SULTAN Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s recent meeting with Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming over his disappointment with the poor condition of buildings, maintenance and cleanliness of low-cost flats in the state has received applause from netizens.
James Ng Ming Hwee, for example, expressed his confidence that the state of Johor can become a state that is emulated by other states in Malaysia when it learns from a neighbouring nation how to manage its public amenities and cleanliness.
Although just less than two kilometers across the causeway bridge, Singapore has better waste disposal systems in its Housing & Development Board (HDB) flats.
Another netizen, Ezzan Surip has given the thumbs-up to the Johor Sultan for taking notice of the people’s living conditions.
Meanwhile, Thannapalan Pala opined that the minister should take heed of Sultan Ibrahim’s advice and solutions seriously. In other words, the Teluk Intan MP must act immediately on the issues faced by the people.
Sources said that with Sultan Ibrahim soon to be installed as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA), Nga would do well to take heed of the Johor Sultan’s concerns instead of only to “take actions” in a few cases that the ruler had highlighted in Johor.
Law reforms affecting the third tier of government to ensure stricter supervision of the local government will also involve Law and Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Complaints regarding poor facilities are also a sore point affecting people’s confidence in the country’s leadership at all three tiers of government.
According to Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, a public perception survey conducted by the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in 2020 showed that 80% of local governments in the country may be involved in some form of corruption.
It is time for local councils and city halls – which form the third tier of government – to buck up and improve the country’s public amenities for the sake of taxpayers.
In a related development, Sultan Ibrahim had also expressed his disappointment with the cleaning services provided by SWM Environment Sdn Bhd (SWM) which costs the state RM180 mil every year.
Comparing the living conditions to that of the chicken coup, the Johor Sultan said “most low-cost flats in Johor are dirty and in poor condition with indiscriminate disposal of rubbish, making them convenient breeding grounds for rodents, pests and insects”.
“I have personally seen that many low-cost flats in Johor are in very bad condition. It is almost as if my people are living in chicken coops,” he told Nga.
“I hope the federal government will provide assistance to repair the old low-cost flats. At the same time, residents of these flats must also take responsibility for maintaining the cleanliness of their areas.”
Sultan Ibrahim further stressed the need for allocations to be made to improve the living conditions of low-cost housing in Johor.
Nga’s ministry has changed its name to Local Government Development to reflect the unity government’s desire to see reforms in the local government. – May 17, 2023
