Blind Cik Nong

Cik Nong, don't you even know that fellow Malaysians also would rank Kuala Lumpur in the same manner as A.T. Kearney? When complaints are lodged with the DBKL, what do you people do in a spirit, "Rakyat diutamakan"? Nothing! Makan gaji buta saja or Cik Nong rabun mata sampai tak nampak masalah yang diadukan kepada DBKL? Even emails forwarded to the Datuk Bandar, where are the actions? Not even repeated emails to najib@pmo.gov.my or sidek@pmo.gov.my have resulted in any actions. Rakyat diutamakan? My foot!

Global Cities index ranks Kuala Lumpur in 48th spot

By PRIYA MENON
priya@thestar.com.my Photos by LOW LAY PHON

FEDERAL Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin is disappointed that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) was not consulted before the 2010 A. T Kearney Global Cities index was done.

According to a report on an online daily portal, Kuala Lumpur had dropped eight spots on the list to 48 compared with their previous ranking in 2008.

Malaysia’s capital is also behind Asian cities like Bangkok at 36 and Taipei at 39 while New York, London, Tokyo and Paris topped the list.

The international consulting firm A.T. Kearney assessed 65 major cities based on the strength of their business, human capital, political, cultural and information assets.

“We are usually part of the studies and provide the information required by the firms. That way we can also monitor the index ourselves,” he added.

Nong Chik said this during the ministry’s Raya Open House held at Lake Titiwangsa last Saturday.

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail also said they were unaware of the study while Nong Chik said the criteria for the study had to be analysed before making an assessment.

“In terms of transportation and green lung I believe we are not that bad,” he added.

It was also understood from Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda) chairman Datuk Micheal K. C. Yam, that the firm used expatriates for their findings.

“We are not saying we are perfect but consult us so that will we know where we have gone wrong. We are constantly improving and under the Greater KL plan, we are bringing in about 200 international companies within the next 20 years,” he added.