LETTER | Why create task forces when enforcement divisions exist?

LETTER | Every time something happens in Malaysia, a task force is formed. The relevant minister will then pledge to investigate the matter and make a solemn promise of "immediate action". Two weeks later, no one will even remember that a task force was formed. 

It’s curious what these tasks forces are intended to achieve; it seems like a way to get a nice, fat budget allocation from the Finance Ministry to do a job that should rightfully be done by the enforcement divisions anyway.

Another curious thing is, are there any follow up reported on action taken? Do we the rakyat get a report of the task force’s actions and how they have eliminated the problem or at least improved it?

Malaysia cepat lupa (easily forgets). Because the next issue would crop up and media attention gets diverted. I am young and admittedly ignorant of the intricate mechanisms of governmental policies. 

So here’s a nagging question - why is the environment and water minister pledging to set up a special task force to prevent environmental crimes? Does this mean the ministry has no enforcement division to fight such crimes? Are laws drawn up to prevent environmental crimes but subsequently fail to be enforced?

I ask because as a dive master at a local island resort, every day I see the laws being broken at sea, even as a Marine Park patrol boat cruises past. Every day I witness pollution from resorts, fishing in marine parks, guides physically disturbing turtles and sometimes, if I am lucky enough, I am able to cut loose a stingray, shark or turtle entangled in a ghost net before it dies.

When contacted, the Marine Park informed that they are aware of "all the issues" and two years ago a "task force" was set up to combat these problems, but they are "not able to control the day-trippers" and so the problem persists. With regard to the water pollution, they claim to have investigated and have denied such findings.

Please do not feign ignorance, because one hashtag search of just #marinepark will tell you all our observations and experiences, the rakyat have encountered pollution at sea and abuse of marine animals, and this is just an investigation via social media. There is no need for a task force to tell you it’s a widespread issue, not merely confined to daytrippers. Try it, and see the photos of a dead baby reef shark, turtles, anchor on corals and many more. 

But along with these, do take a few minutes to observe the use of these hashtags to celebrate awards dished out to enforcement officers as well. It appears the government officers are not so ignorant of social media, just that they prefer to use it for all the wrong reasons so it is easy to maintain lack of personnel as an excuse when duties are not carried out.

Also, it justifies a need to set up a task force when things go wrong and get more budget allocation and more personnel. We, the young people of Malaysia do not want more task forces, we want action. 

It is time for the older, archaic thinking politicians to gracefully bow out and allow the younger leaders such as Muda founder Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar and Rafizi Ramli, and DAP's Yeo Bee Yin to lead Malaysia. 

Remember, it didn’t take Yeo very long to set up a nationwide ban on the import of plastic waste after she took over the portfolio of energy, science, technology, environment and climate change minister. She also published a 12-year roadmap that included a legal framework to eliminate the use of single-use plastics in Malaysia by 2030. No talking, she took the action! And within a few short months as minister, her work on the environment got her recognition from the journal Nature. 

No need to endlessly talk, hold meetings and townhalls with kuih-muih and teh tarik. At the end of every meeting and every townhall the action plan is another meeting, this time with a higher authority. By the time the complaint or issue reaches a decision-maker it has lost its momentum. Enough red tape, enough talk. It really is time for a change, and will only happen when the leadership changes. Please leave your offices, gentleman, we got this!

We are done with race-based politics, we are done with petty religious squabbles, it is time to look at the bigger picture, and it is preserving a Malaysia that is liveable. We do not want politicians prioritising money over the environment, who allow development on a hill, create man-made islands and build undersea tunnels. There is no way on God’s planet this has no negative environmental impact, so what kind of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is actually carried out?

As Syed Saddiq said, youth([and women) should be given responsibilities based on their qualification and experience, not resigned to consolation roles in the Youth Ministry and Women’s Ministry. It’s 2020, it really is time for a more logical, rational political party like Muda to take lead. Maybe then we will see more action, fewer task forces and a more liveable Malaysia environmentally and harmoniously.

The views expressed here are those of the authors/contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.