IN this exciting episode of Ampersand, I would like to share some of my experiences as a councillor. There are no morals behind these stories save the ones readers chose to draw for themselves. Chicken rice It was almost 11pm when I finally wrapped up a meeting with a group of residents one night. Having […]
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Tales from a Councillor:
By KW MakA moratorium on development?
By KW MakBUKIT Gasing assemblyperson Edward Lee has been working on a proposal for the Selangor government to implement a five-year moratorium on development in Petaling Jaya (PJ). The proposal is intended to complement the Selangor government’s plan to allocate RM10 billion to redevelop PJ and Klang. It is also meant to reflect public sentiments on wanting […]
Protecting our slopes
By KW MakDamage caused by the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide of 6 Dec 2008 (Pic courtesy of Raj Kumar) BARELY two months have passed, yet the lesson of the Bukit Antarabangsa hillside disaster is nearly forgotten. Works Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed has declared that projects on hillsides can proceed, with only a ban on the “tip […]
The politics of decency
By Wong Chin Huat(Pic by striatic / Flickr) LET’S get something straight. What has happened to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)’s Selangor state assemblyperson for Bukit Lanjan, Elizabeth Wong, is nothing unprecedented or unimaginable. All you need to do to potentially get your nude pictures circulated is to share your private life with a person who could one day […]
How bazaar
By KW Mak(© How Wee Choon / Dreamstime) EACH festive season, the Petaling Jaya City Council, otherwise known by its Malay acronym MBPJ, gives out temporary licences to traders to sell festive goods in specially designated public car parks. This helps traders earn extra income, generate economic activity within the council’s borders, and add a festive cheer […]
The right to protest
By KW Mak(© Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams / wikipedia.org) ASSEMBLING to protest an issue is a touchy subject in Malaysia, thanks to many factors, including police heavy-handedness in breaking up peaceful demonstrations. It is also common to hear of officials dictating the impropriety of the assembly without actually providing any avenue for the aggrieved persons to air […]
The landslide of cause and effect
By KW MakLandslide in Bukit Antarabangsa (all pics courtesy of Raj Kumar) THE landslide that claimed people’s lives and destroyed property in the wee hours of 6 Dec 2008 in Bukit Antarabangsa was an eerie reminder of the 1993 Highland Towers tragedy. Almost like a knee-jerk reaction, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi declared an immediate […]
Who built this city?
By KW MakTHE city of Petaling Jaya (PJ) faces a myriad of problems as a result of urban development. With 97.2 square kilometres under the jurisdiction of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), the council has its hands full dealing with issues brought about by development. Lack of space (©Svilen Mushkatov / sxc.hu) High-rise development brings about […]
Uphill battle
By KW MakONE area in which the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) often faces conflict is with property developers. It is funny how developers think they can still perpetuate their errant ways when they clearly go against the rule of law. Take for example construction work. According to the law, work can only be done between 8am […]
Managing change responsibly
By KW MakTHE media can sometimes be full of public sentiment calling for change. But few people appreciate the amount of work that needs to be done to effect that change. I believe in doing things by the book to ensure that reforms are not arbitrary, and whatever action taken is fair to all. To do so […]
