M a l a y s i a W a t c h

MALAYSIAWATCH is 3 Years Old

2007-07-24T22:50:00.000+08:00

These past 2 years have been interesting years for Malaysia.

It seems that we are on the verge of change but thus far, little has changed and some believe we are regressing as a nation.

This blog is now 2 years old and will switch to a new URL here.

Just change the "2" for a "3".
Please update your bookmark but at the moment, the new site is empty except for a WELCOME message.

Making Smart Use of MYKAD for ASM Units

2007-07-24T21:57:00.000+08:00

In a country that boasts IT savvy and smart managers, it is disappointing that ordinary folks have to endure long queues that end in frustration as the queueing was all in vain.

This is the second time that thousands of Malaysians were "treated" to a sold out situation for ASM shares.

While it is understandable to limit the offering to RM500m, the method of distribution leaves much to be desired.

I suggest the use of MYKAD to allocate such units on an allocation basis using the info readily available with PNB.

For a start, all those who have already more than 10,000 units should be ineligible for future offerings until everyone who does not own 10,000 units and wants to subscribe is given the opportunity.

Let's suppose we have 500,000,000 units and we want to allocate say 1000 units to each applicant. That means 500,000 citizens can benefit.
This is where the MYKAD can be used. The units can be distributed based on the states info plus perhaps the last digits ending with "0" and "1" for the first offering of the year, "2" and "3" for the second offering etc.

This means that all states will covered and 20% of the population comprising males and females equally will be able to subscribe.

PNB can advertise that those with the correct MYKAD numbers(and not already owning 10,000units) can apply for 1000 units within a one-week period by ATM transaction - no need to queue.

After the one-week period, if there is any surplus PNB can offer the same group of citizens (subject to 10,000units rule)the chance to subscribe for 2000 units within a two-week period.

One month after the initial subscription period, the balance is opened to all citizens (subject to 10,000units rule).

As the most important investment body in the country, one would expect that PNB should be able to devise a more equitable and efficient method to sell ASM units.

Unless those frustrated crowds at the banks make for a good photo shoot?

No Consistency in Policies

2007-07-24T10:08:00.000+08:00

I find the inconsistency in government policies appalling.
Only yesterday, a minister remarked that the price war over the Harry Potter's latest edition was good as it enabled more Malaysians to buy books at a cheaper rate.

Maybe this Minister has gone "potty" after reading the latest best-seller and decided to end the price war of a different nature - this time among 5-star hotels.

Why not allow hotels to compete for their customers? It would be better to provide a price range for indication only with 5-star rating determined only by the facilities and service provided.
That way we will ensure that only the best hotels will survive and become leaner. Inefficient and poor quality hotels should be allowed to close down.

If hotel rates are lowered, it will ensure that more Malaysians will be encouraged to take holidays in Malaysia.

Wedding Speech

2007-07-23T10:42:00.000+08:00

As the bride's father, I was asked to deliver a speech at the wedding dinner.

Andrew’s parents , my wife Patricia,Cynthia & Andrew, grandparents, relatives and friends. GOOD EVENING!

Finally it has happened! Cynthia and Andrew have gotten married…..

Today is indeed a very special day as it signifies a major milestone for my second daughter Cynthia to her special one Andrew after seven years.

Such a happy occasion has been blessed by wonderful weather – we could not have made it wetter for the wonderful guests who have travelled from various places in Malaysia like Penang, Ipoh and KL. Penang is not the furthest place. People have come even from the UK and of course Karen came from Canada. Not forgetting the majority of guests who are from Singapore.

Sometime in the year 2000, C & A met at a tennis game and perhaps Andrew thought that Cynthia played like a Sharapova and decided to pursue her or was it the other way around?

But tennis was not their common interest. I was very surprised that Bible Studies was what brought them closer together and they had long discussions on religion.

Falling in love seems so easy. The story books used to have this plot. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, get married and live happily ever after. Those are fairy tales.

Cynthia and Andrew followed a different path.
After A levels, Cynthia went to NTU while Andrew did his National Service. Andrew then went off to the UK to study while Cynthia worked in Singapore for a few years before she too went to the UK to work.

Their love for each other grew in a colder climate until today we have come here to celebrate their wedding.

Let me share with you a little about Cynthia. She was the quiet one in the family but she could also be quite mischievous.
When she was about three years old, she kicked against the table whilst seated on a high chair and toppled backwards. She was stunned and we had to admit her to the hospital for observation.

Perhaps that jolt somehow stimulated her brain cells and enabled her to gain admission to the Gifted Education Program. But please don’t try this at home.

When she was about six years old, that was the time that fast food was the trend and I can still remember the family eating McDonalds and after 40 minutes, we were pleading with Cynthia to eat her food. Fortunately for McDs, there are only a few customers like C or they would have gone bankrupt!

When she was in early secondary school, I remember she came home one day and boldly declared, “I want to be a housewife!”
Obviously we had not coached her properly on a career choice.

Andrew strikes me as a quiet person though I understand both Cynthia and Andrew are quite capable of animated discussions.

But Andrew is a brave fellow. To win Cynthia’s heart, Andrew has had to venture into dangerous territory. He has followed Cynthia back to our home in JB and they even took the bus on a few occasions.

Cynthia is the second of my children to marry a Singaporean. Perhaps someone could recommend to the Singapore and Malaysian governments that such couples are the best people to negotiate projects for the two countries; crooked bridges or otherwise.

To the happy couple, I would like to give some friendly advice in just 3 areas – sex, money and relations.

There are other areas but I think these three are critical.

Starting with sex – just three words will do as we have children in the room. “Practice makes perfect.” The Bible urges “Go forth and multiply” but I suggest “Replace yourself.”

As Cynthia is an accountant, she should know about money but to reduce money complications I suggest the following:

Open 3 different accounts - one joint account is to pool income for shared household expenses and one each for personal savings and investments. Remember the basic requirement to becoming rich is that you must always spend less than what you earn.

The third item is your relations with your relatives.
Relatives always mean well and want the best for you but the advice they give may not be in the best interest of your special relationship.
Only you can decide if any advice will improve or worsen that relationship.
Be prepared to say, “Thanks for the advice. I will see how that can help things.”

Getting married is the starting point of a long journey and I am sure in seven years you have discovered how to settle some differences? That will surely help for marriage is a bed of roses. Remember there are thorns here and there.

Today as you start a new life together I have this wish for you

"May your love grow throughout the years
And may your children spare you many tears
When you do fight learn to quickly pardon
Before your hearts begin to harden
May your journey in love teach others to care
That life’s a mystery, a bounty to share.”

Ladies and Gentlemen: I give you Cynthia & Andrew!
Photo: Thanks to http://www.sunandseabeachweddings.com/DSC_0135_edited.JPG

Taking a Few Days Off

2007-07-18T23:19:00.000+08:00

My second daughter is getting married on Saturday in Singapore.
But if you like, you can read older articles during the first year of MALAYSIAWATCH at the same URL but minus the "2".

Should be back on Monday.

What's Wrong with the RMAF Nuris?

2007-07-18T10:51:00.000+08:00

It is sad that six people had to die in another helicopter crash.

The actual cause is not known but hints have been given about "weather conditions".
If one examines the crash history and casualties of the Nuri since it went operational in 1968, it seems that we have had more deaths after the Emergency.

Is there a maintenance attitude problem in the RMAF?
According to this paper, the pilot was scared of flying the Nuri "as he felt uneasy.

"During the conversation, he told me that he had complained to superiors many times about the problems he faced with the helicopter.

"He said he had informed them that the Nuri had problems with its fuel pump," Hashidee said.

"He said he would rather drive a truck to Kuantan, because he felt safer.""

Will the inquiry disclose what steps were taken to solve the fuel pump problems?

According to this reference, the Nuri has the capacity to fly 31 combat troops and I just wonder why the helicopter was flying with only six persons on a non-critical mission. Does the RMAF need to use up its quota of aviation fuel?

Of course there is now the usual call to upgrade or replace the Nuris with lots of commissions to be earned but if one studies the chart of accidents, it could point to pilot errors,maintenance weakness and operating procedures.

The chart is taken from the Star graphics above and analysed in a different manner. It looks as if maintenance was taken more seriously at first as the copters had to be combat ready during the Emergency.

From 1968 to 1981, there were only 4 deaths in a crash.
In 1981 there were two crashes resulting in 2 deaths and 13 injured.
1989 was a really bad year with 3 crashes and 37 deaths. The first incident of 1989 was an emergency landing the cause of which was uncertain. If it was a mechanical failure, could steps have been taken to prevent the next two accidents that caused 37 deaths?

Things improved after that with no accidents until 1996 with one crash and 5 deaths.
Then in 1997 there was a unexplained accident involving 2 copters that resulted in 11 deaths.

I suggest there were some improvements made as no accidents happened again until 2004 when there were 3 crashes that lost 5 lives.

The pattern of accidents and deaths is hardly random and could be caused by:
Change of personnel in charge of routine maintenance.
Change of suppliers for critical spare parts.
Change of maintenance contractors.
Change in operating procedures.

If this is the RMAF record during peacetime I wonder how we will cope with possible invaders with derelict air planes.

Graphics: Thanks to the Star

Does the NEP Mean NEVER ENDING PARASITES?

2007-07-17T11:41:00.000+08:00

After 37 years it seems some people have become addicted to the NEP that started soon after the May13 riots with the noble aims to eradicate poverty among Malaysians and to remove job limitations for the various races.

No doubt the NEP has transformed Malaysian society and one needs only to visit the new housing estates in the cities to see a large section of middle-class of all races living in harmony.

I suggest that the best part of the NEP is that more Malaysians have been able to go to university, graduate and move into a good career path.

However the NEP has slowly morphed into a program to enrich mainly those with close connections with the ruling elites and this is done mainly through lucrative contracts like toll concessions that remain secret after so many years. You can give your opinion on the use of OSA for such projects in the green poll on the left column.

The NEP has become so addictive that even some Malays feel that the time has come to end such abuses.

However some leaders still insist the NEP is necessary.
This should hardly be surprising as the ruling elites gain the most from such secret sweetheart deals like licensing agreements and lucrative projects.

These usually fail as the profits are skimmed upfront and the jobs get done with substandard quality as seen recently in the case of the collapsing ceilings and burst pipes.

Do you feel marginalised? You bet I do. Even if I do not want to do government contracts, the very fact that we have to spend RM20m just to do extra building inspections means that government funds is being wasted.

The NEP would have been palatable for 12 to 15 years and the government should have started the weaning process at the beginning ala Steven Covey's dictim
"Begin with the End in Sight."

Why 15 years?
This will allow about 3 children in every poor family to be assisted through tertiary education and get good jobs in the civil service or the private sector.

There would have been no sweetheart deals like APs and all government projects would be fully disclosed with no deals protected by the OSA.

So I oppose the NEP as it now means Never Ending Parasites. I'm going to look for the Shelltox now and you should do the same.

Photo: Thanks to http://www.scienceclarified.com/images/uesc_08_img0434.jpg

Secret Toll Agreements .....To Tell or Not to Tell?

2007-07-16T13:09:00.000+08:00

The Works Minister recently announced that toll agreements would remain secret under the OSA.

What do you think of this about face? That is the question posed in MALAYSIAWATCH POLL 28.
Please take the poll soon.

Another Nuri Down...

2007-07-16T11:33:00.000+08:00

Planes crashing is an inevitable event as this can occur as a result of pilot error, bad weather, equipment failure or a combination of all three factors.

I wonder if anyone has the record of all the planes and pilots we have lost during the past 10 years.

There is always an inquiry held but details are usually scant or not even published.
When this happens, not much pressure is exerted to rectify problems such as possibly having more rules or operating procedures for bad weather conditions or maintenance problems.

I would have imagined that upgrading planes and helicopters with a minimum of voice recorder and a proper black box should be a prerequisite for a modern air force rather than buying the latest fighters that we have problems to maintain.

I am sure all Malaysians hope and pray that these men and women will be safely reunited with their families soon.

Meanwhile I hope that any inquiry to investigate this crash will come up with a report similar to this.

The accident report concluded with this brief:

"The formal analysis of this accident noted the following circumstance as valid contributors:

The pilot continued the flight into adverse weather beyond the point of having a visual external reference.
The risk of not being able to turn around onto a reciprocal track without visual clues was high as the pilot was not instrument rated and the helicopter was not IFR rated.
The pilot's operating culture was conditioned from having 'got through' adverse weather on previous occasions.
Having decided to track via the shipping channel because of turbulence consideration on the coastal route, the pilot overlooked the coastal route as an alternate course of action.
The weather information passed by the tower controller probably placed an expectation in the pilot's mind that he could negotiate the weather successfully. *
More details of this accident are contained in Occurrence Brief 199901009."

Photo: Thanks to http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/157/pictures/home-157.jpg

Only 6% of Pollsters Support the PM's Frequent Flying..

2007-07-15T20:01:00.000+08:00

"What do You Think of our PM’s Frequent Trips Overseas?"

That was the question posed for MALAYSIAWATCH POLL 27.

For the 65 readers who took the poll, here are the results:

31 votes or 48% were for "It is a waste of public funds"

15 votes or 23% were for "I think there are more urgent matters at home"

9 votes or 14% were for "He should delegate most of these trips to ministers and deputy ministers"

6 votes or 9% went to "N-E-X-T!!"

2 votes of 3% went to "I believe he is doing his job competently"

2 votes of 3% went to "I support this activity as it promotes FDI"

Thanks to all who participated.

A Father's Tough Decision....

2007-07-14T11:05:00.000+08:00

Sometimes you have to be tough to show your care and concern for your children.

Often parents indulge their children too much and really spoil them. When they grow up they do not become responsible citizens and resort to crime.

I am sure this father regrets that he did not raise his son to be a more responsible adult and now faces trials for multiple rapes.

Of course the son is ultimately responsible for his own actions but I believe many parents really do not pay enough attention to how their children behave in school or when growing up.

At his late stage, it is really too late for anyone to do much but allow the law to take its course.

Before We Start Praising our Financial Expertise

2007-07-13T12:14:00.000+08:00

I find this story a little amusing.
The Second Finance Minister is praising himself on the basis that the government was able to spend all the monies it received in the first half of the year "to create economic growth".

