Chope: Contrasting Cities

The day after the unbelievable results for the 12th General Election was announced, I took off and ran to Singapore. No, it wasn't the fear of a new dawn for Malaysia that drove me to the comfortable predictability of Orchard Road, but rather the prospect of seeing Broken Social Scene at the Mosaic Music Festival. 

After two weeks of grueling campaign work, it was a nice change of scenery that included a lot of the things I've missed—namely beer, sleep and eating non-mamak food at regular dining hours. Needless to say, it was also nice not having to smile all the time.

Though social and political issues are not KLue's area of coverage, it would be hard to ignore the changes that took place on March 8. They are changes that will affect the lives of all Klang Valley residents, and will indirectly alter a lot of the landscape of arts and entertainment. 

So it was undoubtedly an interesting time to be in Singapore, not only because fugitive Mas Selamat was on the run. After two weeks of meeting and talking with Klang Valley residents from a variety of backgrounds, it was hard not to notice the monochromatic nature of life in Singapore. 

After seeing firsthand the spirit of Malaysians crossing the racial barrier to take back their country, in Singapore it was business as usual. After seeing Makkal Sakti adopted by all as a rallying cry for change, Singapore felt overwhelmingly sterile, mono-ethnic and dull, its politics uninspiring.

With the historic results of the general elections still barely registered at that point, I actually felt sorry for Singapore—it will surely be awhile before the city-state undergoes its own political awakening, if at all. Then I got my smug head out of my rear. After all, it was also in Singapore that I was reminded of how long the road ahead will be for the Klang Valley. The incompetence of our past governments have left our city in a terrible shape, even if it isn't always obvious to everyone. 

After witnessing the appalling living conditions of so many in the Bukit Lanjan constituency where I was campaigning in, it was also unbelievable to see how decades-old flats and apartments looked far better maintained than those less than five years old here. While Singaporean flats and apartments receive a fresh coat of paint every few years, the apartments here had barely functioning elevators, burnt-out light bulbs and leaky ceilings. Most of these low-cost apartments were ideal locations for a horror movie. 

Needless to say, safety was a luxury many of the residents in the low cost flats didn't have, let alone facilities that functioned. Even in wealthier areas like Bandar Utama, safety remains an issue. Private security is almost standard in the neighbourhood. At several ceramah we organised, the audience was asked if they have been or known a victim of crime. An overwhelming majority of residents raised their hands in acknowledgement. It's a very, very disturbing trend I'm sure many are aware of. While Singaporeans might live in fear of the PAP, they probably don't worry about being dragged along the pavement by snatch thieves on bikes as much as we do.

But this is what the newly elected Selangor state government—along with the overwhelmingly Opposition MPs elected in Kuala Lumpur—will now have to address. Alleviating the symptoms of haphazard overdevelopment will be a task few would envy, but it is undoubtedly one of the root causes of problems facing the Klang Valley, including traffic jams, a general decline in the quality of life, not to mention the escalating crime rate.

So while March 8 possibly marked the beginning of Malaysia as a functioning democracy, progress is rarely made by politics alone. There is a lot that needs to be done before the Klang Valley can transform itself into a modern, developed city—the one we like to believe it is. As I returned from Singapore days later, I still felt great pride over Malaysia's political awakening, excited about the many possibilities the future would bring. 

But on the most basic level, all I wish for is the new Selangor government to be an efficient and competent one. My wish list is really quite simple: better living conditions for all, a decline in crime and corruption, and vague as this might sound, a wish for things to work the way they’re supposed to. And while we're at it, an end to double parking would be nice. 

Brian Yap cannot deal with another "Correct, correct, correct!" joke. Don't send him any at brian@freeform.com.my