Bangkokians need to do more than vote this Sunday

But will it really work? Or to be more precise, will the new governor really care or have the will and ability to carry out the work required?

Part of the answer will depend on the character chosen by Bangkokians this Sunday. But then, one doesn't need a "superman" as one candidate is dubbed, or a former TV star, as another is best known for, or a man with a big party backing him and impeccable royal lineage to recognise that Bangkok is a mess. It's not the worst capital in Southeast Asia, perhaps, but look at Singapore or KL, and one can see that lots of drastic improvements are needed.

Making Bangkok more liveable will require not just the determination and ability of the new governor but also commitment by people who live and work in this dirty city. Feel the dust, the noise pollution, the traffic nightmare that occurs around the clock. Think of our footpaths like the surface of the moon, which are a threat to life and limb. Look at all those new high-rise condos popping up along Skytrain and subway routes, and think how much hotter Bangkok will become when all those homes' new air-conditioners are turned on at the same time. And if one or two catch fire, will it not be worse than Santika pub on New Year's Eve?

And wonder why there's no poetry reading in some nice cafe once a month or in a park. Or why there's no park in a five-kilometre radius of your home. Think about how much greener Bangkok could be if each house and building owner could make it a priority to leave some green space for the soul of Bangkokians instead of trying to cover every square centimetre of earth with concrete. People put up with commuting on a canal-turned-open-sewer like the Saen Saeb, in the heart of Bangkok, everyday.

This list of complaints could go, and on.

So are you going to vote and wait for a man dubbed "superman" simply because he sleeps four hour a day and is brash? Or will you elect a candidate like Kaewsan Atibhodi (number 12), who is more qualified simply because his identical twin Kwansuang, an expert on urban renewal, is his adviser and yet not running?

And what can one say about the former TV star? Handsome? Or 'I like Thaksin Shinawatra' (or hate the Democrats) therefore I vote for Sam?

This writer isn't saying that none of these things matter but that more is needed from all Bangkokians to apply pressure on the new governor to do more and be more accountable. The new governor will likely need more power to deal with growing urbanisation of Bangkok and its surrounding areas and perhaps he or she should try to state a clear case if additional authority is needed to solve traffic or garbage problems, for example.

What's equally crucial if not more, however, is that each person who lives and works in greater Bangkok needs to do more as well. The city needs more organised and spontaneous public contribution and participation to make life more bearable.

People in the capital need to do more than just make their home or condo nice. We need to do something about public areas and spaces in our neighbourhoods also.

If you're into leaves, form a group to plant some hardy shrubs on an empty and barren plot in some permissible area. Get help from local officials or Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Some people are already fed up with the growing noise pollution and have formed a group called "People Who Love Silence". Not a very upbeat name but the group has made their concerns felt and helped raise awareness about that problem.What about poor slum kids? Can we do more to make their lives better?

Do whatever you can, individually or as a group. Most importantly, do what you care about. If you really don't care about anything (which would be most unfortunate) you can give up reading this. But please, try to think of an area or way in which you can help make Bangkok a little more pleasant place to live. Merely voting on Sunday won't be enough.