It is easy to be cynical

When I think about the recent ruling by the Malaysian Federal Court judges to declare "immunity for local authorities" when a building collapse, it is so easy to be cynical and skeptical about the accountability and responsibility of authorities in my country. It is easy to turn to despair and abandon the cause.

I think there are people out there who cares. Who wants to have a better education system, a better local government, and better way of life, where there is a level playing ground and no favouritism.

I was thinking about the judges, and it is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that they are on the take or have their own agendas. The case is so obvious that the local authority is at fault because the local authority officers proceeded to approve the Highland Towers development and construction without a proper drainage system and 40 something people died and many people were displaced and lost their homes. (Victim's verdict)

Even if the developers have to pay compensation due to this "criminal act", the local authority had been a "partner" simply because the local authority concern had approved the development. We rely on our local authority to solve many problems concerning health and safety in our cities. And if they do not do the job properly, how do we solve the problems? How do they perform if there is no accountability, meaning they don't really have to check the drawings and the construction sites because if the building falls down, it is not their fault. They have immunity from such occurences.

So, don't have the planning and building control system in the first place.

It is so easy to be cynical...