Have a Safe Journey!

To all my Hindu readers, I wish you a Happy Deepavali!

To my Muslim readers, Selamat Hari Raya!

To all motorists, please drive carefully and follow some basic precautions.

1. Check your vehicle before you drive, especially proper tire pressures

2. Don’t drive if you don’t feel well.

3. Take a short break if you feel tired.

4. Make use of proper rest areas but avoid isolated places.

5. The police have given the locations of the speed traps – pay attention.

6. Allow faster vehicles to overtake you in the proper lane.

7. Be patient and give slower motorists time to move to the left lane.

8. Do not follow too closely or you may end in a pile-up

Happy journey!

Does Nicol have to Play like This for Recognition?

Maybe Malaysia’s lady squash champion would have to win championships on her head before the Malaysian government gives proper recognition. Maybe she does not qualify for recognition as according to one BN MP, she does have some keling blood in her.

Nicol is indeed a real Malaysian champion and the reason she is a real success is just the combination of skills combined with hard work and dedication. No crutches please!
She could be a fantastic role model in campaigns against smoking and drugs for our teenagers.

It is surprising that the Government has not given her an overseas scholarship to enable her to train in Europe and also complete her studies for she is also a good scholar. Even the private sector may be able to help her for she would be a good promoter for health products like Milo, sports wear and vitamins.

International companies like Nestle, Nike and Amway could do more to help this gutsy lady progress. When she finishes her playing career, she could help train the next generation.

Nicol, you are the most successful Malaysian athlete since the badminton days of glory when a Malaysian won the all-England.

I am sure all Malaysians wish you great success and the wisdom to go with it.



Photo: http://www.squashtalk.com/photos/holland/almere05/Kampioene%20Nicol%20David%20in%20actie_med.jpg (inverted)

Different Strokes for Different Folks?

A few days ago, I wrote about the man who was jailed for 12 years plus two strokes for robbing RM50 and another man who also received 12 years for killing another in an argument.

Today’s story is also quite a revelation.

The stolen vehicle (or material evidence) was in the possession of the two members of the gang and their arrests led to the other members of the gang.

It is puzzling to read that the “police faced difficulty in prosecuting them because the vehicles had been sold in Kalimantan.”

We are left to wonder if this highly organised gang has been treated differently from the guy who stole RM50.


picture: http://www.pdimages.com/B01808.JPG

Incompetent Local Councils

Today’s Star has a very interesting story about phantom billboards that indicate one or more of the following:

1. Council officers are blind, as they cannot see the illegal billboards
2. Some are corrupt for allowing these unsafe and unlicensed structures to remain
3. Some are incompetent, as they are not able to verify the billboards’ design

This is not rocket science and shows how poorly appointed local councils are serving the public.
The laws should be changed so that landowners are held responsible for all illegal structures and also all applications must have a registered engineer’s seal with respect to safety standards.
To ensure the timely approval of applications, all applications are considered approved two months after submission unless the council rejects in writing the application on specific grounds.

It is a national scandal that Petaling Jaya has only 42 approved billboards and 500 unlicenced ones.

I Remember the University of Malaya

Those were the days. UM was considered the best University of Malaysia. During the late 60s, only the best and brightest students could enter UM.

I did not even bother to apply, as I did not think my results would be good enough. At the time, my reasoning was that my family could not afford to have me spend three or four years at further study instead of working and providing some food for the family table.

If I had not obtained a scholarship, I would have probably ended up in a bank and gone the study cum work route as that was a common option for those who could not afford to do a university course.

Many of my Sixth Form classmates entered UM as they were brilliant students and about a dozen of them did medicine, dentistry, engineering and science.
UM always had a kind of aura of scholarly appeal or snobbery but those glory days are long over.

Unfortunately politics has played a major role in the demise of the old UM. Now it seems to be a shadow of its past achievements. It is time for Malaysia to consider a retreat action away from global competitiveness and become a “has-been” nation.

How else can we explain the deteriorating standards in so many areas of government?
We clamp down on freedom of thinking in universities, subject university students to medieval dress codes and oppress lecturers who do not share the political preferences of their political masters.

Should universities be controlled by rigid codes in the first place? Some believe that a university is the best area for minds to develop but instead of engaging our young adults in lively debate, we even control the thinking of lecturers with the famous “Akujanji” requirement.

If our lecturers develop a one-track mind of accepting all that the politicians demand, how can our students ever think as mature adults?

Anyone who dares to challenge the entrenched authorities has to make awkward choices but we must acknowledge some brave Malaysians who have decided a make a personal stand.

More Malaysians should have the courage to fight for the future of all Malaysians. Until UM makes concerted efforts to improve its quality, it will remain just a memory of past glory.

photo: http://web.onetel.net.uk/~jmulliken/turkeypics/coastalruins/termessos/termessian%20gymnasium.jpg

Are We Just Going to Waste Away as a Nation?

The nation’s prognosis is not that hopeful as going from the slew of international reports on various aspects of nation building we are moving backwards or stagnating.

Just consider the following:

Transparency International Index

Times Education Rankings
UM made a quantum plunge of 80 places in the 200 top universities.

Corruption Index

Bank Islam scandal

Failure of privatisation projects like MAS, Renong, Bank Bumi and other unknown deals that have cost Malaysians billions of ringgit.

All our maladies did not occur overnight and the present leadership is trying hard to find a just way out of our problems.
Since it has taken many to reach this low, it will also take years for us to be able to compete in the global village.

