Urban Renewal

When it comes to urban renewal, majority of the people is talking about urban redevelopment in which demolishing the existing buildings and replaced by the new one is the order of the day. Many have either forgotten or conveniently neglected that urban renewal is also included urban rehabilitation and urban regeneration or even refurbishment. Unfortunately this become the case for contest by residents of PJ on the proposed urban renewal plan for Section 51, 51A, 52, 8, part of 7 and 14. More clarifications and explanations are required. Perhaps education programme on town planning is urgently required. For example, for a residential precinct of Section 8, perhaps rehabilitation exercise is good enough. Provision of modern and new infrastructure such as networked pedestrian walkways, community hall, green open space and etc can be prioritised as well as the renovation of existing single storey dwelling house.

When a city has lost its appearance to the stakeholders and its functions to perform effectively and efficiently as a city dropped tremendously, then it is time for some form of urban renewal to take place. It is a process of rejuvenation to embrace the emerging challenges and or to optimise the prospects and opportunities arising from new changes. For example, renewal on the heritage buildings to meet the need of tourists. Similarly, to inject new modern facilities and infrastructure to prevent deterioration of the quality of life and pollution problem in the old town down area.

Ramadan

Social integration is about each others from different background or culture diverse working together or mixing around as one. It is easy to talk about tolerance, harmony, peaceful, understanding, interaction with each other, considerate and etc when dealing with social integration. For sustainability to work effectively, social integration is critical and unavoidable. How can a team of people working together if do not know each others and even yes, but not knowing each other well? If we do not know each others, then how can we work together? How to achieve a common mission if everyone is having their own thinking and agenda?

Thereby social integration is important. Social integration can only attain if everyone respect each others and everyone is treated equally and their own right of speaking out and action is well respected. Of course paying attention to others problems and difficulties as well as cultural differences are of help. It is rather difficult to practice it unless we bring down our own ego and pre-perception on others. For example, we might look down own people in different social class, cultural background, working environment or upbringing simply because we have not making an attempt to know them and to mix with this group of people.

In a Country like Malaysia with various cultural diverse, we should start with knowing and understanding each others' festive celebration. By knowing the origin and meaning of each festive celebration, then only we will realise how to create mutual respect.

Perhaps the month of Ramadhan, prelude to the Ail Fitri Celebration provides us an opportunity to create better understanding and hence enhancing greater social integration. While our Muslim friends will be fasting during the day time, I presume it is okay for non-Muslim to have the meal. Similarly while prayer sessions are on going, it might be good minimise the possibility of disturbance towards the proceeding. While we enjoy the multiple choice of pastry and desserts, we might wish to know the making process and its origin.

Happy Ramadan.

Anti Litterbugs Campaign

Anti Litterbugs Campaign was launched by MBPJ recently. It is a campaign to catch and fine the litter bug for throwing rubbish, small or big everywhere on the streets. Plain cloth enforcers will be deployed to round the street to catch red handed and to issue compound immediately to those throwing rubbish. The fine is ranged from RM50 to RM100 for different offences. While this is a noble move of keeping the city clean, the execution is not that easy.

At the initial stage, perhaps a lot of argument will happen between the enforcers and the offenders. Some might question the right of the enforcers to fine them. Even some will ask for explanation and proof of their wrongdoing. The naughty one will just walk away if the enforcers are trying to confront him/her. Perhaps the bully one will try to threaten or beat the enforcers. It is a big question for the enforcers to overcome this possibility. Will they be nice guy first to advice people of not repeating the offences or do they immediately issuing the compound? How do they handle the situation if thing turns out to be very unbecoming? Can they handle nasty person or the bully? Are they allow to exercise citizen arrest if the offender run away from the scene? All these possibilities are yet to be seen.

Having said this, enforcement is still worth trying since the awareness campaign run over the years have not been very successful. We witnessed people of throwing rubbish or even the cigarette bug illegally on the street without any fear or even shameless to say the least. Perhaps only stick instead of carrot is the way forward. Unless and until the society inculcates the value system and culture of keeping clean and tidy or else enforcement action is unavoidable.

Doing Good

Doing good is not enough. To be perceived of doing good is not sufficient as you cannot fool everyone everyday. It is only good if One's is doing good and to be seem have done something good. It is, of course a tall order given that either many people have done good but shy of letting others know or people have done basically nothing to shout at but wanted to let everyone knows that he/she has done something great. To balance both is of course an art and require skill.

