corruption must be destroyed at the roots.

It was good to read in the news today that efforts to stamp out corruption seems to have surged at the end of 2011, and hopefully this diligence will augur well for the future. See the various stories.. 'duo to be charged in graft probe of Iskandar company's 2billion package', 'man charged with 1.6m bribery' and 'Perkim trio claim trial to CBT'

However, the common question in those stories that begs to be answered is, since such large amounts of bribery have been paid and all the parties have been positively identified and charged, what happens to the company or contractor who has paid the bribes and who has been awarded the projects? It is obvious to us readers that such contracts awarded will have been at inflated prices, and would naturally NOT have been value for money. In other words, the Government or the authorities would have been short changed with contracts of substandard quality and safety.

Do the 'bribe givers' continue with the projects that they have procured through such unethical means? Do the shortchanged Government or the public have to live with projects of an inferior quality and standard? In this connection, I wish to relate a news story I read in a SE Asian country some 12 years ago, when the President of the country was implicated in a free textbook scheme project. It was reported in a survey, initiated as a result the exposure, that because of corruption, the free textbooks distributed to all students were worth only 60% of the value that has been paid, and that the remaining 40% of the value has been lost to corruption!

There is an oft quoted saying that "it takes two hands to clap", and in my opinion, to weed out corruption at the roots, we should look to  ensure that the cause is addressed and not just the symptoms. 'One hand clapping' will not make a sound.

We should also view seriously bucreautic red tape as another ominous form of corruption even though cash has not 'changed hands'. "Red tape and little Napoleons" are cynical ways to make legitimate businessmen into 'bribe givers', and the other prong of an effective anti corruption drive must be to get rid of this obstacle. In my view, an entrenched lackadaisical Government attitude is directly responsible for the growth of red tape and bureaucracy. Needless to say, red tape is discouraging investments, local and foreign, into the country as has been frustratingly expressed in the letter, Red tape a turn off ..

We have much to look forward to in 2012, are we up to it?

Happy New Year.

Malaysia should be at the forefront of renewable energy efforts using PV Solar cell technology

Reading the business news, >Nanopac sees transforming industry with new solar cells, it is heartening to know that efforts to increase tapping the most abundant renewable resource that Malaysia has, ie sunlight, is being vigorously pursued.

However, it is also surprising to read of the fact that “There is a lot of room for growth in this market {photovoltaic cell} as solar only makes up a fraction of the 0.7% of renewable energy sources." Surprising because, even though Malaysia has so much sunshine, and plantation waste, less than one percent of our energy requirements come from renewable sources. (solar, hydro, biomass, etc)

In view of the fact that our natural oil reserves may not last beyond this decade, unless massive new oil bearing areas are 'discovered', and the fact that the Sun will continue burning for a few billion years more, I feel the natural step for the Government to take, is to embark on a "mother of all" projects using the solar source as its primary renewable energy resource. To do this successfully would entail huge investments into technology research and human capital, but the infrastructure for harvesting solar energy would be mostly in place. If Malaysia can increase its reliance on renewable energy sources to say, 40% of its total requirements (like in Germany for example), it would be able to wean the country away from the debilitating subsidies that are holding us back from becoming a high income nation, among other things.

Is harvesting most of our energy from the Sun far fetched? Not so, if we look at the situation around the country. Malaysia is fortunate to have the Sun almost 365 days a year, even during the monsoon seasons, and we have a good house ownership to population ratio. If all roofs of residential, commercial buildings an institutions are required to be used as solar harvesting platforms, think of the amount of energy we can tap and use, and even feed it back to the national grid.

Of course this will require a massive effort in technology research and commercialization, and it will also require the redesign of the national grid to cater wholesale for the FIT concept. It will also require Government incentives to ensure the changes take place, like heavily subsidized roof solar panels for example. But what will be the benefits arising out of this tremendous effort?

Malaysia will be able to wean itself from the deleterious effects of traditional and depleting energy sources, and cut itself away from the burden of ever increasing fuel prices and worse, the ill effects of pollution as are being witnessed in great cities like Beijing even today. Sunlight is free, and will be free for a long time. Unlike hydro, which though by itself is a 'clean' energy source, solar energy has no negative environmental effects like dams and destruction of natural habitats and life.

