Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas should be commended for calling a spade a spade by highlighting the pathetic state and mindset of our local authorities.

It is most unfortunate that what the citizens have been highlighting and moaning over all these years has never seen any improvement. Hopefully, now that a politician has brought it to the fore, something constructive will finally happen.

The 'control culture' of local authorities as isolated by the president of the People's Progressive Party is the root cause of the numerous failures of these bodies in local governing. This territorial mentality has no place in a fast globalising and highly inter-connected society.

But unfortunately, despite the almost uncountable complaints brought into the open by ratepayers, nothing has been done. Obviously, the authorities are not reading the papers, online or print. At worst, they are immune and just can't be bothered.

Wasteful spending by local authorities is common knowledge and the talk of the towns at every 'teh tarik' session. Yet, the problems continue unabated. One wonders what is the immunity factor of these service providers. Is it sheer arrogance or the attraction of money and the spending of it without accountability?

It is time that these authorities who were appointed to serve the rakyat in a manner that is consistent with the national aspirations be stopped from behaving like half-baked mercenary businessmen who have nothing else in their minds but to seek out ways and means to make more money and spend it like unschooled boys and girls.

All the reported instances of money-making sports clubs, fines and compounds freely issued, the numerous cutting down of trees and replacing them with coloured, lighted artificial facades, and many, many more, are examples of the wasteful and foolish antics of the local authorities.

Likewise the various overseas travels and 'lawatan sambil belajar' sojourns. They have all ended up as nothing more than holidays and a sheer waste of the rakyat's hard-earned ringgit.

Why can't these so-called leaders ever try to understand that removing garbage in time, cleaning clogged and stinking drains, keeping the streets clean, and other such basic efforts are far more crucial than their extravagant dispositions? It is indeed most mind-boggling.

Their lack of 'value and priority problems' as highlighted by the deputy minister further confirms that we are having the wrong people for the right jobs. It is time that the whip is cracked and our town, city and municipal councilors are told in no uncertain terns to either shape up or ship out. Perhaps that might wake them up from their blinkered vision.

As we brace ourselves to race on to achieve Vision 2020, we certainly cannot continue to be saddled by this laughing stock of our so-called modernising cities and townships. We need local authorities who have their priorities right or we should replace them lock, stock and barrel.