No one group in the country is able to provide all the answers. We have had the same government since independence 48 years ago and maybe the old ways cannot work any more.

Even China has swept away the old way of thinking and their leaders have been able to adapt new ideas to establish a thriving market-driven economy.

Malaysia has achieved some success too but somewhere along the road to modernisation, some leaders have succumbed to the temptations of power and the citizens too were too complacent and allowed all types of malpractice to escape unchallenged.

If we are to avoid slipping further in other competitive indicators, ALL Malaysians will need to work and cooperate so that the wishes of the citizens and not just vested interests are looked after.

In times of a national crisis, it may be useful if the government of the day appoints suitable persons who may not belong to their political grouping to certain ministries so that we can find a faster way out of the impasse.

Even if one commands 90% of the seats in Parliament, it does not mean that one can produce the best national team to help protect the nation in a period of crisis. We really need a government of national unity.
God help us all!

Photo: http://www.journeymalaysia.com/pics_elephant%20centre/DERAILED.JPG

Is Your Life Valued at RM50?

There is a common saying, “Justice is blind.”
If you compare these two cases, you may get the feeling that a life in Malaysia is not worth more than RM50.

Why?
In the first case, a man robbed RM50 and was sentenced to 12 years plus two strokes.
In the second case, a man stabbed a man to death during an argument over money and also was given 12 years.

If you consider the legal consequences of the two men’s actions, a layman may get the perception that the first person has been punished more with the extra two strokes. You also get the impression that RM50 is the value for a life in Malaysia.

The cost to the state (and taxpayers) for a jail term of 12 years is also high compared to the loss. If we take RM10 per day food costs for a reduced term for good behaviour of say 2000 days it costs the state twenty thousand ringgit.

KLIA Jackpots

Have you entered the KLIA jackpot?
If you have traveled via KLIA you would have taken part in the KLIA Jackpot even though you were not aware of it at the time.

According to this report, 50 bags go missing every day and that seems like a large number. What happened to our first world infrastructure?

Some time ago we read of the long delays for the luggage to arrive at the collecting point after the planes had landed. This number of bags missing appears large and the chance of striking this jackpot is higher than winning at Gentings!

Maybe we should train chimps to handle the baggage?
On a more serious note this lack of security also means that if things can be taken out of people’s luggage, planes can also be sabotaged if bombs can be placed into such luggage and no one will know the difference.

KLIA appears to be a security risk for all the airlines flying there. We cannot accept this kind of nonchalance.


photo:http://www.casinogamesinc.com/images/IGT/Uprights/Dbl%20Jckpot/Lg.jpg

The New Malaysian Maths

Our kids are learning new stuff in school that is sometimes mind-boggling.
Ask any parent of a primary school student and unless you have kept up to date with the new mathematics, you will find that after about six years, you will not be able to tutor your child in certain topics.

Maybe that is the reason why our Prisons Department made the serious error of not being able to calculate when a detainee was supposed to be released.

Perhaps the prison officers do not know the meaning the terms like “remand” or more seriously do they know how to read and calculate periods from the calendar?

Some people believe in the merits of practical experience. Should we place the person responsible for this mess in remand for a day and prison for a week so that everyone understands the terms?

One other sinister reason could be that some prison officers have catering deals and having to feed an extra prisoner for 217 extra days adds to the gravy.

The government cannot afford to pay for this type of mistakes and there should be a mechanism whereby those responsible for losses should bear part of the penalty. For example, a 10 per cent pay cut would be a powerful reminder to civil servants to take their jobs seriously.


Photo: http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0001I55M4.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Show Us the Beef!

A letter to malaysiakini recently caught my attention. It seems Malaysians have a penchant for grand elaborate ceremonies and not much else.

I have seen Malaysian ceremonies with laser lights, van de Graaf spheres, elaborate costumes and all types of electronic wizardry. However most of these campaigns fizzle out as fast as the last spark fades away. We have a lot of sizzle, but very little steak.

It was interesting to watch the official opening of Asia House in London recently.
All they had was a white board on a stand and LKY just removed a simple cloth that covered the commemorative plaque.

Come to think about it. That cloth and white board can be easily recycled and more money can be used in the campaign proper. Unless the campaign is all a sham and the grand ceremonies are just PR gimmicks.

Given the failure of the campaigns to reduce road accidents and other causes, we need to put more thought into the campaign proper and not just worry about the grand launches that have such limited value.



photo:
http://www.deepcreekperkins.com/images/menudinitem4.jpg

Can Ordinary Folks Get Such Special Treatment?

It is good that the assemblyman wants to send 20,000 greeting cards to his constituents during this festive season.

To collect the 15,000 cards at twenty sen per card the post office will earn RM3000. But does this justify sending “a dozen staff, including the state manager”? One would imagine that the three or four vehicles used and the travel time could not justify this PR stunt.

The most that should have been provided was one vehicle and some collection bags to be picked up later.

Meanwhile the queues at most post offices have become much longer as Pos Malaysia now provides services to so many third parties.

How Many Brave Malaysians Have to Die?

Today’s NST has interesting details of a brave Malaysian who may have been the victim of those involved in corrupt practices.

As one of the government agencies dealing with licences and permissible discharges, the DOE has the duty to ensure that Malaysians are protected from toxic substances.

The DOE standards are quite specific to permissible effluents and other emissions allowed and if factories in Sarawak are violating the laws, it should not be difficult for the authorities to check them out.

For example – the effluent treatment plant capacity and records can be examined to see if they meet the requirements.

