余德华 ஏர் டெக் ஹ்வா: MP Bakri's Press Statement : The logic behind Wahab's thinking

The President of Muar Municipal Council, Adbul Wahab Ridwan said that the Muar Tanjung Emas Public Swimming Pool is unprofitable during his visit to Parit Jawa fish landing port on 19th December 2009. I deeply regret this announcement for the statement came from the highest ranking officer who is in-charge of Muar Town development.

I have raised this issue to the Housing and Local Government Department and Youth and Sports Department during 2010 Supply Bill debate session. Housing and Local Government Department Deputy Minister, Dato Lajim Ukim replied and stated that the department will work closely with Youth and Sports Department to resolve this issue. Youth and Sport Department Deputy Minister ,Dato Razali Ibrahim has also given the same opinion regarding the same issue. 'This is an issue desperately needed to be resolved. It is not nice to leave it (the swimming pool) unattended. ' The Deputy Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Muar stated that in the House of Common. Nevertheless, as the President of Muar Municipal Council, Adbul Wahab gave a totally different answer -- an answer that is contrary to public opinion.

According to the answer given by Johor State Bentayan constituency assemblyman, YB Gwee Tiong Hiang, it had been clearly stated that repair cost of the swimming pool is approximately RM 3 million. By comparing the construction cost of Muar Clock Tower RM 1.6 million, including repainting cost of RM 1.5 million which was conducted by July this year, the total cost is RM 1.75 million. Tanjung Emas Square's construction cost is RM 4 million (RM4,175,682.97 to be precise). Reconstruction of Tanjung Emas river bank cost RM 500 thousand. All these projects add up to a total RM 6.25 million, equivalent to twice the stated repair cost of the swimming pool. These facts clearly contradict to what President Wahab had earlier stated that the council cannot financially afford to repair the swimming pool'.

Secondly, according to the same answer provided by the Johor State Government, the reason for closing it down is because it had to be closed down since it was no longer appropriate and safe to be used ( ianya terpaksa ditutup kerana tidak lagi sesuai dan selamat untuk digunakan), but the reason for the sudden closure still remain unknown. The main contention is, why has the facility been abandoned for the past 13 years without proper maintenance and why the Council had not taken any action when it realized the initial problem back way back in 1996?

Thirdly, President Wahab had also stated that even the private sector will not be able to sustain the project. He also said that there more and more private swimming pools have been built and public swimming pool has become unprofitable. I think President Wahab has committed a serious mistake logically. If building a swimming pool is unprofitable, why are private swimming pools mushrooming in this town? It is for the same reason that because of the unavailability of public swimming pools, the private sectors will have to build swimming pools to fulfill public demand. This is an egg and chicken issue. As a responsible local government, President Wahab's statement is totally absurd and unacceptable. His statement also reveals that he never considers and weigh public opinion when decisions are to be made. Instead of that, commercial profitability is his first priority. If we follow his logic of thinking, we should close down the Muar Public Library since it is not 'profitable'? This is the spirit of MP Najib Tun Razak's new slogan 'One Malaysia, People First, Performance Now' or should I change it to ''One Malaysia Bhd, Profitability First, I Want My Money Now'?

Furthermore, the RM 4 million Tanjung Emas Square and RM 1.6 million Clock Tower does not create any income to the Council. The public does not need to buy tickets to utilise this place. These two projects are totally unprofitable and merely serve as symbolic monument. A public swimming pool can be used to conduct any swimming competition, swimming class, and the public need to pay a small sum to utilise the facility. What had been stated by President Wahab is contradictory and absolutely unreasonable.

Fourth, President Wahab claims that instead of building an expensive swimming pool, we should construct bridges and roads. Again, President Wahab has done a serious logical mistake in his statement. Regardless of bridges construction, Road building, setting up street light or ditches and drains system planning, they are all categorized as basic infrastructure and it is the Municipal Council's basic role and responsibility to maintain and improve the system. In addition to that, in order to provide adequate leisure and sports facility for public, a responsible Municipal Council should also build more public halls, public library, sports centers and public parks. During pass parliamentary debate session, I also raised the issue of installation of street lights along Jalan Bakri which has not been done. The answer from the Deputy Minister ,Lajim Ukim stated that the Muar Municipal Council has never applied for any fund application on this matter. If President Wahab admitted that the Council cannot afford a swimming pool, instead he want to concentrate on the very basic needs of the local resident i.e. bridges and roads. The question is, why is it the Council never seek for funding help from the Federal Government for maintaining street lights? I had verify with President Wahab before and he said that the Council has insufficient funding, hence the installation of Jalan Bakri's street lights has to come in stages. Nevertheless, he never apply for any fund from the Federal Government on this matter.

The Muar Swimming Pool was a pride for all Muarians. The only Olympic standard 50m swimming pool has become merely a collective memory for us. It was the place for student swimming courses and the best place for sports activities. Because of this public swimming pool, Muar High School managed to provide training for sea boy scouts. But the sweet memory had been occupied by lizards in the pool. If President of Muar Municipal Council Adbul Wahab Ridwan does not want to face this issue aggressively and intend to convert the swimming pool to other purposes, the consequence will be the indignation of the public. I suppose this is not what MP Najib's BN government would like to foresee.

This is a final advice for President Wahab. Think twice before your walk.

DAP Member of Parliament for Bakri
ER TECK HWA
23.12.09