Tuesday March 10, 2009

KL City bearing the brunt of its residents’ lackadaisical attitude

VALLEY VIEW
By ZUKRI VALENTENO

Kuala Lumpur…
Senyuman Mu Di Pagi Ini
Sungguh Bererti
Kerna Cinta Bersemi Lagi
Setelah Kemarau Panjang

Di Lebuhraya, Di Papan tanda
Tergambar Wajah Mu
Dengan Kalimat Cinta Untuk Kita
Semoga Kekal Selamanya…

THESE are the opening lyrics of “Senyumlah Kuala Lumpur”, a famous ballad popularised by the equally famous band Alleycats who rocked the local music charts back in the 1980s.

It was a harmonious love song with the federal capital as its backdrop, about love that had finally blossomed in the heart of Kuala Lumpur after a long hiatus and how the city became the rendezvous point of lovers with a typical happy ending.

Although it is already more than 20 years old, this evergreen hit is still popular in the karaoke circuit today because of the easy and catchy lyrics.

It is simple and beautifully composed and has everything to do with Alleycats, the most-loved band in the country!

In a way the song promotes love, caring and loving feeling as well as to smile and exchange smiles at all time. The message, however, hardly gets through these days because we can barely feel love in Kuala Lumpur.

Have you ever noticed these words “Sayangi Kuala Lumpur” on all billboards erected in Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s jurisdiction?

But the city folk’s demonstration and manifestation of love are anything but that.

For instance, KL-ites litter at ease as if there is no tomorrow. They still throw rubbish out of moving vehicles. They spit everywhere without any compunction and still wait impatiently in the yellow box and they have no mercy for senior citizens and children who are about to cross the road.

If that’s not enough, some KL folk still stick bills (especially advertisements on money lenders) at every available public property. In short, they show no love at all.

An eyesore: This is the sight of the Batu Caves Temple after the Thaipusam celebrations.

Suffice to say there is almost no love, or rather the lack of it in Kuala Lumpur.

How to bring back love to this once lovely metropolitan city, the city I grew up in; where the younger generation show respect and love to our elders regardless of our religion and race, colour and creed. The city is supposed to make us feel good and where everyone smiles at each other and exchange greetings at ease?

This is where we live and “cari makan” and I suppose we do not litter in our home, yes?

And I suppose too that we should not be spitting anywhere as we like since we are not uncouth?

Is it all right to drive at breakneck speed without any regard to the other road users or is it okay to rempit at any given road?

Do we not love our beautiful environment in our city that we leave behind tonnes of rubbish after enjoying ourselves at a carnival?

Or we do not love our public toilets anymore after using them to ease ourselves for a trifle fee of 30 sen or 50 sen?

What about our love towards public properties such as the telephones which can be very helpful to us during an emergency like when our handphone batteries are out and when we lose our belongings to snatch thieves and robbers?

In short, have we forgotten what love is? Or how to show love?

I would say nothing is more apt then Black Eyed Peas’ “Where Is The Love?”

Zukri Valenteno is a long-time Kuala Lumpur resident who yearns the day when city folks readily say “Terima Kasih” at every opportunity or even “Selamat Pagi” or “Have A Nice Day” and “Boleh Saya Tolong Encik?” to help foster and share love and the loving feeling. He can be reached at utarawan@streamyx.com.