For agencies like the DOE and JPJ, dual records in separate locations should be established so that office fires and other supernatural occurrences like missing safes do not jeopardise pending cases.

The sad part is that Rumie is neither the first nor the last Malaysian to die in the course of duty. Remember Jalil Ibrahim, the BMF auditor? Even today, no one knows the full details of the BMF scandal.


photo:http://www.laborelec.com/images/products/img_A1196.jpg

A Crooked Bridge is a NO-NO

Malaysia must not build a “crooked” bridge for it will be a permanent monument to the absurd lengths that some leaders will go to complete a flawed decision.

Who will pay for such a bad decision?
Ordinary citizens will ultimately pay for all bad government decisions for the government derives income from the taxes paid by the citizens.

Some claim that a crooked bridge will be a thing of unusual beauty, as overseas visitors will be drawn by the unusual design.
The most likely comment from a Singaporean tour leader would be, “Okay folks, this is where we leave Singapore and enter Malaysia. As you can see from this bridge, everything in Malaysia is done in a crooked fashion. If you get into trouble and don’t know what to do, just let me know and I will settle the problem for you.”

Pricing of such large projects should always be of major concern for it will affect the company’s viability and the ability of the users to pay the toll necessary to recover the costs.

According to the NST report, the bridge will be about 1.4km long costing RM640m with Singapore sharing half the cost. The CIQ and other related developments will bring the whole project cost to RM1.1b. As this was an integrated project with little information provided, only the bridge cost has been mentioned.

Can one assume that the project developer will be provided land near the complex to develop shopping complexes and other commercial property?

Otherwise, how is the project going to be viable?

Even now, there are reports that the Second Link is not recovering project costs as traffic flow has been below expectations.

There have also been no details of the tolls to be charged for the proposed bridge. One would expect that the toll would be at least double the existing rates. Have any studies been carried out on how business in Johor Baru will be affected by the tolls with the new bridge?

The Second Link project also has some reports that have conflicting details. One report mentions RM2.47b while another quotes RM1.6b. Now which report can we believe? RM870m is quite a significant sum. Why that is enough to pay for the proposed bridge!

To put matters into proper perspective, here is some information that may provide useful benchmarks on how bridge projects are managed elsewhere.

1. Delhi Noida Bridge – this is a project funded by the World Bank costing US$100m for a 8lane 10.3km project, 552m main bridge, 3 minor bridges completed 2001

2. Audit Report of a UK bridge

3. Comparative bridge costings between 2003 and 2004

4. Complaints about a USA bridge project:

5. Even with Freedom of Information acts, problems in the UK

6. Typical questions when a major project is planned:

If we aspire to be a developed country by 2020, Malaysian leaders should seriously consider these issues properly rather than launch a billion ringgit project on a whim and a fancy.

Meanwhile, traffic on the Causeway would be more orderly if there is just one traffic policeman booking errant drivers who obstruct traffic or jump queues. If this is done consistently and if all the immigration booths are manned fully, the Causeway jams may become history.

Will anyone care to bet that jams will still occur even after we spend that RM1.1b on this project?



photo: malaysiakini

Go Wash out Your Mouth with Soap!

It appears our MPs did not go to finishing school for their comments
verge on crass stupidity and vulgarity.

I remember my mother used to make this remark when we were young and even the word “damn” was not permitted. Even today, I do not use the “f” word aloud but that does not mean I do not use it in my brain. My adult daughters cuss more than I do but that’s the modern world.

How unfortunate that our Speakers allow MPs to trade insults, thereby lowering the decorum of our Parliament that is supposed to be one of the basic institutions of our democratic nation.

Perhaps the MPs can start a charity drive to reduce the insults in Parliament by donating RM2 each time the Speaker rules that they have broken the decency code to be established by the MPs themselves.

I have watched the parliamentary sessions of Singapore on TV and the way they conduct themselves is quite educational. Maybe Malaysians can also improve if we televise perhaps 40minutes of Parliament live, without any editing so that we can keep tabs on the behaviour on our elected representatives.

If RTM can televise Koran competitions live to help Muslims improve why can’t they televise parliamentary sessions to help all Malaysians improve?


graphics: http://www.wackypackages.org/John_Mann_Website/misc/pictures/blister.gif

Rest in Peace, Endon

Today Malaysia mourns the passage of Endon, the beloved wife of our Prime Minister who has had the heavy responsibility of leading Malaysia as well as caring for his wife of 40 years. We pray that he will have the fortitude and courage to carry on his onerous duties to make Malaysia a better place.

I would like to share this famous poem that was printed in my 25th wedding anniversary program on

Marriage
You were born together, and together you
shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when the white
wings of death scatter your days.

Ay, you shall be together even in the
silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance
between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond
of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between
the shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup but drink not from
one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat
not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous,
but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone
though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each
other's keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain
your hearts.

And stand together yet not too near
together:

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow
not in each other's shadow.

-Excerpt from The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran

We Need More Substance than Form

Yesterday’s Star headlined the re-vamps in the Public Complaints Bureau. While this may help the delivery of government services, they should have made a more radical upgrade of the PCB to the Office of the Ombudsman that is widely used in the UK.

Somehow the enlarged PC Bureau sounds like a place where you just file your complaints and they file them in a bureau. Only now they have a larger bureau. The word Ombudsman definitely sounds more action oriented.