There is no easy way out for the world in its continuing search for affordable, and possibly clean energy. In the long run, sun, wind and water seem the best bets for humankind. Malaysia is blessed in these resources, so let's seize the opportunity and show the world that there is a better way..

Too many foreigners staying in Malaysia

While it is good to see that the authorities are diligently enforcing the 6P programme, Foreigners fling chairs at Immigration officers during raid, it is nevertheless showing that we are just 'attacking' the symptoms of the 'disease' and not the cause.

I had expressed my fears several times already in your paper, Concern over littering by foreign workers , foreign workers staying in slums, paying the price for cheap foreign labour, Malaysia a haven for illegal workers, and sex ring bust only addressing the symptoms among many others, that unless the Government seriously address the issue of our increasing dependence on cheap and often illegal foreign labour, we are just introducing our country to all the negative and undesirable consequences of unrestrained and sub standard labour. As the number of foreign workers with limited skills and no experience increase and converge inside our country, they inevitably form cliques, recklessly occupying previously peaceful residential areas, and exerting their influences forcefully and abusively, as can be seen by your report of foreigners fighting to evade arrest and eviction. We know now there are numerous enclaves in KL and all over the countryside, where suddenly a foreign (non citizen) group has become a majority in the area, depriving the locals of living space, clean water and houses, and even business opportunities.

While culturally, it may offer Malaysia an excellent opportunity to claim that it's "Truly Asia", the social and environmental effects of such a large number (and still multiplying) of very low skilled foreigners ferried into our country and muscling our denizens out of their living space and work opportunities can only be deleterious in the long term.

And with Malaysia insisting on paying 'slave like' wages to those who clamour to work here, we cannot deny that we are just a part of the larger human trafficking system that is exploiting the poor and the down trodden of the world.

Think about it..

Welfare bodies being run like businesses to get donors

I refer to your report Welfare bodies being run like businesses to get donors and agree that it's getting more difficult by the day for the welfare institutions to obtain assistance from the public, the main reasons being the skyrocketing cost of living in the City, and the difficulty in differentiating those desperate institutions that sorely need help and those that may receive regular funds from Government bodies and large corporations.

The public would be well served by organisations that can provide such updated information, and in this matter, the efforts made by non profit organisations such as www.Hati.org.my which is in effect a "one stop shop" for all welfare institutions in Malaysia, highlighting their functions and their needs, is much appreciated and is to be further encouraged.

The poor, the disabled and the under privileged among us deserve all the help they can get, and I really hope to see that mainstream papers like The Star and the others actively ensure that such efforts to help the needy would be vigorously supported.
Helpful Website 

Feed in Tariff, Renewable Energy and TNB Billing.

I have been following the features on Renewable Energy with avid interest, and the RE Act 2011 mandates that consumers who use more than 300kwh of electricity per month will have to pay an additional 1% levy on the monthly cost. The additional 'contribution' from the consumers will be used to fund the implementation of renewable energy resources which will alleviate the country's dependence of diminishing and 'dirty' fossil fuel. TNB is required to report to Parliament annually on the use and the dispensation of the RE Fund, collected from the consumers.

While we should be happy that the Government is adopting such a far sighted move, albeit with additional cost to us, the poor consumers, we should consider the cautionary remarks that have been made that " the authorities {should} would implement the RE strategies taking into account some companies who are eager to make a quick buck by riding on the country's vision to go green

However, my immediate concern is as a small domestic consumer, and that TNB has been shown to be not efficient in the reading of meters and the usage of the Estimation process in billing the consumers. Our electricity tariff rates are based on kwh consumption PER MONTH, and based on this policy, the correct way to bill the consumer is to read the meters every 30 days, or close to it, and bill the consumer accordingly.

If the TNB continues to practice reading the meters for periods longer than 30 days, it will unfairly push the consumer to pay higher tariffs, (eg over 200 kwh per month), and now, since the RE Act 2011 is in place, also a higher 1% levy for the RE Fund. Sending bills to the consumer by post, based on normally much higher estimations will also have the same consequence of hitting the consumers with higher than appropriate tariffs.

The paying public deserves to be treated in a fair manner, and it is only through efficient practices and transparent policies can we be assured that our payments and taxes are not being paid in vain..
Ensure 'green levy' is based on monthly bills.. 

