Changing cabbies’ behaviour

TS,Tuesday 6 March 2012 

SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar recently disclosed that a tourist was charged RM450 in taxi fare from KL Sentral to KLCC and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has announced plans to engage 4,000 cabbies to be tourisms’ driving force. 

Getting errant cabbies to change their ways is akin to roping in Mat Rempits and turning them into role models. Such attempts are likely to fail unless new and effective measures are introduced. 

The standard of taxi service in any city or country reflects the level of society and the action of cabbies form a lasting impression on the passengers, especially foreigners. 

As such, the Tourism Minister has announced plans to conduct one-day courses from March to churn out 4,000 tourism taxi ambassadors. 

It will take at least 40 batches of 100 cabbies each to reach the targeted number. The response from the cabbies will depend on the compensation paid for the day’s loss of income. 

Such courses should have been conducted earlier by the now defunct Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board that issued taxi permits and driver registration cards, or the Road Transport Department that renews driving and Public Service Vehicle licences of the cabbies.

During a half-day course for taxi drivers organised by the Tourism Ministry in 2006, I noticed that many other participants were not there voluntarily. They were asking each other where they were caught by enforcement. 

After the course, I personally handed in a written report to the ministry on how such courses could be more effective. 

One point was to have some of the courses in English and Chinese (Mandarin) so that it would have a deeper impact on those more conversant in these languages. 

It can also help participants who wish to brush up their English or Mandarin as large numbers of foreign passengers speak these languages. 

Such courses should begin on a right footing. Hammering in the need for cabbies to behave right from the start would be overzealous. It will be like water off a duck’s back. 

Participants should be given the chance to air their grievances first and they will become more receptive after getting the load off their chest. 

However, if every participant is allowed to do so, it may take up the whole day and be a waste of time as many issues will be repeated and some cabbies can be very vocal and long-winded. 

This can be avoided if a comprehensive list is prepared in advance and presented to them before a briefing on the importance of tourism and their role. 

Many offences are committed by errant cabbies but the good ones also break some rules. For example, they may have to refuse some passengers or risk being robbed, raped or injured. 

The report “Ex-cop jailed and fined for accepting bribe from cabbie” (The Star, Mar 1) is another issue to be addressed. A constable solicited a RM300 bribe after finding a cabbie ferrying two illegal immigrants in his taxi. 

Short of cash, the cabbie had to make several payments until the constable received the full sum. Most cabbies eke out a living or “Kais pagi makan pagi, kais petang makan petang”. 

Is it an offence to have illegal immigrants in a taxi? How would cabbies know? Only police officers and immigration officers are empowered to ask people to show proof of identity. 

Conducting courses offer good opportunities to engage with the cabbies. When invited, some are capable of providing solutions to many of the challenges faced by the industry. 

This approach is far more effective than merely telling them what they should do through monologue lectures and briefings. 

For courses that start at 9am or earlier, it is common to find half of the participants arriving late and the 15-minute tea break normally stretches to half an hour or more. 

To encourage early arrivals, refreshments that are normally provided for the morning break should be made available during registration with only beverages served during the break. 

Allowances should be split with the first payment made to those who arrived on time and second payment at the end of the course together with the attendance certificate. 

It would be a fallacy that cabbies will make significant changes after attending a one-day briefing. Some may be inspired or motivated but such feelings will wane over time. 

Knowledge alone does not translate into action. Many citizens can recite the Rukunegara by heart but the number of Malaysians embracing our national philosophy appears small. 

Many people may “Believe in God” but their actions show that they are not God-fearing. The understanding of “Courtesy & Morality” is superficial as many people of all levels lack courtesy; not only to strangers but also to people they know, including family members. 

It would be better to conduct several training workshops, limited to 25 participants a batch, before embarking on the seminars for 100 cabbies at a time. 

Training is much more effective when participants are placed in a U-shape seating allowing them to engage with one another and the facilitator. 

It is hard to stay awake, especially after a heavy lunch, when seated passively theatre-style listening to lectures. 

Cabbies who can communicate well in Bahasa Malaysia (Malay), Chinese (Mandarin) and English are to be selected for the workshops and their input can later be shared with those attending the seminars. 

This is better than any top down approach and will be better received as the recommendations were made by their peers. In addition, it takes a thief to catch another. 

