Federal Capital Territory @ 38

                                      A co-ordinated march past during the FT Day celebrations

 >The Making of the Federal Capital Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and 

Putrajaya) that marks the 38th Birthday and Creation  of these Malaysian 
Most Prosperous Cities  

Kuala Lumpur  Feb 4 - The 2012 Federal Territories Day celebration was held in Merdeka Square and the place was the centre of attention of all the citizens and tourists for the day. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak officiated at the ceremony participated by 94 contingents with 8,000 members representing government departments, schools, higher education institutions, corporate bodies, non-government bodies and banks. Together with the Prime Minister, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin was present too.

The theme for the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya is “Rakyat Bersatu, Wilayah Persekutuan Maju” (Unity for Progressive Federal Territories). The celebration included a procession of antique cars, superbikes and Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s cavalry contingent. The Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry, KL City Hall, Putrajaya Corporation, Labuan Corporation, Federal Territories’ director of Land and Mines Office and Federal Territories Sports Council gave the city folks gifts such as discounts on compound, visits to public places, quit rent and fines and free rental for sports facilities and multi-purpose halls and free coupons.

             A varied program of activities and competitions will be organized throughout the Federal Territory Day Celebrations, held from the 28th January until the 29th June 2012. These events and program have been organized for the purpose of encouraging active local community participation and inculcating the spirit of solidarity among city dwellers and to plant the seeds of love and affection for the Federal Territories.

The Information Communications and Culture Ministry organized a program called Kuala Lumpur Art Street for two days beginning on the 28^th January. Thirty booths are selling paintings, antiques, used books, old CDs and records, accessories for women and traditional food. It was highlighted with performances in the form of street music, singing, dancing, clowns, buskers and ‘human statue.                                           
                

        The Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail’s theme and visions were the main focus of this year’s celebration. "This is our (KL folk) celebration. This is the time when we reflect on what we have achieved as a city and what can be done to improve and it's obvious that we (City Hall) can't do this alone.” He said.

"If we are not united, than we will achieve less than we should.

"On our part, we carry out daily operations including cleanliness and maintenance, but if the people do not appreciate this, then it will be difficult to achieve a better city.

"Then you can see people litter as they please and abuse public facilities, including pedestrian walkways.

“Yes, we run the city by ensuring the upkeep and maintenance of infrastructures, but how do we change people's bad attitudes and behavior?

"Attitudes like riding a motorcycle on the pedestrian walkway or parking vehicles on it, for instance. Yet people still blame us and simply say that we don't enforce the law when they see this.

"You can blame us for faulty street lights and bad roads as maintaining them is part of our job, but can you blame us for the bad attitude of others?" he asked. (Above dialogues are cited from Bernama News).

Most of the ideas proposed are being carried out, including the basic things that have direct effect and impact on everyone living in the city. These include cleanliness, landscape beautification, road maintenance, flood mitigation projects and pedestrian walkway network. Fuad wants to get everything in order based on the RM2.3 billion budget for this year. This will not only improve the life of city folk but also the image of the city as part of the efforts to become a livable city by 2020.

  

                                 

Let all of us join together to continuously celebrate FEDERAL TERRITORY DAY as a special Day, with pride, joy and in the spirit of oneness! We should support and collaborate with the government to organize such subsequent events and programs by actively taking part in it.

Compiled by:  Nesh Kumarz, Vaneshya Thanabalan, Reena Poudel, Jennifer Ann, Devraj
Edited by: Uzoma Victor & Sansha Neogurl