KLIA2 and Air Asia

Reading the two reports, New better KLIA2 takes wings  and AirAsia will not use aerobridges at the new LCCT, I feel that these two parties, viz., the MAHB and AA are taking their conflict to the stage of public opinion, and hope that the people's interests will hold sway.

I also feel this discussion about the aerobridges have gone on for too long, and either party may have good reasons to continue to follow its conviction and do what is right for the party they represent.

As a retired person, who have travelled quite a bit, and who has made use of Air Asia's flights since its inception, has also contributed to a few of its improvements through feedback, {which has been acknowledged} I would like to ask Dato Fernandes a simple question, which I observe, he has been studiously avoiding, in his condescending comments on not using the aerobridges at the new LCCT, apparently for profit reasons and turnaround times.

Can Air Asia then tell me if by this move, they are in fact telling us, the travelling customers, that Asia's best low cost airline is not keen to get or even encourage travellers who are disadvantaged, disabled, the old, the weak and the pregnant and even the children to travel on its cheap airline? As the attached picture from a fan of my blog has shown, it can be quite dangerous for a wheelchair bound traveller to embark and exit manually from the airline! Not to mention some loss in personal dignity!

Personally, I have very bad knees and a bad back, and nothing beats being able to walk from the gate to the airline in safety and comfort, and dry!

Further, I also feel that Tony Fernandes' example of the Singapore budget airline not using aerobridges is a bad one. Sorry, but the Singapore Government has not been well known for caring policies, and do we want to emulate them?

C'mon Tony, don't be so arrogant......

Where do Parents-abandoned-by-children-at-hospitals go to?

Where do Parents-abandoned-by-children-at-hospitals go to?

This is my experience. (28 November, 2011)

Sometime last week, my wife's friend asked if we want to do something good for some residents of a Nursing home situated in Jalan Kerayong {known as the old airport road}, on the fringe of the Chinese cementery, and close to the Kwang Tung burial grounds. We agreed to buy some essential stuff and also cook a large pot of chicken curry for the old folks there. I was further told that these residents are mainly those old folks who have been abandoned by their children or relatives in hospitals, on the pretext of admitting them for treatment, and while they were there, the children or relatives would vanish, often changing their phone numbers and contact details.

Our group was headed by the Chairman of the Malaysian Buddhist Cooperative Society, (Saying Goodbye with a Smile) Brother Aw, and as we were heading towards this 'home', I felt that I could now hope that the 'horror' stories that I have heard from my friends of children abandoning parents in hospitals would somehow have a happy ending.

The Nursing home is one floor above the Tong Sin Funeral Services, and is owned by a big hearted Mr Chong. We unloaded our 'goodies' and brought the food upstairs, hoping that the residents would be able to have a good meal, for today, at least.

The place is like a big dormitory, and houses about 30 old folks, mainly male and Chinese except

an Indian and a Chinese female. Most of them are frail and sick, and quite a few are bedridden. Those who are critically ill are placed towards the end of the dormitory, where presumably it's easier to care and to clean them.

The home is run entirely on donations, and the owner of the place is kind enough to allow the old abandoned and sick folks to stay until they pass away, and he provides the basic coffin and funeral services to each of the deceased.

Because the home is supported through donations from the public in the form of food and essential stuff, and also from “Casket Funds” that some caring donors like to provide, the cleaning and caring of the residents are also done on a voluntary basis. Various charity groups like the Rotary Clubs and the Buddhist Youth groups organise regular cleaning of the home, which can be in quite a bad condition and filthy, as sanitation services are not done on a daily basis. The healthy and mobile residents sometimes do their little bit to help the bedridden ones, feeding and cleaning them, but that can amount to almost nothing. I was told that the stench can sometimes be overpowering, and until the clean up by the charity groups on Sundays and Public Holidays, the plight of the residents can be miserable.

I took a look at the larder, and saw that they mostly have canned brace and nothing much else. When my wife asked one or the residents what he was cooking for lunch, the guy who was able bodied and 'doubled' as cook, said he didn't know, but most probably be porridge and what canned stuff that was available. That seems to be the staple diet of the poor guys there.

