THE local government was created by the British to enable effective decisions to be made to solve issues within a certain administrative district.

However, as local government turns out to be one of the worst managed administrative tiers in Malaysia, things have gone from bad to worse for nearly every district in the country.

With more than 35 years of experience dealing with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Selayang Municipal Council (MPS), DBKL and MPS are among the worst.

I had a lot of dealings with DBKL and MPS when I was stringing for Malay Mail and Star Metro. In fact, my part-time career with the papers started because of one complaint to DBKL that took at least two months of follow up with its officers.

My neighbour had complained to me that DBKL workers had left behind a tree trunk to rot just beside her shop.

I helped her to complain to DBKL, but was shocked to learn that half way through the conversation, the officer had asked me to wait; he then placed the receiver on the table and left for home while I was still holding onto the receiver.

I remember holding on to the phone for at least 10 minutes before I decided to call a second number.

Someone who picked up the call told me: “Pak Haji sudah balik rumah! (Pak Haji has gone home!)”

That, of course, infuriated me. After all, who would not! Armed with a new Canon camera, I captured heaps of illegal dump in my housing estate and went to see Lee Boon Siew of Malay Mail.

That was in 1994, and some 28 years later, there is still not much improvement in the local government.

MPS and Selangor getting worse

I have stopped dealing with DBKL since I no longer live within its jurisdiction. Now, most of my problems are with MPS.

For the past 25 years, I have been highlighting people’s complaints with illegal dumps, potholes, damaged drains, dark streets with no lamp posts, flash floods, the list goes on.

When Pakatan Rakyat took over Selangor in 2008, the first batch of councillors appointed were hardworking.

Gradually, with the second, third and the current batch, I find that there are only two words to describe them: ‘slacking’ and ‘evasive.’

What is worse is when complaints in writing go to the local council, with the same letters copied to all levels within the state government, problems are not solved.

The same strategy adopted by former Barisan Nasional state representatives is used now to call for meetings but with no solutions.

I give you the example of one local councillor who was in charge of my zone. Although he was placed in a chat group that I created, he hardly responded to the complaints.

After he left, I was hoping the new councillor would be better, but it turned out he too does not bother to respond to complaints.

To make matters worse, Tony Pua MP was added to the same chat group and he did not respond to any of the complaints raised by residents.

Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong left the chat group immediately after she was added.

Wong was much better in her first and second terms, but in this third term, I hear she is evading a lot of complaints from her constituents.

I usually come into the picture only when complaints are not resolved. When credit is due to someone who solved the problem, it is always given publicly amid some criticisms that may be levelled against elected representatives.

Comparing both Pua and Wong to someone like former Kepong MP Tan Seng Giaw and his successor, Lim Lip Eng, is like comparing oil and water.

Tan was hands-on, and Lim, too, is always on the ground to solve issues.

Now, even letters of complaint and Whatsapp messages to the exco in charge of local councils, Ng Sze Han, and Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, gets zero response.

Therefore, it is time for the Pakatan Harapan team in Selangor to buck up. If they are elected by the people, the people can also vote them out.

While I am aware that in other states, the local councils are doing even a worse job, my vested interest is in Selangor because this is my home state. – July 26, 2022.

* Stephen Ng reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.