The Kampong Baiduri, Section 51A Petaling Jaya area over the last few days has been swamped with workmen who are building new drains, resurfacing roads, painting lines, and doing all sorts of maintenance work unseen in many years.

The reason for this is that the deputy prime minister will be officiating at a conference organised by Kimma, the Indian Muslim Association, in the area tomorrow.

What I want to highlight is that our leaders are always given rosy pictures of many things which, more often than not, are done by officials, to escape queries by the top leadership. I don't mind buntings or decorations at the place where the function is held, but to maintain public facilities only when a VIP visits, is not fair to both the public and the VIP himself. Is it any wonder now that there are more comments about our leadership losing touch with the grassroots?