I AM a politician in the public’s eyes. Along with that recognition is the belief that I am flushed with cash, simply because my position allows me access to multitudes of government projects. Being supposedly cash rich, I am also expected to donate handsomely to needy people. To finance these handsome donations, I am expected […]
Ampersand
The maze of housing rights
By KW Mak(Maze by mzacha; houses by Stanley Elliot / sxc.hu) URBAN settlers who have lived in an area for many years are increasingly finding themselves uprooted and displaced while being offered verbal promises of compensation. Rather than debate on whether the local council or the developer is in the right to do all these things, I […]
Preventing neighbourhood strife
By KW Mak(Source: solsearch.us) FROM the sale of beer to the protest against the construction of a Hindu temple within a Muslim majority area, there seems to be no shortage of issues where the demands of one ethnic group are pitted against another. When such conflicts happen, the call for the police to take action against the […]
Tales from a Councillor: Taps
By KW MakTHIS instalment of Ampersand is on my experiences dealing with issues unrelated to my work as a councillor, but which get directed to me anyway. As always, there are no morals behind these stories, save the ones readers chose to interpret for themselves. Bath and taxes The call for maghrib prayers was still resounding when […]
Tales from a Councillor:
Chicken Rice Wars and The Thin Yellow Line
By KW MakIN 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 […]
Flawed system behind Teoh’s death
By KW MakDEATH threats, lawsuits and even face-offs with gangsters are some of the things I deal with in the course of my work as a councillor in the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). These are occupational hazards that come with the territory. TeohOn 16 July 2009, Teoh Beng Hock, a public servant like I am though […]