Caring for these 'sidelined' elderlies is despairingly minimal, and except for the efforts of religious organisations like the MBCS and Rotary Clubs, etc, who can only offer a glimmer of hope and relief, the only positive thing I can see for them, is they have a roof over their heads.

The visit left the newcomers like me in a sombre mood, and left us to wonder if any parent or relative should suffer such fate as to be abandoned in hospitals, and it has to be left to the mercy and generosity of strangers to uplift and help them, and though it's an uphill task, we should carry on.

We next proceeded to Jalan Ayer Puteh in Setapak, to visit more of such abandoned old folks, who are being taken in by a Buhddhist temple and cared of, until their last days on Earth. A Chinese monk, (Sifu) was in charge, there were about 10 residents in the home, next to the temple. These residents are also old folks who are left abandoned in hospitals, but in these cases, they have NO children to care for them. Fulfilling this criteria, the temple took them in and will care for them until they pass away. These residents are well taken care of, there is a cook to prepare 4 meals a day for them, and there are assistants who clean the place every day. The sick are taken to hospital in an ambulance, and there is a doctor visitng every Sunday. In this home, the residents look very healthy, well fed, and on the face of it, happy.

The temple supports these old folks also from donations by the public, but what a difference this home is, compared to the first one. And to me, there is some bitter irony here. Those elderlies that have been abandoned at hospitals, seem to fare better when they have no children, but maybe it's not easy to judge on these two visits alone.

There is a lot of charity that is required to be done in this country, and those of us who are blessed with good families, good health, and filial children, should nevertheless not forget to help those whose fates have not been so kind. It maybe their Karma, but it's in our Karma to help as much as we can.

Brother Aw of MBCS intends to pay regular visits to the Home, and anyone who wants to help can contact me or him at 012 6310719

Malacca monorail stalls after rain, 18 HK tourists stranded

It is incredulous, that the Malacca monorail has stalled AGAIN after rain, and 18 HK tourists stranded in the latest misadventure of the ill fated rail service, just days after SPAD the Land Public Transport Commission has approved its running. As the monorail is used mainly by international tourists to view the historic Melaka City, what sort of impression does the State Government, and the Ministry of Tourism want to give to the outside world?

It's such a shame, and worse so, as the Monorail seems to have been allowed to operate even though we know that the wheels do not operate well in the rain. Don't we also know that November to January are the traditional months for the wet monsoon season?

This episode of a malfunctioning monorail is but a continuation of a series of comedic errors made by the authorities, though I am sure the Tourism Ministry is not laughing. Neither were the tourists who were stranded in the Monorail
Malacca monorail giving us a bad name!  
Malacca monorail: glitches dent State's reputation!

Have power meter readings monthly. [TNB is using unethical steps to increase revenue]

I must admit that, when I read this letter in SundayStar, Have power meter readings monthly. I was quite shocked at the low steps that TNB would apparently stoop to, in order to increase its revenue. When I wrote my letter, Continue with monthly reading, and also my blog posting TNB not doing its work? all I thought was that TNB was reducing its costs by giving us estimated bills and sending the bills by post, late. Boy, was I wrong!!!

If what Capt. Abdul Aziz Abdullah has said in his letter is true, I am quite sure it is, it is downright immoral for TNB to use such underhand tactics to increase its revenue. The reason the TNB has introduced graduated tariffs is to encourage consumers to reduce, and use energy efficiently. Now consumers, who are practicing prudence have been stymied by the TNB's procedure to read our meters in duration that are longer than 30 days.

In my case, since TNB will apparently bill us 'from the office' in alternate months, I would still pay a much more higher bill, as the higher tariffs would 'kick in' when the computation is going to be based on two-months' actual reading.

That's a patently unfair business practice, and one which is totally unbecoming of a Socially Responsible Corporation, or is that all Spin doctoring??

Teaching English in Malaysia... God help us!

Tan Sri,
This letter from a student himself, Just a mangled form . . . surely stands out from the mangled mess of 'statistics' and 'surveys' that were conducted by all parties for and against the PPSMI issue.

The fact that most if not all technical terms have been translated from English, to me, is the tipping point in the argument that English should be used to continue teaching Malaysian students in Science and Mathematics.

Another very pertinent revelation that can be gleaned from the letter is the fact that we are teaching English the wrong way, without regard to grammar at all. This is even a more important issue to address. Having literature lessons, compulsory passes in the language, and mandatory book reading are steps in the right direction,, provided we do take them.

