Thesun 2009-07-28 Page14 Safe Cities Will They Materialise

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theSun

| TUESDAY JULY 28 2009

speak up! letters

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Safe cities: Will they materialise? FOR many Malaysians, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s recent disclosure that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak would be making an announcement on measures to fight crime as part of his ministry’s national key result areas was welcome news. But it is understandable if they hold back the applause. After all, Najib had announced a 23-step Safe City Initiative in October 2004. At that time, he was the deputy prime minister and also the chairman of the National Council for Local Government. One crucial step of the 2004 initiative is installation of CCTVs. Other urgent steps include: separation of pedestrian walks from moving vehicles, cleaning up of concealed and unkempt areas and lighting up of potential crime areas. Hundreds of millions of ringgit have been allocated to make the city safer. So far, there has been no definitive report to say that the towns and cities are safer today than in 2004. Going by the news in media, things are not looking good. For instance, Bernama reported that Kuala Lumpur registered an increase in crime rates by 39% in the first quarter of this year and 24% in the second quarter (July 14). Headlines like “Damansara is a top crime area” and “Robbing spree in Puchong” are disturbing. Indeed, the fear of crime might have intensified. Of the 6,678 who participated in a poll conducted by the Home Ministry, “97% indicated that they did not feel safe due to the high crime rate” (The Star, July 27). The growing use of the Internet to circulate crime news, real or manufactured, could also be a factor. Under such an environment, parents cannot be faulted for

LocalCounsel by Goh Ban Lee

worrying if their children do not answer their phone calls immediately. It has also led to the growing popularity of gated communities despite the very high house prices and maintenance charges. Residents in existing housing estates have also built fences and boom gates, even though the roads are public property. It is useful to note that human beings gathered together to live in communities thousands of years ago to protect themselves against wild animals and marauding tribes. It is a sad reflection of the times that Malaysians are building more walls and gates to separate “us from them”. Besides restricting access – one of the cardinal features of livable cities, walls and gates will have long-term negative effects on the development of a cohesive society. It is commendable that the Home Ministry is paying more attention to safe cities. It is also important to find out why the Safe City Initiative that was unveiled with much promise in 2004 has not been effective. For instance, are the steps that have been implemented effective? If not, what are the reasons? Is it the result of poorly designed steps or lackadaisical attitude of the implementers? If the local authorities have not

Tighten entry-point checks

been able to implement the 23 steps, what are the reasons? How much has been spent? Unfortunately, a search of the Housing and Local Government Ministry website drew a blank. If there are reports, the web-master must have done a good job hiding them. Malaysians could be forgiven if they conclude that the ministry has abandoned the Safe City Initiative. Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha owes the public an explanation. Indeed, he or his senior officers must keep the people informed of projects under their care. It is clear that the installation of CCTVs and some physical arrangements of the built environment may not be enough to make cities safer. The role of the police is very important. But unlike most major cities in the West, Malaysian local authorities do not have their own police force. With the Home Ministry now focusing on this issue, the prospects of safer cities are brighter. However, much depends on whether the police and the local authorities can work with each other. This cannot be taken for granted. There is still too much politics in the air. Indeed, a federal minister even publicly directed his officers to stay away from functions and meetings organised by Pakatan Rakyat state governments. The elections are over. For the sake of safer towns and cities, the police and the local authorities must work closely together. Lives and security depend on this. Dr Goh Ban Lee is a retired academic interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning. Comments: letters@thesundaily. com.

THE observations made in “Swine flu checks gone to the dogs” (CitizenNades, July 22) are correct. I observed the following recently. In Xiamen, China, all passengers file single row and submit their forms. If there are any mistakes, the passenger is sent to another counter At KLIA, passengers are expected to hand over forms to a nurse at a table behind the scanner. Some passengers just walk by unaware of the table. When I passed by the nurse was busy writing and did not look up. The KLIA form asks whether the passenger has been to a H1N1 country recently. The uninitiated passenger won’t know whether the countries he visited recently had such cases.

I LEFT for Kuching on July 17. I filled up a form for H1N1 when I checked in. On the aircraft I was given another form which I declined as I had filled one earlier. When I arrived at Kuching no one was collecting the forms. I noticed at the immigration checkpoint that the passengers who were in the queue before me just had their identity cards checked and issued a piece of paper, a kind of disembarkation form to be surrendered to the immigration on their return, but no one was collecting the Health Ministry form. When it was my turn I asked the immigration officer about the Health Ministry form and she replied, “Oh, give it to me.”

LKJ Kuala Lumpur

Francis Rozario Via email

One rail line not the answer I REFER to “Hill railway upgrade keeps heritage value” (Letters, July 27). As an engineer of long standing I feel insulted that my effort in putting so much research to show the pitfalls of replacing the railway with one line has not been taken on board. The hill’s first railway failed because of the length of rope required and the friction it caused. Greater minds than mine later developed the railway in two stages. My fellow engineers in Japan and the United States still say my suggestion with improvements would work. Who wants air-conditioning to travel up to the height of the peak. The journey up the hill should be enjoyed. Nothing has been addressed for the people living around the middle station during the shut down. I would like it to be known that I gave my suggestion free of charge and I have no connection to any business interest in building the railway. I am sorry if I have offended anyone, but I speak from the heart not the pocket. Ric Francis Via email

What tax refund? I WOULD like to refer to Inland Revenue Board’s claims on making refunds to many taxpayers this year. Might I warn you, that your happiness may be shortlived. Early this year, I made a call to the board and was informed that I had overpaid more than RM4,000. But I only received a cheque for RM424 in March and following an email to the board, another RM39 in May. After several emails to the board addressing its request for scanned copies of my EA forms, calls and a visit made to the board’s office,

I am now told that I owe the board RM1,059. The board had recalculated my taxable income from 1993 to the recent taxable year. I am shocked as its officers claimed that I had short paid them in 2007. I still cannot believe how I could end up owing the board for underpaying my income tax in 2007, when it was the same year that it made a RM2,600 refund to me. Disappointed Via email

Tribute to Yasmin

Yasmin’s immortal words pg 19

THE unexpected death of Yasmin Ahmad should not go unnoticed. She served the nation well in her own way and created films from a genre of reality and simplicity. Malaysians tend to idolise foreign artistes and forget or ignore home grown talents. Yasmin, should have been given

tributes when she was alive. Posthumous awards are in order. That is the least that can be done now. God bless your soul Yasmin Ahmad. You have made us proud. Sathya Kuala Lumpur

Nothing beats reading ONE of the best ways of improving the standard of English among students is to encourage them to read. Even parents should be encouraged to read at all times, especially while travelling and waiting for their buses. I suggest that public libraries be opened at night and during weekends. Thus families can go to the library together and at the same time improve their English. More Malaysians should be encouraged to write stories and it will encour-

age students to read such stories during their leisure time. It will definitely improve their command of English Thirdly, the mass media can play its role. Newspapers can encourage the habit of reading among students through their articles and features. Lastly, more magazines in English should be published for students. It will encourage them to read. Jaib Singh Bahau