MBPJ and the Heartwarming One Pothole Story

 

One June 5, I had just realised that, while driving in Petaling Jaya everyday, there was hardly a pothole that I could snap a picture to show to the Mayor, Tuan Zahri bin Samingon. 

        Teasingly, I wrote to him, "Saya baru sedar dan lama saya tidak “kacau” Datuk. 🤪memang Zero complaints 🤣" (I have just realised, Datuk, for some time now I have not been "disturbing" you. It's truly Zero complaints.)

        I added: "Lubang pothole tak nampak. Sampah pukal tak nampak. Titik buta tidak ada lagi. Lama kelamaan saya tak ada kerja lagi. 👍🏽👍🏽🤪🤣"  (I can't see a pothole. Illegal dumps also no longer there. No more blindspots that I can find. Very soon, I will be  out of job.)

        It was meant to be a friendly chat with him. Having the habit of capturing with my SLR camera loaded with rolls of Fuji or Kodak films provided by the New Straits Times in the past, nowadays, the mobile phone is my greatest tool. 

Citizen's Eyes

        I told the Datuk Bandar that I would serve as MBPJ's "mata-mata" (citizens' eyes) on the ground, easing their burden of patrolling the roads. Anything I spotted, I would report to him as his "mata-mata" on the ground.

        So, on May 14, 2025, I was exhilarated when I spotted a pothole—at least I still had a job! It was followed up with a photograph the next day, when I was able to slow down my car and capture it on my mobile phone camera. 

        By about midnight, lo and behold, this is what I received: 

        I am just an ordinary citizen, with no political clout or influence. My job is not to complain but to improve the public amenities, which are important to every citizen.

        Some people who look at the above pictures may think this is only an acting job, but who cares! I cannot but feel impressed with the attitude of our MBPJ staff who work so hard to take care of our roads. Just looking at the pose of our road work gang, I wanted to cry! 

        Why so emotional? Well, they know how to feel proud with the job that they are doing. These are the people worth all the applause! 

        If only other local councils can emulate, Malaysia would be a better place. If the chief secretary to the federal government wants to fill an important position, who do you think he would select? 

        The country can only be a First World nation, if the entire local government is reformed, and we have people with the MBPJ attitude. 

    Translated, this means, "I personally went down to the ground to see how my staff are working hard at two locations tonight -- at Persiaran Jati and Tropicana." 

      "I go to the ground to look at how complaints from the community and the local councillors are solved." 

        I can actually see through this Datuk Bandar's sincerity to be with his people and to lead them to achieve greater excellence in their service to Petaling Jaya community. 

Check this out as well: 

https://come-to-senses.blogspot.com/2025/05/a-good-example-to-emulate-observe-how.html