We ought to bear in mind that transformation of our taxi industry can only be achieved by setting short-, medium- and long-term plans and not through knee-jerk responses. 

The initiative by the Tourism Ministry is timely. It will be successful if the various authorities co-operate to make concerted efforts to upgrade our taxi services. 

Sadly, the work culture of many Malaysians leaves much to be desired. Those who are too proud of themselves tend to be discourteous and often do a lousy job. 

Those who wish to declare “Proud to be Malaysian” should earn it by taking pride in their work and do an excellent job. 

If we can do that, even foreigners would be proud of us. We can surpass the 36 million visitor arrivals targeted by 2020 by changing our mindset and behaviour. 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur 

Nitty-gritty not for SPAD

 

TS,Wednesday 7 December 2011

 

 

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) ought to be congratulated for introducing the Operator Licence (OL), in line with international best practice.

 

It will be interesting to see whether a licensed operator can increase or decrease its fleet size freely, in tandem with market demands, without having to apply for individual vehicle permits.

 

Under the OL, if one bad accident can result in the suspension of the entire fleet, many big operators would soon set up several smaller companies rather than put all their eggs in one basket.

 

A fairer system would be based on the fleet size of the operator, including the average hours and distance travelled monthly. The thresholds for various offences must be set at the optimum level to promote a healthy industry.

In any case, SPAD should get operators to comply. Initial efforts must be geared towards public briefings, management education, drivers training, and less on prosecution or suspension of errant operators.

 

Another effective way for transforming public transportation is to adopt a more holistic approach. One company can be appointed to be responsible for the entire bus and taxi services needed within a district.

 

It will be made accountable to the local populace and work closely with local authorities, politicians and community leaders. The appointed operator will welcome feedback for the continuous improvements of service and business.

 

For too long, the public has had to put up with poor public transportation services, with no one being held accountable.

 

SPAD was created to centralise land public transportation matters. However, it will be bogged down if it chooses to micro manage the nitty-gritty. In some areas, decentralization would be the better option.

 

The transport requirements of each district are best tackled directly by the communities concerned.

 

The granting of permits for public road transportation by the defunct Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) has resulted in the present quagmire for SPAD to untangle.

 

The stickers fixed at the back of all commercial vehicles to facilitate public complaints proved to be a sham. The Auditor-General’s Report revealed that CVLB took up to 756 days to resolve complaints.

 

SPAD should license only those who are competent to serve the rakyat without having to turn to the government for funding or subsidies.

 

Successful bus and taxi companies with proven track records and eager to play a more dynamic role ought to be given the opportunity to promote the use of public transportation by ensuring their services are safe, affordable, comfortable and reliable.

 

Traffic congestion, carbon footprints and the need for parking spaces will be reduced when more people switch to public transport.

 

The development of any industry rests on the organisations involved to engage their customers and not by the coercion of regulators.

 

 

YS Chan

Kuala Lumpur. 

Gandhian’s ideals

TS,Friday 7 October 2011 

Millions of people around the world paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Oct 2, his birthday. To propagate the ideals of this great man, I propose that the movie “Gandhi” be screened every Oct 2. 

The most profound part of the movie to me was when a distraught and remorseful man who wanted to atone for killing a Muslim boy in sectarian conflict, approached Gandhi. 

His reply is embedded in my mind as “Go find a boy who has lost his parents in the mayhem, make sure he is a Muslim, and raise him as one”. 

Imagine it were done; the boy would surely have grown up to be a great Muslim, raised by a Hindu. 

Gandhi has showed that a human being, however bad, is still capable of accomplishing great things. 

People of different faiths may take different paths and adopt different practices but all of them believe in an Almighty. 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur 

Be more caring, please

TS,Friday, September 9 2011 

“Frustrating for arrivals” (Letters, Sept 6) echoes the plight of not just the writer but also thousands of other travellers. 

Can the various authorities based at our international airports show greater concern? 

If so, more training is needed, starting from the top right down to the front liners. A training workbook on courtesy for the tourism industry has 350 posers. Below are just 4 of them. 

On immigration: Were long queues forming because of too few counters opened or were all counters opened to cope with the sudden arrival of several flights? 

On airport management: When you cannot find your bag, is it possible that someone could have collected it earlier and has already left the airport? 

