We are losing the poster war

This article is from The Star, Thursday, 16 June 2011. I am quite sure this is a topic close to the heart of many. I must say that Malaysia is one of the worst countries with this problem. It is really shameful. If we can't even win poster war, how can we implement any other things? This is not prevalent only in Kajang or Selangor but every place in Malaysia.

For me the answer is very simple, if we take action against them, then they will stop. I find it very amusing that the local council's solution is to remove or take these down. This will only embolden them further.

Also, because we always have the idea that in Malaysia, anything also can "kau tim", then we will never solve anything. As I write this, I am in Bandar Seri Begawan for the first time. I don't see this problem here.

So, whether it is a BN or Pakatan state or whatever, it is about the will to resolve. The excuses given is pathetic.

Until the next time, cheers.

Thursday June 16, 2011

Selangor councils at wits’ end in curbing illegal adverts

THE local authorities in Selangor are struggling to contain the illegal advertisement problem which poses a danger to motorists when signboards are obscured with posters. Telephone booths, lampposts, bus stops, traffic lights and even trees are not spared from illegal advertisements, banners and bunting.

The most common posters are on auctioned properties, ubat kuat lelaki (aphrodisiacs), private loans and massage parlour contact numbers.

Others include banners promoting sales and offers, warehouse clearance and studio suites for sale.

It looks like the local authorities are at their wits’ end trying to figure out how to resolve the problem while receiving pressure from residents that they are not doing enough.

All kinds of ads: A Telekom junction box is defaced with all sorts of numbers providing services like massage.

 

Some councils, like the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), have previously resorted to getting the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to diconnect the phone lines of repeat offenders found to be putting up the materials illegally.

However, the council had admitted back then that it may be only effective for a short term as the ads would re-emerge after a few weeks under different numbers.

USJ 3A, B, C, D neighbourhood watch committee member and MPSJ JKP Zone 3 treasurer Yee Siew Meng said ads and stickers put up by loan sharks were those that bothered him the most.

“The Ah Long stickers are plastered over road and council signboards in most parts of USJ,” said Yee.

Covered up: Phone booths and parking meters look ugly with stickers pasted on them.

 

“I’ve seen the men in action and I’ll tear down the posters when I can. These people are running a business, so I don’t think it can be that hard to track them down,” he said.

Yee said the council should be tearing down the posters every two weeks but perhaps did not have enough workers as MPSJ covered quite a big area.

He said JKP Zone 3 was contemplating engaging contractors to pull down the ads using their JKP funds.

Section 19 Petaling Jaya Residents Association chairman Tan Yew Leong said his area was relatively free from the ads except for the ones at bus stops near Nanking Restaurant.

He said the SS2 commercial area was a hotspot for these ads.

SS2 (South) Residents Association chairman Lim Theng Kau said it was embarrassing to see illegal ads everywhere.

Not spared: Local council boards, in this case the MBPJ, are also filled with stickers.

 

“The government has to think of a more effective way to rid the problem,” said Lim.

The Public Agenda PJ Facebook group administrator Eashvara Lingam admitted that the problem was getting from bad to worse, but felt that the authorities should not be blamed for it.

“They cannot station workers to monitor the situation round the clock. It should get the help of the RAs, Rukun Tetangga and NGOs.

“The authorities could perhaps promote campaigns against illegal advertisements more rigorously,” said Eashvara.

He said beautifully-built bus stops with glass panels had been defaced with ads that read “part-time business” or “room to let”.

“There’s a lack of concern for public facilities. People must be made to understand that their actions are wrong.

“For the phone numbers to be advertised, surely there’s an address which the authorities can track down to charge them in court,” said Eashvara.

Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) public relations officer Shahrin Ahmad said the council had an advertisement application unit and a special enforcement unit that conducted daily checks in the city centre.

“From January to May we have taken down 10,000 of these illegal ads,” said Shahrin.

“Our Sungai Buloh office takes care of the northern part of Shah Alam and the Kota Kemuning office the southern part.

“Our mayor is concerned over this issue as he is particular about cleanliness. We are stepping up efforts while also educating people about applying for proper advertising permits,” he said.

However, Shahrin admitted that such illegal banners were increasing by the day and new ads would be put up when the old ones were taken down.

MPSJ president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi said the council had been carrying out several measures to tackle the problem.

“The first measure is weekly removal by MPSJ officers and carried out jointly with JKPs and NGOs.

“We also issue compounds under the MPSJ advertisement by-law 2007 and the MPSJ vandalism by-law 2005.

“From May 2009 till January this year, 1,397 phone lines have been cut jointly with the MCMC.

“We are now studying prevention methods, including painting the lamp posts or signboards with anti-sticker paint,” said Asmawi.

Banners displaying developers’ projects or courses run by universities and colleges are also a common sight in Subang Jaya.

Selangor Local Government Committee chairman Ronnie Liu denied that the situation was becoming worse.

“Since last month we have been using a special chemical which when applied removes the posters easily,” he said.

He said all 12 local councils in the state have been asked to use the chemical.

On MCMC cutting off phone lines, he said the commission had stopped helping the state, adding that it gave no reason.

“This issue is an ongoing battle, but I would not say it is a losing battle,” said Liu.