I wonder if the amounts includes the following:

1.RM20m required by the Works Ministry to inspect buildings for shoddy contract works.
2.RM200m compensation to a company for cancelling the "crooked bridge project".
3.RM15m(my guess)compensation to a company for cancelling the Broga incinerator.

Any fool can throw money away,especially if it is taxes of the hard-working raayat who should feel cheated that government projects are started without serious thinking.

In most countries a government will have public hearings and proper studies done before even approving the concept plan and principle. But in Malaysia we dash headlong into awarding a project and then see if anything is wrong. The "crooked bridge" and "Broga" projects are just too recent example.

Maybe you could add a few more like the Bakun dam project etc.

Photo: Thanks to http://www.familycourtchronicles.com/philosophy/wasted/money-to-burn.jpg

Pssst! Anyone Want to Hire a Gun?

2007-07-12T04:25:00.000+08:00

You see those guys hanging about crowded areas and they usually approach you with a smile and ask,"Do you want a nice watch?"

So far no has has yet asked the question posed in the headline above but maybe that day is not far off.

Just imagine the implications of this story.
A corporal was able to sign out a sub-machine gun for 4 weeks for a "special mission" and the person issuing the weapon was a constable who did not maintain proper records but then again the recording system also had a loophole as there was no section in the log-book to record the number of bullets taken out.

No wonder the police has been resisting the IPCMC with such vigour!

With this slack control of weapons and bullets, the following is possible:

1.Rogue policemen may take out weapons and hire out the guns to criminals.
2.Bullets issued by the police may be used to supply such criminals.
3.Rogue cops may use the weapons to commit robberies and other crimes.

I am sure the police should be able to devise a more secure method of issuing firearms and bullets.

For example:

1.Bullets may be issued by a constable but all items must be counted and recorded down on issue and return.
2.Small weapons must be issued by a higher ranked officer like a sergeant and proper documentation must be provided. The approval must be signed by the next person in authority, higher than the person making the request.
3.More power weapons like a submachine gun must be approved by an ASP or similar rank.
4.Use such as "special mission" will not be accepted and each request must have its own request code that can be traced to the purpose for the mission. The person issuing the weapon need not know the purpose but it can be properly tracked.
5.All issues of weapons should be confirmed with the person who approved the request.

But with the current mud-slinging among the leaders in charge of security in the country do you think this issue will be given serious consideration?

Photo: Thanks to http://www.streetpro.com/usp/images/hk53.jpg

What Really is the Good Government Hiding?

2007-07-10T09:30:00.000+08:00

How Convenient!

The government now proclaims that it will not reveal the details of the Agreements with the toll operators as there is a clause which requires the consent of the companies'before details are disclosed.

I have written an article earlier when TDM mentioned that they did not read the Agreements in detail before giving approval.

Privatised highways can be considered a form of taxation as road users have to pay to use a public facility that could have been funded from all the taxes collected. Tolls are in fact additional taxation. But the government that approved this tax now says we will not be told how the tax collector has been advantaged.

I remember that the LDP operator was reported in the press that they would agree to the terms being disclosed to the public.
So this change of heart by the government is indeed a step backwards. Could it mean that other toll companies have been granted even sweeter deals all the way to the bank?

Why don't you request your MP to find out the details for all road users? Even George Bush has been forced to reconsider his stance on Iraq. So why should a toll agreement be subject to the Official Secrets Act?

Graphics: Thanks to http://www.okipoker.com/images/money-pile.jpg

Where Love Has Gone

2007-07-10T09:16:00.000+08:00

Man is capable of really intense emotions and at times when a marriage breaks up, what was once intense love can turn to intense loathing for anything that can remind one of the relationship.

When a marriage turns sour and about to break up, young children may be at risk as perhaps the new love interest may not want any young children as a burden.

Family members who are aware of the situation should try and counsel their relatives if they suspect such a situation even though in modern society, many families do not really keep in close contact with each other.

If you are a single parent and want to start another relationship, you should make sure your new partner is OK with the fact that you have young children or another disaster like this can happen again.

I wonder how could a mother ever agree to the callous disposal of her own child like this case?

One Minister who is Doing a Good Job.....

2007-07-09T21:52:00.000+08:00

Most readers will have the impression that I usually criticise the government but let me give some praise where it is due.

The quick action by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister to revoke the price increase of rice is most welcomed. Everyone eats rice and the unwarranted price hikes would have angered everyone.

Action was needed and a decision was made without having to involve the whole Cabinet. It is strange that the monopolistic company decided to raise prices without a proper proposal.

Perhaps the market would be better served if one or two other companies were also allowed to import rice. That would provide a good check and balance against profiteering.

Photo: Thanks to http://asiarecipe.com/images/fc31rice5.jpg

Is Malaysia Becoming a Sick Society?

2007-07-09T17:17:00.000+08:00

This story must wrench at the hearts of parents with smaller children.

The little girl is not only kidnapped but brutally killed and her body disposed by burning. What kind of animals are we dealing with? Even animals do not descend to such barbaric behaviour.

I believe that there is more than meets the eye. This poor girl is possibly the victim of a personal vendetta against either of her parents and the police should cast their suspicions far and wide wide.

I wonder if the sensational news about the Mongolian beauty murder case may have prompted these criminals to try and dispose of the body in such a fashion.

Risk Management for the Malaysian Government?

2007-07-07T15:52:00.000+08:00

It is good that steps have been taken to eliminate the careless lack of control as reported by the ministry after the Deputy Commander of the UTK admitted that operators could sneak out explosives that may not have been used up during exercises.

However it appears that is a lack of a proper system of controls in many government agencies such as the Finance Ministry with respect to incompetent contractors and the PWD with taking over shoddy projects.

Whenever there is a "bocor" or other problem everyone starts running about like headless chickens at best or demure "Semua-lah OK" syndrome.

I suggest that the government can make better use of some of the 30% over surplus staff in the civil service.

Perhaps 2000 of the civil servants will be reassigned to the Office for Risk Management that will overseer all risks associated with government activities. I am not sure if they should report to the PM's Office or the Auditor-General's Department.

The duties would be to provide independent advice on all procedures devised by other departments so that grave loop-holes like the "free explosives" problems will be spotted earlier.

What do you think?

BEWARE! Explosives could be Anywhere.

2007-07-05T10:55:00.000+08:00

I found this story truly incredulous on the lack of control of explosives used by the Special Action Unit (or UTK) as reported in malaysiakini.

The UTK is involved in covert as well as overt activities and the former includes operations that are "kept secret from the public."
One wonders if that includes blowing up problem makers like the Mongolian girl.

If you read the story in malaysiakini, the lack of control of weapons is simple astonishing. They might as well leave the place unlocked.

"Mastor also explained the procedure for taking and returning explosives from the UTK armory storage. He said that explosives, once taken out and if not used, should be returned.

He said the explosives can be taken out for the use of training exercises.

However, he added, the amount of explosives used or not used during training was not recorded.

Since no records are made, Mastor said it was possible for explosives not used during training are not returned."

Mastor is the Deputy Commander of the UTK.
I wonder why such a basic lack of control can exist.

This situation only shows how urgently we need the IPCMC.

Graphics: Thanks to malaysiakini

Some Good News for the 50th Merdeka Celebrations...

2007-07-04T13:34:00.000+08:00

This is very good in principle as it acknowledges that all Malaysians should be given the chance to celebrate our Hari Kebangsaan without any political undertones.

I wonder how will the money be disbursed and accounted for?
I hope all MPs will make public announcements on what events they intend to hold so that more of their constituents can participate.

It would be good for the ministry to provide some guidelines on what events would be suitable and also ask the MPs to submit the expenditure records for checking by the ministry.

All citizens pay income tax and no area should be left out because they voted opposition. This RM30k indicates that the government can give the citizens a fairer deal and should be encouraged.

The concept can be extended to state governments. If the opposition wins in the state, there should be no cut-back in federal funding for various projects but the central government should also adopt an equitable approach unless it is willing to change the tax laws so that the state can get a share of income and other taxes collected.

Let each Malaysian celebrate Hari Kemerdekaan close to home and avoid the perilous highway traffic. But if you must travel, do be careful.

We Can't Have Government Officials Tossing Mud at each Other

2007-07-03T10:35:00.000+08:00

The situation we find our country in can be considered a tragi-comedy.

Tragic as some of those involved in crime-busting may also be crooks but funny as criminals laugh all the way to the bank.

The tentacles of corruption have spread so far and wide that many Malaysians now doubt if there is any integrity at all in the system.

We need a public body like the IPCMC to bring sanity back to the system.

When the PM has no confidence in any Minister, that minister should resign.
The MPs should also voice out their concern instead of playing deaf, dumb and blind.

Fight Rising Crime Public Hearing in JB

2007-07-03T10:21:00.000+08:00

Parliamentary caucus “Fight rising crime” public hearing in JB at Tropical Inn
The first “Fight Rising Crime” public hearing of the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance will be held in Johor Baru on Sunday, 8th July 2007 at 2.30 p.m. at Tropical Inn, Jalan Gereja.

Please help to pass the word, by all means available, including blogs, SMS and word of mouth, to have a capacity attendance.

Let this be a people-centred, people-driven and people-empowered event.

(This note was copied from Lim Kit Siang's blog)

A Mother's Love is Truly Special

2007-07-03T01:09:00.000+08:00

If your mother is still alive, you should give her a big hug and a kiss as soon as possible - no need to wait for Mother's Day.

There is really nothing like a mother's love. Often children easily forget but a mother's love edures. All you need to do is to show her that you care about her too.

It is common in today's society for many families to be brought up by single mothers, many through divorce and a few through the death of a husband and such families really experience great hardship and sacrifice with many children becoming deliquent and wayward as the mother struggles to make ends meet.

So this story is really heartwarming as this mother struggled for more than 20 years to give her children a good education and even managed to send them overseas for further education. I wonder if the family received any assistance from the government like just one sponsorship?

I salute you Leong Eng Yee for you have proved that a mother's love is really special. Penang should give her a special award as Outstanding Mother of the Year as a token of this family's noteworthy achievement.

Photo: Thanks to http://www.goldenpetals.com/send_flowers_to_india/send_flowers_to_india/send_flowers_to_india_PinkandWhiteCarnations.jpg

Something for the Income Tax Department to Ponder.

2007-06-29T21:31:00.001+08:00

Here is a challenge for LHDN to take on.

They have invested billions of ringgit on IT and nowadays only promise "quick" refunds to those who submit returns online.

What about those files that are many years old? Some of them have not been refunded.
Perhaps they should learn from their Singapore friends how to process refunds within 30 days or pay interest.

That is only fair as the LHDN is quick to impose a 10% penalty if you do not pay up on time.

The following schedule would be fair:

Refund within 30 days - after which the bank lending rate applies for 2 months
After the third month, the 10% rule applies but this time the LHDN pays.

Maybe the post of LHDN chief should be open to all so that the person accepting the post will know what is the requirement for refunds.

What Do You Think of our PM's Overseas Travels?

2007-06-29T11:42:00.000+08:00

Lim Kit Siang's blog has a current entry about our PM's frequent forays overseas.
So the latest MALAYSIAWATCH POLL is to provide feed-back on what do readers think of this activity.

Please give your feedback asp. Thanks.

Poisoning our School Children.....

2007-06-29T09:53:00.000+08:00

This seems to be a common occurrence these days with contaminated food in canteens and the milk project that appears to be unsolvable with the small operators who appear ignorant of basic food hygiene.

Having worked with a Nestle factory for a few years, I would imagine that the efforts to produce small quantities of milk in isolated areas is really not viable as it costs a fair bit to ensure good hygiene and workers need to be properly trained and motivated. If we add in the costs of regular health screenings I think most small operators will close shop.

My children studied in Singapore and the system there is a little different. Teachers and pupils share the same food and the only concession for teachers get is a separate seating area and they can jump queue though my son says a few teachers will also queue.

After 41 years (4 children's experience) we did not experience any food poisoning case in my family.

I suggest the following will see a dramatic improvement in food hygiene:

1.Have only one canteen operator to supply both pupils and teachers

2.Teachers should also be provided a proper space in the canteen as their presence will instil good behaviour and improve rapport with pupils

3.Canteen operators will ensure a cleaner space.

4.PTAs should have a Canteen committee to do regular but surprise inspections.

As for the milk scheme, I suggest that small operators be encouraged to pool resources like form a coop to operate from more modern facilities so that overheads can be reduced. If an operator cannot meet certain standards, the supply should be replaced with UHT milk that can keep for weeks without refrigeration.

It is good that bad canteen operators have been fired but more should be done to reduce the many cases of food poisoning.

Photo: Thanks to http://www.syntheticsociety.com/blog/mobile_images/unnamed-image-2-795494.jpg

The Perils of Journalistic Licence

2007-06-28T14:33:00.000+08:00

All writers practise some form of journalistic licence in the selection of words or phrases that will interest the reader.

However I found this article a little misleading.

The headline read
"Landmark washed away in a breeze"

The first impression was that a strong gale force wind had destroyed something but the choice of words is a contradiction as a breeze does not wash anything.

But if one reads the article,it is revealed that the company is a major detergent manufacturer and that is how the word " washed" had to be included so the sub-editor can claim to be creative.

I wonder what the teacher who is probably weak in English is going to make of this artice. Don't be surprised if your primary school child writes an essay with this nonsensical phrase.

Newspapers in Education? Be warned!

57% Think that the Government is Having an Incestuous Relationship....

2007-06-27T20:48:00.000+08:00

Maybe one could blame recent sex scandals of Malaysia but here are the findings of MALAYSIAWATCH POLL 26 that posed the question:

"What Do You Think of the Number of Malaysian Civil Servants that is More Than Double That of Other Countries in Terms of Population Ratio?"

Thanks to the 108 readers who gave their views on the subject.

57% or 62 readers chose "It looks as if the Government is having an Incestuous Relationship with the Civil Service with the principle of “Keep Us in Power and We Will Take Care of You.”"