On airport taxis: Were you forced or told to buy premier taxis when you requested for budget? 

On aerobridges: Upon disembarkation from the airplane, were you exposed to the weather such as under the hot sun or heavy rain, before entering the airport building? 

Participants in training workshops learn the importance of courtesy at both the organisational and personal level. 

Courtesy is not only nice to have; it is also the most effective tool to raise productivity and quality of life for our country by several notches. 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur 

Courtesy matters

TS,Tuesday, August 23 2011 

Expatriates who have worked in several Asian countries are in a better position to make comparison than the locals or tourists. 

We should thank them for their concern when they write to the press about the ugly side of Malaysians. 

I have often reminded tourists that half the people they see in Kuala Lumpur may be foreigners, which is similar to many large cities around the world. 

Most foreign tourists and expatriates are unable to distinguish between a foreign worker and a local. 

As such, it is more apt to say that many people in Malaysia, Malaysians and foreign workers, lack courtesy. 

In this area, foreign workers are no better or worse than we are. 

However, they should be appreciated for doing most of the dirty, dangerous and degrading work. 

Foreign maids too ought to be treated better in many households. 

In order to be more courteous in public, Malaysians should start within the family. 

We are quick to tout our Asian values and defend our religions, yet our behaviour leaves much to be desired. 

If we cannot be courteous to the people we love, courtesy extended to others tend to be superficial. 

This is demonstrated by the fact that many people kowtow to VIPs and look down at people they consider are below them. 

We should be courteous to everyone whether he or she deserves it or not. 

The root cause of petty quarrels among family members, relatives, acquaintances, neighbours and colleagues, is usually lack of courtesy. 

Conversely, being more courteous can bring harmony and a better quality of life. 

Malaysians are by nature friendly but can be rude without realising it. 

Therefore, it is necessary to raise their level of awareness and realise the importance of courtesy. 

A national travel association is already conducting training workshops on courtesy. 

Other trade associations should obtain grants from their respective ministries to conduct training workshops, as courtesy can raise productivity and competitiveness. 

The Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry may need to step up with the “Courtesy and Noble Values” campaign to reach the rest of the population. 

Corporations would find it more meaningful to promote courtesy as an integral part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. 

Courtesy should be our way of life. 

It is enshrined in our national philosophy – the Rukunegara. We should all work towards a courteous Malaysian culture. 

It may require some effort but with practice, it becomes a habit. 

We should look forward to showing courtesy as it brings much joy to everyone. 

Anyone can be successful in life by being happy and make others happy, with courtesy leading the way. 

Courtesy can be as simple as giving a smile. 

It can be to our loved ones or total strangers. We should all be generous with our smiles. 

Courtesy can be as complex as paying a reasonable amount for goods and services, bearing in mind that we too, do not wish to be underpaid. 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur

Soul of the city

TS,Tuesday 26 July 2011 

The River of Life project is bound to revitalise and transform the Klang and Gombak rivers along the 10.7km stretch within the city centre. Significantly, Kuala Lumpur is the Malay name for the confluence of two muddy rivers. 

A much earlier proposal to rehabilitate the rivers and exploit their economic value was mooted under the KL Linear City project, which did not take off. 

Would it be a tall order now to transform these rivers into iconic waterfronts on par with waterways in cities like Amsterdam, London, Melbourne and Paris by 2020? 

Perhaps a reality check is in order. What we have are two small rivers, no wider than a canal. On dry days, it would be difficult to row a small boat over some shallow parts. Moreover, the river is treated as an open sewer by those lacking in civic consciousness. 

Mercifully, the rains fall at regular intervals, washing away dust and debris and swelling the rivers after a heavy downpour. Until the SMART tunnel project was completed, flooding was common whenever the rivers overflow their banks. 

The colour of the Klang River has remained dark yellowish much like our famous teh tarik from the time tin was discovered in Ampang in 1857 that led to the founding of Kuala Lumpur. 

The International Masterplanning Competition that attracted 22 bids with five shortlisted for voting by the public would ensure the success of the river’s beautification and development. 

However, the river cleaning component may prove to be as challenging as maintaining first world infrastructure with our third world mentality. It will have to start with the rivers upstream by educating the locals and controlling industries. 

