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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 sup-
posedly 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 envi-
ronmentalists? 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 win-
win 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 re-
study 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.
SKM
Kuala Lumpur
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46-48/52
TELLING IT AS IT IS
Managing Editor: Chong Cheng Hai
Consultant Editor: Zainon Ahmad
Executive Editor: Lee Boon Siew
Deputy Editor: Patrick Choo (Production)
Editor: R. Nadeswaran (Special Reporting and Investiga-
tions)
Safe cities, not gated enclaves
VISITORS to the suburbs of
Kuala Lumpur and the hous-
ing areas in the Klang Valley
cannot miss the “go-away” or
“not-welcome” signs, what
with the ubiquitous boom
Local gates, cylindrical drums and
authorities guards. Although the houses
are and cars indicate that the
respon- residents have achieved
some measure of material
sible for success, it is obvious that fear
safety LocalCounsel
is in the air.
in their Sadly, while the leaders by Goh Ban Lee
towns are proclaiming to the world
and cities. about friendly Malaysians and Open
Houses during festive occasions, the
Indeed, it reality on the ground are anything but
should be welcoming or friendly.
the most But the residents of gated communi-
important ties, including the guarded ones, cannot
be faulted for wanting to keep their
agenda, families safe, at least in their enclaves.
unless When the cities are not safe, self-help
they improvisations are understandable.
believe The government is well aware of
that their the situations. Crime reduction was
one of the six National Key Result Ar-
rate- eas unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk
payers are Seri Najib Razak in last July and Home
paranoid Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin
and see Hussein has promised to reduce crime
by 20%.
shadows He must quickly announce the steps
when that have been taken. Crime fighting
there are must not only be done, but also seen to
none.” be done.
The people have been disappointed
before. In 2004, the National Council for
Local Government, chaired by Najib,
then deputy prime minister, adopted the
23-step Initiatives to bring about safe cit- ers are paranoid and see shadows when
ies and millions have been allocated to
make the cities safer. Unfortunately, the
implementation has been lacking. Even
mild-mannered Housing and Local
Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong
Who is looking after our heritage?
AS THE Pudu prison is dis-
mantled bit by bit, what is
most disheartening is not so
much the destruction of a 114-
year-old monument, as the
What is muted voices of the so-called
happening do-gooders.
to Pudu Apart from individuals,
the reaction from conserva-
Prison tion groups has been almost
and what non-existent, save for when
happened Uda Holdings first bought the Down2Earth
to Bok property for a commercial
by Terence Fernandez
House, project several years ago. Until
then, fatigue over a lost cause
and the or perhaps vested interests have stalled
fact that all efforts to save parts, if not all of this
Stadium national heritage.
Negara Perhaps it is its dark past and menacing
presence that evokes no sentimentality or
was saved outrage from city folk and conservationists
from the alike; but the death of Pudu Jail is a reflec-
wrecking tion of our own cowardice in defending
ball only what is left of our national heritage.
because The least that could have been done is
to salvage the historical murals, painstak-
of eco- ingly created by prisoners themselves. The
nomic 384m-long by 4.5m-high work has been
factors etched in the Guinness Book of World
Records as the world’s longest.
is a
If anything, Pudu’s last days also reflect
testament that in this country, commercial priorities
to the trump conservation.
failure While other nations go out of their way
of those to protect heritage structures by build-
in the ing around them or incorporating them
in new developments (for example in
(now) Arts London where pre-World War I homes are
Culture refurbished into hotels and town houses),
and Info we take the easy way out by bringing in the
Comm- wrecking ball.
Our city planners are equally guilty
unication for not taking into account traffic and
in doing transport considerations when drafting
their jobs.” routes and roads.
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Cho Ha could not conceal tor the situations, compile and report
his frustrations. Quote: “We statistics and work with the police and
can provide guidelines, but civil societies to reduce crimes. Most
if the local authorities don’t importantly, they should implement
follow, there’s not much we steps to make their municipalities safe.
can do” (Aug 3, 2009). For instance, although the local
There are things Kong authorities have no power to have mu-
could do. He could visit the nicipal policemen, there is nothing to
local councils, including prevent them from assigning uniformed
those under Pakatan Rakyat enforcement officers to patrol the streets,
state governments, to see parks and even housing estates. The
what have been done and very presence of uniformed personnel
whether they are effective. is a deterrent to crimes.