13% or 14 chose "Having More Civil Servants Does Not Mean the Service is More Efficient"

11% or 12 chose "The Country’s Resources Will Be Heavily Burdened in the Future"

8% or 9 chose "It is Good That the Government Gives Jobs to Graduates who will Otherwise Be Unemployed"

6% or 7 chose "The Government Has Lost All its Credibility to Rule when it Cannot Control the Numbers in the Civil Service"

4% or 4 chose "Having Spent Billions of Ringgit in IT I Expected the Numbers to Decrease and Not Increase"

It seems the majority 63% of the voters think rather poorly of the government's control over the civil servants.

Nice Gesture but it Shows how NEP has Failed....

2007-06-27T15:43:00.000+08:00

It is better late than never.

But it also shows how the NEP programs to eradicate poverty have failed the tens of thousands of Malaysians who are really struggling to eke out an existence.

It seems that the rich get richer with NEP but the poor remain marginalised unless someone bothers to take up the case.

SYABAS to the state assemblymanwho took the trouble to get them the funds.

So many benefits have been hijacked under the guise of the NEP over the past 35 years that I figure every family in similar circumstances could have received such a basic amenity like a RM20,000 low-cost house that it does not make for news anymore.

After all, 100,000 such homes will only need RM2,000,000,000 and that would have been spent over 35 years and changed the lives of 100,000 families.

Such a project should have been approved under the Welfare Department as poverty affects people of other religions too.

Photo: Thanks to http://www.pknp.gov.my/eAgency/webpknp/corporate_g8.JPG

Driving the SMART tunnel

2007-06-27T10:50:00.000+08:00

If you need to drive through the SMART tunnel please do the following as it may help to save your life and those of your passengers.

1. Try to follow the speed of the traffic flow. If everyone is driving at 70kpm you should follow that speed as that means you reduce the number of cars overtaking you.

2. Keep a safe distance from the car in front. I suggest a minimum of 30 meters. In case of emergency and you need to stop, try to stop at least 10 meters from the car in front.

3. In case of accident and the road ahead is totally blocked, lock your vehicle at the side of the road and move quickly towards the escape points. Wait until the passage is cleared before getting back to your vehicle.

Since only cars are allowed inside the tunnel,any accident has the risk of the cars catching fire and if you stop too close to the vehicle in front the fire will spread to your own car in the enclosed space.

If a fire occurs, the most likely cause of death will be from toxic fumes as most cars have a lot of plastic materials.

A Major Security Breach

2007-06-27T10:12:00.000+08:00

Crime is rampant nowadays in the major cities of Malaysia with the deployment of more cops in Johor Bahru as the crime rate has deterred many Singaporeans from their usual trips and weekend jaunts.

Business in the city has been hurt badly and despite the dislike of Singaporeans especially from those who live in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru needs those millions of ringgit the visitors spend each year to bring prosperity to JB.

Even if some of the state leaders do not like the situation, their very existence depends on the taxes collected on quit rent, assessment and licence fees from the business owners who provide goods and services to those visitors.

Another type of crime that is not so dramatic as robberies and snatch theft is committed in secret and often goes unnoticed.
The Altantuuya murder case has many interesting aspects and others have written with more details. But I would just like to highlight one detail that points to a major security breach.

In today’s paper, it is reported that the arrival and departure records of a Mongolian witness had been erased from the Immigration database.

Is it really that simple for anyone to erase such records? If so I suggest such a situation points to a few possible scenarios that spell a major security problem:

1. Criminals can enter and exit Malaysia without a trace after the crimes.

2. Unwanted visitors can be killed and their bodies disposed without a trace.

3. Intending illegals can enter Malaysia on a social pass and then disappear until they obtain fake or stolen Mykads.

Based on the story, there should be an public inquiry on how those entry records were deleted and why.

Photo: Thanks to http://www.pivotnetworks.com/hacker.jpg

Warnings for the SMART Tunnel?

2007-06-26T10:09:00.000+08:00

This story shows how a minor accident can cause massive jams and should put the SMART tunnel operator on alert that a tunnel accident (only a question of time, really) can cause similar delays but with a higher danger to motorists.After all construction defects have already been accepted with the usual "that's normal here" comments by the authorities.

Tunnel disasters have already occurred in other countries where fires caused by accidents can overcome escaping motorists with noxious fumes before they reach the escape exits.

Perhaps the toll operator can inform the public of the equipment available at both ends of the tunnel so that the public will be assured that help is available within say 10 minutes of any accident. Or the government can impose such safety requirements or are we to follow the routine that nothing is planned until some people die?

Under such operating guidelines, the tunnel will be shut down if any of the signalling or ventilating systems fail.

Finally disabled drivers should not be allowed to use the SMART tunnel unless it has been designed that they will be able to escape without assistance.

Graphics: Thanks to http://www.smarttunnel.com.my/images/project/smart/pic_crosssection.jpg

JB - Update on Causeway Progress

2007-06-25T23:31:00.000+08:00

A view of the massive development. The petrol station is located about 500 meters from the Checkpoint for buses.
The blocks of flats are the Bukit Cagar old flats that would probably be demolished. An ideal site for luxury condominiums?
A disfigured JB Railway Station without its clock. The station is on the right side of the curved structure in the top photo and just beside the checkpoint where bus passengers alight to get processed by immigration.
You can see part of the earthworks behind the railway station.

This is the view of the section where the cars leave JB. The new overhead bypass beams have been installed after a long period of slow activity.
That car in the foreground is close to the immigration booth.
In the distance is City Square, the nicest shopping centre closet to the Checkpoint.
If you want to catch a bus you have to walk to the bus stop on the left side of City Square across the road. Obviously the transport planner has never travelled by bus? Almost a kilometer walk.

Maybe the answer to the puzzle of that faraway bus stop is here. Just as one exits the underpass after clearing Customs, just next to the JB main police station, there are many taxis waiting.
You can see the cars queueing up to clear immigration at the Checkpoint to exit Malaysia.

Photos: Taken today on my return from Singapore.

Cops Get Cracking in JB

2007-06-22T12:11:00.000+08:00

I've just returned from the Post Office and the police have deployed a man in the vicinity.

To keep himself busy the cop was helping customers find places to park their vehicles and he was doing a good job connecting with all those who visited the post office.

Having a policeman in uniform in the vicinity creates a better sense of security among the public.It would also be good for some of these officers to be in normal clothes as I am sure there are still many crooks on the prowl.

Obviously the crooks will not attack anyone if they spot a uniform nearby.Having more plainclothes cops will be a more positive step to catching more robbers and snatch thieves.

Take Care of Your Own Responsibilities First....

2007-06-22T09:57:00.000+08:00

Looking after public works projects must be quite a satisfying or rewarding duty.

Just examine all the add on rectification jobs that have been necessary lately:

The RM200m for the crooked bridge in JB to change into new access roads.
The RM20m just to inspect the buildings in Putrajaya.
Unknown costs to take care of pipes "bocor" and ceilings that drop on your head.
The extra retention ponds and pumps to alleviate the flood problems in KL.

One would have imagined that the Works Ministry would have tried to tried to avoid more tasks but it appears this department is a glutton for punishment.

The ministry wants to provide our fellow Malaysians in Sabah and Sarawak the same real life experiences that peninsula Malaysians have experienced.

Perhaps it will create a better sense of national unity when ALL Malaysians can share the same tragedies. Maybe RTM or TV3 wants to start a new reality TV program called ,"The Next Building Failure". Only buildings constructed in the last 5 years will qualify.

Not So Easy to Restore Public Confidence....

2007-06-21T11:30:00.000+08:00

It is good that the Cabinet has decided the crime situation is serious enough to take urgent action.

However the recent gathering at the MB's residence in JB shows that the population is getting tired of the authorities' promises that things will improve, especially with the recent salary hikes that have allocated more to the police.

The reluctance of the government to introduce reforms via the IPCMC that was its own commission also undermines the confidence of the public in the police. It is now two years and still no indication as to when the AG will complete the task. I would think if manpower is in short supply, the task could have been outsourced for preliminary drafting based on specific guidelines and then let the AG do the final draft.

Simply dumping more resources like men and cars into Johor will not produce more results if no action is taken against those in the police stations who refused to take the reports. For example if the first person to whom the crime was reported caused the unnecessary delay that resulted in the rape of the victim, that person should be charged with criminal neglect.

The victim should also sue the government for dereliction of duty. I am not a lawyer so I don't know what to sue for. But I think if a government servant neglects to perform an official duty, the government can be held liable.

The other aspect of the Cabinet decision that bothers me is that such an action should have been made by the relevant ministry or even the IGP. This allocation of resources should have been an operational decision by the experts.
Once public confidence is shaken, it will take a long time and visible results before that confidence can be restored. Setting up the IPCMC becomes more urgent now and that will lead to a quantum leap in public trust and cooperation.

Photo: Thanks to http://globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/Protest_01.jpg. People asking for a police base instead of a food court near their homes.

Some Companies are Fairer to Minority Shareholders

2007-06-20T19:15:00.000+08:00

It is the season of taking public listed companies private for whatever reasons and minority shareholders usually get a raw deal.

Even large groups like PNB can treat smaller shareholders with little sentiment like the recent moves to merge all the plantation companies via a third party exercise as if that somehow reduces their moral obligations or sense of fair play.

An even worse privatisation move is to take Island & Peninsula Bhd private with a miserable RM2.35 offer even though the asset backing is around RM2.80 per share.

No doubt the independent advisor will make the blase comment to the effect that "the offer is 15% more than the last traded price for the past 6 months". I suppose advisors will be willing to write anything that covers their reputation.

Of course we should not make more rules to prevent the delisting of companies but isn't a fairer treatment of minority shareholders possible?

It would be a good practice if the independent advisors take the stand that the offer price is reasonable based on the following criteria:

The offer price will be the higher of:
1.At least 10% more than the highest traded price of the last 3 months
2.At least 15% more than the net asset value of the share based on valuations done within the last 2 years.

The latest company to take the private road is AIGB but at least they are offering 2.2times the asset value. I don't think many minority shareholders will argue with the offer.

Graphics: Thanks to http://www.civilwarliterature.com/ListOfIllustrations/122464p0829(2)w775.jpg

Good Method to Detect "Kereta Potong" but.....

2007-06-20T13:13:00.000+08:00

The move to link PUSPAKOM and the JPJ databases so that ownership transfers can be done online is a step in the right direction to eliminate the problem of "kereta potong" that is a serious problem as such vehicles are not roadworthy and will break up easily in accidents.

However by making it compulsory for ALL vehicle owners to get PUSPAKOM approval before any transfer appears to be rather drastic as some vehicles have never been involved in any serious accidents and now will have to incur extra costs.

I suggest that another party be linked to the JPJ database and that will be the insurance companies. Insurance companies should be asked to submit the chassis numbers of all vehicles that have been written off in accidents to the JPJ so that these vehicles cannot be licensed again.

If this is done properly and controlled, the market for "kereta potong" will vanish overnight.

I think there is a case for periodic inspection of ALL vehicles on some basis like:
1.Once in two years for all cars above 5 years old perhaps costing say RM80
2.annually for all vehicles above 10 years old costing RM120

The inspection can be done by PUSPAKOM approved motor garages and others like the AAM.

There is No Compulsion in Travel

2007-06-20T13:00:00.000+08:00

It is good for the Deputy Tourism Minister to highlight the risks of overseas travel and the high expenses incurred when one's travel plans are affected for various reasons.

However I feel that the authorities should not take the drastic measure of making Malaysians buy travel insurance. Are not travel agencies protected from folding up under the MATTA umbrella?

If so, consumers should be educated to only purchase tours from proper agencies. For travel insurance, the authorities should liaise with travel companies to advise people on the benefits of adequate travel insurance.

Let us treat Malaysians as adults who can decide what travel insurance package to buy.

Are You Worried about Your Family's Safety?

2007-06-19T17:24:00.000+08:00

How many people do you know are victims of crime like knife attacks, robbery or even rape?

I am sure some of you could even have suffered as a result of such incidents. The government appears tohave fallen asleep over the IPCMC and we should do more to wake them up to improve security in the nation.

You can do this by signing the online petition here that calls on the police to be more effective.

More effective law enforcement will help reduce the number of victims and who knows? One of those saved could well be you or your loved ones. Please sign the petition NOW.

KL Flooding - Wrong about 30% Obstruction!

2007-06-19T06:39:00.000+08:00

I hope you are not getting bored to tears with my ongoing tilt about the primary cause of flooding in the heart of KL.
Readers will know that I have been going on about the Masjid Jamek LRT station being a major problem as it was built inside the river profile.

I don't know where this station is but there is an excellent blog entry fromKenny Ng's blog and I hope he does not mind me posting the photos here.

I mentioned that about 30% of the river flow would be obstructed but if you study the photos carefully, let us make the following assumptions:

1.the depth of the water flowing is as large as the width of the narow section
2.the reserve(no water) width is twice as wide as the flowing channel.
3.the height of the wider section to the flood level is two-thirds the width.

So let's say the width and depth of the normal flow channel is 3a times 3a
the spare capacity is then 9a times 2a giving a total of 9a2 plus 18a2 or a total of 27a2.

With the construction of the station inside the river, at least 50% of the reserve has been removed and the river capacity becomes 9a2 plus 9a2 or 18a2 that is a 35% capacity reduction.
If you look at the centre below the station you can make out a column built right in the centre of the span and that alone will be a major collecting point for all the rubbish in the river. Is this an example of world class infrastructure? It would qualify in the GBOR as a case of supreme studity!

I wonder how many stations have been built inside the rivers like the photo shown. I estimate perhaps up to six and probably connected with only one of the three systems as usually some bright spark will always try and cut costs. The DID should know but they are keeping very quiet.

The second composite photo shows a series of columns built along the reserve of the river. These are not as serious as the station in the river but will also reduce the water flow as rubbish will build up around the columns.

I suggest the authorities come up with a better plan to reduce the flooding rather than build more retention ponds and pumping stations as pumps in Malaysia have that habit of not working when you need them most.

Any LRT station as shown should be demolished and replaced so that the base is clear of the river profile and NO columns allowed in the river.
A rubbish removal system to be installed north of the series of columns in the river so that rubbish does not build up.

This will be my last entry on LRT stations inside rivers!

KL Floods - No More Disasters with SMART?

