RECENT newspaper reports have blamed vandalism as the cause of the collapse of a power installation tower in Sepanggar, Sabah.

This theft of 20 metal pipes on the tower is said to have caused a six-hour blackout in the state on April 22.

About RM400,000 will be needed to repair the damage.

Also, recently, newspapers carried reports concerning the use of RM2 million by Johor Baru Municipal Council to replace vandalised property last year, compared with the RM1.5 million used for the same purpose in 2006.

Prior to this, Selangor, while under the administration of Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, had approved RM20 million for the repainting of flats vandalised in the state.

According to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) report on vandalism, government and private agencies spent RM1.2 million in the past four months up to April to repair facilities damaged in 6,814 vandalism cases.

Last year, DBKL’s expenses to fix 5,290 vandalism cases amounted to RM2 million.

These reports were made based on the expenses of 10 agencies, including departments within DBKL and the Fire and Rescue Department.

It is time the Housing and Local Government Ministry revised laws relating to vandalism to provide for harsher sentences, including whipping and imprisonment, to stop the rise in vandalism.

The anti-vandalism squads, set up in schools during 2001, are no longer heard of.

The actions of certain parties, who have been lackadaisical in pushing this programme, are seen as the cause of students not acquiring knowledge of this issue.

In reality, vandalism would not be curbed if society, especially the younger generation, refuse to co-operate and acknowledge the importance of caring for public property.

If the right spirit and state of mind is awakened within the younger generation, vandalism will no longer be an issue.

As Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said during the launching of the National Facility and Asset Management convention last year, the government made possible first-class infrastructure, only to have it vandalised by irresponsible citizens.

S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS for Consumers Association of Penang

Source: NST – April 28, 2008