How do we develop a strong maintenance culture in Malaysia in the interest of public safety and convenience?
An International Islamic University Malaysia lecturer wrote in this column that Malaysians should start thinking about maintenance.
Malaysia is known as a country that prides itself in providing first- world infrastructure, but not in terms of its maintenance.
Poor maintenance of public buildings and infrastructure can lead to accidents and injuries.
Public toilets that are not properly maintained can cause health problems and inconveniences. Construction sites that are not checked can become aedes mosquito-breeding grounds.
Poorly maintained playgrounds can result in accidents and injuries.
Roads with potholes and clogged drains are a common sight. Unless they are maintained, they can lead to road accidents and flash floods.
Failure to prune tree branches and leaves that obstruct road signs also causes inconvenience to motorists and lead to accidents.
Our roads, hill slopes, bridges, buildings — such as schools, town halls and other infrastructure— are ageing due to wear and tear.
Safety audits must be carried out and where maintenance is needed, action must be taken to prevent accidents
Past incidents and tragedies are a reflection of poor work quality, poor execution, inept management, poor maintenance and lack of ethics.
What is at stake is not only the question of ethics, but also safety and health at work.
The comment that Malaysia is a case of a country “having first-world infrastructure but third-world mentality” is true when it comes to maintenance.
Maintenance and service have never been the country’s forte.
We are good at providing state-of-the-art buildings and equipment, but when it comes to maintaining them and making them function, we have shortcomings. We have not developed a civic-minded society.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
Kuala Lumpur