ONE of the many issues of public concern is how to develop a strong maintenance culture in Malaysia for safety and convenience.
Malaysia prides itself with having First World infrastructure, but not in terms of maintenance of the facilities.
Poor maintenance of public buildings and infrastructure can lead to accidents and injuries.
Public toilets that are not properly maintained can cause health problems.
Children’s playgrounds that are poorly maintained can result in accidents and injuries.
Roads and public drains that are not maintained can cause flash floods.
Potholes left unattended for weeks greatly inconvenience motorists.
Failure to prune tree branches and leaves that obstruct signs along highways and town roads inconvenience motorists and lead to road accidents.
The list goes on.
These unpleasant occurrences are a reflection of the Malaysian malaise clearly manifested in work of inferior quality, poor execution, inept management, poor maintenance and lack of ethics.
At stake is not only the question of ethics, but also the issue of safety and health at work.
The poor maintenance of buildings is an issue affecting health and safety at work.
The comment that Malaysia is a case of a country “having First World infrastructure but Third World mentality” is true when it comes to maintenance.
We are good at providing state-of-the-art buildings and equipment, but when it comes to maintaining and making them function properly, we have many shortcomings and weaknesses.
All authorities and every Malaysian must imbibe the culture of strong maintenance and make it a way of life.
The new administration must put an end to the poor and unsatisfactory maintenance of public amenities.
The time has come for the emergence of a new era that emphasises the development of a strong maintenance and safety culture.
Heads of department and agencies, as well as those from local authorities must go to the ground to make spot checks on the condition of buildings, roads and all other public amenities.
Improving a country’s image is not only the responsibility of the government, but also the duty of each citizen.
Despite Malaysia’s economic growth and progress, we have not succeeded in developing a civic-minded society. Indiscriminate littering is still common despite public campaigns.
In a new Malaysia, its people must discard their bad habits and embark on attitudinal changes in line with their commitment to a better nation.
Let it not be said that Malaysians work hard to pursue wealth and success, but lose sight of their civic obligations.
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Kuala Lumpur