Eyesore: The Klang River continues to be filled with rubbish, mostly plastic waste, despite the efforts of the ‘trash trawler’, the boat pictured above that’s used to remove floating waste. — KK SHAM/The Star

IT is coming up to almost a year since it attained city status, but Klang has not been able to shed its image as a dirty town.

It was once called the dirtiest town in Malaysia and it doesn’t look like any clean-up has been carried out since it became a city in February.

Incidentally, it’s also the royal city of the state, and the Sultan of Selangor obviously has very good reason to be furious over the cleanliness standards there.

There are three other cities in Selangor, namely Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, and Shah Alam, but none of them has a royal tag to it like Klang, which, sadly and unfortunately, has the worst reputation for poor upkeep.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah pointed out many areas remain dirty and poorly organised, with rivers filled with garbage.

He shared that he had received numerous complaints from both local and foreign tourists, including those arriving by cruise ships docking at Port Klang.

These visitors, he said, had expressed their displeasure over the rubbish strewn in Port Klang and the Royal City of Klang, describing it as disgusting.

“It’s meaningless for us to be proud of our rapid development if we cannot even tackle fundamental issues like hygiene,” His Royal Highness said when officiating the launch of Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang on Thursday.

Sultan Sharafuddin said rivers filled with rubbish and poorly maintained drains have also led to frequent flooding in the city.

His Royal Highness said that he had repeatedly reprimanded and advised local authorities and the state government to take effective action and plan carefully to resolve the flooding issue in the Royal City of Klang and several other districts in Selangor. Yet, floods continue to occur every year.

“We should not use climate change or excessive rainfall, attributed to an ‘act of God’, as an excuse for the floods.

“I’m tired of raising this issue with the government and local authorities every year, only for it to be ignored. Why can’t we solve this problem?” he asked.

Indeed, Tuanku has brought up these issues in the past while the media has also regularly reported on the pathetic situation in Klang.

One would have expected the Klang City Council to focus on cleaning up after attaining city status but for most Klang residents and visitors, nothing has changed. It remains the same dirty place.

As His Royal Highness has said, one can imagine the impression tourists from cruise ships get upon landing at Port Klang and then heading to Kuala Lumpur. The entire stretch of road from the port remains poorly lit, and with unkempt landscaping. Unfortunately, this is what greets foreigners first when they arrive in Malaysia.

Many tourists who flock to Klang for its food also share the same negative perceptions about the city.

Tuanku also pointed out the state of the river in Klang, which is strewn with rubbish, adding that clogged drains have also resulted in floods in the city.

It has been more than 48 hours since His Royal Highness made his statement but there has been no response from the authorities. What a shame!

No one from the Selangor state government or Klang City Hall has taken responsibility or even made a commitment to clean up Klang.

It doesn’t look like any appointed contractors will be losing their jobs despite failing so badly in their duties. They should be blacklisted and should not hide behind shell companies. The tender process should also be made more transparent and accountable.

They had better be warned – the Sultan of Selangor will now keep a personal eye on this shoddy state of affairs.

In 2019, the Federation of Consumers Association reported that, “Taking a drive around town will reveal poor infrastructure along the roads, shoddy or incomplete work done by contractors, broken drains, unclean roads, and even uncut grass. With even the most basic services such as cleanliness and proper infrastructure upkeep not met, residents in Klang are getting fed up.’’

Five years on, we are now at the end of 2024, and it is as if time has stood still in Klang. It remains a dirty and badly run place.

Klang doesn’t deserve city status, really.

Charm offensive: With his persuasive personality as well as eloquence in English and even Arabic, Anwar (here at G20) can help enhance Malaysia’s image on the global stage. — Bernama

FORMER Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad must certainly be the most travelled Malaysian leader, having been head of government for 22 years. This does not even include his second round as premier.

As a journalist, I accompanied him on many of these overseas trips to far-flung nations, an opportunity I would not have had if not for my job.

I counted over 25 countries that I tagged along to, including Albania, Cuba, Colombia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Senegal, Uruguay and Jamaica, which are all not usually on the radar of the average Malaysian tourist. But Dr Mahathir probably visited more than 50 nations.

Almost all the trips involved back-to-back meetings, which began with a pre-council meeting with accompanying ministers and officials immediately after touchdown.