Now no need to fly all the way there to do another study tour. There is much that can be learned here. They even offer language help if you are not proficient in the local language and even Braille.

If you study the web-site carefully, they will take action/s on your behalf so that you can even be compensated for losses caused by unjust action or inaction of the authorities.

The Ombudsman’s role has been so effective that more countries are establishing such an office.

That’s the way we should be headed to ensure a more effective civil service.



photo: http://www.amishpride.com/images/furniture/bedroom/SW%20Bureau.jpg

The Absurd Pantomime of Malaysia

It is still early for Christmas but the long running dispute over APs between the MITI Minister and the former PM must take the Christmas pudding!

The latest absurdity is that the authorities now consider the AP as a personal matter between the two members of the pantomime and will sweep all the dirty laundry under the carpet called NAP as there is simply too much dirty laundry to handle.

And the two misbehaving actors? Well, they are still on stage and may yet change the pantomime into a tragedy.

When you watch a drama, you may be moved to tears or laughter. But with the AP of Malaysia, the people are already paying too much for the drama and histrionics.
What to do, lah? Anything goes in BolehLand.


Photo: http://www.ensemble83.at/work99_pantomime.JPG

TNB, why Waste RM9 million on Advertising?

It was reported that TNB is going to spend RM9 million to boost its image as the public does not understand the problems it encounters.

Of course we understand that not all breakdowns are caused by poor maintenance.
However, if the senior staff of TNB were to visit Kedai Telekom they will find a sea change in the way TMB treats their customers.

My wife used to work as an officer in TNB and they are quite good as far as the treatment of staff goes. However it is disappointing to note that the spanking new HQ in Johor Baru has not seen any improvement in the way you pay bills. Compared to TMB, the TNB payment center appears listless.

How to spend that RM9 million? Better to spend on staff training, especially those manning the breakdown call centers and the reporting crew. Often you call during a power failure and you will get a “don’t know” even one hour after the failure. Also TNB can publish the breakdown standards like:

1 hour after breakdown – inform center of breakdown cause
2 hours after breakdown – inform center of time power expected back.

That would be more useful to all consumers than an advertising blitz.


photo:http://www.abb.com/global/seitp/seitp202.nsf/0/fd0fc204813c256a48256f380014da1a/$file/TNB+Malaysia.jpg

Corruption Report Card - part 2

I wanted to include this in an earlier entry. This will enable superiors to check on what is going on and also improve the audit process.

Each case would have its own file where officers' comments or instructions with dates are properly recorded.

Malaysia’s Yellow Brick Roads...

Remember the Yellow Brick Road from the Wizard of Oz?
Maybe we have the equivalent of that in the road projects that have been given out without public tenders?

Some basic construction costs are provided in the chart shown above.

The tunnel in Norway is only for single-lane in two directions and was completed in 2000. According to this article,there were 5000 blasts in addition to the drilling of the tunnels and 2.5 million cubic metres of rock had to be removed.
Special lighting and air handling systems had to be installed in the tunnel.

It is interesting to note that the PORR article
mentions the Kallang Expressway as being expensive as the 9km of the total 12km consists of underground tunnels and eight interchanges. You can see the official details here.

Constructing a tunnel through mountain rock or soft clays under a river and city areas require different techniques of construction and hence it is difficult to compare costs.

But the nagging question that remains is how could Norway construct a tunnel for such a low price? Did they manage to negotiate such a low cost without a public tender?

It appears that awarding contracts without competitive bids and public tenders is a surefire way to make our road contracts all Yellow Brick Roads; ie roads paved with gold bricks all the way to the banks.




Chart: Comparative highway costs.TI info
Managed to insert a Xcel spreadsheet today.

Do You Prefer Drama or Pantomime?

Malaysia is indeed a strange country. We are being provided free entertainment by the antics of the former PM and his long time protegee, the MITI Minister.

In his latest salvo over the AP issue, Dr M claims that he never approved Naza as a national car and it was a fail accompli when he was invited to launch it at an official event.
According to Dr M he could not walk away from the ceremony.

The contention between the two long serving ministers is the difference between the words “advise” and “approve”.
If you look up any dictionary, you will note there is a world of difference between these two words.

Malaysians have been made the laughing stock of the world by this long running pantomime. Perhaps the PAC should also look at how MITI approved Naza as a national car when Dr M declares that he became aware of it but could do nothing.

For the former PM to claim he could do nothing after the discovery indicates that he was willing to carry on the charade.

Maybe we could borrow a leaf from the USA style of inquiry. Call both of them before a grand jury and let them discover the whole story. We are getting tired of watching this third-rate series.



photo: malaysiakini Act 2, scene 1

Forget about First World Infrastructure

There have been boasts that Malaysia has “first world infrastructure” but “third world” thinking. As the recent school hall roof collapse and the ongoing MRR2 project proves, it is definitely not possible to create first world infrastructure with third world thinking.

Most of these construction projects were done under the no tender, negotiated deals and most people suspect most of these contracts were given out to crony contractors.

During the past few years, we have had bridge collapse, schools falling over and a multi-million flyover declared unsafe because of ‘delayed ettringite formation’.

Contrary to the report, this is not an unusual problem and if you google it, you can read more than 600 hits.
This article describes the various causes that can result in DEF.

Among the various bad practices that cause DEF are wrong mix design (e.g., high water-to-cement ratio), improper handling (adding extra water, inadequate compaction), and improper curing.

What is alarming in Malaysia is that no one has been hauled to court, no engineer has been charged and no consultant has been persecuted for dangerous construction and gross negligence. Oh I forget...we have a third world mentality.

