Thesun 2009-10-20 Page12 Safe Cities Not Gated Enclaves

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| TUESDAY OCTOBER 20 2009

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Development must ensure our rights I AM glad that the subject of Klebang sea reclamation in Malacca is alive and people who are concerned with the negative impact of the project are voicing their dissatisfaction. The reclamation of the sea at Klebang is supposedly to provide for a coastal road to improve traffic flow from the city centre to the suburbs. It is the prerogative of the state government to decide on land development as long as it does not bring negative impact to the rakyat, the environment and settlements along the shore. When the activities started, those who would have been affected by the project tried to get information about it. But there was none at the Town Planning Department or City Council. Residents and property owners were kept in the dark. Public protests were ignored. To make the fishermen happy, each was paid RM4,000 compensation, but others too got the handout! The developer does not prevent the sand from dropping into the canal. Now we can see the thin belt of mangroves growing so fast that the storm water canal is silting up causing movement of the tidal water flow to slow down. A mangrove swamp has its own ecological system. Soon not only will the residents breathe foul air but also smell the stench of mangrove gas and face the undignified and unsightly view of the swamp. Not long after that, they will be confronted by the sea creatures which inhabit the swamp creeping into their compounds. And with these creatures come their predators too. Were these factors not thought of by the planners and environmentalists? Or is this a reflection of the Third World mentality in full practice where the rakyat are pushed around at the whims and fancies of the politicians and corporate people. Since the wrath of the people was reflected on March 8 last year, Barisan leaders have been calling for a change in dealing with the public. Yet actions of the state government agencies have not reflected this philosophy. Precisely to ensure the rakyat’s feelings are not aggravated, government agencies must not betray their rights when they consider developments such as this reclamation. It would have been a winwin situation if the state government and the developer had judiciously planned the project to include advantageously the storm water canal and its environs. So I urge the Malacca chief minister to restudy this project to ensure that no sector of the public is aggrieved by the state government’s action. On the other hand the natural beauty of the storm water canal and its vicinity must be developed into a dignified project to meet the aspiration of the government and the people.

Safe cities, not gated enclaves Local authorities are responsible for safety in their towns and cities. Indeed, it should be the most important agenda, unless they believe that their ratepayers are paranoid and see shadows when there are none.”

KUALA LUMPUR Saturday - 14 Nov 2009 11am - 1.30pm Venue : Plaza Pantai, KL

Admission is FREE (KL) but strictly by registration only due to limited space.

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tor the situations, compile and report statistics and work with the police and civil societies to reduce crimes. Most importantly, they should implement steps to make their municipalities safe. For instance, although the local authorities have no power to have municipal policemen, there is nothing to prevent them from assigning uniformed enforcement officers to patrol the streets, parks and even housing estates. The very presence of uniformed personnel is a deterrent to crimes. If needed, the local authorities should raise assessment rates to implement safe city measures and the state government must support such move. Residents in gated communities and guarded communities are paying substantial sums per month to be safe and feel safe. It is important to realise that guards, boom gates and fences are only partial solutions. If the situation deteriorates, Malaysians will need personal security guards when they go outside their gated cocoons or stay at home after work and forget about enjoying the benefits of urban living and having friends. This is not what they work hard for. Rate-payers should fight for safe cities, rather than be contented in staying in “safe havens” in the midst of unsafe cities. They should be safe and feel safe not only at home, but also in the parks and on the streets going to schools, office, shopping centres and visiting friends and relatives. They should make their municipal, state and federal leaders work harder for safe cities, rather than settle for gated communities. Dr Goh Ban Lee is interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning. Comments: letters@thesundaily. com.

Who is looking after our heritage?

SKM Kuala Lumpur

Saturday - 24 Oct 2009 11am - 1.30pm Venue : Plaza Pantai, KL

VISITORS to the suburbs of Cho Ha could not conceal Kuala Lumpur and the houshis frustrations. Quote: “We ing areas in the Klang Valley can provide guidelines, but cannot miss the “go-away” or if the local authorities don’t “not-welcome” signs, what follow, there’s not much we with the ubiquitous boom can do” (Aug 3, 2009). gates, cylindrical drums and There are things Kong guards. Although the houses could do. He could visit the and cars indicate that the local councils, including residents have achieved those under Pakatan Rakyat some measure of material state governments, to see success, it is obvious that fear what have been done and LocalCounsel is in the air. whether they are effective. by Goh Ban Lee Sadly, while the leaders His words and actions can are proclaiming to the world change things. about friendly Malaysians and Open Hundreds of millions are allocated to Houses during festive occasions, the his ministry every year. If the minister reality on the ground are anything but is so hapless vis-à-vis the local councils, welcoming or friendly. the taxpayers may question the need for But the residents of gated communia ministry and a department of local govties, including the guarded ones, cannot ernment headed by a director-general. be faulted for wanting to keep their Furthermore, the federal governfamilies safe, at least in their enclaves. ment does provide substantial amount When the cities are not safe, self-help of funds to the local councils, via the improvisations are understandable. Equalisation Grants, Grants in lieu of The government is well aware of Rates and Grants for specific projects. the situations. Crime reduction was The minister and his officers must one of the six National Key Result Arknow how the monies are spent. eas unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Even without visits by minister or Seri Najib Razak in last July and Home instructions by state leaders, the local Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin authorities should have placed safe Hussein has promised to reduce crime cities as their priority areas of attenby 20%. tion. Surely, the presidents or mayors, He must quickly announce the steps councillors and senior officers must feel that have been taken. Crime fighting sad, nay ashamed, that their rate-payers must not only be done, but also seen to are putting up boom gates and hiring be done. security guards. The people have been disappointed Local authorities are responsible for before. In 2004, the National Council for safety in their towns and cities. Indeed, Local Government, chaired by Najib, it should be the most important agenda, then deputy prime minister, adopted the unless they believe that their rate-pay23-step Initiatives to bring about safe citers are paranoid and see shadows when ies and millions have been allocated to there are none. make the cities safer. Unfortunately, the Local authorities that have many implementation has been lacking. Even gated communities, including unaumild-mannered Housing and Local thorised ones, should set up a special Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong safe-city working committee to moni-

