local council 4

Taxpayers at the mercy of bulldozing authorities Dr Chris Anthony Oct 11, 05 4:52pm



I refer to the article USJ Flyover: Residents launch signature campaign.
It was rather distressing to read that the USJ residents have to organise a signature campaign to stop the building of a flyover linking Batu 3 to USJ 3.
Such measures - which are futile in most cases - are fashionable these days. Morever they are the only means available to simple peace-loving citizens. When problems arise, we are left alone to take on the might of the authorities. Where are our ‘wakil rakyat’? The USJ residents' fear of heavy traffic resulting in jams and fatal accidents are real and genuine. This is especially so when the roads are abused by bullies and heavy vehicles who ultimately take control of the roads and highways. Nowadays, drivers of heavy vehicles even bring home their lorries and trailers to be parked in residential areas which I understand are out of bounds to heavy motor vehicles. The average citizen in Malaysia has to work hard for many years to finally own a house in an area which the developer claims to be the best in the world. He settles down with his loved ones and calls it his home. He manages to build a community and learns to live in harmony with his neighbours. Suddenly, one day he realises that the authorities have decided to build a highway or flyover passing just adjacent to his home. How and who approved the construction remains a mystery. What can a poor taxpayer do? If we take the issue up with the local authorities, there is nobody who will listen. When we protest publicly, the minister in charge angrily tells us: "If you all do not want roads and highways then travel by bullock cart". Instead of reassuring and trying to solve the problem in a mature and amicable manner, the authorities bulldoze through their plans with force. It is sad that the rights of innocent, peace-loving citizens are blatantly abused. Until our wakil rakyat and public servants realise that they are there by us and for us, we as ordinary citizens can only keep on making noise which will only fall on deaf ears.