In 1996, we arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a year after the civil war with the Serbs ended, together with the heads of 14 private companies.

Most of us stayed in a hotel riddled with bullet holes. In some rooms, there were only plastic sheets instead of glass panes. Many businessmen, however, saw potential deals in the ruins – from supplying window panes to rebuilding roads and bridges.

None of this, of course, was spoken about openly, as it would have been distasteful, but the message was that Malaysia was prepared to assist Bosnia in rebuilding the nation. Malaysia also donated RM10mil, a small sum for a country which was near flattened.

While the trip was to earn goodwill and to show our commitment to help a less fortunate nation, the big challenge to our business side was to be involved in the reconstruction process in the long-term.

In Dr Mahathir’s many trips, there were good deals and bad ones. One such bad deal was when our national airlines had a direct flight to Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, no thanks to Dr Mahathir’s good relationship with the then President Robert Mugabe.

It was a decision that put our national carrier at a huge loss. How many businessmen, from both sides, would travel between the two countries?

During Dr Mahathir’s years as PM from 1981 to 2003, he visited Japan over 100 times – mainly to promote his “Look East” policy. Japan was one of the biggest investors in Malaysia then.

Japan’s offer to guarantee billions of ringgit in what was known as “Samurai bonds’’ with a 10-year-tenure also came in handy for Malaysia to retire some of the previous costly loans committed by the previous leadership.

Love him or loathe him, Dr Mahathir has certainly left a tremendous impact in his two decades of travelling.

On a recent trip to Istanbul, I saw a photograph of Dr Mahathir at a shop at the Grand Bazaar. In Porto, Portugal, when a Bangladeshi found out that I was from Malaysia, he said: “Dr Mahathir.”

I replied: “No, our Prime Minister now is Anwar Ibrahim.”

None of Dr Mahathir successors could reach his stature as a statesman. Perhaps their tenure was too short, or they were not as controversial in their speeches to make the world notice them.

Fast forward to 2024 and there is Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He was already a known international figure before he became PM with his vast international network from the West to the Islamic countries and our neighbours.

He is travelling quite a bit too. Prime Ministers need to go out and help to sell Malaysia, whether to attract investments or for diplomatic strategies. Sitting at home will not help Malaysia.

The protocol for any new PM is to visit the leaders of the other nine Asean members namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The only exception is Myanmar as the military government has been denounced for its continued acts against its civilians.

Like many journalists, I, too, was asked why there was a need for Anwar to travel to all these nations so soon after becoming PM. The fact is: It is required for him. He will be the new Asean leader from January.

It is important for Malaysia to show its commitment to strengthening alliances at regional level, too. More importantly, Anwar is continuing the policy of economic diplomacy. Our neighbours, especially Indonesia and Thailand, compete aggressively with Malaysia for investments.

The Indonesian media, for example, often asks openly and aggressively about what Indonesia lacks that Malaysia has, as investments pour in, especially to Penang, which has become a Silicon Valley for its micro-chips production.

A PM who sits at home will not help Malaysia. Naturally, he has to justify and show us the results of his visits, but diplomacy is not all about investments and money.

The reasons for his travels abroad also include strengthening bilateral ties, to reinforce political, economic and cultural relations, negotiating agreements such as trade deals, defence pacts and outstanding issues including even border disputes.

Our friendship with China, for example, has helped in tourism and investments. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, China offered its Sinovac vaccines to Malaysia, which was among the earliest recipients.

The PM also has the job of expanding our nation’s products, especially our palm oil, to other countries. Our national car, Proton, is now being assembled in Egypt, which will be a gateway to the vast African continent.

Last week, Anwar was in Seoul to get his South Korean counterpart, President Yoon Suk-yeol, to conclude a free trade zone agreement by next year, which would include additional areas such as services, investment and green energy.

It is important to shape what the world thinks of Malaysia. Recently, Anwar was given the honour of attending the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Brazil although Malaysia is not a member.

The G20 comprises 19 big countries including the United States, United Kingdom, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany as well as two regional bodies, the European Union and African Union.

Anwar, who will chair the Asean grouping next year, was invited to be in the company of these global players.

