Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia. 2008.
Our last visit to Malaysia was in 1973. There is tremendous improvement during this period. Kuala Lumpur has changed into a modern city with many large Condominiums, Skyscrapers, modern multi directional road over bridge changeovers at every major road junction, excellent road and lane signs and directions. Kuala Lumpur has built a modern Airport, since our visit in 1973, away from the city. They are now again in the process of building a new ultra modern Airport. They plan much ahead of time. Kuala Lumpur has put in place, a large drainage tunnel for storm water control and is in the process of building the second one. Kuala Lumpur has expanded in all directions, developing the large Rubber and Oil Palm estates into housing and business estates. The city is not comparable to Singapore, but it is now large with well maintained modern facilities, except in a few crowded old localities
The Twin Petronas Towers (Petronas is the Malaysian National Petroleum Company, similar to our Indian Oil), Telecom House are architectural marvel of world class. They have built their self contained State Administrative Head Quarters, in a green field site, 30 kms away from Kuala Lumpur, called Putra Jaya. It is also an architectural show piece, worth a visit. The roads in general and the express ways in particular in Malaysia,are of world standards. In 1973 Malaysia was much behind India, except for better roads, but now they are about 15 to 20 years ahead of us.
Singapore is probably 30 years ahead of us in technology and facilities, for the common man and is ahead of many developed western cities. Their success is that they plan 20 years or more ahead of time, Citizens are trained to be disciplined and there is no corruption. The compulsory military training for all males before the age of 22,, play a very important role in the ethics of the Singapore population.
Our country India, is large and has many different problems, but some day we should be able catch up with them. When?
Our Municipalities should be able to get the citizens to segregate their waste at source and have a system of collection at their doorsteps for disposal. This is already in place in Chennai and few other cities in India. Why not provide decentralized clean composite markets, including Fish and Meat, in two or three convenient locations? It is also possible to provide suitable place with hygienic facilities for a Food Court near the Bus Stand and move the unhygienic polluting roadside Thattukadas . These do not take much time or investments, and are well within our current capabilities, if only there is a vision and awill to do them. You can see these at work efficiently n Singapore.
K.George John.
Edited 10/2018
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