2007-06-18T22:22:00.000+08:00

I wonder why the DID is now claiming that the SMART project may not prevent all future floods in KL. Is it a case of doubtful planning?

According to this undated government report, there is comprehensive flood planning in KL to take care of both structural and non-structural aspects.

The SMART project features prominently in the report.
You can also read the project details from the consultants here. You need Adobe Reader to read details.

It is interesting to note this passage in the government report:

"3.1 Permanent Flood Control Commission

Realising the need for a long-term water resources development strategy and master plan, the Government has carried out a National Water Resources Study (1982) to develop a comprehensive and coordinated water resources development programme for the country. The study has formulated a long-term plan for flood mitigation works in various flood-prone areas of the country. This includes improvement of 850 km of river channels, construction of 12 multi-purpose dams, 82 km of flood bypass, 12 ring bunds around urban centres, and resettlement of about 10,000 people in flood-prone areas. The whole plan was estimated to cost RM2.55 billion (1982 estimate) over a period of 20 years and will provide protection to some 1.8 million people. (However the cost for future flood mitigation works is now estimated to be in the region of RM17 billion for the next 15 years and the estimated number of people affected by flooding has now risen to 4.817 million.)"

"3.11 Integrated River Basin Management ( IRBM )

Under the concept of Integrated River Basin Management, the whole river basin is planned in an integrated manner and all factors are taken into consideration when a certain development plan is proposed. Factors like zoning for river corridors, riparian areas, natural flood plain, conservation of wetlands, storage ponds etc will be taken into consideration when preparing flood management plans. The concept of IRBM has been incorporated into and will be implemented starting in the 8th Malaysia Plan."

and the conclusion:

"4. Conclusion

Based on the experience accumulated over the years in implementing flood mitigation works, DID is today more conscious of the need to carry out such projects on a river basin basis rather than on a piecemeal approach. This kind of approach will involve a shift from the traditional thinking in terms of controlling flooding through expensive engineering structures to the more comprehensive approach of viewing the solution in terms of managing flooding by incorporating structural as well as non-structural measures."

It's quite a comprehensive report taking into account so many important factors. I guess they were too ashamed to own up that they made a major boo-boo by approving the construction of that LRT station at Masjid Jamek to encroach 3 meters inside the river channel height.

Photo: Near Merdeka Square. Perhaps next Merdeka parade could feature navy boats!

Changing the PM's Speech

2007-06-15T16:29:00.000+08:00

This is part of the PM's speech taken from Lim Kit Siang's blog:

“A hundred years of Merdeka would see this society, this nation achieve the unimaginable. We will have Nobel laureates, truly global corporations, respected and market-leading brands, internationally acclaimed poets and artists, among the largest number of scientific patents in the world and even the best football team in Asia.

“Our students and professors will dominate Ivy League universities and our own universities will be citadels of excellence for international scholars.

“We will be pioneers in alternative energy, drawing on our strength in biofuels. Our cities will be the most liveable on the globe, blending cosmopolitan facilities that are rooted in a tolerant and just societal ethos.
“This is the Malaysia in my dreams for 2057. One hundred years of independence, one hundred years of advancement.”

Since I think that speech is poor and incredulous, I have prepared a more appropriate speech.

"In the year 2057, Malaysia will celebrate 100 years of freedom. Though many will be sceptical, I am convinced that if we reform the government and implement fair and just policies, every Malaysian will have a rightful place in our nation.

Other countries with fewer resources have achieved great progress and so Malaysia should be prepared to learn from others. If we develop and retain all our human capital with opportunities for personal growth, Malaysia too will produce high achievers in all professions and even sports.

Already many Malaysians are well-known overseas in various professions and I believe we have the talents that can be developed for our nation’s progress. It is imperative that we retain their services for Malaysia.

In order to develop our human capital we need universities of excellence and so we will embark on the long task of upgrading the universities so that we will attract top notch professors and quality students.

We are improving the environment in our cities and making Kuala Lumpur flood free and squatter free is a top priority that will be achieved by 2020.

As a leading producer of palm oil, Malaysia has the potential to become a leader in bio-fuel technology and that will be our focus in alternative energy.

Malaysia can achieve much more by 2057. The task is great and the responsibility is ours. Let us work together and help Malaysia advance further for the next 50 years."

KL Floods - This is How to Spend the RM100m Budget

2007-06-14T10:53:00.000+08:00

It is good that the Cabinet has allocated an extra RM100million for the prevention of floods in KL.

However I feel that the money should have been allocated to the most important cause of the flooding right in the centre of town. Pardon me while I rant and rave at the idiocy and stupidity of all the reasons being given but the flooding in KL can be directly attributed to the construction of the LRT Station right inside the river reserve space so that the Klang River cannot flow at its original capacity.

I believe the capacity has been reduced by at least 30% as the LRT station is at least 3 meters below the top of the bund. Now this is the at the widest part(at the top)and hence the flow restriction could be larger than 30%.

Building retention ponds and installing more pump houses can help somewhat but it means we are installing more equipment that requires regular maintenance(now that is a taboo phrase for most Malaysian authorities)

So how should the money be spent?
That offending LRT station has to be raised to clear the river bund and the estimated cost for this is RM20million (one time cost, excluding any land cost).
I would not install any more pumps or build retention ponds unless these are already ponding areas.
These areas will be gazetted as drainage reserves for at least 50 years and no one allowed to build here including squatters. The areas will be well maintained and allowed to be used as public recreation areas but with no permanent structures except for toilets. Perhaps RM5m will be used for these minor projects.

Perhaps another RM1m will be used to provide free shuttle service to connect commuters affected during the one-month closure of the LRT Station at Masjid Jamek pending the reconstruction.

The balance of the RM100m ie RM74m will be used to reallocate squatters along the river banks and creating a 50meter clear zone on both banks of the river so that dumping activities can be closely monitored.

Malaysians are sometimes too gentle and unassertive. In most countries those traders affected by the overflow at Masjid Jamek would have marched to DBKL and demanded the demolition of that LRT Station.

I estimate the station can be completed within 3 months. Modular design in one complete section or two halves. Only rails have to be properly aligned.
Actual site disruption perhaps two weeks based on working 24 hours.

Photo: Thanks to http://www.lowermerion.org/planning/osp/ospimages/indiancreek.jpg We really need more spaces like this in KL.

KL Floods - Nice Photo but Wrong Background

2007-06-13T11:35:00.000+08:00

We all like new toys and some toys can be quite cheap.
This RM2billion baby is the latest toy to reduce the flood problems of KL.

As stated in this article, poor planning can be the cause of flooding in the city and this can be attributed to:

1.Illegal logging and clearing of large land areas
2.Improper disposal of wastes
3.Poor maintenance of existing facilities like drainage, water gates and pumps
4.No desilting of major rivers for many years
5.Large property development without adequate retention ponds

In the old days, I believe the provision for flood and drainage factors were better taken care of. You can still see this in the older sections of Petaling Jaya with lower housing density, adequate trees and grass verges and even the large lake along the Federal Highway. Nowadays that lake would have been filled and even more houses built there.

The article mentioned "water in 3,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools dumped into the middle of the city."
In my earlier articles I have mentioned that the river overflows at the Masjid Jamek site because the LRT station was constructed across the entire width of the river thereby reducing the flow capacity by at least 30%.

I wonder how much water would have been dumped in KL if this major obstruction had been removed.
So I say this picture would have been more appropriate if the person had posed with the background of that LRT station showing how it disrupted the river flow. The picture should be composed with his outstretched arms to show the width of the river.
I am sure that would have explained to the KL residents more clearly how the floods were caused.

Photo: Thanks to the New Straits Times

KL Flooding. You Can't Stop Telling Lies.....

2007-06-12T15:50:00.000+08:00

Once you tell one lie it is very difficult to stop telling more lies to cover the first lie.

Mistakes are similar in that fashion. If you make a basic mistake and do not correct that error but try to cover it up with other activities, more often than not the cost of correcting the basic mistake is very complex and can cost a hundred times more.

The frequent flooding in KL in recent years, especially near the town center has been caused by the construction of the LRT Station near the Masjid Jamek mosque. The station takes up at least 3 meters of space inside the river and across the entire width; thereby causing an artificial barrier that reduces the flow capacity by at least 30%.

This error is known to the authorities but instead of changing the design of the station so that the full river capacity is restored, they embarked on that SMART Tunnel project so that 95% of the river can be diverted in the future.

If you look at the KL map(click for a clearer view), the LRT station is built just north of Jalan Tun Perak. I expect the Sungei Klang will overflow at the station obstruction and since the surrounding area is low-lying, the spillover is going to quickly reach Merdeka Square and upstream of that river.

The RM6billion budget to build numerous ponds and deepening of river and installing more pumping stations may alleviate the floods but I feel they should spend the money to redo that LRT station that is the basic cause of the floods.

Once the station is clear of the river, I estimate the flooding frequency in KL will be reduced to perhaps once every 10 years. Other flood alleviation measures like desilting would not cost billions but a few million each year.

If you are a KL resident, you could capture the flood happenings at the Masjid Jamek station the next time it rains heavily and post to YouTube.

Map: Thanks to http://www.leeds.ac.uk/international/images/KL_Office_Map.jpg

Class Action Suit Against DBKL?

2007-06-11T10:59:00.000+08:00

All it takes is a few hours of rain in the Klang Valley and we create damage worth millions to property, vehicles and also engangering the health of thousands who are stressed out by the frequent flooding.

The RM1.8billion SMART tunnel was touted to be the "Final Solution" to KL's flooding but now it seems that many of the retention ponds have not been completed.

The mind boggles at what our planners and executives are doing. I would have thought retention ponds are much easier to contruct than that showpiece tunnel project - maybe very little glamour?

I lived in KL from 1967 to 1988 and during those years I can recall that flooding near Masjid Jamek occurred perhaps two or three times and the disruption lasted perhaps one or two hours.

I suspect the main reason for the frequent flooding near this section of the river is that DBKL allowed the LRT station to be constructed inside the reserve of the river itself.

I am sure any primary student will be able to explain to the authorities that such a mistake will only cause the river to overflow at this point where the entire depth of the river has been reduced by about 3 meters. Compared to the original flow capacity of the river, I guess the capacity has been reduced by at least 30%.

I recommend KL readers to take a photo of the LRT station and the river and send to the newspapers or to my blog so that we can highlight this basic problem.

I estimate it will cost less than RM15million to raise the level of the station and return the river to its original capacity. There will be some travel disruption but the whole station can be built with a modular design so that final assembly time can be minimised. If tracks have to be raised, a shuttle bus service can operate between the nearest stations. The total time of disruption should be limited to 2 weeks working on a 24-hour basis. Obviously this will not be a crony project.

If I can think of a conspiracy theory, it appears that the SMART tunnel gained fast approval after this problem was "created."

Photo: Thanks to the Star

For Want of a Tie Justice was Denied?

2007-06-09T17:40:00.000+08:00

Is this going to be the new dress code for lawyers appearing before this lady magistrate?

No red tie
White shirt
Black pants
No boxer shorts

Sounds absurd? Well this story relates how the lawyer was not allowed to be present in court if he refused to comply with her order.

You can shake your head and wonder what is going on with our judges and this is incident may make it to the David Frost show on how ludicrous some people are.

Being a magistrate requires a person to act with dignity and decorum and not behave like a tin pot dictator.

Remember that old verse that went

"For want of a nail, a shoe was lost
For want of a shoe, a horse was lost
For want of a horse, a battle was lost
For want of a battle, a kingdom was lost."

Kudos to the lawyer for taking the right action and we hope proper action is taken against the magistrate.
This incident is no small matter and shows we must appoint the right people for such important posts or justice will be hindered.

Anyone here seen that lawyer's red tie? Maybe it was a really bright red and with flashing disco lights?
That's still no excuse as she could have told him to disconnect the battery.

Photo: Thanks to http://www.elpachuco.com/jpgs/ties/red_sm.jpg

Finally the Government Does Something about Escalating Costs.

2007-06-09T11:01:00.000+08:00

The recent salary increase given to all civil servants including pensioners will require an additional RM8billion every year to the costs of administration of Malaysia.

Comparison with other countries shows that our civil servants to population ratio is high compared to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region and even with the vast amounts spent on IT systems, the trend is towards an increase rather than a decrease of civil servants.

According to the article below, the cost of pensions alone has increased from RM2billion 15 years ago to the expected RM6billion estimated for 2008.

At the rate of increase, the bill could reach RM20billion by 2020.
The government has sensibly adopted a new pension scheme whereby new civil servants have to contribute to the fund and CUEPACS is not too happy.

Of course CUEPACS is not responsible for paying pensions in the future and they have to appear busy promoting their members’ benefits.

The government has to look after the welfare of all Malaysians and simply cannot carry such a heavy pension burden.

The government should also study why the costs of pensions have escalated way beyond all sustainability and such research could cover the following:

1.Study the number of pensioners who take second wives that are much younger thereby lengthening the period to pay derivative pensions to a younger widow with young children.

2.Give the civil servant the choice of converting the pension benefits into a lump sum payment. This can be calculated at any stage of the career after say 10 years service. For example the lump sum can be half the last drawn salary X years of service and this will allow some people to leave to set up a business.

3.Determine posts that have become redundant and to redeploy surplus staff to other areas.

4.Provide skills training to those who want to leave for the private sector and also counselling to those who have been terminated.

We should support the Government’s move to reduce the pension costs in the longer term. As for CUEPACS it would be good if they can give the public some valuable insights into how it can really work towards improving the delivery system of the government.

If you have not taken the poll to express your view on our civil servant numbers please read up the Green column on this website and take the poll today.

Graph: Just to illustrate how costs increase with time on a non-linear basis

Writing's on the Wall for Proton?

2007-06-08T11:37:00.000+08:00

It is a national shame that Proton with more then 20 years auto manufacturing experience did not do more to compete in the international market.

Perhaps the government's policy of protection against car imports created the situation whereby all those sub-contractors of parts did not really have to do much to profit immensely from the guaranteed business.

Of course when the furore started over the massive APs allocation to a few individuals, many people cried "Foul play! " especially those who were not AP recipients.

