“FIRST class facilities but third class mentality” – this pretty much sums up the attitude of the average Malaysian when it comes to respecting public property or lack there-of.

It is a painfully embarrassing notion that Malaysians have become synonymous with poor behaviour, but let’s call a spade a spade: We simply do not have a stellar reputation when it comes to civic consciousness and social media is filled with video evidence that reaffirms this stereotype.

When new broke out of a fatal accident involving a 14-year-old boy, who died instantly after being struck by a chair that had been flung out from the higher levels of a local PPR flats, most Malaysians weren’t entirely surprised.

The news was horribly shocking and extremely tragic but such incidences were sadly, not uncommon. Based on interviews conducted, many of the residents had raised concerns and had even shared their near-miss experiences, but nothing was done, no action taken and no one persecuted.

There is a definite need to address how we can efficiently instill a sense of civic mindedness and foster a sense of belonging that transcends beyond posters and empty slogans.

In such a case, most Malaysians were left questioning – who was responsible for such apathetic behaviour and which departments or agencies should be held accountable?

Evidently, the easiest (and closest) ‘entity’ would be respective local councils. Local councils often have the daunting task of juggling between physical cleaning up efforts and finding ways to raise awareness through massive campaigns. With that being said, enforcement powers are often restricted as councils are bound by old by-laws that are in need of amendments.

Of course, the roles and responsibilities of local councils go beyond rubbish collection and tree pruning but not many of us are fully aware of this. Local government isn’t sexy enough to grab everyone’s attention – sex scandals, racism, kleptocracy and religious bigotry are the main topics that tend to dominate our political landscape. Unfortunately, the platform for social engagement and discourse on the lower tier of governance is often left vacant, forgotten or even intentionally left out.

Local councils in particular Penang Island City Council and Seberang Perai Municipal Council have both embraced the concept of participatory politics through the Gender Responsive Participatory Budgeting (GRBP), an initiative in cooperation with the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC).

The main focus of participatory politics is to initiate a more interactive, peer-based approach where individuals and groups are empowered to influence issues of public concern. In simpler terms, it is the bottom-up approach where voices from the community are put forth; listening to the needs and wants of a community before local authorities decide on the next steps taken.

It is quite simple to understand human psyche – one of the best ways to empower a community and foster a sense of belonging is to make sure they understand that their input is greatly appreciated. But of course, change will not happen overnight and to be realistic, it will take more than a generation before our society adapts to attitudes that are reflective of the caring society we envision.

Because of the socio-political system, Malaysians have become quite detached from one another and to some level, the apathy we experience isn’t just political. We often think in selfish terms and disregard how our actions will affect our surrounding or even our neighbours.

While, people-centric programmes and awareness-raising campaigns will not absolutely put an end to such attitudes, it will be a good start in which society can begin to sow the seeds needed to empower our future generations. Public education is not something that is solely the responsibility of local councils or even the government but also the responsibility of individuals, families and of course, schools. It involves an entire network and will demand the dedication from every level of society irrespective of religious beliefs and political ideology.

If we are serious about promoting social justice and political reforms, reinstating democracy isn’t just about ballot boxes and changing governments. It is also about going back to basic, connecting with our neighbours and rediscovering factors that make societies inclusive and revered. Therefore, it is timely for us to promote and emphasise on the importance of prevention, maintenance and create a culture from such elements. After all, everyone deserves security, stability and a safe place, regardless of where they live, who they are and where they come from. – January 20, 2017.

* Syerleena is a councillor at the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). She is a Malaysian who believes that our life experiences shape us into fascinating beings.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.