Congratulate MP Fong Kui Lun on the successfully organized Mid-Autum Festival and others issues I previously written to Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) about his Constituency.

My letter to MP Fong Kui Lin of Bukit Bintang (Starhill) Constituency representative, to congratulate the Malaysia day cerebration he organized and some of the issues under his constituency I previously recommended to City Council.

Dear YB Fong Kui Lun, 

I would like congratulate you and your team for successfully organized Malaysia Day and Mid-Autumn Festival at Petaling Street (Chinatown). I'm fortunate to have participated the event today.

I have been living in the area for more than 20 years but this is the first time I encountered meaningful such event. It truly reflects the multiculturalism in Malaysia and the inclusiveness, especially it also showcase cultural dance from East Malaysia. 

Generally, it is colourful and well organized, however, I would like to suggest tradition workshop, such as; making mooncake, wau (Malay kite), making of wayang kulit, Chinese decorative paper cutting and Iban dance short-course, to be included in the program, preferably in the evening around 6pm when temperature is mild. Collaboration with local business related to traditional culture, such as Chinese Medicine, Tai Chi, Lion Dance class, traditional fashion, wedding preparation items, Chinese association, and temples, would be good to promote local business in the area while create awareness about local culture. This also make more sense for the stamp collection ideas you put up in this event. 

The huge LED display on the truck is impressive but causing silhouette when taking photo. Perhaps a simpler stage and projector display for background would be more suitable. Getting local business co-fund the event is possible, if it make business sense for them. Advertise their business on the stamp passbook for example. 

On the other hand, I noticed there are increasing number of foreign immigrants taking up street stalks in Chinatown and selling imitate branded goods. This do not reflect any good image on Malaysia. of course, I’m not suggesting to evict or cause any harm to them, if no illicit activity isfound. I had previously wrote to DBKL to temporary relocate the street stalks, portion by portion, to nearby premises, such as Old Pudu Bus Terminal for makeover. As suggested, all bus operators in Pudu Bus Terminal had moved to TBS to maximise the capacity there and free up the traffic congestion in the city centre but the empty space was given to new tenants instead of hosting Chinatown street’s stalks. Reason being for my suggestion are;

1. Vacate pathway in front of shop lots to make it visible for customer. This is not only a CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) strategy but also revitalize the shop lot business potential.

Grease trap

2. Provide proper waste disposal system and ensure ‘grease trap’ is installed for all food business, both stalks and restaurants. To prevent drainage choke.

3. Provide proper utilities infrastructure, i.e. water and power supply to stalks, in order to ensure no stealing of water and power, as well as, enable authority to monitor their usage through meter.

4. Provide a proper storage area for stalks. Currently they are renting space from shop lots, making shop owner depending on them for income instead of their own business to generate income. Consequently, shop lot’s business deteriorate yet can’t do much on street stalks. 

5. Refer to item no. 4, provide a designated storage for street stalks not only make retrieving and setting up of stalks more efficient but also provide a legal (worry-free) and well managed storage space, allow for any dispute to settle according to proper mediation process. 

6. Refer to item no. 4, a fund should be allocated to help shop owner to makeover their premises or rent out to potential business, preferably more closely reflect Chinatown identity or Malaysia culture. 

7. Renew and regulate tenants business, ensure no illegal business, e.g. fake branded goods.

8. Urban regeneration; where possible make use of empty lots or common areas for community activities such as lion dance class, opera class, Chinese traditional medicine, and traditional bamboo basket workshop. Make it as visible as possible, and encourage next generation to continue cultural practices, at the same time acting as tourist attraction.

9. Thorough pest control during the makeover to minimize possible food hygiene problems.

10. Localized the area and only allow human traffic within the area. Restrict all form of motorized vehicle from entering the area. 

11. Allocate proper parking space for visitor to Chinatown and tourist bus. A multi-storey carpark may be constructed to save space. 

12. Regulate taxi parking and touting. Designate Taxi waiting area, where possible provide customer service counter for tourist including advise on taxi charges. Overcharge is decades problem in Chinatown. 

13. Where possible, makeover may utilise multi-storey street stalks, e.g. Hua Hin Plearnwan Eco Vintage Village (refer to photo attached). 

14. Mass clean up and regulate the Market(Pasar) to ensure meeting minimum hygiene and food safety level. 

15. Refer to Item No.14, I suggest a proper solid waste management and organic waste compost program. Compost organic waste produce fertilizer, generate income while reduce burden on municipal solid waste management. 

Apart from revitalize Chinatown and restore back its identity. I would like to take the opportunity here feedback to you my suggestion to City Mayor, Datuk Seri Amin, about installation of mini-hydro at Klang River. My original intention was to supply renewable energy to the electrical vehicle sharing program (COSMO), but since the program is failed, the renewable energy generated by mini-hydro(refer to photo attached) could be use to power street lighting and provide free energy for public to EV(Electrical Vehicle), charge phone or electrical bike.  Because EV or any electronics is not green if it is still consuming power supply by fossil fuel source. On top of that, I also suggested Urban farming, river aquaponics(refer to photo attached), rainwater harvesting system at public area (bus terminal nearby Mydin) and toilet, install drinking water at bus station and others crowded area(to reduce plastic bottled-water waste). There are many others issues urgent to be resolve such as increasing of city homelessness, child being used in begging, and illegal construction& 85% budget hotel operating without license and not comply to UBBL (uniform building by-law) in Kuala Lumpur.

River mini-hydro turbine

The above is merely my suggestion, for your kind consideration. I’m glad that you had initiated such a meaningful program (Malaysia day celebration) that make my day. 

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