While the justification for awarding so many APs to so few still has not been given, in a way it is good that Malaysians can now purchase imported cars at more realistic prices though we still have a long way to go to remove artificial taxes like the AP.

This article is very interesting as it shows how innovative product development and aggressive marketing coupled with stringent quality standards can equate to success in the highly competitive automative market.

Just 2 details from the article:

The owner of the company works 75 hours a week and he estimates to set up a parts factory in China with 20 workers would cost US$4m and the labour costs for those 20 workers would be US$40,000 pa or the equivalent of one US unionised worker.

It sure begs questions as to why and how Proton invested millions in the doomed MV Augusta in Europe that really was a high cost centre.

The most prudent thing for the stakeholders in Proton to do is to have a paradigm shift in thinking we can still support the protected car policy and let any foreign car maker buy the controlling stake. The national car project died when the APs took over. It is now time to bury it.

The Pursuit of Justice Gets Curiouser and Curiouser.....

2007-06-07T10:42:00.000+08:00

The system of justice in Malaysia has been under a dark cloud ever since the wholesale sacking of senior judges some years ago.

There were also rumours of a judge and lawyer connection on holiday overseas but nothing substantial came out of that.

Now we hear that a badminton game is the cause of the DPP being withdrawn just 24 hours before the Altantuya murder trial starts resulting in a 2-week delay as requested by the newly appointed lead prosecutor.

But the story above also mentions the appointment of two other senior DPPs during the past 2 weeks and only the lead was replaced.

I read somewhere else that the new lead prosecutor is normally in charge of civil cases but surely the case of a murder does not fall within that category?

If the other 2 senior DPPs had prepared adequately prior to the trial, wouldn't any one of them been able to take the lead? There would have been no need to cause a 2-week delay.

The other delay that has caused damage to the AG's office is that the reason given seems to be "Too little, too late".

I don't know what is the actual code of conduct for lawyers and judges. But it takes at least 2 persons to play the game of badminton and if the code had been breached, what action is being taken for the two players?

Photo: Taken near Perth, 2005

Justice Not Only Blind but also Lame and Brainless in Malaysia

2007-06-06T09:55:00.000+08:00

There is a saying that "Justice in Blind" to mean that the judge administers justice without fear or favour so that everyone gets a fair trial.

However in Malaysia we appear to be stretching things too far when the prosecution team for a prominent case is switched on the day before the trial starts on the feeble excuse that it was to ensure "a fair trial".

I'm no legal eagle but that phrase kind of causes alarm bells to start ringing. Does that mean the previous team could not ensure a vigorous exercise in the pursuit of justice?

Now the trial has to be postponed for another two weeks and the court schedules have to be redrawn.

To divert attention from the feverish atmosphere in KL, now another case has to be postponed - this time in Butterworth when the accused were not produced in court as someone forgot to check where they were being held.

It would be quite hilarious for a courtroom comedy skit but here we are dealing with delays in justice caused by sheer incompetence.

Don't prosecution teams have even a basic checklist to ensure that such cock-ups do not occur(pardon my language)like:

Name of prisoner:
Prison held:
Date of trial:
Medical reports:

I thought the latest salary increase would motivate civil servants to perform basic tasks rather well as most of it require only a few grey cells but I am wrong on that count.

The other issue was that the request to postpone the trial was based on the post-mortem that had not been received. Is that not a feeble excuse?

Perhaps we need to have a cost structure for delays of this kind. They say "Time=Money" but most civil servants have the attitude you need to stretch your work so your job is more secured.

I suggest the Courts should adopt some cost penalties like the following:
Postponements: RM5000 per day on the party asking for the postponement and that includes the judge, the defence or the prosecution.

This step will bring more order to Malaysian courts and speed up cases. Of course the government will only collect fines for itself but the fine will be a measure of the efficiency of the offices.

Graphics: Thanks to http://www.ramdac.org/images/ju$tice_large.jpg

Remember that Old Saying, "Prevention is Better than Cure"?

2007-06-05T14:01:00.001+08:00

Maybe that is not taught anymore in school nowadays.

The proposal to improve the quality of our rivers is good but the method appears rather costly as it proposes to treat the pollution after the water has turned bad.

Such a system will not be cost effective unless more stringent measures are taken before the river gets so polluted.

A few days ago, I was walking along the Rocor Canal in Singapore near the Bus Station and the water in the canal was quite low. In the water I could see hundreds of fishes some about 70mm in length. One can also see fish in the Singapore River. Maybe we can learn some simple effective measures from our southern neighbours.

To me a more cost effective solution would be the following:

1.Control of squatter colonies near rivers with proper sanitation
2.Treatment of all effluents by factories and enforcement of regulations
3.Proper monitoring of factories and waste disposal contractors
4.Enforcement of dumping restrictions near rivers.
5.Ensure landfills are properly managed

The basic steps of water quality improvement should the maximum reduction of wastes entering the river and not trying to undo the damage. Gravel beds require regular maintenance and I expect that to be a recurrent problem with this proposal.

I think the Singapore River took about 10 years to see the vast improvements and usually the first few years of this type of project show negligible results.
There is really no quick fix.

Graphics: Thanks to the Star

People with Sight may Not See or the Fear of an Entire Nation

2007-06-04T20:25:00.000+08:00

I watched a documentary on a Health Project in North Korea and the documentary was about the large scale operations of a team of doctors who performed about 1000 operations on eye patients as a charity project.

It was on the National Geographical Channel and called "Inside North Korea" and the most striking thing about the documentary was the complete gratitude of the recovered patients to the nation's leader, KIM Jong Il.

The documentary highlighted the scenes when the eye bandages were removed and how the patients reacted on seeing again or even for the first time. The strangest thing was that no one thanked the doctors profusely but they all focussed their gratitude on the top leader. It was quite scary.

There was a picture of him on the wall and the moment the bandages were removed, all the patients really became obsessive about paying their respects to their "great leader" as if he were a God.

North Korea became independent shortly after WW2 and has been under the tight control of just one man and his father for the past 50 odd years.

It is not only a dictatorship but whole families can be severely punished or killed if one member voices a protest against the leaders. The documentary described prison camps with 50,000 detainees where starvation is a normal condition.

You can read more about North Korea here.

The feature showed how government propaganda can really hold the masses captive and I guess the message from this is that we must pay the price for freedom and that is eternal vigilance.
Do you think Malaysians too have become blind?

Photo: Thanks to http://www.dba-oracle.com/images/ecuador_quito_blind_guitarist.jpg

Transparency? Just Think Out of the Box

2007-06-02T10:46:00.000+08:00

If this is the only measure that the Elections Commission can think of after so many years it is small wonder that democracy and representative government is such a fragile flower in Malaysia.

Of course we do have the elections at the stipulated intervals but these are some of the more blatant offences committed during the election campaigns:

1.Use of government posts and facilities as seen in the frenzied "official" duties during elections.

2.Bribing voters with development projects that miraculously appear during elections as in Ijok.

The use of indelible ink is OK but I suppose a few dozen will prefer not to vote as they don't want to spoil their appearance.

The other function of the EC that should come under close scrutiny should be how they delineate seats and also the disproportionate weight given to rural seats. There should be a Parliamentary Committee to overseer this activity and also the supervision of postal votes.

I am sure readers will be able to think of some other measures that will improve the efficiency and proper functioning of the EC. The RM10.8million spent on those new election boxes would have been more useful to pay for a team of election observers from other democratic Commonwealth nations.

Photo: Thanks to http://users.skynet.be/flowergarden/fotos/fotoblz1/02.jpg

Religious Freedom - Back to the Constitution?

2007-06-02T10:20:00.000+08:00

While the Lina Joy case can inspire or dismay thousands, I wonder why the Constitution has not been amended by a majority government so that such cases that create so much bad publicity will not even end up in a subordinate court.

In this case, we have spent so much resources trying to decide the religious beliefs or unbeliefs of a woman who has for many years proclaimed she no longer practises the religion she was born into.

After all Malaysia is a secular nation as stated in the Constitution and Islam is the official religion and no one disputes those basic facts. But our Constitution also states that freedom of religion of the individual is also a basic right.

I know Malaysia is the only country that professes religious freedom and yet denies the majority population the right to freely choose their religion.

Of course parents of all religions feel hurt and disturbed when their children convert to another faith but thousands have done so in Malaysia for love and sometimes commercial gain.

I believe the majority of the population feel that religion is something best left to the individual as God is the ultimate judge and He definitely the thoughts we have even before we have them.

So I suggest to our MPs that they should consider revisiting the Constitution again and removing all the discrepancies that exist there so that ALL Malaysians can truly enjoy religious freedom.

Some may get offended but I suggest that these come from only a small section of the population and I am sure the majority of peace-loving Malaysians can accept their weakness. We need to do this soon as the fires of religious intolerance are only fanned by such a case like Lina Joy.

Graphics:Thanks to http://chantalstainedglass.50megs.com/3peacedove_btn.jpg

I Need a Little Help...

2007-06-01T10:58:00.000+08:00

You would have noticed some changes in my blog that now has a different layout.
I have also joined Advertlets and need readers to do a simple poll that is located below the MALAYSIAWATCH POLL.

If you wish to help, please click on the small "recycle" square at the bottom right corner and answer 4 simple questions (nothing very personal)

That will qualify my blog for a little advertising income. Thanks.

Rules of God or Rules of Man?

2007-06-01T10:46:00.000+08:00

The saying, "Religion is the Opium of the masses" is attributed to Karl Marx but that only forms part of his thinking.

All religions have rules that are created and administered by man.

Man as we all know is a weak creature and prone to sin and deceit and throughout history religious authorities have made the rules to wield as much power over their followers as possible and that includes some Popes and other religious leaders.

In medieval times it was important for people of the same religion to know that everyone was being faithful to the rules as otherwise entire cities could be under threat.

For example if one turned against his religion and converted to say Islam from Christianity, that person could poison the water in the well or open the gates to the city.
I think the punishment for apostacy probably arose from such historical reasons.
Also pigs being considered haram probably arose from health reasons as in the old days infections were not easy to control.

My basic take is that scholars can quote from whatever authority but the basic reason is that top leaders want to wield control over the reason of men.

If followers do not think it make life so much easier for the leaders. The only question is, "Is not mankind different from the animals by his ability to think?"

A Prayer for Lina Joy

2007-05-31T10:56:00.000+08:00

I am not a very religious person although I took part in many church activities when I was young as I lived just opposite St Michael’s Church in Ipoh.

My brothers and I used to be called up to serve at funerals and weddings and we even used to ring the three church bells and sing the Latin hymns in the choir, especially for funerals.

So Lina Joy is feeling sad as she did not receive justice she expected from the highest court in Malaysia. The verdict was not unexpected as many Malaysians have the perception that Muslim civil court judges are not able to exercise the judgement of a Solomon and leave their own religious convictions behind; especially in cases with religious complexities.

Lord

Grant her the courage to accept the trials and tribulations you have given her
Help her to understand the fears and doubts of those who ridicule her
Forgive those who have judged her, they know not what they do.

Keep the peace and harmony in my country Malaysia
You have made us to be a nation with many races and many creeds
Help our leaders realise that this frail harmony can be easily broken
When religious bigotry is allowed to terrorise the ordinary people

Let Lina be at peace with You because only with You there is salvation
Protect her from all evil and those that wish her ill
May her light shine brightly so that others will follow her.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

AMEN

Please share this prayer with your friends as Lina Joy needs all the help we can give her in these troubled times.

Malaysia and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

2007-05-30T15:19:00.000+08:00

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the link below.
Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

That act is about one year younger than me but it appears that Malaysians are not protected by all the provisions of the UNDHR.

We are being hypocrites when we try and get the Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi free from house arrest when here in Malaysia some citizens are denied the freedom to practise the religion of their choice.

You can read the UDHR here but Article 18 is particularly relevant:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

It seems that some Malaysians are still being denied their basic human rights even in our 50th year of nationhood.
Let us hope and pray that God will give us the courage and the wisdom to elect MPs who will amend the laws so that all Malaysians will be able to practise their religions freely and not be subject to religious bigotry.

Water Companies Must Remain Public

2007-05-30T10:03:00.000+08:00

Water is an essential resource and if water supply services have been privatised, the authorities must ensure that the government retains control of such companies via the "Golden" share arrangement.

The Johor supply company went public with great fanfare about 6 years ago and since then not even one sen has been paid in dividends and within 3 years of the listing, parties acting in concert including the promoter of the public issue made a general offer for the company.

Except for a brief period after the IPO the share has been below the initial price even though the profits of the company have been within expectations. SAJ is one of the profitable water companies in Malaysia.

I believe the concept of making such companies go public is good but the "Golden" share will ensure that a company providing such a strategic service should not be allowed to be taken private again.

In fact companies such as TNB, TMB and the water companies should have a special clause that they will remain a PLC for at least 50 years after listing.

Photo: Thanks to http://www.cuti.com.my/Sub/Selangor/selangor_sungai_gabai_waterfalls2.jpg

What Do You Think of the "Bloated" Civil Service?

2007-05-29T13:58:00.000+08:00

That is the question for you to give your feedback in MALAYSIAWATCH POLL 26.
Feel free to add your own Comments if the choices do not include your views.

This poll will end on 15th June 2007 so please vote earlier. Thanks.

Do Enforcement Officers have So Much Power?

2007-05-28T17:32:00.000+08:00

Just fancy that!
This shop has been fined RM22,500 for selling Milo at RM1.80 a glass or 20 to 30 sen more than the normal price.

It is good that the Consumer Affairs Ministry is taking a serious view of unscrupulous traders who now see a small fortune to be made from the extra RM8 billion that civil servants have to spend but acting like hooligans seems somewhat inappropriate.

We all know that the civil service is about twice the number that other countries support which means 50% of the workers can be termed "gaji buta" or else the whole service is working at 50% work load.

Those in the private sector have to compete for a scarce resource like labour and it is only natural to want to extract more from those with a reliable income like those on "gaji buta".

Don't get me wrong - if any shop increases the price of drinks too much, I simply stop drinking at that shop. In fact I seldom order drinks nowadays as it is always too sweet even when you tell them to "kurang manis".
One other aspect of their actions should be looked into. According to the report,

"As a deterrent to others, enforcement officers from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry also seized food and drinks worth about RM750 and tore down the shop’s signboard."