It would also be meaningless to showcase pristine waters within the city but allow the river to remain in its present deplorable condition downstream. As such, the state government and local authorities should act in tandem to upgrade the entire length of the Klang River. 

The first tin explorers made their way to Kuala Lumpur by boat and the Klang River was the conduit for people and cargo until rail and roads were built. We owe it to our future generations that they too can do the same, using canoes or motor boats. 

The river can come to life teeming with fish and activity such as river cruises, motorised barges and houseboats for tourists. The riverbanks should be paved for walking, jogging and cycling. Marathoners can run here instead of city roads and disrupting traffic. With some imagination instead of money, any local authority can create a huge media buzz by making good use of rivers that run through their jurisdiction. 

On stretches with little economic value, the riverbanks can be planted with Banyan trees, growing them to be the widest in the world. These unique trees have roots sprouting from their branches and upon reaching the ground would grow into solid trunks. 

As such, the branches can be led to grow sideways continuously running parallel to the river – Bonsai in reverse. Planting the first tree and announcing to the world that it will eventually be spread over a kilometer would generate great interest. 

Over the past few decades, I have enjoyed watching the majestic rain trees at the Taiping Lake Gardens with their huge branches arching across the road and almost touching the lake. This glorious image is etched permanently in my mind, deep in my soul. 

It is also time to plant our love and history on selected riverbanks by planting “family trees”. For an appropriate fee, a person can pay and plant a tree capable of growing for a few hundred years. Next to it, the names of his family members can be displayed on a family-tree chart carved into a cement slab so as not to attract metal thieves. 

Urban migration may be a worldwide phenomenon but it has also made many Malaysians not take ownership of the community they live in. Those with expanding income move to newer and bigger houses much like they change cars. There is little sentiment and engagement with the community they live or grew up in. 

What any city needs is a sizeable population proud of their history and traditions, much like many parts of Europe where people have lived in ancestral homes for hundreds of years. There is a strong connection to local history, culture, traditions, roots and family name. This core group of locals gives the place its character and soul. 

A fine example in Malaysia is the Adat Perpatih brought over from Minangkabau, Sumatra and found in Negri Sembilan. Such rich cultures, among other virtues, promote courtesy – much lacking in uprooted societies. 

The River of Life project may feature world-class amenities and facilities and even throw in entertainment and excitement like an open theme park. However, these are all too common and found all over the globe. 

Citrawarna or the Colours of Malaysia festival may feature thousands of dancers dressed in colourful traditional costumes but it is just a touristic show held once a year and has no impact at other times. 

We can do with more projects such as “Chow Kit Kita” where people and places in the community are discovered and connected by passionate volunteers including teenagers. 

If history is sidelined and contributions that made Kuala Lumpur what it is today whitewashed, the city is effectively sanitised. How many Malaysians are aware that it was the late Tan Sri Stanley Jewkes who recently died at age 97 who designed Stadium Merdeka, Stadium Negara and the Merdeka Park? How many are aware that we have a jungle right in the centre of the city and why it was called Pineapple Hill?

Well, my vote goes to the master planner that incorporates soul. People and nature enrich lives more than anything else can. 

YS Chan

Petaling Jaya

Courtesy begins at home

TS,Tuesday 24 May 2011 

Courtesy is very much lacking in large sections of our society. How did we arrive at such a woeful situation? Could it be the case of bad example? Have loud-mouthed champions done more harm than good to the very people they claim to represent? Are children of rude parents equally so? 

How do we account for our religious and often touted Asian values when much of our behaviour leaves much to be desired? How can we be proud to be Malaysians amid such degradation of society and desecration of environment? Those who claim superiority of religion, race, language, education or culture but display contempt for others lose credibility as it is our level of courtesy that truly reflects who we are, not our heroics. 

Perhaps we are aware of the importance of courtesy but are nonchalant about it. It is no surprise that the campaign to promote courtesy is hardly noticed, let alone effective. Compiling a long list of dos and don’ts would be a good start but knowledge alone would not necessarily translate into action. For centuries, people have access to religious books but there has been no change in human nature whereas science and technology have improved by leaps and bounds. Indoctrination may change people only at the superficial level. 

