Enough is enough. The news headlines of the last few days captured totally my feelings on the issue of blatant disregard for the environment in the Selangor, the so-called \’developed state\’.

June 5 is World Environment Day. What a way to observe this day with yet another environmental mishap in Selangor.

And all the Mentri Besar (MB) can do is to talk, assign blame and make excuses. I would like him to assume responsibility for the environment crisis in \’developed\’ parts of Selangor.

The gap between his espoused theory and the theory-in-use by all his appointed officials have left two dead, two missing and 160 people homeless. Does he really even appreciate the pain of simply the personal loss of even one life; but what more two from the same family?

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Each life is priceless in the eyes and heart of the Almighty, but the Selangor team\’s \’talk-show\’ continues without resolve or resolution.

And the MB keeps talking, even about taking the case to court. Why go to court when the negligence is entirely within your own court? It is time for someone to take full responsibility and resign.

There is frankly no basis for the prime minister to allow this MB and his team to continue after the string of mishaps in this so-called developed state. To them development means one can throw away lives and ignore the rule of law simply for money. How else can anyone explain this shoddy supervision and the lacklustre \’oversight\’?

The specific issues and impending disaster were known well even before the incident. So why did they let it happen, and then blame the Almighty their own failings? Thankfully the works minister saw the light this time and did not blame God for the disaster.

History of mishaps

There have been several environmental disasters in the state. First, there was the Genting Highlands landslide which was blamed on God.

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Then there was the rape of Bukit Cahaya which left large tracts of bare land. This issue was brought to our attention by the premier himself. We then found out that the guilty parties were state government entities, overseen by the city of Shah Alam. The chairperson of one state subsidiary was the MB himself.

Then there was the rape of a green lung in Taman Desaria by virtue of an unlawful state exco decision. The High Court ruled in favour of the residents and against the state government and MPPJ. It even found that the minutes had been doctored and falsified to rationalise the rape. To date, I believe, no action has been taken against the perpetrators.

In another case, the Federal Court ruled in favour of the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council, and established that the council was not liable for the Highland Towers tragedy. We therefore have no choice but to excuse the council for the most recent landslide, I suppose.

No wonder that the MB blames the contractor; the council president blames destiny, and the contractors say they are not responsible. So, who is responsible? If a recently completed retaining wall can collapse, there must be something wrong.

In determining fault, the blame must lie with those who have oversight over projects. If blame cannot be assigned at the level of the municipal council, it must laid at the doorstep of either the state secretary or the MB, as the council president reports to both. A fish rots from the head.

Loss of confidence

I believe that it is time that the PM stops being everybody\’s nice guy and that he starts acting. Even as a supporter of his leadership style, I am losing confidence and patience, especially in the light of so many inexplicable contradictions and absence of translation of his espoused theories.

It is time he acts against all contradictions of integrity from within his chosen administration. Those who cannot live up to his expectations must be let go, whether at the level of the MB or the Inspector-General of Police.

The longer he supports failures, the sooner even traditional supporters will turn to the opposition without apology. The Sarawak election results are probably an early indicator of a general loss of confidence in the PM and his political appointees. I hope he will recognise the signs.

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The last six months or so have shown up the lack of clarity of his early promises, with the result that decisions are sadly missing and there seems to be loss of personal will to lead.

So, my call to the PM is that enough is enough on the lack of prevention and environmental management in Selangor. The bad model of development has exacted enough human lives.

I am reminded by what my professor, SH Nasr, wrote in his book, Man and Nature: The Spiritual Crisis of Modern Man : \”For a humanity turned towards outwardness by the very process of modernisation, it is so not easy to see that the blight wrought upon the environment is in reality an externalisation of the destitution of the inner state of the soul of that humanity whose actions are responsible for the ecological crisis.\”

I suspect this describes the current state of mind and philosophy of development of the leadership of Selangor. The so-called developed state in which I live does not appear to have a clear policy to protect the environment and to evolve a sustainable model of development.

Instead, there is a large gap between the claims made by administrators and implementation by the state authorities. The unfortunate victims are ordinary citizens who still have to pay taxes and dues for the lack of a quality of life. This disregard and lack of accountability are unacceptable and unforgivable.

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How can the MB say this will never again happen in Selangor? Can he guarantee that the full state apparatus will be mobilised to reduce such incidents to zero? Is that too much to ask? Surely, it is worth the effort if innocent lives are involved?

How can a private landowner put up an illegal longhouse that is visible to the world, but remains unseen by the local authority? Surely it is the lack of integrity, possible corruption, lack of quality assurance and absence of responsibility that led to this mishap?

How can we blame anyone other than all parties responsible for administration of due process and procedures? Come on Mentri Besar, come on state administration…surely someone has the courage to admit responsibility.

Maybe it is too much to ask of this administration. Maybe talk is more respected than action and follow-through in this state. Maybe, we need five more disasters before the MB acknowledges his failure in leadership.

I pray for the unfortunate victims-in-waiting. There is too much irresponsibility and lip service. May God bless this so-called developed state.