I would want to know the following:
"What happened to the seized goods?"
"Was the signboard illegally constructed?"

We should not condone excessive reactions but only actions that are within the law. If people break laws, those enforcement officers cannot justify any action that is not within their authority.

Any lawyers want to comment?

Civil Servants to Spare?

2007-05-25T18:14:00.000+08:00

"Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians" is a saying that meant we have too many people standing around and too few people actually doing some work.

There is another saying, "Too many cooks spoil the broth" which means that there is an optimum number of people needed to perform a series of tasks. If there are too few, workers are heavily loaded and output suffers.
And if you have too many people doing a small job, there is also more inefficiency and output suffers.

This interesting chart show the civil servants ratio to population comparisons and it looks Malaysia is leading for once.

Unfortunately this is not a good thing as it means more of our population is employed by the government and that results in fewer people being engaged in the private sector that generates the wealth of the nation. Of course the tax collectors are always on the government side.

Let's assume that we adopt a policy of benchmarking with Taiwan as that is a fairly advanced country at 2.69%.
If we apply this percentage we should have 713,186 civil servants instead of the 1,142,783 (for 2005)or an excess of 429,597 workers to support.

In other words, for 2005 the civil service was already overstaffed by a whopping 60%!

I am surprised that this recurring expense has not even been debated in Parliament. The recent pay increase for civil servants was overdue and the adjustment for pensioners is good.

I would have changed the rules for pensioners somewhat instead of just the same percentage increases as workers as follows:

Those receiving RM5000 and more per month would only receive an increase between RM80 to RM100.

The latest salary adjustment will cost the government an extra RM8billion each year but if we use the 60% adjustment, the recurrent cost would be only RM4.8billion and the nation could have benefitted from the RM3.2billion saved each year.

Based on your preferences,that extra RM3.2billion each year could have been used as follows:

RM500 million building better schools
RM500 million training skills programs for youths
RM500 million upgrading public transport in major cities
RM500 million improving public health services
RM500 million microcredit projects
RM500 million welfare schemes for the poor and broken families
RM200 million programs to improve communities and inter-racial harmony(not just eating at official open houses)

So maybe the next time you phone a government department and the call is not answered after 4 rings, it could be that there are actually 2 operators and each is waiting for the other to respond.

And perhaps the reason your file takes so long to get approval is that instead of just one officer needing to read your application, they need 2 persons to read and one of them has gone to a seminar up Genting Highlands.

In the past the government has absorbed unemployed graduates but such a measure should only be a temporary one and the person should only be employed on a one-year contract during which time the person has the responsibilty to upgrade his or her skills to suit the job market.
The other solution for the surplus workers in the civil service is to allow older workers to leave earlier and draw the pension.

The world owes no one a living and there are really many jobs available in the plantation and construction industry.

Graphics: Thanks to malaysiakini

MALAYSIAWATCH POLL - Results on the SUBASHINI Case

2007-05-24T19:43:00.000+08:00

(Please click on diagram to see details)

After almost 2 months, here are the views of 299 voters who took part in the poll that asked the question,

"What Do You Think of the Latest Case of Subashini the woman whose husband converted to Islam and who now wants to convert all their children?"

It is interesting to note that most viewers felt a pragmatic approach was preferable to a religious one and many believed that the judges should treat the matter more judiciously in the civil courts before the matter became more complex.

This is the final review of this poll. Readers are encouraged to take the poll asp so that we can get a new poll about once or twice a month.Thanks for taking part.

Let's Celebrate our 50th Anniversary with Style!

2007-05-24T16:39:00.000+08:00

Stop all those depressing headlines like "Court complex hit by calamity again".
We know that this year is going to be a wet one with many leaks so let's celebrate like our friends in Thailand and have a year-long Songkran festival
in Malaysia. After all, ManU won't be coming and this water festival in all government buildings will be open to all, with no fees to pay.
Of course you may get wet but I hope it is only clean water. So as a matter of the utmost urgency we should get the PWD assistant-director to ensure that all sewage piping has been checked properly.

We need to let our civil servants enjoy the new pay increases and also share a little with the long suffering public so everytime the Songkran(leaks) occur, each civil servant will be encouraged to belanja one member of the public to a teh or kopi tarik, OK?

PS. I've been having a running nose the past 2 days so the drip has got into my brains!

Photos: Thanks to http://polosbastards.com/songkran2byrickshaw.jpg and the Star

What's the Maintenance Schedule for the SMART Tunnel?

2007-05-24T15:28:00.000+08:00

So has anyone prepared a maintenance manual for our RM1.8billion SMART Tunnel?
But it is brand new and still under warranty many of you will say and the contractor is supposed to rectify defects for another 12 or 18 months.

Well and good but what happens in the meantime when motorists use the tunnel for free? Are they covered by insurance if a slab of concrete falls and kills some motorists during the free period?

Maybe they have even a sign that reads on the toll ticket."The company is not liable for any events that occur in the tunnel". Perhaps the one-month free period is to allow some motorists to have a few accidents in the tunnel to shake loose some questionable sections?

A few of my readers will think I have gone a little bonkers but allow me to share this article published in The Straits Times on 11th May 2007.

"Falling Concrete in CTE Tunnel. Engineers, MP call for thorough check".

A few details gleaned from the article:

CTE tunnels opened in 1991 and have been troubled with leaks since the opening.
Designed to last 120 years.
Chunks of concrete came crashing down on 9th May in a stretch under the Singapore River. Guessing from the photo the "chunk" looks about the size 20cm X 10cm X 15cm. It could kill you if it fell directly on your head. Luckily the slabs did not hit any vehicle.
The total cost of the CTE including tunnels was $300million.
The leaks had to be repaired 3 times since 1991.
The last leak repair was in 2003 and cost $4million.

The main cause of such leaks is the breakdown of the special waterproof membrane that line the tunnel walls.

A sure sign of the waterproofing failure would be the "sweating" of the tunnel walls and eventually you will find drips and the growth of small plants in crevices of the walls.
If the failure is not arrested in time, spalling will occur and this is referred as "Concrete cancer" that sees the corrosion of reinforment metal bars in the concrete. The rusting metal expands and separates from the concrete and the tunnel walls will become uneven. It is then a question of time, perhaps some years before the chunks start falling off like in the CTE.

One particular concern of the SMART Tunnel is the water channel at the bottom section. If the waterproofing quality is not good enough, it will surely cause the entire tunnel to deteriorate faster unless minor defects are repaired quickly. I suggest the authorities should get an independent party to inspect this tunnel say every five years for structural integrity.

Even Singapore with their "kiasus" mentality can experience tunnel flaws so I expect Malaysia with our "tiadapathy" attitude should be more wary of the SMART Tunnel.
Unless you want to drive a HUMVEE?

I will take a look at this tunnel the next time I'm up in KL but not five years later.

Graphics: Thanks to http://www.smarttunnel.com.my/images/project/smart/pic_crosssection.jpg

NEP and Dependency - You Must Watch This!

2007-05-23T18:29:00.000+08:00

Do you think this guy made use of some NEP program to achieve this ability?

Authority, Responsibility, Accountability and Integrity Lacking in Government

2007-05-23T10:52:00.000+08:00

The Parliament leaks fiasco show how some basic qualities are clearly lacking in the admininstration.
Even though the number of civil servants has risen significantly (23.5%)since 2000, we still do not have a good system of Command and Control.

OK the PM has commanded the Works Minister to "just do it" ala Nike. That is easily arranged as all that is needed is some free money.

There is a basic failure of the principles of Authority, Responsibility and Accountability that are so necessary for any good team to work properly.

Looking at all the project blunders, it is all too convenient to simply blame the contractors but we never get to hear the whole story as perhaps contractors are also simply told to just do it and we will find other ways to compensate you for things that are not really your fault.

I am sure that is what happens in the real world when we have many incompetent people handling major projects.

One major obstacle to getting ministers to practise these principles of authority, responsibility and accountability is that most decisions are made as a Cabinet and so no one appears responsible. Over time and many blunders, we develop a Cabinet of the Incompetents.

We should move away from this outdated practice and allow ministers to absorb the blame if they commit major blunders to save the good name of the Cabinet.Leaders of political parties who are incompetent as ministers may have to wait till the next general elections to be reappointed as a minister.

After all a good party leader may not be a good minister and no one is really indispensable.
Just as an example of how a Minister has to resign to take the heat away from the top leader, Rumsfeld resigned as Defense Secretary after the Iraq war scandals to protect the President.

As for integrity, I'm not sure if such a word exists in the Malaysian psyche.

Graphics: Thanks to malaysiakini

A Case of Dangerous Negligence

2007-05-23T10:13:00.000+08:00

This is another case of Malaysian "tiadapathy" in which hundreds could have been killed.

If you look more closely at the photo, the beam is from beneath a railway underpass and if a fully loaded passenger train had been travelling at high speed on the tracks above, the jolt from the tanker could have caused the train to derail.

40,000 litres of petrol could be easily ignited by a spark caused from the tank rupturing.Can you imagine the death and destruction if the train had derailed onto the fuel tanker and the resultant carnage?

The company has clearly been negligent in not ensuring that approved routes are followed or new vehicles were not properly checked for route suitabilty.The clearance of such structures are clearly marked and trying to take short cuts can cause danger to the public.

It seems that we are not only lax about maintenance but also following proper operating procedures.

The papers should follow-up this story to see if the police will bring a case against the company like:

Damage of public property
Endangering the public with a dangerous substance
Negligent driving

Photo: Thanks to New Straits Times

Of Course the Massive Pay Rise has to Do with the Elections

2007-05-22T10:30:00.000+08:00

but no one will admit to that.That would be politically incorrect.

The amount being mentioned is quite substantial RM6.8billion increase from next year plus Rm1.2billion increase in COLA costs for a total of RM8billion increase each year.

Now everyone is promising better performance as if a wage increase is going to make a quantum leap in the workers' attitudes so that slackers will stop taking their extended tea breaks and corrupt cops are just going to give up their bad habits.

With the ever increasing costs of civil servants it is time for the government to seriously consider the following:

1.Replace the pension scheme with EPF for all New employees
2.Provide New civil servants with a transferable medical insurance for family
3.Establish a productivity review scheme that publishes staff reductions with greater IT enhancements.

For example in the Passport and JPJ and Income Tax departments, services have improved via the greater use of IT but have staff numbers been streamlined?

While it is good that salaries for the police have been increasedwe are still waiting for the IPCMC to be fully implemented.

I also worry that pay raises have been justified partly based on the performance of the KLSE. Does this mean that if the market collapses, pay can be reduced?

Should Abused Malaysian Women Strike in Bed?

2007-05-22T09:55:00.000+08:00

Coming so soon after the "bocor" remarks of those boorish BN MPs, the latest remark by a senior minister really shows the contempt with which these men treat women in general and opposition women MPs in particular.

It is time for women voters to teach these immature men some basic human decency by voting them out in the next elections. In fact women groups could exert some bedroom politics by pointing out to their menfolk that these remarks are really hurtful and totally unacceptable.

That may not change the government but some MPs may be dropped from the slate.
Such experienced so-called leaders should be more skillful when making remarks in a press conference.
“A woman 50 years ago, she looks beautiful, but today she won't look so beautiful,” was attributed to Samy Vellu.

After all women make up about 50% of voters and describing a woman especially with reference to the total neglect of the Parliament building is most inappropriate no matter how much the speaker believes the remark.

It would have been a simple matter to simply change the subject for maintenance to a more neutral topic like the maintenance of a 10-year old car.

The abuse of women sometimes is prolonged when the victims accept the abuse as inevitable and even worse some women even believe they are the cause for the men's behaviour and tolerate such abuse.

With such inept thinking it is no wonder that the ship called Malaysia is sinking.

Parliament Flaws the Most Evident Sign of Lack of Accountability

2007-05-20T18:49:00.000+08:00

It is now claimed that our House of Parliament is beset with a plethora of woes from leaking roofs, wiring problems, toilet blocks and even the theft of hooks in the toilets.

It appears that no budget for roof maintenance has been provided for 44 years and one wonders why they could spend RM90m solely on interior renovations as claimed in the Star report.

Like the proverbial "hot potato" everyone appears blur as to how no is considered responsible for the building maintenance.

Also water-proofing on the concrete roofing as shown in the photo should develop minor faults after perhaps 10 years. One wonders how this was also reported when there is talk of accumumulated debris and blockages on the roof.

"Furthermore, until about four months ago when inspection was carried out, the roof was still in good condition. The roof leakage developed in the last three months probably due to heavy rain and physical defects."

Simply incredulous but then people have to find excuses when the shit hits the ceiling!

Even with XXL Cabinet in operation for three years it seems that the authorities do not even know how to ensure that basic maintenance is provided for all buildings.

To me it is a basic failure of good governance when our Parliament building is so badly neglected. We are only good at facades but when serious matters or issues are involved, it is merely given a cursory look.

Perhaps it only shows the utter lack of concern by the government as it basks in the 90% majority and can ignore the will of the rak'yat.

To me it is such a simple administrative procedure that should be provided by the PWD. It should provide an official hand-book of building maintenance that is given to all government agencies that want to do their own maintenance.

It will then be up to the agency concerned to hire competent contractors and provide the annual budget for proper building maintenance.
The annual budget for proper building maintenance could be about 5% of the building value; depending on the building condition.

Now if the Works Minister had spent his time developing such systems instead of campaigning in the two by-elections, all the government departments and other buildings could have obtained the Building Maintenance Manual by now.

Photo: Thanks to New Straits Times

Another Tragedy that Could Have Been Avoided

2007-05-19T18:11:00.000+08:00

It is rather sad that men have to lose their lives while performing official duties.

It is even more tragic when a tragedy like this occurs even when the men are not doing anything hazardous like the pursuit of smugglers or armed terrorists.

To the families of those who died we must share their grief but we should also ensure that this kind of accident does not recur or those men would have died in vain.

An official inquiry should be conducted with the findings made public so that everyone can learn from past mistakes and proper training given so that government officials do not endanger themselves or members of the public.