We all have our political reasons to support or to denigrate the issue, but from the "user's", ie the student's perspective, they are the victims of bad decisions, not their political masters. They will suffer the consequences for the rest of their lives. Most of our current day students have already been "damaged beyond repair", let us not perpetuate the issue.

Please look at this issue beyond politics, beyond race and above bigotry.

Senior citizens to get 50% off LRT and Monorail tickets

The news that Senior citizens to get 50% off LRT and Monorail tickets is indeed welcome but I have one issue to clarify. All senior citizens will be required to apply for 'discount' cards, and the card for non-frequent travellers would be programmed to offer a 50% discount and the discounted rate would apply when it is swiped.

Can the NON-frequent travellers apply and use this card for TOUCH & GO payments for the LRT and Monorail too? If so, are they then required to swipe or 'touch' the discount cards at the exit lanes before they leave the stations? A clarification would be very welcome
Poser in Discount Card..

Hike in airport passenger service fees, put travellers first

Dear BK,
Thanks for your post, >> Hike in airport passenger service fees, put travellers first and I couldn't agree with you more that both MAHB and the airlines should not forget that the customers must always come first. I have always maintained that AA has grown too big for its shoes, and in its effort to keep afloat while struggling against predatory competition and fast rising oil prices, it has chosen the route to give its valued customers the short shrift. Furthermore, in my opinion, "Investments" in F1 racing and the QPR football club must surely come at the expense of sorely needed cash for expansion and operations, hence the need for a lot of unilateral price increases that are served on the customer, without any warning. Why does such a great "people mover" get to be so arrogant? Does it think it will have the monopoly in the budget business forever, and disparaging remarks that the LCCT is like a 'horse stable' is very snootish.

I believe, as I expressed in my letter to FreeMaaysia today (below), that a single fare listing would be a more ethical way to treat the customers, and MAHB should also consider taking over its own tax collection, as I also noticed that they seem to have "outsourced" their check in counter services to some third party, as I witnessed it during my last visit to KLIA in September. At that time, I was thinking, MAHB was taking the easy way out, but maybe by outsourcing the tax collections, it can solve many issues with the airlines, and some tantrum throwing CEOs

TNB is not doing its work?

I would like to highlight the lazy approach by TNB in reading the monthly meters of households in Petaling Jaya. We are retirees staying in Section 11 Petaling Jaya, a modest neighborhood, and we pride ourselves in paying our bills promptly. Every month, before the 10th of each month, my wife and our neighbours would wait for the TNB meter reader to appear, and would happily assist him to read the meters of our houses. This is to lighten his onerous workload, and would also ensure that we pay on on actual consumption, and not based on sometimes high 'estimates'.

This month, November, we were surprised that the TNB meter reader did not appear, though the Syabas reader had gone his rounds on the 8th. My wife decided to call TNB today, 16 November, and was efficiently passed on to the Bills department. After the initial courtesies, imagine to her surprise, we were told that we have a bill of RM180+ for November, already recorded in the computer system!

So, apparently, the billing for my house has been completed, but I have not received the bill, not even the estimated one. Since I pay my bills online, and have been doing this for more than 10 years, do I now have to phone and beg for a statement, for my online payment? My further questions to TNB are:

• Is TNB cutting cost by reducing the effort of meter readers to manually read our bills?
• Is it the responsibility of household residents to ask for bills, and what happens if we do not receive any bills at all?
• Is TNB trying to raise "estimated revenue" by asking the meter readers not to go on their rounds monthly?
• Worse, are the meter readers shirking their jobs, and are just staying home and submitting ALL estimated bills for the houses in my area, Jalan 11/10 P Jaya? 

I sincerely hope TNB would continue its effort to read our meters on a monthly basis, and not inconvenience us in such a manner. There are defaulters who must be punished, but please do not push us, the conscientious consumers to delay our payments too.

Continue with monthly billing

Appeal to use aerobridges for budget airlines...

I wish to refer to the letter in TheStar, "Group wants aerobridges at KLIA2" appearing on October 24, and also to my comments on the letter, click here>>>'Budget' does not mean 'heartless' in which I said that a Budget airline should also operate with a soul, in addition to making huge amounts of profits from the villagers.