Whether we wish to admit it or not, a Premier who speaks impeccable English and is at ease with his peers will help to enhance Malaysia’s image through speeches, media engagements or meetings with the Malaysian diaspora.

Dr Mahathir made sharp and hard-hitting speeches, Datuk Seri Najib Razak spoke in crisp English while Anwar is the ultimate charmer, persuasive, eloquent and comfortable in English, and even Arabic.

There is nothing more embarrassing than a PM who is seen struggling at the United Nations rostrum.

But it is not just the speeches. There are side meetings and personal socialising that get things done, as these summits shape policies and find answers to global concerns. Not every PM has that social skill.

Let’s also be realistic. Malaysia, as a small country, sometimes needs to negotiate financial aid or development support.

As a predominantly Muslim country, Malaysia has also played its role in mediating conflicts in Thailand and the Philippines. Engagement in peace talks certainly boosts our image.

Anwar has rightly used his second year as Prime Minister to push Malaysia on the international stage in the run-up to the Asean chairmanship. It is not just our neighbours who will converge in Malaysia next year but also world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping.

We have to wait and see if inward-looking US President Donald Trump will also come. Asean wasn’t his interest.

Another point to be noted is that Anwar’s travels overseas also reflect Malaysia’s political stability.

It shows no one is plotting to take over his post while he is away for two weeks, another reason why Malaysia is a favoured country for investment.

However, a controversy has erupted over the cost of his travel. The standard rule, especially for chartered flights to countries with difficult connections, with accompanying businessmen is simple.

The Malaysian government foots the bill of the officials, the businessmen pay for their seats. So do journalists. That’s how the break-up of the bill is. For sure, these are not holiday trips.

Anwar made his intercontinental mission to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Peru and Brazil from Nov 9-19.

It could have been better explained by the officials but essentially, the government has ensured an equitable recovery of costs from the private sector, when they paid for their seats and other expenses, at no disadvantage to taxpayers. And that that was how it had been done previously also.

Finally, there is this fake viral social media message about a trip that Anwar is NOT making. Apparently, he has not been invited to Trump’s inauguration while Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Timor Leste have. Even Archbishop Julian Leow, a decent bloke, found himself dragged into the list of so-called invitees.

No, none of them have been invited. It was obviously fake, but there were many who believed it.

Controversial policy: A schoolgirl walking home from school in the Fayzabad district of Badakhshan Province. Afghanistan is the only country in the world that does not allow girls and women to attend secondary school and university, and forbids women from working. — AFP

EDUCATION Minister Fadhlina Sidek found herself in a tight spot over the move to host officials from the Taliban-led Afghanistan government here last week.

Some MPs queried her over the visit and their reservations are understandable given the oppressive and extremist nature of that government.

It is the only country in the world that does not allow girls and women to attend secondary school and university and forbids women from working in many jobs.

Kabul has very few friends, but the reality is that the Taliban are in power and while many countries are dragging their feet to recognise them, they are running the government.

DAP MP Lim Guan Eng raised concerns that Malaysia might be seen as condoning Afghanistan’s policies, particularly the ban on women’s education, but several defensive PAS MPs criticised the Bagan MP.

Kuala Kerian MP Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, the PAS deputy president, said the current Afghanistan administration is “not a Taliban government.’’ He is wrong. Of course it is a Taliban government, but meeting Taliban leaders and officials is not tantamount to agreeing with their policies, just like meeting Communist Party of China leaders does not mean we support communism; or engaging with openly gay foreign leaders does not make us advocates of their lifestyles.

If only some of our lawmakers could think with their heads instead of just wanting to score points. There is no doubt that there is global concern over how the Taliban run their country. Unless they change, the world will continue to shun Afghanistan.

Since 2023, funds to develop the country from international aid organisations have been put on hold because of its policies, which has put its 15.8 million people in continued misery. It has been reported that over 25 government-run hospitals lost their international funding and the World Food Programme has also cut its assistance to 10 million Afghans.

That aside, the people in rural areas have had to deal with the drastic implications of flooding, droughts and earthquakes, which have decimated their produce.

The United States, which fought against the Taliban, had been the largest international donor to Afghanistan having provided over US$2.6bil (RM11.6bil) via the United Nations and other non-governmental organisations.

