How Kuala Lumpur can become a better city for everyone

Keeping a watchful eye on KL is akin to keeping a watching brief on the city. 

Kuala Lumpur City Hall needs to engage regularly with all stakeholders. Managing a growing city like KL is a colossal task, requiring everyone’s cooperation.

The nation’s federal capital is growing rapidly with inward migration from all parts of the country. Locals and foreigners are drawn to the Klang Valley as it is a magnet for better job prospects and career opportunities.

Sadly, local government elections in Malaysia were suspended in 1965. Elected councils are one of the best forms of managing cities and gauging the pulse of the people. 

In its present form, the city is run entirely by civil servants, with appointed councillors who do not necessarily have rapport with ratepayers and ordinary city dwellers. 

Supervision of contractors needed

Much of the current city management, in terms of maintenance services, is through contract management, with some supervision from the city hall’s permanent administrative staff. 

The contractors perform their jobs as per their contracts, but often much is left wanting.

Many areas in the city need improvement. One can see litter strewn all over the place, no bins, and shrubs and leaves crudely pruned.

More bins should be provided at all locations so the public can take responsibility for keeping their vicinity clean. But this is sadly lacking.

Take a look at the miniature gardens and parks. Although the grass is regularly machine-cut, we still find litter and weeds sticking out everywhere. 

Thorough supervision should ensure that staff, contractors and the public all assume their roles effectively.

Parking – a major problem

Even in long-established areas parking is a nightmare. The city council seldom pays attention to providing adequate parking spaces. 

All places in KL should restrict parking to a maximum of two hours in at least 10 parking bays within a certain vicinity. Like in Bangsar Baru, these bays should be painted red with a notice board informing motorists about the restriction.

Now that light rail transit, monorail and mass rapid transit stations are found all over the city, the priority should be to build car parks adjacent to these stations. This would allow the public to park their cars at reasonable rates and use public transport. City Hall should have a masterplan for the car parks to be built. Traffic jams are a nightmare, and no solutions are in sight to overcome existing traffic woes.

Sports and recreational amenities

In the past, KL had quite a number of public parks and playing fields.

But, over the years, many of these prime sites have been grabbed for commercial development.

Young people are left without suitable playing fields so much so that they have taken to the streets for night biking.

All available playing fields should be immediately opened to allow the public to use them for sports and recreation.

The city council should be highly commended for the excellent upkeep and maintenance of recreational parks, such as the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens and the Perdana Botanic Gardens. These are world class. The public love the recreational facilities provided there and at several other parks in various parts of the city. 

City Hall should also provide facilities for community gardens where residents can get together to do gotong-royong (community service) and carry out farming and gardening. Such activities enhance bonds with neighbours. Free vegetables would be a bonus attraction.

Older adults have also suggested that places should be provided for people to gather for reading and socialising. 

Some courts and community halls are available, and these are well-equipped with gym equipment and sporting facilities. 

There could also be libraries and reading rooms. The private sector could be approached to help sponsor or organise these facilities as part of their social responsibility contributions.

A popular swimming pool at the Bangsar Sports Complex was poorly managed, which led to its closure. It is now being redeveloped, and proper managers should be tasked with giving new life to swimming and water-related sports activities. 

Public amenities need to be publicly managed by competent, experienced personnel. 

City Hall should have resident officials who oversee designated areas to ensure efficient administration.

Competent officials with a passion for public, community-based services must be appointed to manage these facilities. Officials should be imbued with a caring attitude towards the flora and fauna of the area. 

Sadly, there are few officials like Alam Flora’s Mohd Famil Kamil who oversees Lembah Pantai with passion, dedication and efficiency.

One pressing problem that the city council hall has not yet overcome is the provision of adequate public washroom facilities. Fortunately, shopping complexes have been a great help. Many other areas need such public conveniences.

Nevertheless, all LRT and MRT stations have adequate washroom facilities, and they are well maintained and cleaned daily. 

Regular public dialogues needed

These are some general observations aimed at building closer rapport with city authorities. If these are welcomed, then regular, forthright, fair and positive feedback will be provided to help the city hall management, staff and the public play proactive roles in keeping Kuala Lumpur clean, safe and thriving. 

From my personal experience, Kuala Lumpur City Hall has always been responsive to public feedback and even the smallest complaints. Most of my complaints on a variety of issues have been solved with speed and efficiency. Credit must be given where its due.

During emergencies and floods, their responses have been excellent. Broken facilities are quickly fixed. Even a broken manhole cover, if reported through proper channels, gets attended to quickly.

City Hall should have regular dialogues with residents’ groups and encourage residents’ associations to play a proactive role. It should maintain good ties with them and encourage them to actively involve their residents in social and community activities.

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