I have on this occasion, received further input from my network of concerned readers, a picture of how dangerous it is, for a disabled passenger to enter and alight from an airplane, "manually". {please see attached} Besides apparently having to pay for a wheelchair on Air Asia, it would seem to me that a sick or disabled passenger would also put his life to further grave danger, if someone trips up on the way up or down! We have not even begun to talk about damages that the airline has to pay for any fatal consequences of an accident occurring during the 'transfer'.

Once again, I would like to appeal to the Government and the authorities to consider the Group's request for KLIA2 to install aerobridges for all its flights. I fail to see why international standards of embarking and
alighting from the present normal and wide body aircrafts should be sacrificed for the sake of profitability of a few. KLIA2 is built to serve the International community, so let's abide by international standards of performance and dignity.

As I have said before, and I repeat it here, does Malaysia want to be known as a nation without a soul??

Wake-up call for KTM Komuter

The letter about the mess that Komuter is making itself in Wake-up call for KTM Komuter is but the continuation of of the public's long standing complaints about an essential service that has apparently gone unheeded.

As anyone can see, the Komuter link between Klang and KL Sentral is the most important "people mover" link that the capital of KL has, and if it's operated efficiently, it can become the most important part of the solution to our traffic congestion on the Federal Highway route. Instead of acknowledging this fact, the authorities have treated the route with reluctance bordering on indifference, forcing the commuters to revert to using their cars for commuting, adding to the gridlock.

It is fortunate that the LRT is beginning to fulfill its promise as a mass transit provider, and we hope the MRT will too, But we also hope the authorities will not ignore the fact that the Komuter can also play an essential role in the mass transportation sector, and given the burgeoning population in, and the urbanization of, the Klang Valley, it will go a long way to help alleviate the congestion experienced by commuters in the area.


Komuter is important people mover

Get to root cause of road Bus accidents

I refer to the letter Get to root cause of road accidents which was written in response to the Star's lead report, "Reckless Again" in which you raised the question of uncaring and reckless drivers, who by their misdeeds have killed innocents and caused untold damages to lives and property, again and again.

I wish to state here that nothing that the public says will move to Government to do what has to be done to stop the 'murderers on the expressways', and I speak as an utterly disillusioned man.

Since 2009, and even before that, I have been harping on the issues of the heartless bus drivers in 'Rogue bus drivers and Indifferent authorities'-- and 'August 18--D Day for Rogue Bus drivers?' and I had commented even then that the only way to reduce the carnage on the roads is to LIMIT the speed the buses can be driven, through the use of Speed DE-limiters. It is a fact that speed kills, and less speed will save lives. In October 2009, perhaps in response to my clamour for positive action, the Transport Minister announced.. "{click on this link to see report}All express bus operators may soon be required to install speed limiters in their vehicles in an effort to reduce road accidents and fatalities. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said they might also be required to install the Global Positioning System (GPS) to allow them to monitor their driver’s on-the-road habits..."

Can the public know why there is no further effort on the part of the authorities to implement something that can be effective in curbing the excesses of the bus drivers? Is it because the selfish bus owners are crying out at the cost of implementation, and more imprtantly for the bus companies, slower journeys will make them less money? Is the Government listening to the pleas of the people, or the immoral cries of businessmen ?

Anyone reading the international news will know that countries that do not control the speed and road worthiness of their buses have the worse accident and fatality rates. {Think of India, China, Peru, Bolivia, Philippines, etc.}

Malacca monorail suspended 48 hours

Reading this news, Malacca monorail suspended 48 hours and knowing how problematic China's bullet and other trains have been experiencing serious reliability problems resulting in fatal consequences, I think the Melaka Government should view this with serious concern. And the question must be asked, even though it's in hindsight.. "Why was the KL Monorail company not involved in the Melaka project, as there must be cost and other advantages getting a local company with a successful track record?"
It is even more embarrassing as the Melaka monorail will be mainly used by tourists, and in the event that any future incident have fatal consequences, we will never be able to forgive ourselves. I also observe in the picture, in one of the emergency measures, in the event of the monorail stopping in the middle of nowhere, a rope ladder will be deployed to rescue the tourists trapped in the coaches! Can you imagine elderly foreign tourists being asked to climb down a great height using this oscillating rope ladder in an emergency, and this scene is flashed all over the globe?

