Councillor proposes quick response team

By Oh Ing Yeen at the MBPJ full board meeting
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/9/27/central/2131183&sec=central

A CITY councillor has proposed the setting up of a quick response team to handle minor grouses in the city.

According to Michael Soon, nearly 80% of the calls the councillors received are small complaints regarding potholes, public toilets, drains and the trimming of trees.

“Councillors should not be the first contact when it comes to such minor issues,” he said.

Soon said this during the Sep­tember full board meeting of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

“Thus, we should form a quick response team consisting of plumbers and electricians to resolve such matters,” Soon said.

Roslan: ‘The committee will study and scrutinise some procedures and regulations’

“We need to upgrade the computer system and handle walk-ins, telephone calls and e-mails efficiently,” he said.

Soon also said that contracts under RM20,000 should not be sub-contracted.

“The one at the end of the line will only be left with bones. If the job is badly done, it will reflect badly on the MBPJ, too. All contractors who often do so should be blacklisted,” he said.

Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman, meanwhile, announced at the meeting that a circular will be issued to warn contractors against harassing the local councillors when lobbying for contracts.

Several city councillors had complained that they have received numerous calls from certain contractors lobbying for jobs.

Roslan also announced that an audit and administration committee has been set up to improve the MBPJ services.

“The committee will study and scrutinise some procedures and regulations. All department heads are required to cooperate in this effort for a smooth process and to widen the administrative scope,” he said.

Roslan said councillors should organise dialogue sessions with residents in their respective zones to discuss issues in the area to obtain feedback for the preparation of the 2009 budget.

“With the participation of all stake holders in the MBPJ, Iam confident that the proposed budget will be more effective and relevant ,” he said.

Roslan told the councillors to organise their respective residents committees in their zone to get to know the residents’ problems faster.

“The residents committees will also create interaction between councillors and their respective communities as well as advocate transparency under our governance,” he said.

“I hope this will be carried out soon. All councillors are required to submit reports on this matter to be studied by the state local government committee,” Roslan said.

PJ Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian, who was present as an observer, raised an issue which raised some eyebrows. He claimed that some residents had complained about prostitution in some hotel spas in the city.

Meanwhile, the mayor announced that the MBPJ will hold a Hari Raya open house on Oct 10 from 3pm to 6pm at the PJ stadium. He extended an invitation to the public.