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Free Malaysia Today
22-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Leave no one behind
Equity is a rarity in Malaysia. In our pursuit of growth, many get sidelined, and eventually forgotten. One good example — or a bad one, depending on how you look at it — is Taman Desaria, a run-down collection of walk-up apartment blocks just a stone's throw away from the glitz of Sunway City Kuala Lumpur. The FMT article Taman Desaria — a cesspool of squalor, neglect, fear published on Tuesday clearly illustrates how some of us can so easily be forgotten, never mind that we are right under the noses of the powers-that-be. But why this apathy? It stems from a lack of political will to face the inconvenient truth that confronts us day and night. ADVERTISEMENT VIDCRUNCH Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Quality Auto Back 360p 240p 144p Auto Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x / Skip Ads by As in the case of Taman Desaria, many get left at the wayside in our pursuit of development. As we add new structures — luxury apartments, sprawling shopping malls, first-class hotels — on a diminishing landscape, the underprivileged are pushed to the edge. Compounding the problem is fragmented jurisdiction. In the case of Taman Desaria, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and the Commissioner of Buildings (COB) are pushing the responsibility to one another, leading to a bureaucratic deadlock. Meanwhile, utility providers operate without coordinated oversight, leaving residents to suffer the consequences. Law enforcement failures, such as the inability of the narcotics department of the police to curb the activities of drug cartels, erode community safety and trust. As stated in the story, the fear of retaliation silences victims and witnesses, enabling criminal elements to thrive. As a resident said, students aged 13 to 16 are the primary targets, wooed by cash. Poverty leads to gains for the cartels. This vicious cycle of neglect and intimidation deepens residents' despair. Experts on urban regeneration stress that revitalising neglected neighbourhoods like Taman Desaria is essential for equitable city development. Yet, without inclusive planning that involves the voice of the residents and coordinated action among all stakeholders, meaningful change continues to be elusive. The residents of Taman Desaria do not seek luxury. All they want is basic human dignity: clean homes, safe streets, reliable sanitation, and protection from disease and crime. Their voices echo in the corridors of power but remain unheard. What needs to be done I imagine the residents of Taman Desaria are not all that demanding. In all likelihood, they just want those responsible to make things right for them. This should not be too difficult a task. From the politicians who represent them, the residents would expect their Yang Berhormats to advocate for their right to basic necessities. To MBPJ and COB, perhaps the most pressing issue is the delay in the release of building plans to enable remedial work to begin. While they continue to wait, the residents would most likely want to know what measures will be taken to ensure their wellbeing. To the minister of housing and local government, it will help if he can intervene to undo the red tape that has left the residents in a bind. This can be achieved by making each and every department or authority accountable for their action, or inaction. The waste management company and the utility provider have a responsibility to get their act together. This means ensuring that garbage collection is carried out regularly, and the sewage treatment system is fixed. Trees must pruned, weeds pulled out by the roots, clogged drains are cleared and the playground restored to its former glory so parents know their children are safe on the swings, slides and seesaws. The most important, and perhaps the most difficult task goes to the law enforcers. The drug cartels must be dismantled to restore safety to this vulnerable community, and the narcotics deparment in Bukit Aman may perhaps be the best authority to take charge of this. Without a doubt, the poverty level in Taman Desaria is high. The residents, all likely in the B40 group (the 40% of Malaysians who earn the lowest income), will probably not have the money to pay the management fees. Nonethelesss, they are also citizens of this country and they deserve the same respect, kindness and empathy from their state asssemblyman and MP, the city authorities, and the utility operators. For instance, what does it take for the MBPJ to ensure regular fogging and to organise a gotong-royong at intervals to clean up the place? This will go a long way towards addressing the recurrence of dengue fever, which now sees more than 10 new cases every month. Time to act Taman Desaria's plight is Malaysia's very own tale of two cities, with a twist. In Charles Dickens' original, London was a refuge for those who were fleeing Paris during the French revolution. In this case, it is the contrast between the two sides — the rich and privileged in Sunway City and the poor and disadvantaged in Taman Desaria. As Malaysia marks succeeding milestones and looks forward to a great future, let us not forget those who are still in the shadows of our collective prosperity. It is not right to leave our fellow citizens, like those in Taman Desaria, to not just live with no help but worse than that, the scourge of the drug problem. Will those who are responsible rise to the challenge? Or will another generation be condemned to live and die in silence, just steps away from the glittering promise of a better life? The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Glasgow Times
04-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Major climate change event set to return to Glasgow
The Congress of Business (COB), a key event from COP26, will be held for the third consecutive year on May 13, 2025. The event, part of Glasgow Climate Week, will take place at SWG3 and be broadcast online. Read more: Glasgow holidaymakers heading to popular EU country warned Building on the Glasgow Climate Pacts established at COP26, COB aims to drive meaningful change by turning sustainable strategies into tangible action. It brings together some of the UK's most influential businesses, leading academics, and policymakers. The event will take place at SWG3 (Image: Supplied) The event serves to create a bridge between international UN climate gatherings. Speakers at the event will include Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE, president of the British Chambers of Commerce, Jennifer Jordan-Saifi MVO, CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, and Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, principal and vice chancellor of the University of Glasgow. Other speakers include Gerard Gallagher, global sustainability leader at Ernst & Young, and Will Attenborough, climate finance strategist and co-founder of Green Rider. The Congress of Business is supported by the University of Glasgow, Barclays, and It is hosted by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Chambers network. On top of the main conference, two additional events have been added to the programme. COB Futures, hosted by DYW Glasgow in partnership with DYW West and DYW LED, hopes to inspire young people to choose careers which will support a sustainable future. Meanwhile, COB Inspires is focused on students and recent graduates looking to enter the sustainability sector. It will feature talks, panel discussions, and interactive networking, exploring career opportunities and sustainability challenges. Alison McRae, senior director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: "Congress of Business is an action-driven global event that reinforces Glasgow's legacy as a COP host city. "This year, we anticipate welcoming over 500 delegates from around the world to hear from business leaders, academics, and government officials about how we can collectively achieve the growth and innovation opportunities that a sustainable future offers." Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli said: "Congress of Business captures the collaborative spirit essential for meaningful change, uniting academia, industry, and government to co-create solutions for a sustainable future. "The University of Glasgow is proud to support the event, reflecting our commitment to driving innovation, building partnerships, and advancing economic growth." Read more: Special trees planted in first of its kind Bishopbriggs park Chris Norbury, chief executive officer at UK, said: 'Reaching net-zero requires more than ambition – it demands collaboration, innovation, and a relentless focus on making energy more affordable and sustainable. Glasgow's net-zero determination is so aligned to that our partnership for COB25 made perfect sense. "This is a city that shares our commitment to innovative solutions and making new energy work for everyone. Together, I am confident we can accelerate progress, inspire change, and build a cleaner, more resilient future for all.' The Congress of Business is free to attend, with tickets available via the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce website.