Many people have turned to the leaders for noticing their presence or doing good. Some like to make themselves free to attend any functions attended by the leaders with the intention that their attendance is noticed. Some even come to the extend of attending every function even though the function is not related to his scope of works. Sometime you might feel sick about this, but some leaders might have like to have followers surrounding them all the time.

It is hard to judge ownself that you have done something good. It is better for others to tell others that you have indeed done something good and should have given the credit due. For someone to tell others openly, the good works that have been carried out must have impacted others greatly and unforgetable. Everyone, of course prefers to be remembered in their life time for giving this honour. I am no spare from this.

Who pay?

We have a very interesting debate last week over who should pay either the developers or the buyers if an infrastructure contribution is imposed by the authority. This was brought up during the MBPJ-REHDA Workshop on Development and Planning Guidelines.

MBPJ is imposing various charges for the betterment of environment and capacity of infrastructure so that the existing infrastructure system can support the increased of development projects. MBPJ is in the dilemma as residents are only favoured of further high intensity development the present capacity of infrastructure can take it or if not, the improvement for absorbing the extra burden from new development. This is understood as many of the residents are residing here in PJ for such a long time and used to having a harmony, quiet and peaceful living environment. The encroachment of new development and newcomers are bringing in new changes to their life style and daily routine. They are asking to have status qua and prefer not to have changes. While this sentiment is understood, the residents also acknowledge that development trend is unstoppable and hence agree to permit some form of development provided that the capacity of infrastructure is sufficient and traffic system is in place. Hence, the charges for improving the infrastructure, the green fund, the development charge and etc are imposed by MBPJ for carrying out works to improve the surrounding environment.

While developers agreed such necessary for improving the infrastructure, they are of opinion that the quantum should be within reached of the developers or else the extra financial burden would be passed down to the buyers. If this is the case, some participants reckoned that the effort on providing affordable houses will be greatly affected. However, some also argued that the contribution is neccesary as the sum is meant to improve the quality of environment and to not deteriorate the environment further in which it will have bearing on the property value of the area. Since it will benefit the developer as a whole, they should absorb the extra cost.

The ultimate for residents is provision of sufficient infrastructure capacity or else no development which is creating more problem can be allowed. For MBPJ, improving the overall quality of environment by balancing new development with existing one within the carrying capacity of infrastructure is critical. For developers, bottom line is of course the $ and cent, the viability of the project. It is difficult to strive a balance, but everybody has no choice but try to compromise for an amicable solution.

Right Procedure

I attended the Annual General Meeting of Malaysian Professional Centre last week. The Malaysian Professional Centre is the umbrella body for 23 professional institutions in Malaysia. The meeting is very lively with so many issues on hand. These ranged from administration, management, policies, property, participation of institution members and human resource. At the end of the day, everything is settled with understanding from the floor.

However, one of the matter irked every delegates is the non execution of resoultion approved by the general body past year ago. While everyone agreed that AGM, being the highest general body should have the final say and whatever approved must be executed by the Board of Management and Executive Council. Failing with, the Board of Management has gone against the will of the members and should be responsibile for not doing so. Even though the Board of Management might have new found fact and would not like to carry out the resolution, he cannot abort it without proposing to the General Body to rescind the earlier approval. Simply reported that the resoultion cannot be carried out and would not be carried out without the General Body reviewing earlier decision and making a new decision is unacceptable. A proper resolution has to be presented again for deliberation if the Board of Management wish to do so.

I presume this is right procedure. I was also elected as the new Honorary Treasurer of the Centre for fiscal year of 2011/2012.

Land Title

I lectured a group of students last week. They are attending the lecture for preparing examination as part of the requirement to become registered valuer. Many of them are working adults and majority of them are in the field of real estate agency. Many of them are successful agents in selling properties ranging from commercial, residential to industrial. One of the interesting discoveries from the students was although properties have been sold, many of them do not really have an understanding on the land title. While, we as prospect buyer will assume that first thing to check is to verify the land title or any legal documents to determine the authenticity of the land, it is unimaginable that the agent who is trying to promote the piece of land to us does not have detail knowledge about the legal background of the land.

Their knowledge about category of land, express condition, restriction and processes involved in application for transaction is very narrow and need further improvement. This warrants public awareness and education programme.