Exilarated when you meet an "angel" at MBPJ, no?

 

I have over 30 years of wrestling, not with the Sumo wrestlers, but with the Little Napoleons in our local councils.

        As a problem-solver, I don't want to waste time with the Little Napoleons. And there are so many of them. Unless the Madani government does something to deal with these little Napoleons, the rakyat will continue to suffer. 

        Meanwhile, having someone like Datuk Bandar Hj Zahri Samingon, the mayor of Petaling Jaya is like finding a gem among the civil servants. 

How It all Began

        My activism started because of an incident that happened around 1990 when a senior citizen in my neighbourhood asked me to help complain to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) about a tree trunk left to rot just beside her shop. She claimed she saw a small snake emerging from the trunk. 

        I called DBKL branch office, and spoke to one gentleman. While trying to explain to him, he told me to hold on. I waited for some time before deciding to hang up, and dial the number again. It did not go through. Finally, when I dialed a second number, someone picked up and said, "Oh, .... has gone home!" 

        Infuriated, I bought a couple of rolls of film, and with my new SLR camera, I started driving around the housing estate. I was shocked to see so many illegal dumps. 

        When I visited Malay Mail with the photographs, the editor back then, Lee Boon Siew asked, "Since you are already writing for New Straits Times, why don't you write for us as well?" 

        That was wonderful! I gladly accepted the offer.

Little Napoleons and Angels exist 

        The journey began unceremoniously, I should say, but over the years, I have met both Little Napoleons and Angels. 

        I have noticed that the higher ups in the hierarchy are usually more reasonable people. That is why they move up their career ladder. Those who are at the middle management are the ones who would flex their muscles to show that they are someone despite knowing that we are the people who pay their salaries. 

        Angels are always a delight to meet in the civil service. After four to five years of campaign for my Mom's housing estate for conversion of Hakmilik Sementara to Geran, I discovered two angels at the Federal Territories branch of the Land Office. Of course, it was their director who drove me up the wall before I decided to launch the campaign. Veteran politician Dr Tan Seng Giaw faithfully helped us through the entire process until every house owner received their grant after 40 years of no action by the authorities. 

        As a problem solver, I must say I am delighted to have "met" Datuk Bandar Zahri who listened to feedback from the ground. On a number of occasions, I have highlighted to him some blind spots as and when I see them. He would get his men to resolve these blind spots, and the latest one is here where there is a blind spot. The property owner had rented the carpark to keep vacant as part of its efforts to reduce the risks of accidents.

        I pursued the matter with Datuk Bandar because I felt that the property owner should not be burdened with the rental of the parking lot. Parking facilities are under the jurisdiction of the town planners, and it is difficult for them to know there is blind spot unless the feedback is provided to them. I took several videos and photographs to show that even with the first parking lot being vacant, the speed of vehicles was still an issue.

        It was good that MBPJ officers came to the site to investigate, and they probably found that the feedback is valid. My proposals to them was to put a hump just slightly before the exit gate. This is based on the usual habit of motorists. Just as they approach a hump, they would slow down. The moment they are over the hump, they would press the gasoline pedal and drive at high speed "to catch up with time." I made it clear that the hump must not be too far away from the exit junction.

        I also mentioned that the hump must be constructed in a way that would not pose a problem for a few cars with low decks that I noticed. There are also Harley Bikers who may complain and the hump would have to be re-constructed -- an additional cost would be incurred for non-compliance. My early years of exposure to Bill Crosby's Excellence thru' Quality (EQ) reminded me, "Do it Right the First Time!" There was always the POC (price of conformance) and PONC (price of non-compliance) that we were taught in the EQ system at Union Carbide.  

        When I received this photograph, I shook my head. Oh no! If they built the hump here, this would be exactly what I fear would happen! And the hump would not serve its purpose. I rushed to the site and managed to speak to the contractor.

        Lo and behold, they were only putting the signposts to warn the public of the humps. In fact, they told me that there would be TWO humps instead of one! I left it to the experts at MBPJ at this junction to decide what's best for the public. 

        Construction began last night (Saturday 8 March 2025). This photograph was sent to me which looks quite good.

        Finally, on Sunday 9 March 2025, on my return from outstation, I took a detour to check out the humps. I have to say, "Well done, MBPJ! Thank you so much, Datuk Bandar and all the people of MBPJ who did a great job!" 

        It is Datuk Bandar's reasonableness that makes it easy for me as an ordinary citizen. People like me do not have time and patience to wrestle with the Little Napoleons. If I had the magic wand, I would like to turn every YDP to become like the Datuk Bandar of Petaling Jaya and Datuk Bandar of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Shariff! Don't you want to have more of them around? 

        As I have said before, in order for Malaysia to become a first world nation, a lot depends on the performance of the local government. Failure of the local government reflects badly on both the local and federal government. I am glad that Datuk Bandar Zahri exemplies that of a good mayor, and together with many others who benefited from these two humps, I want to say, "BRAVO!" not only to him, but to all MBPJ staff. It is his efforts that brings about the good reputation of the city council. 

         If you think that all civil servants are like that Little Napoleon you have encountered with in your daily affairs, I don't agree with you. I have had a former Director-General of Tourism, Datuk Abdullah Jonid calling me on Sunday night to tell me that Tourism Minister Datuk Sheikh Kadir was keen on a proposal that I made about turning Kuala Lumpur into an eco-tourism hub to attract students and parents to either the Star Education Fair or KL Education Fair, and supported with tourism packages to make the families stay longer. 

        And look at this response from Datuk Bandar himself. It is at 9:06pm on Sunday night!