Our prime minister's call to the Public Works Department (PWD) to prepare a guide to detect damage to facilities provided for by the government and to repair and maintain them is not only timely but demands urgent and serious attention from all sectors.

It is most unfortunate that as a nation we are prone to see to wastage the good facilities that many other countries can only dream of having.

As pointed out by our PM, Malaysians - especially those entrusted to do the job right - are to be blamed for the breakdown of the many facilities in the country provided for by a caring and concerned government. The failure to detect and act responsibly seems to be the main culprit for the quick deterioration of the many good investments in the country.

It is time that this 'tidak apa' attitude is purged by heads of agencies. Otherwise much government funding will continue to go to waste and the taxpayers' money plundered as an indifferent culture seeps in.

It is about time that the rakyat, too, accepts the fact that we cannot take for granted the many blessings that come our way from a humble pipe to a grandiose bridge and building. We must be quick to hold those responsible for neglect and see action taken.

Meanwhile, those entrusted to see that maintenance jobs are carried out to the letter must be prepared to bear the brunt when their subordinates fail them. In this age and time, we should be talking about building on our successes - not losing the facilities meant for our convenience, progress and enjoyment.

As rightly pointed out by the prime minister, we are also to blame for our lack of knowledge needed to address maintenance issues effectively. A closer examination will reveal that this recent culture of chasing after quick money has led us to a point of not wanting to seek out knowledge and act responsibly.

The time has come for checks and balances. Let us rally behind our PM and work with him in bringing about lasting changes for the better.