Thesun 2009-03-04 Page10 A Victory For The People

10

theSun

| WEDNESDAY MARCH 4 2009

speak up!

A victory for the people TOWN hall meetings A handful made confesare informal public sions while one or two meetings where everywere attempting to body in a community is spin a yarn. One even invited to attend, voice went to the extent of opinions and hear the questioning authority responses from public while another did not figures and elected understand the term officials. “non-assessment” In communities revenue. Another with large populations, claimed any form of more often, town hall CitizenNades levy would be illegal. meetings are held so Observers sitting on by R. Nadeswaran that people can influsidelines were highly ence elected officials in opinionated. This their decision making or to give industry cannot be regulated. them a chance to feel that their There’s too much dirt to clean, voices are being heard. they said. Wracked with claims There are no specific rules of corruption, shady dealings and or guidelines for holding a town under-counter payments, no one hall meeting. If the turnout is should attempt the clean-up, they large, and the objective is to give decreed. Let them self-regulate as many people as possible an was another session. opportunity to speak, the group Well, a lot of water has can be broken down into smaller flowed under the bridge. Almost discussion groups. Participants four months after that meeting all hear an opening presentation organised by the Petaling Jaya and then group-up to discuss an City Council, the nay-sayers have aspect of the presentation. Each been proved wrong. group appoints someone to sumToday is an important day in marise the group’s discussion. the annals of ruling by consultaBut at the first ever town hall tion with all parties involved meeting in the country, there – the council, the business and were no elected officials – merely the people – when the guidelines appointed people. The large on billboard advertising are number of participants came in launched. all shapes and sizes. Some were Today is victory for the small silent observers while others man whose voice was previously were vociferous to the point of drowned by the shouts of the being rude. Some gave decorum moneyed and the corrupt. a new meaning with their antics. Today is the first step in giving

the people their say in how their local government should conduct its affairs. Today is also an important day for this newspaper. For four years, we relentlessly exposed the shenanigans of some of the players in the billboard industry. For four years, we told the country of the sham that dogged the council. For four years, we showed how the football team and the sports club were used as a front for personal gains. For four years, we showed how some members of the council abused their power to enrich themselves. For four years, we wrote about dubious deals and RM2 companies owned by some councillors that were used as

conduits to clean dirty money. For four years, we exposed those soiled hands, those guilty souls and their abettors. For four years, we gave you insights into the world of sleaze. This writer and the paper did not escape criticism for our dogged pursuit of wrong-doers. One blog posting two years ago on our campaign read: Citizen Nades has an article in theSun, where he continues lambasting MPPJ. I’d say the language is getting old, except that it won’t really get old until some action is finally taken. Until then, theSun can rant on (online preferably) as much as it likes as far as I’m concerned. Another had this to say: “theSun is overdoing it by focusing on the billboards. Why can’t the paper and its columnist accept the fact that the little Napoleons will continue to feast on people’s money.” Today, we stand vindicated, thanks to the efforts of the new breed of councillors and the trade associa-

tions – the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies (4As), the Advertisers Association (2As) and the Media Specialists Association. Yes, from today, doing business with MBPJ will no longer be the same, at least where billboards are concerned. There will no longer be any need to make donations or under-counter payments. Everything has been codified and the layers of bureaucracy have been cut. Files will no longer gather dust and money will not make them disappear in thin air. Today, among those making a beeline to the launch of the guidelines on billboards in the city will be some of the detractors, wanting to look resplendent in their suits and fancy cars. Three months ago, they made all kinds of threats and claims. “We will challenge you in court,” they cried in unison. Today, with their tails between their legs, they too will embrace the new culture. What more to be said? Yes, the Selangor government is said to be using the same set of guidelines for the other 10 local governments in the state. Once and for all, an industry which was a law unto itself has been brought to its knees – on the demands of the ratepayers. Once and for all, the sleaze and the crooked deals which some of them engineered will be null and void. For those who had lived off such immoral earnings, the gravy train has come to a screeching halt. It’s time to change and earn your keep. There’s no such thing as a free lunch and hard work doesn’t kill anybody. R. Nadeswaran makes no apologies for leading the campaign and dedicates the fruits of his labour to the people who had given him the support and co-operation in this long-winded fight. He is editor (special and investigative reporting) at theSun. Feedback: [email protected]

letters

[email protected]

No action on Seremban eye-sore I WRITE as a resident of Seremban who is eager to know what the state government is planning to do with the town’s public “swimming pool” where the former Convent school was located. It is an eye-sore and a source of embarrassment for it depicts yet another failed commercial development project undertaken by people who don’t have what it takes. The project was abandoned during the economic downturn some years back and was never revived. Now, we are experiencing hard times again, so I don’t see the situation changing and the site will continue to be a breeding pool for mosquitoes.

If statistics show a rise in cases of dengue fever in the state, we don’t have to look very far for the source. About two years ago, the mentri besar was reported as saying that the area would be developed into a commercial complex. The pool after all is on prime land. A public square next to the pool which was completed last year is turning to be a popular attraction with the people. The problem facing Seremban residents is the lack of parking space in town for cars and motorcycles. The roads where the banks are located are often congested with traffic and there aren’t enough traffic cops to man the situation.

HWA 373 does cabbies proud GIVEN how much grief Malaysian taxi drivers are given about their alleged rudeness and propensity to cheat unsuspecting travellers, I’d like to relate my experiences after landing in KLIA at the end of February. I took the KLIA express to Sentral, where I found the porters rude and officious. As a pregnant woman with heavy bags, this was more than inconvenient. Due to a series of mishaps, my friend who had agreed to pick me up from the station didn’t arrive, I had an out-of-date phone number for her, and found myself practically penniless and alone at Sentral. Attempts to change money were futile – the money-changers had run out of cash! I eventually asked one of the taxi drivers if he could take me to my destination, promising I would pay him

when I got there. When we arrived, he had to wait while I collected the house keys from the neighbours, then braved my rather ecstatic dogs to help carry my luggage into the house, while I frantically searched for the money my mother had promised to leave me. Unfortunately, she had left me large notes, and the taxi driver had no change. The driver graciously accepted less than half the fare he was entitled to, despite my promise to try and find some small change – he said he felt sorry for me running around the house in my condition. So a big thank you to the driver of HWA 373, who didn’t give me his name, but certainly made my evening. Sonia Randhawa Via email

Also, the popular NS padang has been returfed and it should be opened to the public again. The locals would be able to recollect the many cricket, hockey and football matches that used to be played on this padang which is in the centre of town. It is also the site for the annual Seremban Half Marathon where thousands would congregate at the start of the run. Michael Ng Seremban

Focus on reducing waste EVERY year, World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5. This year the theme is “You Unite to Combat Climate Change”. The focus now is on reducing carbon emissions and slowing down erosion. Many Malaysians think recycling – reprocessing and reusing waste – is the main environmental focus. As we are still promoting recycling but not educating the younger generation on how to reduce waste, our youth will produce more and more waste as they think that waste can always be recycled. Even adults think recycling is the answer. Many people are still not aware that reducing carbon emissions is an important aim in combating global warming. Many countries, like South Korea and China, have introduced low carbon emission regulations. World Environment Day activities should be related to combating climate change and reducing carbon emissions. Sam Wong Via email