The next time you attend a new school opening, just take along a safety hat. That may protect you from a few bricks but a whole roof? Just pray.

It must be difficult for the IGP to know that his son has been arrested as every parent wants the best for his or her child. However, we cannot blame ourselves if our children decide to ignore all the good virtues that we have tried to instill in them.

Ultimately, every adult is responsible for his or her actions. This is a poem by Kahlil Gibran on

Children

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's
longing for itself.

They come through you but not from
you,
And though they are with you yet they
belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not
your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not
their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of to-
morrow, which you cannot visit, not even
in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek
not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries
with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path
of the infinite, and He bends you with His
might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand
be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

-excerpt from The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran


You can read more poems by this author here

Corruption Report Card -FAIL!

Malaysia’s Corruption Report

This really makes depressing reading and more information should be provided for a better analysis.

A former PM proclaimed that corruption is now “above the table” and even a deputy minister officially has stated that we have moved down the Transparency Index as local councils were akin to secret societies. We appear to have done little since the leadership proclaimed (?) a fight against the national cancer.

The Auditor-General or a Parliamentary Committee should also examine the activities of the ACA to provide the full details of the corruption numbers. When only a small percentage of reports being acted upon, it seems that is some leeway for corruption reports to be sidelined by the ACA itself. We also know that for every report made there are possibly 10 to 50 cases that have not been reported.

There have also been studies that indicate that corruption costs everyone 25% more just to live within the system.

So what is missing from the analysis? These should be in the table*

Year
Reports
Value
Investigated
Outcome
Arrested
Charged
Court decision

All reports must be investigated if we are going to win the battle against corruption. Since corruption is perceived to be serious, we should be having at least 60% of all reports investigated to start the drive.

Under the Outcome column, the investigating officer’s report must include one of the following:

1. No evidence
2. Witness unreliable
3. False accusation
4. Accused passed away

Action can also be taken against those who make a false report and the estate of an accused can also be confiscated.

The ACA audit would also examine the various files to ensure that everything is in order.

The value of the report can also determine the priority of the case. If we have sharks to catch, it is a waste of time to look for ikan bilis.

Having an extra 600 staff to fight corruption may not be sufficient and perhaps the government should second another 2000 staff from various government departments and replace those with contract employees for say 2 years.

If you look at the numbers carefully, only 954 were charged in court out of 57194 reports or 1.67% and we don’t know how many of them were convicted.
If the ACA handles cases like the police, we are indeed doomed to failure.


*If anyone can advise how to insert the table I would be grateful.
photo: from malaysiakini

Sick Justice Syndrome

Maybe I watch too many law and order programs on TV but recent incidents indicate that Malaysia could be suffering from this malaise.

It was quite a shock to read about the judge asking if the police or the AG’s office needed advice on how to proceed with any case after he ruled that they had not provided proper evidence for him to proceed with the trial.

What was equally shocking was that the police gave themselves another bite at the cherry by re-arresting the accused immediately after they were released.

Then there is the case of the student accused of a minor theft who claims that the police stripped and beat him up as if he were a terrorist about to blow up Kuala Lumpur. He had to make a police report before action was taken. It would be more appropriate for the internal affairs team to approach him in such cases that have been reported in the press rather than the other way around.

It has been some months since the Royal Commission’s Report on the Police but it seems that it is gathering moss somewhere.

Too Many People Have Died...

When will We ever Learn?

Today’s fatal accident is really tragic and could have been avoided if everyone on the road practises some common sense and realises that a moving vehicle is a weapon of death and destruction. From the details of the incident, it appears that both drivers are quite young and inexperienced.

While the maintenance standards for traffic signals could be improved by having more competent contractors, motorists too have a part to play when the lights malfunction. Some tolerance and patience is needed when the lights are not operating.

Too often, motorists just accelerate when they approach a junction where the lights are not working and they just hope to join the stream of traffic. Meanwhile others are trying to enter the junction and have been waiting for a break in the traffic. The usual result is that the junction will get grid locked after a few minutes as no one wants to stop.

The USA has this arrangement for crossroads where there are no traffic lights. All motorists must stop at the junction. The first motorist to arrive at the junction has the right of way. I found this out the first time I drove in the States and other motorists honked me to move!

Of course this slows the traffic but people are disciplined and follow it. Perhaps we could have a Stop sign with a notice below such as “Only when lights rosak”.

This will look nice in White

It would be a pretty white elephant that says much about the sorry state of local councils. Everyone seemed to be interested in only the lucrative part of the project, that is the tender and construction phase.

They did not bother to tender for the operations and management of the complex while the construction was being done. I wonder why. Such a simple structure would have quite a definite completion date.

Was the complex built so that they could just use up the budget allocation? This is a local council where residents are better informed and educated. I guess the MPSJ feels that RM30m is just peanuts.

After all, no one elected them and they really don’t feel any responsibility to the residents.


photo: Star Online

Can't Be Better than Secret Societies

Perhaps it is too flattering to describe our non-elected town councils as “secret societies”.

Secret societies are quite efficient in the tasks they undertake and the top bosses have proved themselves in their dog eat dog activities so that as mentioned in a recent BBC radio program, they also work out arrangements with the authorities so that a “win-win” situation exists.

At the height of the Confrontation with Indonesia in 1965, local elections were temporarily suspended but now 40 years later, we have not yet restored this most basic requirement of a democratic nation. Or perhaps that is a wrong description in that we cannot be considered a democracy but more an oligarchy.