Heaven Forbid!!!!!

Governments have changed, and nothing has changed.

This letter in The Star Development of PKNS field unnecessary gave me a huge dose of deja vu. Governments have changed, and nothing has changed. It is true that politics is about being in power for business expediency. When we listen fervently to the impassioned messages hollered out during re-election campaigns, we harboured hopes that a change in the "political scenery" will bring about great benefits to the people, to the environment, and to our lives. We clamor through the ballot box that our voices be heard, and that our future be protected from the consequences of an ill governed nation.

But has anything changed? All political parties, once entrenched, will cast the eyes askance and look for juicy projects that will churn in the millions that they crave for, having fought tooth and nail for political power. Illegal massage shops and "budget" hotels flourish, and now, the green lungs of a quiet residential area is viewed as the next pot of Gold beneath the rainbow. Is the Government going to sacrifice the 'soul' of Kelana Jaya for the sake of filling the pockets of some politicians and councillors?

Even God will shed tears, for the folly of men :(

Has anything really changed? 

Surprises in MBPJ budget, [i am surprised too]

Dato,
I wish to quote from Star Metro Surprises in MBPJ budget, in which you said, " The highlights include a RM100,000 allocation for installing and maintaining energy-saving lights at the back of houses to brighten dark lanes — provided the house owners agree to pay the electricity charges  "

I must admit I am a little confused by your statement. Sometime back, MBPJ has installed SOLAR powered street lights at the backlanes of Section 11 PJ, among other sections, [SEE PHOTO ATTACHED OF THE SOLAR POWERED LIGHT BESIDE MY HOUSE]. Since Dato has announced that residents have to pay for lighting up their backlanes (also a bad idea, as the GE13 is around the corner), does it mean the solar powered lights installed at all the backlanes of Section 11, 12 and 19, etc have failed?? How much did MBPJ spend on this abortive project?

By the way, I wish to request that, if MBPJ is to continue with this solar powered lights at our backlanes, please make sure the lights work effectively AND AT THE CORRECT TIMES!! At the moment, most of the lights switch on at 7.30pm and switch off at 11.30 pm automatically! Dato must agree with us that from 11.30pm and until about 6am in the morning, the back lanes should be lighted up, AND NOT LEFT IN THE DARK BY THESE SOLAR POWERED LIGHTS :((

So, can you see why I am so confused, when Dato announced that the residents HAVE TO PAY FOR LIGHTING UP THE BACKLANES?

I am surprised too, at the MBPJ Budget, to say the least... LOL

National Security Council should be more proactive in dealing with floods.

It is good to read that the National Security Council has responded swiftly to the imminent floods in the coming monsoon season, NSC roping in firms and fishermen to deal with floods but though floods are catastrophic events with tragic consequences, they are seasonal happenings and actually are symptoms of some serious underlying cause. Mobilising all sectors to help is great, but what the NSC should also keep in mind are the short and long term proactive steps to be taken to mitigate the effects of the flood.

One of the short term tasks is to survey and ensure that ALL drains, streams and rivers are cleared and not blocked by garbage and silt. WE need to do this BEFORE the floods arrive, and not as a knee jerk reaction, when it can be too late.

A long term policy for the NSC to consider is to include among its responsibilities, the role to protect our diminishing water catchment areas and hill slopes along the mountain ranges all over the nation. Fully forested catchment areas and hill slopes serve as a buffer for the tremendous amount of rainfall that is experienced in the tropics, and slow down the flow of water to the plains and the towns. Fully protected catchment areas also ensure sufficient potable water for our future generations.

We read frequently of another South Eastern nation {Philippines} which has suffered progressively more calamitous floods mainly due to excessive logging over the years, which has denuded its forests and hill slopes.

Let us plan and strategise with long term objectives in mind, while we move to immediately to combat any possible devastation the impending floods will bring to our country and to our citizens.

Give Malaysia Airports a chance....

I wish to refer to your very lopsided report on Malaysia Airports' building of the KLIA2 in AirAsia X slams Malaysia Airports and I quote from your report...“If the Government allowed AirAsia/Sime Darby to build new low-cost carrier terminal at Labu, it would have been ready by now, no public funds used, and lower charges," and " The critical failure of this knee-jerk policy decision to reinstate airport fee monopolistic increase, is that there is no consultation or analysis."