For real change to occur, people must first undergo proper training. I propose that full-day workshops on courtesy be conducted nationwide. The objective of such training is to condition participants to think and walk the talk on courtesy and to ensure they continue to practise until it becomes a habit. The aim is for such core groups of courteous Malaysians to produce a rippling effect across our society and embrace courtesy as our way of life. 

Trade associations should seek the support of their ministries or government agencies to organise such workshops, as courtesy would lead to higher productivity and profitability. We can be courteous by greeting people we meet, offering strangers a smile and show our smiling eyes to our loved ones as courtesy begins at home. It should come from within us. 

In order to love and respect others, we must first learn to do so to ourselves. In this way, we would always be courteous whether others are deserving or not, as the onus is on the giver, not the recipient. 

A great courtesy is to continue listening especially when we do not agree to what is being said. It is genuinely courteous to provide honest feedback, using both emotional and analytical intelligence to communicate effectively. 

It is also courteous to complete a job on time and getting work done as paid to do so. Our values are manifested by our outward display of courtesy. The reverse also applies as practising courtesy strengthens our character. 

Activists go out of their way to fight for what they believe to be noble causes. What we sorely need are courtesy activists who are genuine patriots and their exemplary behaviour would be welcomed by all quarters. 

Perhaps the greatest transformation we can achieve is to become a nation of courteous citizens. For this, we can try emulating the Japanese people as they have shown that their courtesy is beyond superficial display. 

All of us should identify the various roles we can contribute in promoting courtesy and play our part to improve the quality of life. We owe it to future generation and ourselves. 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur 

We salute the Japanese

TS,Tuesday, 15 March 2011 

Last Friday’s massive earthquake and tsunami brought horrific destruction to Japan especially along the northeast coast of Honshu. 

Amid the devastation and misery, the civility of the Japanese remained steadfast. One of the most admirable scenes showed the Japanese people patiently queuing at dispensing machines to pay for items needed for their survival, such as drinking water. 

If such a tragedy were to strike other countries, the people there would have ripped open and looted not only dispensing machines but also stores and supermarkets during such turmoil. 

Even the distribution of blankets and foodstuff were calmly carried out in Japan compared to other parts of the world, where distributors often had to remain safely on a lorry and toss out the items. 

The Japanese have truly conditioned themselves to be courteous and continued to be civil even under extreme circumstances. They deserved to be saluted and emulated by the rest of the world. 

We hope and pray that they would not suffer from another catastrophe through radiation, as they had towards the end of World War II. Once is more than enough. 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur

Look forward and move on

TS,January 5, 2011

Though Malaysians are proud of their history, and rightfully so, we are but a small speck in the history of humankind.

We are a developing country and most of the population is far from matured in thought. Most of our citizens tend to react more emotionally than rationally.

Politicians know this and many exploit it for selfish motives. It is easy to become popular by stoking emotions.

If those who fight and defend their race, religion, culture and language by making statements on rights, superiority, glory or dominance are allowed to succeed, they will actually be harming the people they are championing.

It is akin to parents spoiling their children by giving freely with little restrain. Whether they are from rich or poor families, spoiled kids are most likely to become adults with little drive and potential to succeed.

It is true that sometimes one has to be cruel to be kind. Likewise, those who seem to be kind are actually cruel. Those choosing to live or relive past glories are not forging ahead while others who see the light race past them.

We should not dwell too much on past success or failures but should learn from both. If we do not take a balanced view and continue to be inward looking, we would be no better than the frog under the coconut shell.

YS Chan

Kuala Lumpur

Insurance: Beware - motorists are not fully covered

TS,Wednesday November 24, 2010
It is the norm for motor firms to list the basic insurance premium in car prices. However, some motorists later discover that compensation is not paid for damage caused by floods or riots.

A vehicle submerged in a flooded road is as good as a total loss. It would be wise for motorists in high-risk areas to buy flood cover. This additional premium is pegged at half a percent of the insured value or RM500 for RM100,000 cover.

Vandals may damage vehicles during the year-end merry making. To cover for such riot and civil commotion would require an additional RM300 premium for RM100,000 cover.

Owners should exercise caution before letting friends or car jockeys drive away their vehicles as they may go missing. The insurer may not entertain claims for such losses as the vehicles were voluntarily handed over.

