KUALA LUMPUR – A WORLD CLASS CITY?

KUALA LUMPUR A WORLD CLASS CITY BUT CLEANLINESS AND TRAFFIC CAN BE IMPROVED’ writes Malaysian Mirror dated February 2, 2011.

Yes, that’s what most people would say about KL, but what about the mentality of its people? And sure I have a lot to say about the cleanliness and the massive traffic jams that has become ‘symbolic’ of KL. In fact, someone remarked the other day that while Bangkok has improved substantially; KL sadly has deteriorated and has become what Bangkok was before.

Just a few weeks ago, in the process of me reversing my car, I accidently knocked the car behind me. I did not notice the car was behind me because the car was too close to be viewed from my rear mirror. I apologize for the accident and told the driver that I would bear the costs of the repairs. Instead of accepting by apology and my offer, the driver began hauling curses at me in the presence of the crowd that had gathered. Fortunately, I am already a 67 year old man. Had I been 40 years younger, I would have bashed him up. I felt terribly humiliated by the persistent curses hauled at me, and that the driver was nothing more than in his late 30’s. This is an example of the mentality of people in KL that I despise most. This driver does not understand tolerance, respect, rude and let alone recognized that it was never my intention to knock his car. Even my humble apology and offer wasn’t good enough.

Talking about cleanliness, just take a walk along the back lanes along Jalan Pudu, Jalan Chow Kit, Jalan Ipoh and the many back lanes that criss-cross KL. You will be surprise to see the amount of filth littered along these lanes and the stench that permeates the air. And have you noticed the way restaurant owners do their business? Take a look at the rear of the restaurant or peep into the toilets? I do not wish to describe the scene because the answer is too obvious…………..filthy, stinks and what not. But what have the local health authorities or the local council been doing all this while?

I remembered walking the back lanes around Ipoh in the early 90’s and to my astonishment, the lanes and drains were all clean. I could not even see restaurant owners setting up chair and table along the path ways that is a common sight around KL. If I am not mistaken, the city Mayor then was Dato Shahbuddin whom I had the pleasure of meeting him at his office and congratulating him for managing the city well. I do not know whether Ipoh is still the same, but if it isn’t, then the present Mayor has to be blamed.

It is certainly not good enough to say that KL has the trappings of modernity, but its intolerant and rude population, the massive traffic jams, poor and inefficient public transport service, cleanliness along the back lanes, stinking public toilets; all these makes KL a city unworthy of its standing.

Now the million dollar question…………who do you blame for all of KL woes? My take is the City Mayor himself. And, what have you to say to this?

KL certainly needs more than an improvement. What it really need is an RSM type Mayor with a pace stick strolling along the streets and back lanes of KL as frequent as possible to keep tab on the city hall workers.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION