[834] Of snail race in Bangkok

Within Southeast Asia, I get the feeling that Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila have notorious traffic congestion. I know Kuala Lumpur experiences very bad jams during rush hours despite the fact that compared to the three regional giants, Kuala Lumpur has only about two million people living in the city proper; approximately four million within metropolitan area. Well, just last week, I had the opportunity to compare Bangkok with Kuala Lumpur and all other cities that I’ve been to (tag). If you think Kuala Lumpur has terrible traffic jams, wait till you see how it is like in Bangkok, the city of more than eight million (as of 1990):

I saw this between Skytrain stations at Siam and the National Stadium. Be mindful that this was not taken during rush hour.

One of the many things why I like Bangkok is the fact that they have seemingly extensive elevated walkways for pedestarians, at least around the city center. Those utilizing the walkways are partially protected from the elements and that makes the city a little bit more pedestarians-friendly compared to Kuala Lumpur:

But then, Bangkok has limited real sidewalks unlike Kuala Lumpur. And no thanks to Bangkok’s traffic, crossing the road amounts to suicide, especially for first timers like me.

Given the congestion, if there were a race between a driver trapped in Bangkok and this one snail…

…I’d bet the snail would win. Unless of course if the snail got distracted by angels.

The snail was seen wandering at the steps of Golden Mount, a huge temple on top of an artificial hill constructed in the 19th century.

p/s – Some liberty-conscious people will attend a court case here in Kuala Lumpur:

*No to Moral Policing : Call for Support*

The All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) calls for a show of support from NGOs and concerned individuals for the hearing of the “moral policing” case concerning Ooi Kean Thong and Siow Ai Wei, who will face charges of indecent behaviour for holding hands at KLCC Park. Please attend the hearing — details are as below:

*Date*: Tuesday and Wednesday, 18-19 July 2006
*Time*: 9:00am
*Venue*: Kuala Lumpur Municipal Court

Background

This case first came to media attention in 2003 when Ooi Kean Thong and Siow Ai Wei were issued a summons by two City Hall assistant enforcement officers for alleged “indecent behaviour” – kissing and hugging – at KLCC Park. Ooi and Siow both alleged that they were given a summons because they refused to bribe the officers, and maintained they were only holding hands. The officers concerned pleaded not guilty to corruption charges in the Sessions Court in January 2005 and their case is pending.

In April 2006, the Federal Court ruled that local authorities had the power to enact by-laws to prosecute anyone for “disorderly behaviour” in public; and that Section 8 (1) of the Park By-Laws, the section invoked by the Datuk Bandar to punish persons caught behaving indecently in public, was constitutional.

Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim then made comments as to whether kissing and hugging were “acceptable to Malaysian citizens” and conformed to the “to the morality of the Asian people”, for which he was much criticised. However, the Federal Court itself “did not make any finding of fact on the merit or the demerit of the allegations”, as asserted by Justice Richard Malanjum, only on the validity of Section 8 (1) of the Park By-Laws.

Ooi Kean Thong and Siow Ai Wei will now have to defend themselves against charges of “indecent behaviour” at the KL Municipal Court. Both have pleaded not guilty.

I wish I could be there to lend moral support.