Photo: Thanks to New Straits Times

We Need to Make Better Use of Women Power!

2007-05-19T11:02:00.000+08:00

So the Cabinet decided that the two clowns would discuss their tomfoolery with the Minister of Women,Family and Community Development before making a qualified apology at a press conference.

Looking at the overall composition of the Cabinet with only 3 women ministers out of the 32 member line-up it seems that women are under-represented in our Cabinet.

For some years now women have overtaken men in university enrolments and more female graduates are entering the job markets. It is time we also harness more women power to play a more active role in our nation's progress. Especially since many problems of society are caused by the actions of men who divorce their wives and abandon their families.

We need not copy France where the new President announced his new line-up with a Cabinet with about 50% women. For Malaysia perhaps a good start would be at least 30% women in the Cabinet and perhaps the deputy Speaker of the Parliament should be a woman to keep the MCPs in check.

Thanks for Your Prayers!

2007-05-18T11:06:00.000+08:00

My grand-daughter's operation went well and she will be in the ICU for a few days.
Hopefully she will get well soon and make a complete recovery.

The op cost is going to be about S$6000 and this is the subsidised rate if one follows the correct referral procedure - otherwise it is S$12000, all payable via CPF Medisave account.

As an aside there was a very heavy downpour in Singapore yesterday and the glass roof inside the hospital sprung a leak. But only the cleaner was busy mopping up and she was also on the hand-phone, presumably calling the supervisor to report the defect.

Will keep you updated on that problem over the next few days.

PS. I cannot view my blog. If you can read it, can you please make a comment so I know the problem is only at this end? Thanks.

Even the House of Parliament has Become Tainted by Our MPs

2007-05-18T10:31:00.000+08:00

Malaysians have long endured the childish antics of our MPs who are prone to making seditious remarks and crude sexist jokes.

Maybe that is the reason the authorities in charge of the RM90 million renovation project did not even bother to waterproof the reinforced concrete roof as "the installation of water proofing equipment was not included in the contract". A sort of spontaneous cooling-off mechanism to calm MPs during their heated debates?

It would be interesting to know more details about the civil engineer who recommended such a design in the first place or is this project another of those "Ali-Baba" construction where the Nth sub-contractor could be an illiterate construction worker who has nailed together some attap huts in Indonesia?

The report also mentions debris clogging the gutter and other rubbish left behind by the contractors. Surely a basic requirement during any handover inspection is the complete removal of all rubbish before the final payment is approved?

I wonder why there is so much emphasis on the replacement of plastic water pipes? The only reason would be if the plastic pipes were not up to the specific pressure rating or if PVC pipes were used instead of UPvc that is able to withstand exposure to sunlight without becoming brittle.

This Parliament House renovation is typical of most things Malaysian - going for nice facades with a rotten foundation.

Even someone who seems to know absolutely nothing about buildings
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said incidences of leakages could not be predicted, adding that even new buildings had defects.

Of course the system maintains that no one is ultimately responsible for such basic failures. Malaysia truly boleh!

Photo: Thanks to New Straits Times

When You Turn On that Water Tap....

2007-05-17T23:02:00.000+08:00

I know many consumers in the Klang Valley have complaints about the water quality and some claim you can get "teh tarik" or "kopi tarik" depending on the time of day.

There is no doubt that our water quality has gone down over the years and it seems that not much is being done to supply top quality water except to encourage people to install water filters in every home.

I recently uploaded a photo of a murky looking pool and invited readers to guess what it was.

Here are two more photos to complete the scene.
This is actually a water supply system for an Orang Asli village somewhere in Johor.
I visited the village of about 30 families about a month ago as part of an outreach program to upgrade the quality of life of Malaysia's original settlers.

The village was located adjacent to a well-known plantation company and within walking distance of some of the staff quarters.
The site was well-maintained, quite like a typical Malay kampong but with dogs and free-range chicken.

The villagers used to collect water in containers from the mountain stream but my church is trying to provide them some basic facilities like a water-supply system that can improve their lives.

The first photo in a previous entry is a mini-dam about one meter high across a mountain stream and pipes at the bottom convey the water to a storage tank of about 500 gallons capacity that is sitting on a level platform cut on the slope.

The water from the tank is then piped directly to each home without any treatment but villagers boil the water before drinking.

I tasted some of the boiled water with some hesitation but it did not have any after effect. Maybe my system is flexible as I do drink NeWater too!
When the tank is empty, the villagers have to collect water as before.

So before we complain about your "teh tarik" water we should spare a thought for these Orang Asli who have definitely been marginalised from our nation's progress.

As for that plantation company, it would be a good exercise in Corporate Social Responsibility if they could just provide some free treated water to this village.

Can You Say a Prayer for My Grand-daughter?

2007-05-16T01:10:00.000+08:00

My second grand-daughter will undergo an operation to repair a defective flap in her tiny heart in Singapore later today.

She is six months old. Your prayers for her will be much appreciated so that we can accept whatever the Creator has deemed for her.

Can You Guess What Is This?

2007-05-15T23:46:00.000+08:00

Enough of the heavy stuff about May13 and Multi-Billion Ringgit Pipes.

Let's see how many of you can get this right:
Please answer in the comments with your choice of a) b) c) or d)

a)it's a muddy stream

b)it's the holding pond of an effluent system

c)it's part of a water supply system

d)it's none of the above

No prizes for the right answer tomorrow.

Man U and Building Bridges - 2-0 for Botch-ups in a Month

2007-05-15T12:19:00.000+08:00

Readers of my blog could have guessed that I'm a fan of Manchester United and I've been a fan since the days of Eric Cantona.

It is good that they will be appearing in Malaysia though I will not be making any special trip for the match in KL.

I think the FAM is making a mistake by defying the AFC's ruling that the ManU match should not be held during the Asian Cup Finals during July 7-29. It is naive to think that a ManU match on 27 July will not affect the other matches.

It is also strange that the FAM can offer the excuse that "they have no authority to stop the English champions from playing here as it is organised by a private promoter working with the Ministry of Tourism."

Unless ManU is playing a match against a team without FAM affliation and without FAM match officials.

After all it is only a football match that EPL teams use for promotion and marketing purposes - more like a demo and for a working holiday rather than the sweat and blood of a title chase.

I thought politics and sports did not mix and this incident shows politics can have a bad effect on sports unless the dates for ACF were not known prior to the ManU date.

The PR guys in the PM's department really need to get their act together as it seems the PM is the person who is insisting that the ManU match is played without any alternative date.

The second incident is the abrupt cancellation of the international inter-faith conference with about two weeks notice.
This I feel has more serious implications about Malaysia's reputation as a country that is supposed to practise religious tolerance.
The information for the cancellation has somehow morphed into a postponement but with no new dates proposed.
The reason given was that the PM wanted to attend the conference very much but something more urgent turned up.

There was no official apology and it is a simple case of really bad manners. If one cannot attend the whole conference, he could just make a speech and attend whatever sessions that are convenient.
After all it is an ongoing series of dialogues and this type of dialogue take years to crystallize ideas.

Obviously I cannot apologise on behalf of our Prime Minister but I feel these two incidents show the ugly face of Malaysia.

I reckon the score to be 2-0

How Do We Bury the Ghosts of May 13, 1969?

2007-05-12T19:17:00.000+08:00

When May 13 occurred I was in the distant safety of the United Kingdom and watched some of the scenes shown on the BBC.

My family members were in Ipoh and they were unaffected except for the inconvenience of the curfews. Many of my classmates were students at MU but I have not had the chance to ask them how things were in those terrible days.

I did hear how some of the Sultans, especially the Sultan of Johor, went around and ordered the citizens not to create trouble and to calm matters.

Conspiracy theories have abounded since then but none were ever published until now when malaysiakini launched its book after research from the archives of the United Kingdom where documents are kept classified for 30 years.

Malaysia always boasts about helping poorer countries in Africa but this is one area where we can ask South Africa to help.
Immediately after that great man Nelson Mandela took power, the Truth and Reconcialition Commission was set up and it provided a major programme to help the country to recover from the ravages of years of apartheid.

Such a similar commission may also be good for Malaysia for if we do not learn from past mistakes, then history will repeat itself.
Some of the perpetrators of crimes may be dead but if you were a 25-year old at the time and you did something evil, you will be about 65-years old and almost due to meet your Creator.

It may be good for you to publicly acknowledge your crime and seek forgiveness from your victims or their families.

The government is the best resource to help bury the ghosts of May 13 if we have leaders courageous enough to confront the truth and rectify any policies that were wrongfully enacted so that Malaysia can once again get on the path of a fair deal for all Malaysians.

The NEP policies that were accepted by all Malaysians for various reasons were not supposed to become Never Ending Policies and today we can observe many examples of how good policies can become major problems where integrity is lacking among the those who implement the policies.

Already we have lost much talents and the much of the competitive edge that will enable the nation to progress in the new millenium.

It is time for all reasonable citizens to ponder how we can finally lay the ghosts of May 13 to rest.

God help us all to do what is right for Malaysia.

Ambitious Pipeline - Why Build 312km when 100km Will Do?

2007-05-11T20:44:00.000+08:00

This project on surface appears interesting but I suggest it will be a strategic error with grave consequences if we do not involve Thailand in an ASEAN project.

Thailand may not appear such an attractive place for investment right now but if we study the map of Thailand it seems that this project if done exclusively by Malaysia will become obsolescent just three years after investors decide to build a similar scheme just north of the border.
(click on Thailand map to check distances)

If this is solely a private investment, then taxpayers would not be concerned but if some of the RM24billion will involve taxpayers' monies we need to be concerned.

A JV with Thailand would require a pipeline only about 100km long and that means the investment could be reduced to perhaps 60% of the RM24b or RM14.4b and the cost of pumping the oil would also be reduced to one-third the distance.

If we study the map of Thailand again, a possible route for the Thai-Malaysia JV could start in Perlis and end south of Songkhla, subject to deep-water facilities.

This new route will also preserve much of the pristine forests in the north of Malaysia and with the shorter route it will be easier to safeguard. Plus Kota Bahru will be spared from any major oil spills.

As global warming increases, the passage to the Far East via northern Europe will also be see more ships sailing that way and avoiding the Malacca Straits for a few months and this can happen within the next 10 years.

Introducing more economic activities in south Thailand of the non-tourist type may improve the political situation there and create more economic benefits. Hopefully the Thais will then stay on their side of the border and we will have fewer refugees fleeing the unrest.

Such a joint venture will be a "win-win" solution for everyone.

Graphics: Thanks to http://www.maps-thailand.com/ and malaysiakini

SMART Tunnel - Not IF But WHEN

2007-05-10T11:18:00.000+08:00

I hope this will not come to pass.
But the sorry state of affairs in Putrajaya and other new government buildings shows the sorry state of affairs in government projects.

Negligence + Ignorance = Unnecessary Deaths

2007-05-08T12:02:00.000+08:00

It is not surprising that many Malaysians shun factory jobs as many places are fraught with dangers like hazardous work situations.

This story shows how poorly trained and ill-equipped are the rescue services and how negligent some factory owners can be.

The story mentioned the dead workers wearing masks but in an enclosed space with limited oxygen, a mask will not protect you. You need a respirator so that you can breathe good air. That mask may be only good to filter out toxic fumes but will not provide you oxygen if the concentration is too low.

The first worker should have a safety line attached for others to rescue and he should not have been working alone.

The second worker should also have got more help before attempting a rescue.

The 51-year old safety officer also made a mistake by trying to help the 2 men instead of calling for help.

Rushing the victims to the hospital in Johor Bahru from Pasir Gudang in an ambulance would have taken at least 35 minutes and one cannot expect anyone down with asphyxia to survive such a long delay.

One wonders why the factory managers did not ask the ambulance to send the victims for treatment in Pasir Gudang?

It seems that the company has neglected basic safety practices to protect its workers.

50 Years Ago in Malaya or the Good Old Days

2007-05-07T17:35:00.000+08:00

As Malaysia celebrates 50 years of nationhood though our friends from Sarawak and Sabah dispute that, I would like to share just 2 stories of real people to show that those were the good old days.

Story 1.
The State Chief Education officer was a Eurasian but it seems he had a Malay mother. He looked like a real "mat salleh" and was married to another Eurasian and both went to the Catholic Church of St. Michael's in Ipoh. Perhaps in those days, having a child with an expatriate officer could have been one sure way of escaping the poverty cycle.

It was also common for unwanted babies to be left at the Ipoh convent as it had an orphanage and took in many babies from single and unmarried girls. Nowadays unwanted babies are sometimes simply abandoned or even worse killed.

Story 2.
A Chinese rubber estate manager had a son with a Malay partner. I am not sure if he was single at the time. But he had a Chinese wife and two children. The children stayed separately when they married and the son had even migrated to Australia.

The wife passed away after a long illness and the old man had to cope all by himself.
Throughout the years he had been supporting his half-Malay son even through higher education and the boy had become an officer in the Armed Forces.

He passed away a few years after his wife died but before he died, his other son used to visit him often and he became a Muslim before he died.

Now if we study all the current incidents of families having to go to courts to claim dead bodies, it seems that people and not legal officials are the best judges to work out these issues of life and death.

Do you have a similar story to share?

A World Class Solution For PUTRAJAYA'S Crumbling Complexes...

2007-05-04T21:11:00.000+08:00

Solomon’s Justice or the Destruction of a Family?

2007-05-04T11:20:00.000+08:00

So the courts have settled this case whereby a mother has decided that she was mistaken to have married a Hindu man for 21 years and now has to surrender her seven children to her husband as Malaysian laws do not allow her to stay in the marriage.

The solution has been described as “Solomon’s justice” referring to the king in the Bible who was asked to decide which woman was the mother of a baby in dispute.

Since both women claimed the baby, Solomon decreed that the baby be cut in half and each woman given part of the baby.
One woman agreed to this solution but the real mother begged Solomon not to do so and pleaded that the baby should be given to the other woman as she wanted to save her child.

Solomon then knew who the real mother was.

In this Malaysian incident, it seems that only the woman Raimah has some of the wisdom of Solomon.

