Mayor with No direction and No vision?

My humble advice to our dearest Mayor is- your days of crooning your favorite song"Madu Tiga"(made popular by P.Ramlee)in Karaokes are over,and unless you buck up,I suggest you ship out gracefully and allow someone more competent to take over the job.
And by the way,I take it as a great insult,his offer of "Kopi-O"to me to promote him in my blog.

KOTA KINABALU or KK in short, is the capital city of Sabah, East Malaysia and prides itself as having the 2nd busiest airport in the country, the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) which was recently upgraded at a whooping RM 1 billion(pic).

Gateway to Asean countries like Brunei, Indonesia and Philippines, KK is also passionately known as a “Nature Resort City”. KK or “Api” as it is popularly known among the local Chinese community was transformed from a once sloppy, unsystematic and sleepy water village into a bustling town and favorite port of call for many international cruise ships.

While a majority of tourists and golfers from all over the world who visit KK would reckon that KKIA is a first-class international airport, the traffic system of KK City is however a nightmare to many, with traffic congestion a common scene in the city(pic).

Hence, there had been numerous calls by concerned citizens as well as NGOs in the past, urging the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) to improve the traffic system in the city.

Ironically, instead of improving the infrastructure for the traffic system, recently, we have Beaufort-hailed Federal Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Lajim Hj Ukin(pic) announcing that the Federal Government will spent RM200 million to construct a new headquarters for the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK).

A lot of people whom I know called me up to express their disgust over the announcement which they thought was questionable if not ridiculous. Many of them also took the Mayor of KK to task for failing to set the priorities right.Crystal clear is the newly implemented transport(bus)system in the city.The total monopoly of a bus company appointed by DBKK as the operator of the city routes is further testimony of bad governance.Who is behind this city bus company?

Countless complains and grievousness's has been brought to the attention of DBKK by businessman,traders and city folks and highlighted by the main stream media.Until DBKK comprehends what economic survival really means,city folks will have to continue to dig deep into their pockets,perhaps even skip meals just to pay the extra bus fares. Government of the People by the people for the people?Think again,the people have been short changed big time.

Let us take a closer look and examine who this Mayor of KK City is. He is non other than the flamboyant Datuk Iliyas Hj Ibrahim(pic), or better known as “Datuk Double ii”. An avid golfer, his home club is the prestigious Sutera Harbour Golf, Marina and Country Club whose membership is currently priced at a cool RM120,000. His membership number is “GI 0013” and plays to a h'cap of 14.

But the more interesting question is, how did he get the job of Mayor of KK almost immediately after his retirement as the State Commissioner of Police? Many people would vouch that it wasn’t based on merits or qualification but because of his relationship with the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Hj Aman(pic).

This made his appointment a controversial one especially when there were many candidates out there who were many times more qualified and capable than him. This shows that one need not be highly intelligent or capable even to become a Mayor of a city but what’s more important is whom you know in high places.

In a recent tele-conversation with Iliyas, he admitted to me that his capacity on any projects undertaken by DBKK is only RM10,000. If at all he needs funds to improve KK he must obtain Section 37,which is an approval from the Chief Minister. That being the case the Mayor of KK is merely a stooge and puppet. How can a Chief Minister be given so much power?Does that also mean that the CM appoints the contractors as well? If that is the case, any nincompoop can become a Mayor.

The Minister in charge of DBKK is MCA State Liaison Chief, Datuk Edward Khoo(pic), who is also the Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister. His position doesn't really make much difference especially when you're barely surviving in your political career.

The puzzling thing is Iliyas is comfortable with his position although he has no idea (direction) and vision whatsoever as how to improve KK City. A Mayor is supposed to be entrusted with the responsibility to ensure systematic development for city folks; to make a firm stand when the City is facing a health-care crisis of being without an adequate general hospital (Queen Elizabeth Hospital is partly unusable), a smooth traffic system, efficient public transportation, proper garbage disposal system, maintenance of a high level of cleanliness and the sewerage(human waste)disposal system which is reliably learnt as non-existent in KK, and not merely delivering speeches at functions exalting his political masters.

If at all his intentions were to shoe shine his masters, he has also miserably failed in this area because the city is still plagued with many problems. Shoe polishing is perhaps his gifted talent. A dynamic Mayor in my books should go down to the ground unannounced, unaccompanied by any of his officers to see first hand and listen to the city folks.

Numerous complaints have been brought to the attention of the Mayor including the Karamunsing shopping complex(pic) which has clearly breached every building by-laws, reduction of parking bays(pic), extensive renovation(pic),narrowed corridors(pic) which is dangerous in the event of a fire; the issuance of licenses to vice dens under disguise of hair saloons and reflexology centers. In addition there is extravagant spending of tax payers' money in his bid to turn KK into an “entertainment city".Even the water-front development could be deemed illegal if any city dweller takes DBKK to court.

That brings to mind something that I read in the papers some two years ago where Mayor Illiyas had stated " open spaces belong to DBKK". Illiyas should have consulted the AG on this rather than have taken cognizance and comfort from some developers who supported his stand. (It sounded more like back-scratching from them)

DBKK does not own the open spaces in the city. It is only the custodian and care-taker of such public amenities.

Commercial development of open spaces are illegal and immoral. Period.

What kind of legacy is Iliyas going to leave behind?

KK is not a city that is entirely made up of fools or hypocrites and shoe-polishers like him. It's also a city that is made up of genuine, sincere and down-to-earth people who expect and demand a safe, clean and comfortable living environment.

Therefore, the Mayor is duty-bound to live up to the expectations of the people,instead of being completely subservient to the whims and fancies of his political masters.

My humble advice to our dearest Mayor is – your days of crooning your favorite song "Madu Tiga" (made popular by P. Ramlee) in Karaokes are over, and unless you buck up, I suggest you ship out gracefully and allow someone more competent to take over the job.

And by the way, I take it as a great insult his offer of "Kopi-O" to me to promote him in my blog.