Coffee, Tea or Storm in the Teacup

Tuesday, 4 August 2009

Coffee, Tea or Storm in the Teacup

CRIME appears to have fallen off the radar screen last month where residents are concerned. It’s not that criminals have taken a month-long break; it’s merely just that residents had more to chew on with other issues.
The numerous chatter on crime via emails, sms and even gossips at coffee shops seem to have been overtaken by other more interesting topics namely – the proposed development of Taman Subang Ria, the proposed LRT extension to Subang Jaya and the new kids on the block in the Subang Jaya Municipal Council.
If you wonder how one can juggle so many topics at one time, wonder no more. Only Subang Jaya residents can juggle all these topics at one coffee drinking session. We have all been conditioned long enough to be able to handle all in a mouthful be it in support of any proposal or against it.
The more vocal ones can be heard tables away. They articulate and are willing to even court you to lend support to their so called cause.
What about the silent majority? What about those who prefer to keep silent and not share their inner thoughts on the topics which are hovering over us?
All of us know the proposed LRT extension to Subang Jaya will to a large extend benefit a lot of people especially students and the lower income group, and not forgetting help us alleviate the traffic jams we face daily. Although it will cost a huge amount of funds to build, the long term benefit (if planned and executed correctly) is many fold. But why do people still complain without providing any alternatives to circumvent their grouses? The “not in my backyard” attitude and sentiment still prevailed during the briefing session attended by Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad and Transport Minister Dato’ Seri Ong Tee Keat.
The proposed development of Taman Subang Ria is another point in question. Since the announcement of the concept plan by Sime Darby Property, many residents (actually not many) have started spinning their own version of what it would be like if we allowed it to happen. They hurl accusations in forums and briefings; they suggest mass protests and start making representations of what they think the project will be like if allowed to go ahead. Angry red-faced individuals hurl insults at meetings begging to say their piece (which has been repeated time and time again) while the more rationale ones ask what the proposal actually entails.
At last month’s charity durian fest, we saw another ugly side of Malaysians. Although it may seem impressive for 4 tons of durian to be gobbled up in 40 minutes during the event, the organizers and volunteers for the day saw the other side of many people who supposedly came to support a charity event. Many hurled insults at the organizers for keeping to time to start the durian eating. One of our volunteers even related an incident of what an elderly lady said and I quote, “Why are we being kept waiting like beggars? We paid to eat you know?” Others accused the organizers of not supplying enough durians while some quietly sneaked off with a handful of durians. These examples are just the tip of the iceberg of what actually transpired on top of the refunds people demanded because they either did not get to eat enough or arrived after the durians were wiped out.
Would you believe me if I said that what I have just pointed out is just scratching the surface of what actually happens in the community? Would you be surprised if I said there’s a lot of back stabbing by individuals with sharp tongues behind the scenes? That may be the case but these individuals obviously are not aware that maybe, just maybe someone has a recipe to cook sharp tongues!!
At the end of the day, no matter what the issue is or who we are, we have to remember that we are all in this because we are residents in a place called Subang Jaya. We are not in Subang Jaya Sdn Bhd. We do not live within the confines of Corporate Malaysia with a CEO, managing director etc etc. We do not resign from Subang Jaya because we disagree with the way of life here. All of us are equal with a common possession – we are house owners! No one is above anyone.
SJ Echo commemorates its 2nd year as a community paper in Subang Jaya this month. It took almost the same duration to put it together before we started in August 2007. As the editor of the paper, I have seen the leaps and bounces and the heartaches which came along with it. The diversity of life and the multitude of individual behaviors in Subang Jaya are seen even more intensely under our magnifying glass.
Well….we can make a choice. While the majority of us prefer a quiet cup of tea, some may really enjoy a storm in a teacup. We can make that choice…..