If we look at this family situation outside of all religious and legal context, it seems the state is destroying a family of 21 years. No doubt the mother is being given visiting rights but a family has been placed in jeopardy and we know that 21 years of marriage is something that many “proper” marriages seldom attain with the high rate of divorce in Malaysia.

With six young children and no mother in attendance, it would be extremely difficult for the man to raise his family properly. Instead of punishing them we should salute this poor rubber tapper family that has somehow managed to survive all the tribulations of a poor background.

I daresay that all is not well in the state of Malaysia. Where is our Solomon?

Dr M says Malays Can Convert to Other Religions if.....

2007-05-03T17:28:00.000+08:00

So Malays Can Actually Convert to Other Religions.

It is good that the former Prime Minister has stated in an interview that Malays are actually free to convert if they are willing to lose their “Malay privileges”.

“If he renounces Islam, then he is not a Malay. That’s all,” he said.

That is a rational view.
The sad thing is that these comments were not made when the Constitution was amended to increase the powers of the Syariah Courts and properly debated in the Parliament so that MPs would have had the chance to explain the laws to the electorate.

I hope his influence as the former PM can help improve the lives of those held in rehab camps. Such camps should be only for those who have decided to take a spiritual retreat voluntarily and willing to pay for their own upkeep like say RM20 per day for board and lodging?

It seems that if a person makes a statutory declaration that he or she renounces Islam, that person should not be subject to the compulsory detention camps that can last for months.

There will only be a small minority who will choose to opt out of their religion and so perhaps for them, the race detail in the IC can read as “Malaysian”.

Men of all faiths are sinners and some of us really have to struggle against human weakness of the flesh like gluttony, corruption and power.

Giving the state extra powers to confine people based on religious beliefs is surely to be condemned and gives any religion a bad name.

However any Malay who wants his religious freedom should be advised that it will be a one-way privilege. Even if he becomes a Muslim again, the special privileges will not be granted.

Here is an excellent article on religion in our Constitution from today's Star by Professor SHAD SALEEM FARUQI

Now 8% Feel that Islam is a Fair Religion to ALL

2007-05-02T21:48:00.000+08:00

I wrote this on 20th April 2007 and today with 200 voters, the results have barely changed:

"That is the result of MALAYSIAWATCH POLL 26 that posed the question:

"What Do You Think of the Latest Case of Subashini the woman whose husband converted to Islam and who now wants to convert all their children?"

There were 100 readers who took part. Thanks for participating.

This is the breakdown of choices:

56% (now 57%)chose "It is a black mark on the Judiciary when Muslim judges cannot differentiate their proper role and duties they should perform in a secular state."

14% (now 13%)chose "This could lead to many broken homes if non-Muslim men are allowed to convert to Islam and are then given custody to children who are not allowed freedom of religion but a forced conversion".

13% (now 13%) chose "I don’t expect a non-Muslim woman will get a fair deal in the Syariah courts. Even Muslim women can get treated unfairly".

10% (still 10%)chose "The man should have settled the divorce proceedings in the civil courts before being allowed to convert."

7% (now 8%)chose "Islam is a fair religion to all"

No one chose "I think it is OK for her to make an appeal to the Syariah Appeals Court"

Let us all strive hard to keep Malaysia as a secular state. If some judges cannot use different thinking caps, we should retire them earlier."

Note: There is a 1% rounding error.

Putrajaya - One Possible Solution to Collapses?

2007-05-02T18:41:00.000+08:00

Since you are enjoying a holiday I wanted you to enjoy a chuckle!

IJOK - What Really Took Place on Saturday

2007-05-01T09:39:00.000+08:00

Please click the image to see details.

Die Another Day in Putrajaya

2007-04-29T18:52:00.000+08:00

Looks as if all the buildings in Putrajaya are unsafe with this second failure within a month.

That's what happens when the Works Minister spends all his time trying to campaign for a state by election instead of ensuring that public safety is safeguarded.
Instead he told the PWD Works Director of Putrajaya to "shut up" after the last incident.

If you remember, the director mentioned that such incidents are "just accidents waiting to happen" in many of the new buildings. How prophetic or is the public being kept in the dark about the unsafe conditions in many buildings?

"What's the big deal?" some will say. "After all no one got hurt." I suppose someone needs to get killed in one of these incidents before the authorities in Putrajaya wake up.

Maybe such an incident in the new royal palace of Putrajaya is necessary before we get some urgent action.

Photo: Thanks to New Straits Times
PS. I added the "Die" in the heading to emphasise the danger our civil servants are being exposed to daily.

Will You Light a Candle for Malaysia?

2007-04-26T17:30:00.000+08:00

As we approach the nation's 50th year of independence, many Malaysians feel that as a nation we have become more intolerant and less free.

Even a simple event like a by election in an relatively unknown place like IJOK can demonstrate how the forces of deceit and desperation can use thuggery and bullies to intimidate election workers and even the police show that they cannot be fair to all the parties but simply side the BN candidate.

This is a peaceful demonstration to show that you really love Malaysia and to tell the authorities that you are really fed up with some of the following issues:

*The total lack of progress in bringing to justice important people who have been accused of corruption
*The continued feet dragging to implement the IPCMC after two years
*The loud silence on the toll agreements after the declaration that the agreements would be made public
*The lack of concern for the suffering of non-Muslims who have been marginalised by spouses who convert to other religions without a civil divorce
*The failure of judges of the civil courts who cannot decide on civil matters as they fear a religious back-lash.

Even a proper approach by Cabinet ministers on religious issues had to be withdrawn and so non-Muslims have no voice as far as the Muslim leadership of this country is concerned.

This is a simple demonstration to show that you really love Malaysia and want the national leaders to urgently address some of the issues that are slowly tearing the fabric of this nation.
All you need to do is to light a small candle outside your house from 8:00pm to 8:30pm on the first Sunday of every month beginning from 6th May 2007. Recycled candles can also be used. Please ensure no combustible materials are nearby and there is no possibility of burning the property of others. If you live in an area of wooden houses, please do not light a candle unless you are prepared to watch the fire all the time. If you cannot light up your candle for 30 minutes, do so for even a few minutes during the designated period just to show your support for a brighter Malaysia.

If your neighbour asks, you can tell him about this campaign to light up Malaysia.
There is no point simply cursing and swearing about how things are. Do something about it. Instead of cursing the darkness, light up a candle.

If you support this idea you can spread the message of peace in your blogs or via SMS but please remember to always keep yourself safe and Malaysia peaceful.

graphics: Thanks to http://www.animationlibrary.com/animation_download/25473/
I wanted to add the tune Amazing Grace to the candles but sadly the song2u site seems to be out.

Something Good to Write About

2007-04-25T11:07:00.000+08:00

Today I will not write about all the bribery that is going on to win the votes in IJOK or unreported case of incest or body snatching in Malaysia.

This is an everyday matter that I suspect happens quite often anywhere in Malaysia.
I am the "Marketing Manager" in the family which means I get to buy all the foodstuff from the wet market and the routine is to go once or twice a week.

About 2 weeks ago I discovered I had some strange items in the fridge a few hours after I had returned home and so I asked the maid about them.

It seems I had an extra chicken, noodles and coconut milk andso I realised that I had accidently taken someone else's stuff.
What to do lah? It was quite late and I was not free to get back to the market.

On the next expedition to the market I asked the Malay stall owner selling dry sundries if any of her customers had lost their items.
"Yes" was the reply and it seems someone had rung her a few times to see if the goods had been returned.so I gave her RM15 to cover the costs plus some hardship compensation. So the stall owner took the money and told me she would return any surplus.

On my next visit I was told the person had still not visited the stall since the items went missing.
But last week the Malay lady told me the person had collected RM12 and returned me RM3 even though I told her to just give the other person all the money.

I asked the stall owner who the third party was and she said it was a Malay.
I wonder if this incident shows that among common folks there is still a measure of honesty and integrity among many Malaysians.

Apostacy and Human Rights

2007-04-24T14:16:00.000+08:00

I watched the film on the alJareeza program Everywoman.

The most striking event was the security guard threatening to call the police. It looks as if they do not like the publicity. It was not an official film to explain to the world on the merits of Islam Hadhari.

It is most unfortunate that Islam appears to be a religion that can force humans into detention for such long periods like 100 days plus another 80 days as I remember one of the basic tenets of the religion is:

"There is no compulsion in Islam"

So how do you explain that someone like this unfortunate woman is being detained against her will and deprived of her freedom; supposedly to reform and redeem herself?

According to the SIS spokewoman, even Muslims would be shocked by this recent incident of body-snatching.
The movie lasted only about 10 minutes; hardly any time for crucial issues to be debated for the benefit of Malaysians.

My only issue is I wonder if taxes I have paid have ended up in providing such detention centres? If so I protest that taxes collected from non-Muslims should not be used to fund Islamic rehab centres and the Muslims should collect their own funds if they insist on such programmes that really do little to enhance the beauty of the religion.

I recently watched a movie on the Spanish Inquisition about the time of the famous Spanish painter Goya and the film was entitled "Goya's Ghosts".
I don't think the Catholic Church would approve of this movie as it depicted torture, corrupt priests and how humans if tortured will confess to anything.

It appears that the strappado is still used in some places. But with new techniques like continuous abuse, sleep deprivation and others one does not need such old methods to reprogramme human beings.

The question is, "What do we do about such violations of human rights?"
Why has SUHAKOM been merely a bystander in the proceedings?

Picture: image of strappado thanks to http://inquisition.pp.ru/gallery/torture-01.jpg

It May Embarrass a Few........

2007-04-23T18:38:00.000+08:00

So all those overseas tours have not been effective in drawing the tourists to Malaysia by the plane-loads.

Maybe they should have invited some of those African nations to come over here to witness the two recent by elections at Machap and Ijok. They could have learned some finesse on how government machinery is used by the ruling party with impunity.

Now the Tourism Ministry wants to collect data on why 15 million Malaysian travel overseas each year.

Do you reckon there will be a consultant appointed to analyse all those cards? I don't expect the Minister will be able to get his staff to do such mundane work.

Besides it may be embarrassing for even a few leaders. I mean how do you enter the card for the following?

Need to carry bags of money to buy property in Australia
Have a headache with all the flood problems - need a break in Perth.

I suggest this is another hare-brained project of the BN government.It would be better to study why Malaysians do not want to travel more within Malaysia.

It could be some basic reasons like:
Toll rates are too high and people are fed up of tolls.
Hotels with basic facilities are also expensive.

What do you think of the latest idea?

graphics: thanks to http://www.overthedarkness.com/DLdepot/light_for_dummies.jpg

Learning More About Apostacy Cases

2007-04-23T18:14:00.000+08:00

I think there were thousands of SMS criss-crossing Malaysia last night as I received three about a program on apostacy cases in Malaysia.

The SMS read:

"Don mis astro 9:30 2nite on aljazera news.it will make u ? wat d msain govt is doing abt apostacy cases, specifically involving conversion out of islam n its impact on non-muslims here.never b4 seen footage of apostate in detention, taken by Ong Julin, filmaker re:broga incinerator.PLS 4WARD"

That made for an interesting preview and my brother wanted to come over to watch.So I decided that the Chelsea-Newscastle soccer match was too boring anyway. I thought it was quite strange that the authorities would want anyone to know what goes on behind those detention doors.

Come 9:30 and alJazeera was showing a documentary on Iraq. My brother made a phone call and soon I guess a few thousand more SMS were again being sent all over Malaysia.

So I have a new SMS that reads:

"Sorry correction - al Jareera prog(Everywoman) on apostacy. Its at 12:30am today mon 1130am, 5pm. tue 1:30pm, wed 1030am,3:30pm; thurs 2:30pm, fri 3pm."

I encourage all Malaysians to check it out to study how much we have progressed as a nation that promises freedom of religion to all citizens.

A Memory from IJOK - 35 Years Ago

2007-04-21T21:42:00.000+08:00

I had a school-mate who was posted as a teacher in Batang Berjuntai and I can remember visiting her in her quarters as it was considered a rural posting.

In those days Batang Berjuntai was really an "ulu" place that no one visited except to take a break on the KL-Ipoh journey.

With the North-South Highway I don't expect motorists would bother to stop over here unless there is a special reason.

So IJOK is now in the national spot-light again and it was fortunate (and some consider unfortunate)that there was no earthquake there on nomination day as at least 5 ministers could have perished.

Looking at the ugly incidents on nomination day and the RM32million vote bribing it appears that the BN is somewhat worried about this seat and the sudden and immediate windfall instead of mere promises for the future shows the means by which the ruling party hopes to cling to this seat.

So voters of IJOK you should vote with your conscience.
In a way you are better provided for than the people in Machap. The goodies have already been delivered. If you believe that PKR may make a good change for Selangor, you should vote PKR.

Let a new party represent you in the State and give them a chance to make Selangor a really advanced state.
If the BN loses this time, they may spend even more money to win back the seat during the next General Elections. After all it is only your monies that you paid with your blood and sweat.
If anything you should be asking these questions of yourself:

1.Why does the BN government only spend this RM32m just before the elections?
2.What did they do to improve IJOK after the last elections?

In a democracy, your choice should be respected. I urge you to make a good decision for the future of Selangor and Malaysia.

Only 7% Feel that Islam is a Fair Religion

2007-04-20T19:30:00.000+08:00

That is the result of MALAYSIAWATCH POLL 26 that posed the question:

"What Do You Think of the Latest Case of Subashini the woman whose husband converted to Islam and who now wants to convert all their children?"

There were 100 readers who took part. Thanks for participating.

This is the breakdown of choices:

56% chose "It is a black mark on the Judiciary when Muslim judges cannot differentiate their proper role and duties they should perform in a secular state."

14% chose "This could lead to many broken homes if non-Muslim men are allowed to convert to Islam and are then given custody to children who are not allowed freedom of religion but a forced conversion".

13% chose "I don’t expect a non-Muslim woman will get a fair deal in the Syariah courts. Even Muslim women can get treated unfairly".

10% chose "The man should have settled the divorce proceedings in the civil courts before being allowed to convert."

7% chose "Islam is a fair religion to all"

No one chose "I think it is OK for her to make an appeal to the Syariah Appeals Court"

Let us all strive hard to keep Malaysia as a secular state. If some judges cannot use different thinking caps, we should retire them earlier.