Duty of all citizens to fulfil civic obligations

ONE of the many issues of public concern is how to develop a strong maintenance culture in Malaysia in the interest of public safety and convenience.

Malaysia prides itself in the construction of first world infrastructure but not in maintenance of these facilities.

Poor maintenance of public buildings and infrastructures can lead to accidents and injuries.

Public toilets which are not properly maintained can cause health problems and inconvenience.

Children’s playgrounds that are poorly maintained can also lead to accidents and injuries.

Roads and public drains that are not properly maintained can also cause flash floods.

Potholes that are not mended for weeks cause great inconvenience and even accidents to motorists.

Failure to prune tree branches that obstruct road signage along our highways also inconvenience motorists and can lead to road accidents.

The new Pakatan Harapan government must put an end to the poor and unsatisfactory maintenance of public amenities in this country.

The time has come to emphasise the development of a strong maintenance and safety culture.

Heads of department and agencies as well as local authorities must go to the ground to conduct spot checks on the condition of all buildings, roads and other public amenities.

Improving a country’s image is not only the responsibility of the government but also the duty of every citizen who must be civic-minded.

Despite Malaysia’s economic growth and progress, we have not succeeded in developing a society that is civic-minded.

For example, indiscriminate throwing of litter is still very common despite public campaigns on anti-littering.

In our new Malaysia, the people must discard their bad habits and embark on attitude change in line with their commitment for a better nation.

Let it not be said that Malaysians work hard to pursue wealth and success but lose sight of their civic obligations.