However, after the fall of Kabul in 2021, the Biden administration froze the funds as it said it was unclear who had the legal authority to access the account.

The Taliban government, which is said to be divided among various factions, has been insistent on continuing its policy of banning women from formal education, but its willingness to meet a female Malaysian education minister should be seen as an opportunity.

The MOE’s statement on the matter has certain key words – “we showcased an inclusive education system focused on increasing access and equity across socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, and geography.

“This includes eliminating gender disparities and ensuring equal and inclusive access at all education levels.

“The MOE’s commitment aligns with the statement last year by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who expressed readiness to enhance cooperation with Afghanistan. At the same time, education rights cannot be denied.

“Malaysia is committed to and fully supports the right to education and access to education for girls.’’

During the week-long visit from Nov 4, the Afghans visited SMKA Putrajaya, Institut Pendidikan Guru Perempuan Melayu in Melaka, Bukit Jalil Sports School and Sekolah Seri Puteri, Cyberjaya. It was an eye-opener as the visits included co-ed institutions.

”They saw how Islamic Studies and English, together with sciences, can be taught in proper Islamic schools,” one official said.

He said the Afghans were open to all “except for music classes.” The Taliban have banned music and all forms of entertainment since taking over in 2021.

The Malaysian stand, however, is clear. Meeting these Afghans enables us to convince them that providing education to females is important – surely, these Taliban, too, have daughters, sisters and mothers.

Do they want to deprive a whole generation of females of proper schooling because of their extreme interpretation of religion, or a fear that their authority will be challenged?

According to news reports, the delegation was led by Shahabuddin Saqib, the director-general of the Afghan education ministry. Fadhlina said the delegation also took part in several discussions with MOE, where her ministry “shared insights on education.’’

Rather than frown upon their visit, I feel it is good that they chose Malaysia as a place where they could learn.

Perhaps, the delegation can convince the hardliners back home to have a rethink. It could perhaps start off by allowing females in the urban areas to attend classes online.

If that can happen, although it sounds like a long shot, it will enable Kabul to negotiate for the resumption of funds.

A harsh winter is coming, and the Taliban will have plenty of time to think although unfortunately, the people will be facing tough times. But these are resilient people. They have defeated the British, Russians and Americans in wars.

It doesn’t help that the people in power are mostly war veterans not trained in the subtleties of diplomacy, finance and economics, skills needed to turn the country around.

Malaysia no longer has an embassy in Kabul while the Afghan embassy here was established before the Taliban government was formed. Its representatives are invited to functions and no one can miss them in their traditional clothes.

However, Putrajaya continues to take a “cautious approach” on its relations with Afghanistan and waits for signals from international bodies like the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) before deciding on whether to resume official diplomatic ties.

The US has a “interest section’’ in Kabul which it operates under the Qatar government. Normally, if a country does not have diplomatic relations with another, it will have an “interest section” run by another friendly country. In some cases, it could be just a one-man show “liaison office.”

In Baghdad, during the United Nations sanctions against Iraq under the late Saddam Hussein, the US had its interest section under the Polish embassy.

In short, no matter what happens, the engagement remains. At least a listening post stays open. Intelligence gathering is sometimes carried out via an existing “humanitarian NGO” operating in Afghanistan or through a third-party, particularly Muslim countries which still have embassies there.

Most countries have continued their engagement with the Afghans in unofficial capacities and these, even on a personal level, are beneficial.

China, for one, is among the strongest supporters of Afghanistan. It has an embassy in Kabul and has extended economic aid and multi-dollar loans to develop the country, with which it shares a 92km border.

Chinese tourists to Afghanistan have grown since 2021 after the Taliban took control with over 7,000 Chinese tourists in 2023, a remarkable increase of 913% from 2012, according to the Tourism Directorate in Kabul.

Indonesia has shut down its embassy in Kabul but its ambassador in Islamabad, Pakistan, is also accredited to Kabul. That means Indonesia still has full diplomatic ties with Kabul.

As much as my writings have been critical of the Taliban, it has not prevented me from making friends with journalists who work at Bakhtar News Agency, the official news agency of Afghanistan.

If the Afghans want to come to Malaysia to learn and open their eyes and ears – we lose nothing by using this window of opportunity to convince them to let their girls and women have a proper education.