His words and actions can If needed, the local authorities should
change things. raise assessment rates to implement safe
Hundreds of millions are allocated to city measures and the state government
his ministry every year. If the minister must support such move. Residents in
is so hapless vis-à-vis the local councils, gated communities and guarded com-
the taxpayers may question the need for munities are paying substantial sums
a ministry and a department of local gov- per month to be safe and feel safe.
ernment headed by a director-general. It is important to realise that guards,
Furthermore, the federal govern- boom gates and fences are only partial
ment does provide substantial amount solutions. If the situation deteriorates,
of funds to the local councils, via the Malaysians will need personal security
Equalisation Grants, Grants in lieu of guards when they go outside their gated
Rates and Grants for specific projects. cocoons or stay at home after work and
The minister and his officers must forget about enjoying the benefits of
know how the monies are spent. urban living and having friends. This is
Even without visits by minister or not what they work hard for.
instructions by state leaders, the local Rate-payers should fight for safe cit-
authorities should have placed safe ies, rather than be contented in staying
cities as their priority areas of atten- in “safe havens” in the midst of unsafe
tion. Surely, the presidents or mayors, cities. They should be safe and feel safe
councillors and senior officers must feel not only at home, but also in the parks
sad, nay ashamed, that their rate-payers and on the streets going to schools,
are putting up boom gates and hiring office, shopping centres and visiting
security guards. friends and relatives.
Local authorities are responsible for They should make their municipal,
safety in their towns and cities. Indeed, state and federal leaders work harder
it should be the most important agenda, for safe cities, rather than settle for
unless they believe that their rate-pay- gated communities.
there are none.
Local authorities that have many Dr Goh Ban Lee is interested in urban
gated communities, including unau- governance, housing and urban plan-
thorised ones, should set up a special ning. Comments: letters@thesundaily.
safe-city working committee to moni- com.
What is happening to Pudu up one’s shortcomings by belittling the
Prison and what happened to very agency that the MACC boasts its
Bok House, and the fact that template on. Moreover that this state-
Stadium Negara was saved ment was made even before the coroner’s
from the wrecking ball only inquest into Teoh’s death is completed only
because of economic factors strengthens the beliefs of the conspiracy
is testament to the failure of theorists that a cover-up is imminent.
those in the (now) Arts Culture That a former national gymnast, who
and Info Communication in opened a can of worms on graft concern-
doing their jobs. It is also an ing an individual from the National Sports
indictment of the silence of Council was questioned for over six hours
those who claim they lead with minimal breaks until this journalist
the charge in preserving our intervened, does little to convince the peo-
nation’s heritage. ple that whistleblowers will be protected.
Their failure to speak up or There is nothing to show so far that
speak loudly in convincing the government the various independent MACC panels
to save memorials of our past – both good comprising people from outside the com-
and bad – only adds to speculation that mission have done or can do enough to
they have been compromised via annual ensure that informants are not treated as
government grants and private donations. criminals.
The fact that many heritage conserva- That Ahmad Said could say that the
tion organisations are helmed by those in MACC has no choice but to remain silent in
the corporate sector only adds fuel to the the face of criticisms because speaking out
perception that the foxes are guarding the would jeopardise ongoing investigations
chicken coop. is nothing short of laughable. Was it not
he who put the cart before the horse and
**************************** announced to the media that there was
SPEAKING of national heritage, the Malay- evidence against Selangor Mentri Besar Tan
sian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim over the cows and
should be more convincing in its efforts car issue? And until now, there has been
at damage control. Its tattered image not as much as a sigh on all the reports
following one death in custody is not going against Abdul Khalid’s predecessor.
to get any better following revelations of So before the MACC attempts another
its Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said disastrous PR exercise, I suggest it gets its
Hamdan published yesterday. act together and stop playing tai-chi with
Saying that the people’s co-operation is all the criticisms coming its way.
needed to realise the goal of a corrupt-free It is not enough for it to be doing its job
nation, he must have forgotten that Teoh without fear or favour but it must also be
Beng Hock, by the MACC’s own admission, seen to be doing as such!
was also co-operating (as opposed to being
interrogated) before he fell to his death.
Comparing Teoh’s death to the so-called Terence is deputy editor special reports
10 suicides experienced by Hongkong’s & investigations at theSun and can be
Independent Commission Against Corrup- reached at terence@thesundaily.com and
tion (ICAC) is a feeble attempt at covering followed on twitter @ TerencetheSUN