I have a burning question to ask the government. It refers to a video posted by a foreign tourist in Kuala Lumpur.
Why is it that we see the respective authorities only swinging into action when such videos are posted in the social media?
It is puzzling indeed! Or is this the current standard operating procedure for paid civil servants – to look into such matters only after they are highlighted on social media?
Last month it was the matter of wild pigeons in the wards of the Sultanah Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang.
Today, it is about the deplorable condition of public flats in Bukit Bintang – right in heart of Kuala Lumpur’s world-famous tourist bubble.
The Bukit Bintang flats could not have deteriorated to such a filthy state overnight. So, what were our paid building inspectors doing all these years? What were they doing before the flats became a topic of public attention and conversation?
Why do the relevant authorities responsible for oversight of the maintenance of these public buildings fail to act before the matter is picked up by the public – and posted online?
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN), Maybank a/c 507246118995 or CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a regular pledge or periodic auto-donation to Aliran
- Become an Aliran member
We have a huge civil service compared to many other countries. Despite the huge workforce, the government has also outsourced work to private enterprises. These firms have been contracted to further support the local authorities in keeping public spaces, homes and the environment clean and safe.
Yet, the system failed to act on the unhygienic conditions in these flats in Bukit Bintang – until the matter was highlighted on social media by a foreign tourist.
This is not the first or only such case. How long will it take for the civil service to fix its lackadaisical attitude in carrying out its basic duties of monitoring, maintaining and acting, before the public notices?
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
