Looks as if Consumers Will Be Shafted Once Again

This is an interesting story about crony capitalism that appears to be thriving in Malaysia despite all the Tak Nak hullabaloo.

Earlier there was a report about fake medical certificates for public vehicle drivers and it seems that the RTD has plans to introduce the computerised system to reduce the medical scams.

Of course there is a price for modernisation but one did not expect the administration costs of such a system to escalate the costs to double what a bona fide medical practitioner charges. After all it is a computerised system and a good yard-stick would be that such a system should not add more than 5% to overall costs.

It is also interesting that the Primary Care Doctors Organisation Malaysia were able to develop a similar system that adds only RM1 to the medical exam costs.

Whatever system is adopted, there is still some physical audit that has to be done by the RTD as even computerised systems can be compromised.

Public vehicle drivers costs are one component of the overall transport costs and unjustified cost increases will only raise the cost of living and cause inflation.

It is surprising that the RTD did not call for open tenders for a simple matter and instead chose to deal behind closed doors and shuttered windows.

photo: http://www.saraphina.com/moseyfr/082599/082599-window%20shutters%20remain%20mostly%20closed%20in%20the%20quiet%20summer%20morning.JPG