Malaysians weigh in on how to further improve their city’s listing
Johor Baru City
JOHOR BARU: A city’s development should not just be centred around economic activities because community building and the arts are equally important, say residents here.
Muhammad Fahmi Lokman, 31, said while Johor Baru is a great place to stay, he hopes to see more efforts being made to safeguard the welfare of the Orang Asli to ensure a more comprehensive community building.
“There are still many people in the Seletar coastal community, within Johor Baru, whose children are not educated.
“It is not like they are living in rural areas ... yet they are left behind while their surrounding areas are undergoing rapid development,” he said.
He said this in response to the recent Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2024 where Johor Baru has been placed 376th out of 1,000 cities across 163 countries worldwide.
The list puts Kuala Lumpur, which is placed 135th, as the second most outstanding city in South-East Asia behind Singapore.
In the context of South-East Asia, Johor Baru is in 11th position behind Bangkok, Manila, Jakarta, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, George Town, Melaka and Danang.
Muhammad Fahmi, who is in charge of media and fundraising for NGO Kelab Bandar Kita Johor Baru, said he does not fully agree with the listing.
“Johor Baru is quite packed with economic activities but it is disappointing that our community development and placemaking efforts are weak.
“The heritage buildings in downtown Johor Baru are also not managed well and many are left abandoned,” he said, adding that they could be turned into community spaces.
Software developer Sammy Leong, 40, said Johor Baru is packed with commercial activities with limited space for community programmes.
“We should learn from Kuala Lumpur, which has designated hubs for arts and community activities, such as the Zhongshan Building in Jalan Kampung Attap,” she said.
Self-employed S. Sathian, 65, said there is room for improvement, especially when it comes to the people’s mindset on simple matters, such as cleanliness.
The list means nothing if people still litter and pay no attention to the environment, he said.
Meanwhile, in George Town, Penangites said it is apt that the city has been picked as one of the best cities in South-East Asia in the survey.
They put environment and governance as top on the list as it is a perfect place for work and recreation with the state government working efficiently in creating a liveable city.
Businessman Safeer Hussain Ahamedsa, 47, said the state government has created a peaceful and stable environment, and relatively affordable cost of living.
“The traffic congestion is minimal other than peak hours and the government’s move to have various transportation projects to solve this issue is much lauded,” he said.
Developer Datuk Nagarethinam Pillay, 64, said Penang should be ranked higher than Kuala Lumpur in the survey.
“The state government has done well by balancing development and safeguarding the environment as well as boosting tourism,” he said, adding that Penang is set to scale greater heights in years to come.
In Melaka, a traffic officer from Jasin police headquarters, Insp G. Gunaseellan, said he is proud to see Melaka and Seremban making it to the list.
“And I have also shared the good news with others,” he added.Insp Gunaseellan, who hails from Seremban, said both the cities share cultural identity and traditional businesses, and are located nearby.
Former serviceman Nasir Ahmet, 61, said he is delighted to know Melaka is one of the top cities and glad that he made the city his hometown when he was first posted here four decades ago.
“I came here from Jelebu, Negri Sembilan, as a young man and chose Melaka as my home,” he said.
Nasir attributed the effectiveness of the state government in upholding peace and social order as well as bringing economic prosperity to the people as one of the reasons for Melaka to be listed in the index.