Blog September

30/9/06: We are still living in the dark ages
Despite all those hi-tecb gadgetry, wireless communication, sleek auto vehicles, satellite navigation etc., we still need a "human sacrifice" to move our leaders, decision makers and authorities into taking positive actions. Same old story - we have to wait until someone has died before anyone in power, i.e. those who can make the decisions, will make a decision on a critical matter that has been highlighted again and again. The latest being the unfortunate incident where a car plunged down a cliff killing its driver. The road shoulder had no protective barrier. But how many more fatal crashes, fatal snatch thefts, mudslides, landslides and work-site accidents do we need before all of us start to take safety as a very serious issue, or at least, as an SOP - standard operating procedure. Soon we will start another round of festive holidays. As we all know too well, it will be accompanied by another round of senseless road deaths. As planners, we share the responsibility to make the world a safer place, though we can only try.

But as it is now, and despite our materialistic leaning we, Malaysians, value our lives too cheaply.

22/9/06: Notes for planners of future prestigious projects
Isn't ironic that, for an Islamic country, mega projects like KLCC, Sentral, KLIA and Mid Valley all have small suraus, sometimes tucked away in an obscure corner. When the time comes for the maghrib (dusk) prayer, the Muslims have to queue to pray. KLCC may have a purpose built surau but it is still located in a corner next to the district cooling station when it could have been a grand mosque in the middle of the park, as prominent as the Twin Towers of KLCC. Planners should consider providing a proper mosque or surau in future projects where a large congregation of people is expected, especially where these places are easily accessible by public transport. As it is now a lot of suraus in public places are provided more as an afterthought. Suria KLCC has no surau during its early days after it was opened. Muslim workers in the shopping complex had to dash to the KLCC surau behind the district cooling station during their short break for their prayers or go through the strict security checks to use the Petronas surau in Tower One.

Oh! Perhaps the religious departments should also consider providing larger, more comfortable dwellings for the imams and other mosque officials within the mosques compounds, too. Don't you think a two-bedroom single storey unit a bit too cramped, for an important person like an imam, to house his family of seven? I think they should be allocated an equivalent of a luxury apartment considering their role among the Muslim society.

2219/06 Unused motorcycle lanes
There are motorcycle lanes in Putrajaya but I did not see anyone using it, well at least, not on a motorcycle. However, I have seen a grass-cutting contractor/supervisor parked his car on the motorcycle lane.

15/9/06 LCCT Car park and a mosque
Sent my brother-in-law and his family to LCCT today. The funny thing here is that they put road humps and zebra crossings between the terminal doors and the taxi rank but none for crossings further up that lead to the car park. The car park is designed purely for cars. They forgot to add footpaths for people who come out of the cars to get to the airport terminal. On my way home I made a stop-over at the new mosque near the MIP office. I saw a sign that says, "This mosque is installed with a CCTV security system .You are being monitored." Now, why would we need CCTV in a mosque?

13/9/06 Technology made us stupid?
One thing that never cease to amaze me is how we tend to forget how to do things the old way after getting used to using new technology-way of doing it. My pet peeve used to be bank tellers who no longer knows how to credit your cheque when the 'system's down'. Then it was owners of luxury cars who open their doors doors to pay toll or parking fees, because they are afraid to use the electrically-operated window in case it break down again and won't close the window. Next are people who could not go to the corner shop down the road because there is no car available... And the maid's on leave. Now this one take the cake - the driver complaint that he cannot unlock the car because the remote control on the car key don't work. I wonder what the car key is for?

9/9/06 Why do we drive like stupid?
Why is it so hard for Malaysian drivers to give way to cars in front that want to change into their lane? The only reason why we have the worst traffic accident record in the world (we deserve to claim this title) is that we all drive like idiots. Period.

8/9/06 Pollution at toll plazas
We need to monitor the noise level and air quality at our toll plazas. I suspect the toll attendants are exposed to high level noise and vehicular emissions which exceeds the permissible levels set by Department of Environment and Department of Safety & Health.

5/9/06 What about Single (male) parents?
How no one has ever provided public toilet facilities for single parents, especially for single-male-parent with young daughters? Do you know how awkward it is to go to the men's toilet with little girls in tow? It is more awkward when you, the father, who has to go.

3/9/06Infomation overload signboard
Can you read all the signboards and process all the information on them as fast as you drive past them? Effective signage does not seem to be the norm in this country. WE have to stop by the roadside for a couple of minutes to read and digest all the information on the signboard.

2/9/06 Maths problem
If 20 trees fell during every storm events, and one storm lashes through KL each month, how many years will it take for KL to be totally devoid of tall trees? If a tree, on average, takes 10 year to grow beyond 10 feet in height, how many trees must DBKL plant every month to keep the same number of trees along city streets?