If you google “UK local councils” you will get 5.88 million hits and this one
and many others show very clearly how a local council should operate so no need to fly for an expensive overseas study tour.

It is interesting to note that in October, eleven meetings are open to the public and two are private meetings.

Nothing very remarkable really. Just open invitations to the public to attend council meetings. Just imagine that!
Over here, even the press is barred and contracts are awarded on the dubious distinctions of contractors.

Local elections have a vital role to give back power to the people since the government after 48 years of independence is now grappling with the cancer of corruption that all invaded so many aspects of our lives. Just look at the various scandals clouding so many instruments of civil society.

Perhaps it is the only means to ensure the future and stability of Malaysia. We have a sufficiently large middle-class citizenry that should be able to see where we should be heading.

Are We Using Golden Bullets?

According to Bakri Musa's blog, the Budget 2006 has an allocation of RM600m for the National Service program.

Does anyone know the breakdown numbers as to how this number of RM600m is derived?

I had written earlier on Malaysiakini that even a budget of RM500m appears excessive.
Unless the new gun training program uses gold plated bullets. Yeah, that would make a very good souvenir for the trainees.


from malaysiakini
"NS budget more than enough
HJ Angus
Apr 26, 04 14:26pm

It was recently reported that the budget of RM500 million for the National Service programe is now not adequate. But to date, no numbers have been published on how this RM500 million amount has been derived.
Since taxpayers' monies are not inexhaustible, perhaps someone in charge can come up with better numbers than the following, which I have estimated to be a workable budget for the scheme [see table below].
We have been told not to speculate so much on a scheme that has encountered numerous problems from the word go. Yet, all we get are poor excuses for serious incidents of misbehaviour, crime and victimisation that have taken place at NS camps, all in the cause of nation-building.

To those implementing this NS scheme, you are 12 years too late as our teenagers at 18 are already too old to be taught to respect themselves, let alone respect others. As a parent of four children aged from 16 to 26, I doubt that if you have not taught them anything about values since childhood, how can you expect to teach them anything in three months?

Perhaps the NS should be modified so that parents and children who create problems in our society such as gangsterism and bullying are placed in camps together to learn how to function properly as a family.
This should also apply to those who abandon their families and create single-parent families. This way, parents can also ensure that their children are not subject to the whims of unscreened trainers.
But back to the financing for NS.

According to my calculations, the overall budget for NS should not exceed RM507.9 million per year, and this includes loan repayment of RM120 million for the construction of 40 camps, each costing RM10 million. As not all the camps were constructed, the overall budget should be closer to RM400 million.
Details of breakdown based on 85,000 trainees plus 2,125 trainers (ratio of 40/1) equals 87,125."







Photo: http://www.defense.gov/photos/Jul1996/960627-A-0396D-001.jpg

What Profligate Spending

It seems that the government is telling us to be prudent about spending but yet spends taxpayers’ monies with gay abandon.

They want to spend half a million ringgit on teaching everyone how to sing the Negara Ku as many younger citizens just do not know the national anthem and worse do not know how to behave when the Negara Ku is played.

So they want to distribute CDs and posters to teach us the anthem. It seems to be an expensive and ineffective way to reach the masses.

As we know that TV is a favourite pastime of all Malaysians, why not create a short informational clip that can be played on all the TV channels?

A more effective way is to us TV and radio in schools teaching the young in Darjah 1 to 3 to learn the anthem and then to sing the Negara Ku once a week at school assemblies. That was what we did in the 60s and I can still sing my national anthem.

The NS program should also include a test to remember the NS (writing or reciting) in order to get any special awards like best trainee etc.

So I think we can save RM400k if we spend RM50k on the commercial and then another RM50k on a nation-wide art contest to promote the Negara Ku. Come to think about it, I am sure many companies will be keen to sponsor such a worthy project.

What say you, Minister of Information?

Dear Prime Minister....

"undated

Dear Prime Minister

It has been an honour and a privilege to have served as your Minister/Deputy Minister.
However, sometimes things do not work out as envisaged and we have to move on in our lives.

Therefore I hereby submit my letter of resignation with immediate effect and hope that you will be able to carry out the various programmes for the benefit of our beloved country, Malaysia.

I leave with sadness but believe this is in the best interest of all concerned.

Yours truly,


(Signed by)
Minister/Deputy Minister"



Every person in the Cabinet should submit such a undated, signed letter to the PM who can advise the person when the letter has been dated in the event that a person has to leave for whatever reason.

When the PM leaves, all ministers and deputy ministers should also submit such a letter so the the new leader can start with his own team.

We should not have the situation where a minister seems to determine the date of his own leaving when he has to quit.
It really shows a lack of decisive leadership.





photo:Malaysiakini

Press Statement

Yes I am fully aware that a school building has collapsed but what are you people complaining about? Is that anything special? Let me get the ISO standard answer.

Shouldn’t you all be glad that no one was injured; except maybe a few lizards. No I am not going to resign over such a trivial matter.
If you are too upset, go jump into a lake and cool off. Then we may be able to have a better conversation.

Now if consider this single incident with respect to tolled highways and the use of bullock carts, if you don’t want school buildings that can collapse, we may have to revert to attap- roof shacks.

We can save money with such buildings as they are much cooler. Don’t ask me who is the building contractor. I am trying to find out myself. God alone knows how many other schools the company has constructed.

