occassion especially for a contest, it is not ethical to change the criteria to give advantages to the weaker teams, I presume.

Year End Meetings

Coming to the year end, so many meetings or seminars or outings are on the pipeline rushing through before the festive season. Some might be doing so for them to free themselves from all mind bothering events. Some might be doing so due to the meeting of deadline or target of the year. Some might be doing so because it is school holiday and thy have the committment with their children and family. Many have done so because all in seldom they realise that so much resources to spare before the account closed. This, might be due to oversight or too conservative of spending at the beginning of the year. Some, I believe are working hard to plan their activities for next year. This is the busy time of refreshing what have been achieved for the last one whole year and to set the target for next year. Whatever the reason is, the conference rooms at the hotels especially the resort type are fully booked now.

Employees dilemma

How to explain to others that you have been transfered to other position within 24 hours? How to argue that what you have gone through might not law binding? What to expect if you have been promised to stay put but caught off guard for an order to go? These are questions bothering many employees, I think....

Change is A Choice?

Some said changes are unavoidable, whether bad or good. Many will embrace changes if it is for own good and beneficiary. Many will resist from changes if it means affecting their personal interest. For example, I do not mind of working extra time knowing that I will be paid over time. Similarly, getting reward immediately will always attract opportunist and well wishers. Providing aids is, of course the most welcome regardless the social status, occupation and ethnic. However, if conditions are attached such as requiring change to be done, whether big or small will always getting people to think twice. Last week, during my briefing on the assessment rebate scheme for environmental friendly owners, I took the opportunity to talk about the e-assessment campaign, the campaign of asking property owners to agree on not receiving assessment notification from the Council. By doing so, RM 1.44 and 0.29 kg CO2 per bill can be saved per year. Accumulatively, a total of RM 300,000 or 60.5 tonnes CO2 can be saved per year for the whole Petaling Jaya. Although sending bill is not required for under the provision of law and the owners have obligation and responsibility to pay within stipulated time, traditionally this has been practiced since the inception of local authorities’ institution in Malaysia. The residents I spoke to are not willing to forego this "privilege" with the reasoning that without the notification it is always the case of forgotten. They prefer to receive the bill as a form of reminder and proof of payment done. While this view is respected and understood, it also illustrates how difficult to get people to change, to come out from the comfort zone. Nowadays, we witnessed how banks powered over the use of electronic statement for credit card payment in which failing with you will be penalised, how to make it difficult for withdrawing over the counter in which for cash withdrawal less than RM 3000 ATM machine is to be used instead of the counter. Some institutions prefer to provide incentives to customers for transactions using digital platform. For instance, a shopping complex issuing their own loyalty card will charge lower rate for parking and reserve special floor for the card holders. These two approaches, "no choice" or "economic incentive" can evolve changes, if used appropriately. It is only a matter of attitude, I presume.