What is happening to Pudu Prison and what happened to Bok House, and the fact that Stadium Negara was saved from the wrecking ball only because of economic factors is a testament to the failure of those in the (now) Arts Culture and Info Communication in doing their jobs.”

AS THE Pudu prison is disWhat is happening to Pudu mantled bit by bit, what is Prison and what happened to most disheartening is not so Bok House, and the fact that much the destruction of a 114Stadium Negara was saved year-old monument, as the from the wrecking ball only muted voices of the so-called because of economic factors do-gooders. is testament to the failure of Apart from individuals, those in the (now) Arts Culture the reaction from conservaand Info Communication in tion groups has been almost doing their jobs. It is also an non-existent, save for when indictment of the silence of Uda Holdings first bought the those who claim they lead Down2Earth property for a commercial the charge in preserving our by Terence Fernandez project several years ago. Until nation’s heritage. then, fatigue over a lost cause Their failure to speak up or or perhaps vested interests have stalled speak loudly in convincing the government all efforts to save parts, if not all of this to save memorials of our past – both good national heritage. and bad – only adds to speculation that Perhaps it is its dark past and menacing they have been compromised via annual presence that evokes no sentimentality or government grants and private donations. outrage from city folk and conservationists The fact that many heritage conservaalike; but the death of Pudu Jail is a reflection organisations are helmed by those in tion of our own cowardice in defending the corporate sector only adds fuel to the what is left of our national heritage. perception that the foxes are guarding the The least that could have been done is chicken coop. to salvage the historical murals, painstak**************************** ingly created by prisoners themselves. The 384m-long by 4.5m-high work has been SPEAKING of national heritage, the Malayetched in the Guinness Book of World sian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Records as the world’s longest. should be more convincing in its efforts If anything, Pudu’s last days also reflect at damage control. Its tattered image that in this country, commercial priorities following one death in custody is not going trump conservation. to get any better following revelations of While other nations go out of their way its Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said to protect heritage structures by buildHamdan published yesterday. ing around them or incorporating them Saying that the people’s co-operation is in new developments (for example in needed to realise the goal of a corrupt-free London where pre-World War I homes are nation, he must have forgotten that Teoh refurbished into hotels and town houses), Beng Hock, by the MACC’s own admission, we take the easy way out by bringing in the was also co-operating (as opposed to being wrecking ball. interrogated) before he fell to his death. Our city planners are equally guilty Comparing Teoh’s death to the so-called for not taking into account traffic and 10 suicides experienced by Hongkong’s transport considerations when drafting Independent Commission Against Corruproutes and roads. tion (ICAC) is a feeble attempt at covering

up one’s shortcomings by belittling the very agency that the MACC boasts its template on. Moreover that this statement was made even before the coroner’s inquest into Teoh’s death is completed only strengthens the beliefs of the conspiracy theorists that a cover-up is imminent. That a former national gymnast, who opened a can of worms on graft concerning an individual from the National Sports Council was questioned for over six hours with minimal breaks until this journalist intervened, does little to convince the people that whistleblowers will be protected. There is nothing to show so far that the various independent MACC panels comprising people from outside the commission have done or can do enough to ensure that informants are not treated as criminals. That Ahmad Said could say that the MACC has no choice but to remain silent in the face of criticisms because speaking out would jeopardise ongoing investigations is nothing short of laughable. Was it not he who put the cart before the horse and announced to the media that there was evidence against Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim over the cows and car issue? And until now, there has been not as much as a sigh on all the reports against Abdul Khalid’s predecessor. So before the MACC attempts another disastrous PR exercise, I suggest it gets its act together and stop playing tai-chi with all the criticisms coming its way. It is not enough for it to be doing its job without fear or favour but it must also be seen to be doing as such! Terence is deputy editor special reports & investigations at theSun and can be reached at [email protected] and followed on twitter @ TerencetheSUN