Sorry lah but that’s not in my jurisdiction. My usual excuse is to blame God. Maybe it rained heavy water or it’s the after effect of Hurricane Katrina.

End of statement.

Another Bank Failure

Is the truth out there somewhere?
Malaysia cannot afford to keep operating banks where fiduciary responsibilities are not taken seriously and government supported banks end up losing millions of ringgit through poor management and lack of proper controls.

From the BMF scandal in the 80s where a poor auditor was murdered for doing his duty, we now have a bank losing millions in questionable loans to South Africa and Sarejevo.

The result is that the entire paid-up capital of RM563m is almost wiped out.

It is suggested that forensic accountants should be employed to bring the wrong doers to justice. Even if no crime was committed, we cannot allow such incompetents to be in charge of financial institutions.

For BIMB, the writing was on the wall after 1999 but all the bad loans were not disclosed. There is a good write-up here.
It is surprising that earlier actions were not taken and one wonders how the accounts were not qualified.


Pic: http://web.295.ca/darbud/BANKRUPT.gif

Remember the phrase ”Stupid is as Stupid Does”?*

What were the two parties thinking?
I did not think our police were that ignorant to obey the instructions of a civilian.
As for that guy, he must felt like a real hero when the cops obeyed him.

Surely we cannot have this scene again. What will happen next? Maybe at the next bank robbery, someone may call the police and order them not to respond to the emergency call.

Making a police report is not really good publicity. It would have been better to be discrete and give the guy a stern warning. Now it proves the police can be a pushover.

This is one of the strange happenings in Malaysia indeed. Just one more to add to the list.

List.

1. Minister retained in Cabinet after being found guilty of money politics
2. AP issue dies out with less than a whimper
3. Report on Police Commission assigned to fiction section in the library and it seems no one is reading anymore.

Can you add to this list?

Yes, life is like a box of chocolates. But in Malaysia, the chocolates are wormy.
* from Forest Gump, the movie.




photo: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~furyfury/chocolates.jpg

Keep Up the Good Work MAS

It is heartening to know that MAS is serious about passengers’ safety
and we hope that they keep up the good work to make Malaysians proud of their airline again.

As for the businessman, I would have banned him from flying for a day or lodged a police report for disrupting the flight. Some people are plain stupid or just obstinate and think buying a plane ticket enables them to do anything they like.




photo: http://www.timetableimages.com/i-mn/mas2.jpg

A Tiny Slap on the Wrist

Why are the loan defaulters being treatedwith kid gloves? These people have finished their courses and some are probably doing very well in their careers. It is a shame that Malaysians have been given the message that not repaying loans is cool by the long inaction of the authorities.

The Star reported that a Special Loans Recovery Unit is going after them with the use of loan recovery agents who charge at least 25%(?) for their services.

To me a more effective way to recover these loans is to:

1. Take the money out of their EPF accounts
2. Start bankruptcy proceedings against them or their guarantors

I am sure with the 90% plus majority in Parliament, such laws can be easily passed.

Yeah, Give Us Some Fish Balls!

In the NST interview,the minister mentioned that the AP issue was only “a fish-ball” in her plate that was very full with so many issues of global trade.

I wrote in June about the AP distribution and believe that the full list of ALL AP recipients since 1970 should be disclosed so that all Malaysians can decide if only fish-balls were involved.

The full list will definitely bury the AP issue completely and the minister can then concentrate fully on her heavy responsibilities.

Or were some people served caviar?





photo: http://www.singaporeair.cz/images/BCRFB_BTC_JCL_Curry%20fish%20balls.jpg

Sure Now Everyone Can Fly

It seems to be a never ending round of overseas trips for government officials who appear unable to think in Malaysia but always have to go overseas for inspiration.

Just when the Prime Minister advises us to be more prudent in our spending, we are going to have teams flying to different countries to study more.

Maybe they don’t have streamyx or telephones yet in these offices?
I would like to offer my services free to JPJ for one week so that they can improve their test methods and we can reduce the horrendous deaths on the roads.


photo: http://aero-comlab.stanford.edu/seminar/images/b747.jpg

What Puerile Thinking

Following a Deputy Minister’s statement that local councils are being run like “secret societies”, one person has come to the defence of the appointed ones claiming that “Malays would lose out” as they were underrepresented in urban areas.

This is the type of mentality that has created such a mess in local councils where tax payers are denied the chance of electing councilors who represent them for matters of local importance.

Local elections were stopped in 1965 under the guise of the Emergency and sadly this basic tenet of democracy has not been restored. We thus have the situation where people are appointed to local councils as a payback for political support, thereby enhancing the political patronage system that usually provides many avenues for corruption.

What about the argument about “Malays losing out”? If we have a choice I am sure the electorate will be able to decide if a candidate is a person of integrity and able to serve the rakyat. If a person is not worthy of the trust we should vote him or her out the next round.

That is the exercise of one’s basic right. Local elections can be a good testing ground for aspiring politicians as it provides a graduated scheme to learn and train future leaders. It could even be made a requirement that a new person must have served as an elected officer in a local council before being eligible for a state seat.

To me, an elected council that is poorly managed is still better than an appointed council that operates like a secret society. At least we have the power to change the former.

photo:http://www.global-conspiracies.com/black-mass.jpg

Malaysia Urgently Needs a Few Good Men

In a parliamentary democracy, the use of party whips ensures that on matters of great importance, the government will carry the day.

In Malaysia, where the Speakers are totally beholden to the government that they cannot even fart discretely, the BN rules with an overwhelming majority of more than 90%.

