Taking on the government used to be a daunting task. But it has been made easier with the internet and social media. What lessons can we learn from groups such as the anti-Kidex movement on how to take on the government in the digital age?
Petaling Jaya City Council
The contest for Selangor
By Gan Pei Ling
Both the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat have claimed they are confident of winning back Selangor but which coalition actually has the upper hand?
Inconsistencies in the MBPJ
Ampersand by KW Mak
Notwithstanding that the PJ Local Plan 1 is arguably an invalid document, how has the MBPJ measured up against its own local plan and what does it mean for PJ residents? A former councilor explains.
Who protects PJ ratepayers?
Ampersand by KW Mak
IN my previous column, I gave examples of how the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) deals with enquiries by giving only verbal instructions. The fact is, there are rules and regulations for everything that falls under the council’s purview. These rules are, however, not made public, and are sometimes kept from councillors as well. The trouble it causes […]
On the runaround with local councils
Ampersand by KW Mak
HAVING served in the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) for almost four years, I must say that the default image the public has about government officers is that they are corrupt. It is hard not to be categorised as such when there are plenty of news articles that point towards impropriety in both conduct and […]
Is sustainable development possible?
Ampersand by KW Mak
WHEN residents talk about development in an urban environment, the discussion primarily focuses on ensuing traffic problems for the existing neighbourhood. Developers would, in turn, talk about how they are bringing in much needed economic activity into the area to justify the project. Any discussion without a base framework to start from would invariably lead […]
Can MBPJ shut down DUMC?
Ampersand by KW Mak
THERE’s a rumour making the rounds that the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will close down the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya (PJ) because the premise was not approved for a church. For certain, the land that DUMC is located on is not designated for a “religious institution” that would permit the […]
Paramount View development: Where are the answers?
By KW MakDatuk Bandar MBPJ OSC chair[person] RE: Approval of Paramount View Development by Petaling Jaya City Council OSC Committee I have written to you back on 8 Nov 2010 on the matter of the Paramount View development, raising several important issues on the validity and legality of the actions that the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) […]
Superheroes needed in MBPJ
Ampersand by KW Mak
SOMETIMES, I get accused of playing hero when I go public with issues. The accusations stem from the notion that I supposedly do not go through official channels to resolve matters and that I’m only interested in the publicity that the issue generates. Are such accusations true? Perhaps the best way to answer this is […]
Our right to open spaces
Ampersand by KW Mak
NEW development projects seem to be on the rise again in Petaling Jaya. Much of these are apparently over open spaces set aside by previous developers. Naturally, this would have existing neighbours up in arms and protesting against the new development. No doubt residents caught in such a situation would like to ask the following […]
