SUBANG JAYA ENTERING THE TIGER

The incessant ringing in my ears is still there as well as this Chinese New Year tune still plays in my mind subconsciously. Ah well, at least some shopping centres in Subang Jaya still have the lion dances.  I think only Subang Parade has the most.
Chinese New Year this year was quiet with many travelling overseas with their families. I can still hear some firecrackers in my neighbourhood.  I really miss those. I hope the ban will be lifted as Chinese New Year would be so much merrier with them around.
The year of the Tiger started off quietly in Subang Jaya. The only highlight in February was a Chinese New Year community event at MPSJ recently. I thought that it was a great event.  It has been a long time since such a community event has been organized.  The last one was more than 2 years ago.  I am also happy to note that the Subang Jaya 10km run is finally making a comeback in April this year since the last was held in 2007.
These events are very good to foster good social community relations.  I would think the police as well as bomba open their doors for their own open houses too so the community can get to know them.  It should be the task entrusted to the head of the individual balai.  Not just wait for the community to suggest.  The police as well as bomba must step up efforts to change their perception and be closer to the community and communicate and talk.  Not just be around when there are functions or events or in their rounds.
I noted that in SS14 a thief was caught.  How on earth would someone with such a record be not monitored closely for crimes?  It is distressing if efficiency is not placed in high regard as with effectiveness.
There are a few things I would like to share that would help the police improve.  However, the first thing I think they should improve is their handling of reports.  Let us compare the difference as related by those who have experienced a house break in.
In Australia, when a house gets broken into, the police come within 10 minutes upon receipt of a report. They come and one would take a statement and pass a copy to the complainant.  They would also give advise and also later on do follow up.
In Subang Jaya, when a house gets broken into, a car would come between 15 mins to 30 mins. The officers would ask what happened.  You explain. They will not enter but ask you to go to the balai to make a report.  If your main door and gate is unlockable and you are alone, tough luck. 
You make your way to the police station alone.  The patrol car drives off and you drive on your own.  You go in, the officer takes your report and asks you to go back to wait for the investigating officer.  You go back and wait.  At that time, the wait was 1 hour. They come, bring their tools and then leave.  No mention of follow up nor advise and what to do for your own follow up. 
The problem is that when someone is upset or in grief, this type of procedure does not help and does not endear one to have any positive perception and belief in the police.  It is important that we help each other improve so that the respect for each other is obtained yet again.
On a positive note, I thought the police did well in the Balik Kampung Rumah Selamat campaign.  The next idea is to get all within the community to help support and make this campaign a success.  There should not be any need to say whose job or task this campaign falls to.  All should help communicate its effectiveness.
I have subscribed to this idea and found that the police patrolled my home once a day and normally at night.  It would be good if one day we have more than once and more households within the neighbourhood do this.
MPSJ has recently come up with the 1 hour parking system in USJ Taipan.  I found that this has worked quite well.  Though there are still some rogues, but at least there is observed improvement. However, I wonder why in SS15 there is a private company and a different system used in the so called SJ Uptown area.  Did MPSJ tender this out to another company as the back lanes and roads are common and public domain under the MPSJ I presume?  Could anyone confirm this?
There were some issues with signboards before as the councilors wanted to regulate but still, I do not see much done.  The greening requirement of Subang Jaya is still lacking in enforcement and the Subang Jaya City Centre of SS16 is now a concrete jungle.  The roads have been mutilated and I think cars would need to get their wheels balanced and suspensions repaired with prolonged use of Jalan SS16.
The menace of dengue has reared its ugly head and I applaud MPSJ with its serious stand on this and their spot checks of housing units.  I would like them to do the same for the commercial properties as well as areas in Putra Heights commercial centre, Taipan and SS15 as well as SS14 has still not been thoroughly cleaned for a clean and safe township.
I also remembered a councilor saying that the rat population would be halved.  Is that done yet? Any updates?
I would also like to know if anyone has asked for the update on the CCTV placements and its maintenance costs. I am still unsure if this CCTV works.
As with developers, I still think they seem to at times cut social requirement for economic requirement.  And the worst victim is the environment.  Subang Jaya is a web of traffic snarl through the fault of the lack of attitude of MPSJ, Subang Jaya Residents as the developers for failing to ensure projects at its planning and execution do not impede onto a peaceful and socially correct right of residence.  Only when the damage is done that one complains.  We must change this attitude and take control of what matters to us.
I also found it humorous when I heard that people without permits made a fuss when their banners were taken down.  Hello…..who are you and why break the existing regulations?  Now there.  Perhaps we should take a look at ourselves.
Have we looked at ourselves in the mirror today? Do we like what we see?