So we have the interesting scene of two brave BN MPs who supported the Opposition Leader who called for a motion to refer a minister to the Rights and Privileges Committee.

Now they may have to face the music. What were their real motives? Did they really support Lim because he had a just cause? Did they want to gain prominence in the media?

We all know that important issues are seldom debated in great depth or with much wisdom in Parliament. Perhaps the heavy hand of the party whips that demand total compliance ensures little or no meaningful discussions.

It is usually a case of “pass the laws first” and we will amend later “if there are any problems.”

So how do we achieve Vision2020 when our law-makers are so stymied that they soon forget how to think and come up with “use the bullock cart” statements when upset?

Malaysia desperately needs a few good men and if they cannot come from the BN, we should ensure they come from the opposition.

photo:http://www.allstarz.org/tomcruise/goodmen.jpg

Following the USA into Insolvency?

We all know that the USA is actually a bankrupt nation, always spending more than they earn and the recent damage caused by hurricanes Rita and Katrina only add on to the heavy burden of the war in Iraq.

Malaysia too has been spending too much on pump priming with many meaningless projects that have become white elephants. Add to that the lack of financial discipline and downright mismanagement of many government departments to the tune of billions of ringgit as detailed in the latest Auditor-General’sAnnual Report.


But there are some differences.

After the hurricanes struck, President Bush had to get approval before emergency aid could be provided to the victims. In Malaysia, there is still almost total secrecy on how government moves the funds so much so that it may end up in the wrong accounts.

The USA still attracts vast inflow of funds even though some people have been trying to get foreigners to put their money elsewhere.

For Malaysia, we have lost out in FDI as China and other cheaper markets absorb more of investment funds.

The message by the PM to reduce wastage sounds like hypocrisy when the government itself has been spending monies it does not own on questionable projects.

Unless the government does more to help the private sector, as it is a more efficient vehicle to boost investment and growth, we are going to see a major slowdown in the economy. Unfortunately the Budget 2006 does little to get the private sector going and seem more like a sleeping pill for someone who has difficulty sleeping.

Send in the Clowns...

The AG’s Report or Malaysian X-Files 2005


This letter was published in Malaysiakini 16th September 2003

“Malaysian X-Files? The Auditor-General’s Report

Every year, there is a Guinness record of sorts being reported in Malaysia but unfortunately no one bothers to follow up and take further action.

I refer to the Auditor-General’s Report that is published annually which gives great details on how government and taxpayers’ funds are being wasted – the latest being the following as published by the NST on September 14th and the Star on 15th September:

1. 250 meals over-provided for breakfast and lunch during a check over a weekend at an army base.
2. Matriculation colleges of improper construction and deemed unsafe.
3. Revenue collection at colleges was not well managed with poor control of assets.
4. 419 projects abandoned by the EPF because of poor planning and mismanagement.
5. Hospitals in Putrajaya and Selayang served stale food with failure to record food usage; the Putrajaya kitchen was dirty with food leftovers all over the place.
6. A school in Kelantan had a faulty electrical ground wire installed, causing shocks to 30 students.
7. There is a shortage of beds in psychiatric wards.

The A-G’s office has prepared a very detailed report and they were able to report that only one state JKR office maintained proper records on maintenance of electricity at government premises, street and traffic lights. Congratulations to Negri Sembilan for doing your duty.

All the above factors could result in the following:

1. There are many nut cases on the loose in Malaysia, as the hospitals cannot cope. No wonder we have so many road accidents.
2. If you need to be hospitalized, avoid the Putrajaya hospital for if your sickness does not kill you, the contaminated food served there could do the job.
3. Students are becoming more violent because of the electric shock treatment they receive or in danger of falling beams if they make it into a matriculation college.
4. As for the EPF, it appears to be beyond redemption. The figure indicates it is the landowner with the most abandoned projects. More beds in the psychiatric wards are definitely required here.

It is indeed a poor reflection of the Malaysian system where every year, the A-G’s report is like a cesspool of mismanagement, excesses and complete negligence and nothing appears to happen. Each year is another episode of the Malaysian X-Files.

If Malaysians aspire to the vision of being a developed nation, MPs or a special committee in Parliament should take definite action on all the problems in the A-Gs Report and provide quarterly reports on actions taken and results achieved.
It is also suggested that the A-G’s Report, where possible, should provide the wastage in Ringgit terms for each item detailed so that an overall figure can be developed.
For example, the 250 meals at RM1 for breakfast and RM3 for lunch would equate to RM1000 for the day.

If necessary, ministers and senior civil servants who have been negligent should be censured and even removed.”


The latest episode of this long-running series has the following cast:

Main character: RM518m training facilities not up to standard. Are we sending our boys flying without proper training with just a hope and a prayer that they just don’t crash and burn?

Most ministries exceeded their budget of the 8MP by RM4.11b. Where is the financial discipline that allows departments to spend more monies than approved by their budget? All this has resulted in the Budget 2006 being largely disappointing for most Malaysians as authorised spending has depleted the government coffers.


Civil servants owe RM26b in unpaid housing loans.
It is suggested that no bonus or arrears be paid to such defaulters but the amount offset in their loan accounts.

You can read the roles played by the supporting cast here.Variety of players to suit all tastes.

How can we scrap this disgraceful series of the Malaysian X-Files?

photo: Star Online
photo:http://www.homesaleflorida.com/florida%20information%20clowns.jpg