Anyone leaving the car’s engine running to dash into a store only to find someone had driven it away will have a problem claiming for the loss as such negligence are not covered. Likewise, there is no insurance cover when the driver is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Injured passengers may sue drivers involved in accidents because of their negligence. As such, it is prudent for businesspersons and companies to insure their cars for ‘Legal liability to Passengers’. The premium for such cover is at 25% of the third party premium, which is only RM22.50 a year for a two litre car.

Passengers too can be sued for negligence such as a motorcyclist crashing into a open car door. The premium for “Legal liability of passengers’ is RM7.50 a year.

Vehicle owners and drivers must be aware that their existing motor insurance does not cover all eventualities. Even when additional covers are taken, they still have to exercise personal responsibility. Apart from owners losing their vehicles, drivers are personally liable when sued for causing injuries or death.

YS Chan

Kuala Lumpur

We need greater transparency

Wednesday October 6, 2010 

I refer to the government’s Greater Kuala Lumpur plan. Giving a name to something will help with identification and bring the subject matter into focus. 

However, the optimum growth of a region or area is a monumental task. It requires massive human capital. 

The governments of some countries are smart enough to embrace foreign talent. If our brightest our given every opportunity to take part fully in nation building, the additional wealth generated may be able to provide safety nets for many Malaysians that need help. 

As such, the setting up of Malaysia’s Talent Corporation to reverse the brain drain is timely. However, it may prove harder to retain the Malaysian diaspora as they are used to universal best practices. 

For a start, are we up to the challenge for greater transparency that would deny opportunities to those feeding on the nation’s fat? 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur

Importance of courtesy

TS,Wednesday September 29, 2010 

Lacking in courtesy has encompassed all facets of our lives that we now seem to be nonchalant over this scourge. 

It is necessary to be courteous in order to be creditable. Lack of courtesy and respect are the main causes of petty quarrels within families. Likewise, in the workplace more energy is wasted on infighting than developing the organization. Many front-liners seem to be doing customers a favour. 

Of course, lack of courtesy is most apparent on our roads. We seldom make way for others and give way only to avoid a collision. Queue jumpers always make bottlenecks worst and motorists with no respect of yellow boxes and right of way create gridlocks. 

Concerted efforts by all parties are required to nurture and infuse courtesy in our society as it can promote harmony and efficiency, turn negative situations into positive and produce desired outcomes. 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur 

Get students to think through problems

TS,Tuesday September 14, 2010 

I wish to share an effective learning method which can help raise our nations’ human capital and be more competitive globally. 

It has been successfully used in training new staff with little or no related job experience, undergraduates and working adults. 

Full day training begins with a brainstorming session. Participants are given only note pads to write what they wish to ask and salient points. 

In this way, they pay more attention and make extra effort to understand, as they are required to make a short speech on a related topic and its application, towards the end of the day. 

Articulating what is in their mind is the best method to gauge their grasp of the subject. It will also be a great learning opportunity for all when mistakes are pointed out, explained and corrected on the spot. 

The quality of questions is a good indicator of a person’s potential as it is necessary to continue learning. They are also the seeds of creation and innovation. 

As such, the training should just be the beginning of a continuous learning process by searching for better answers and solutions through print and electronic sources, observation, discussions and debates with peers and seeking guidance from the wise. 

However, when notes are handed out, students tend to relax as they can refer to them later. Being spoon-fed, there is no need to think and look for answers. 

This is one of the main reasons students in our tertiary institutions and working adults who attend short courses have learned or picked up skills far less than what they could. 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur 

Executive Cleanliness Officers

TS,Friday 16 July, 2010

The report “Honours for council labourers” in theSun on July 15 warmed the cockles of my heart.

I dream of the day when graduates are employed as road sweepers and vested with enforcement
power to issue a summons to anyone caught littering or dumping in the vicinity.

Such executive staff who are made accountable and responsible for cleanliness will ensure that the
public areas within their jurisdiction are cleaned up and remain clean.

They can also report on faulty drainage, street and traffic lights; toppled trees and heavy branches;
missing man-hole covers, broken windows, potholes, road-kills and many more.

This will increase the efficiency of our local authorities while reducing costs and the number of
redundant staff. It will justify these staff being paid more with the added responsibilities.

YS Chan

Kuala Lumpur