YOURSAY | KL potholes: Shahidan takes on more than he can chew

YOURSAY | 'Giving out phone numbers shows how broken the system is.'

Minister gives out his phone number for people to alert him of KL potholes

Shahidan overwhelmed after giving out phone number in Parliament

Newday: For Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim to give out telephone numbers so people can alert him of potholes in Kuala Lumpur only shows how broken our system is.

This especially applies to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), which has a hotline, email and even walk-up counters. There is even a pothole reporting app. All these are failures.

Sometimes, months go by for a response, and sometimes, there is no response at all. Sometimes, the response is that the problem is already fixed when it’s actually not.

It makes a person wonder about possible fake invoicing for repair works when none were being carried out. It also shows the complete lack of follow-up inspections and actions by DBKL staff.

The system is broken and is rotten. The system that exists blatantly favours the upper-class suburbs where footpaths, roads and parks are immaculately maintained while the rest are falling apart.

The Kuala Lumpur mayor has worked with DBKL for a very long time. He can see what is in front of him.

Hold local government elections and make these administrations accountable to the community. Then and only then, will hotlines work.

Leong YF: Does the mayor go around KL blindfolded? Why does he need KL-ites to tell him about the road conditions in Kuala Lumpur?

I worked at a place smack in Jalan Raja Chulan from 1979 till retirement and this road, sidewalks and side roads have always been third-world standard.

Is this not the KL prime business district worthy of first-class roads and facilities? Can the mayor please drive along this road and walk the pavements with eyes open?

Recently, I drove past the KL traffic police station (on Jalan Bandar) and was horrified by the dilapidated condition of this road. Need I say more?

Did the truckloads of enforcement officers who go around not experience the bad roads in KL and give feedback to DBKL? Are they sensory deprived when going around the city?

It will be more welcoming if the minister announces a subsidy to car owners who are working or living in KL for replacements of shock absorbers and damaged tires. And please deduct this expense from the mayor’s salary.

Amadeus: What about broken walkways? Sometimes pedestrians have to walk on the road because cars are parked on walkways, and sometimes there are food stalls. Then we have rubbish thrown all over the streets. Whose fault is this?

I know we’re supposed to give credit where it is due, but Shahidan giving out phone numbers isn’t one of them.

What are your division heads doing, Shahidan? Isn't their job to go and look around the city and see what needs to be improved and fixed?

Instead, you are asking the rakyat to do the job. Might as well reduce the salary of your staff and yours.

Even you should do it - drive around the city and see for yourself without your entourage to show you are sincere about helping the KL folk. See for yourself the dirt, the conditions of roads, pavements or walkways and the traffic lights.

Follow Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s example. He went to Kajang Hospital without an entourage and talked to the frontliners. He truly deserves credit for that. He didn't even need to give his mobile number to get things done.

You have 100 days to prove yourself in office, Shahidan, so earn your overpaid salary!

Max Fury: I agree. Just make sure the potholes are permanently fixed and that the enforcement officers are not doing a half-past-six job.

Most of the time, the patch-up work won’t even last a month before the potholes appear again.

Demi Rakyat: Well, he didn't say that potholes will be filled within 24 hours. He just said that action will be taken within 24 hours. That's two different things.

BlueCheetah3182: It’s not only potholes but also the issue of illegal control of parking, its narrow and obstructed pavements, hawkers and construction work occupying the pavements.

Get the liveability equation right and the rest will follow.

OCT: Shahidan underestimates the size and seriousness of the pothole problem. He wants to portray himself as a doer but it backfired. Many KL roads are full of potholes. It is an enormous task to repair them.

Anyway, let's sit back and watch whether he can make good of his intentions. It looks like he has taken on more than he can chew.

Guglu: Filling up potholes and unblocking drains are the responsibilities of the technicians in the local authorities. Ministers are responsible for formulating policies and procedures.

If Shahidan spends most of his time managing potholes, then we should pay him a technician salary, not a minister salary.

But I have a soft spot for Shahidan. He is a man of good intentions and caring to a fault. DBKL technicians should come forward and help him. Don’t just sit on your seat warming your bum.

Me Ratnam: Yes, DBKL should have a few staff members appointed to routinely go round and check all the roads daily.

What’s the point in waiting for ministers and others to receive calls or messages before attending to the issues?

This check is routinely done in many countries around the world. It is only in Malaysia that the authorities have to wait for complaints and even then, they will take their own sweet time to attend to these problems.

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