IT'S AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE - CALLS GROW FOR 'SLEEPING BEAUTY' PM ANWAR & HIS 'MADANI' GOVT TO PUT ITS MONEY WHERE ITS MOUTH IS - AND MAKE STREETS, PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS SAFE, PEOPLE-FRIENDLY & CLEAN

 

KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - Gabungan Patriotisme dan Perpaduan Kebangsaan (GPPK) endorses the call to form a "coalition of NGOs, political leaders, city councillors, planners and resident associations to fight for walkable pedestrian streets in cities and form more livable cities.”

The former Land Public Transport Commission official Wan Agyl Wan Hassan after all cannot be wrong in calling for authorities to relook city planning, improve walkability, disability access" (FMT, 4 October 2023).

The absolute disregard and lack of walkable streets in city centres, townships and even in the Federal Capital of Kuala Lumpur is a mockery as well as a sheer dereliction of duty to citizens' safety, comfort and ease of commuting.

UNTHINKABLE

It is unthinkable how for decades we have allowed the chasing after development in the nane of national progress but completely erased the need for walkability along streets hogging impressive high rise buildings and state of art facilities in and around our cities and even townships.

As pointed out by Wan Agyl, having "wider walkways with proper lighting, sitting areas, and curbside designs that allow access for people with disabilities" have been given mere cosmetic and lip service by the authorities.

GPPK agrees that the failure on the part of the authorities to trully commit to town and city planning is because they are not oriented towards being "research-minded and possess(ing) proper knowledge to efficiently improve walkway conditions" as was spelt out by the Penang Planning Appeal Board member Amir Fawzi Baharudin.

GPPK calls out to all citizens and organisations to join the demand to overhaul our long neglected pedestrain walkways in the country.

CITIZEN-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT

GPPK will commit to galvanise its partnering NGOs and join the fight to demand affirmative changes that can make our nation to come on par with the fast developing nations as well as to emulate the citizen-friendly streets of many developed nations.

We also call out to developers to demonstrate meaningful CSR by commiting to transform our cities anf townships with walkways forming an an integral part of their business endeavors.

They have a categorical duty to partner with nation building and not see projects as mere economic and financial opportunities for their own business interests. - Media statement issued by Deputy Chairman of GPPK Ir. Stanley Yong - Politics Now!

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