The success of a sustainable city is very clear...it boils down to good ol' structured planning with competent and transparent governance in which its not just "top-down" administration, but a two-way process which involves all stakeholders as well. Oh, and the citizens too must be willing to initiate and adapt to change towards a cleaner, healthier and sustainable lifestyle as well.
On the state government's part, they have initiated many campaigns aiming at solving key problems pertaining the 3 C's - Cleanliness, Congestion and Corruption. There are slight improvements in the public transport system ( if you bother to compare it with the days of our tin can "Bas Mini"s) as well as public amenities. Tourism is picking up thanks in part to our promotion efforts capitalizing on our UNESCO World Heritage Site status. While the efforts by the government to make Penang a livable place should be lauded, I personally feel the approach in implementation needs involve the ecosystem that will sustain it. The people need to know how these changes will be done, what are the alternatives or options for them, and most importantly how to and why should they be engaged.
Case in point, we can laud the government for launching the "No Plastic Bag" campaign as non biodegradable plastic bags are major scourge to Mother Nature, but I see weaknesses in the campaign with respect to providing practical alternatives. Recently, due to security reasons, some supermarkets have disallowed shoppers from bringing in their own recyclable bags, while as always, some Penang kias being Penang kias have much to grouse about, wanting free recyclable bags or boxes and all that. Until both the government and the people change their mistakes and mindsets, being a livable, sustainable city will remain a possible but distant ambition to achieve.
Compared with other places in Malaysia (and probably Asia and the world), we have some key geographical and cultural attributes which make us actually a comparatively livable city. Penang food is already world-renowned as among the best, our cost of living isn't stratospheric (at least we don't have to pay 30 bucks plus for a plate of rice and a drink), we have sunny climes all year round (whereas the weather in Vancouver, the world's "Most Livable City" can be bitterly freezing cold come Christmas time), and most of all, our friendly, vibrant and multicultural people who can speak pretty good English, and with a good number of our young workforce being at least a diploma graduate. Not to mention security and stability with very low probability of strikes, revolts as well as a relatively low crime rate (we gotta be thankful actually that despite we perceive our city as being increasingly unsafe, at least we aren't the Bronx or LA) So, if we look at what we have been blessed, we...can actually be considered a highly livable city...probably the most livable amongst all cities in Malaysia.
But, ultimately, there's still one nagging problem...when are we gonna get a pay raise? We still haven't got a minimum wage rule and most companies here still apply the maximum profits for minimum wages rule...We gotta start looking beyond safeguarding the profits of the capitalists and ensure our competitiveness in the wage market so that our Penang kias who have the urge to earn a higher, deserved pay don't need to "belah" elsewhere...In this free-market society, top dollar gives you top talent too, isn't it?
By the way here's the link to a report of cities in the world there are indeed much, much more livable then we are ( and that we should emulate and adapt from their best practices):
World's Most Livable Cities 2011 - The Economist's Intelligence Unit