In my opinion, the comments are very unfair to MAHB, and some balanced counter views are required. First of all, since AirAsia and Sime Darby did not get to build the airport to be owned by Air Asia, we will not know if that airport at Labu was going to be built on time, and within the budget. As to the claim that an AA owned airport would in turn mean lower charges, the spokesman conveniently forgot to mention that the lower charges will benefit Air Asia only, and given the carrier's inherent arrogance to slap additional charges on the passengers unilaterally and without warning, would the passengers gain anything by it. On the claim that MAHB unilaterally introduce higher airport charges, did AA ask itself, if the public was consulted when it introduced,

• fee for booking seats
• additional fee for booking 'good' seats
• fee for check in baggage
• fee for telephoning AA's hotline to complain about bad services
• and now the latest, fee for NOT checking online and using the check in counter
• fee for changing flights
• administration fee
• etc etc {view all such fees at AirAsia.com.my}

Based the known heartless policy of AirAsia when it comes to Corporate Social Responsibility, I would even like to speculate that if Air Asia had been allowed to build its own airport at Labu with Sime Darby, in order to recover from lower airport handling charges for the carrier, the public may be asked to pay for the following at the Labu airport :

• Non flight public have to pay an entrance fee to enter the the airport lobby
• Passengers have to pay for toilet use, and toilet paper will be charged on a per-piece basis
• Drinking water at the water fountains will be at RM1 per squirt
• Wheelchairs will be leased out at RM20 per time, and extra payment is required if you need someone to push the disabled or sick passenger
• Bus services from the gates to the plane will be charged at RM2 per passenger
• If umbrellas are needed in the rainy season, a levy will be imposed
• Taxis will be charged a RM5 waiting fee
• Chairs can be hired at the lobby, if passengers get tired waiting for the flights
• If the airport is too warm, hand fans maybe be hired by passeners
• Smoking rooms are at RM10 per entry
• other fees that AA deem fit to impose from time to time....{and it will}

I think it's befitting of the Government to impose a minimum standard of safety and dignity for the public who fly, be it with the premier airline, or the budget carrier. We should not be forced by companies, in their blind quest for profits, reduce humans to just "fodder" for their goals.

Airport Security at KLIA lackadaisical?

Reading this news story,Cops arrest debonair foreigners suspected of involvement in luggage theft three{3} things stand out.

1. The debonair foreign thieves have been able to operate with apparent impunity for at least a year, and they can even afford to rent a Condominium in Ampang,
2. The confident and 'charming' thieves were apprehended apparently only after a 76 year old Senator's luggage bag was stolen,
3. The CCTVs in operation were used to identify and apprehend the thieves.

Questions rushing through my mind are:

• Did the Police and Airport Security officials only jumped into action AFTER a Senator's [read VIP] bag was stolen, and he made a loud complaint?
• If the CCTVs were so effectively used in identifying the thieves, how come the flamboyant thieves were "allowed" to operate for a year before they were caught, and that because some VIP lost his baggage? Which means to say, there is NO standard operating procedures for viewing and reporting on events recorded by the CCTVs at all? I am totally ignorant on security matters, but I would have guessed someone in the Security department would want to view the CCTVs after EACH complaint of lost bag is received from the public?
  

Do the security officials only operate only on perceived "importance" of the complaints? 

The Government just announced its approval to increase airport taxes for International travel, and I hope it's not to pay for the bonuses of the airport security officials for a job well done..

Outlet raided one month after opening

Reading this report, Outlet raided one month after opening. I am reminded of a much earlier report that your paper made on a similar 'story', 61 GRO's held in 11th raid at outlet {Star Sunday Nov 15, 2009}, and two questions immediately come to my mind.

1. Is the outlet that has been raided 11 times still in operations?
   
2. Has the new outlet that has been raided just one month after opening any relation to the "11-raids outlet"?

Other serendipitous happenings can be surmised from this report too. It seems George Town is 'happily' notorious in such activities, and no amount of enforcement and raids will stem the vice business. This also throws in the question, "are the operators of this type of business in cahoots with the local authorities and the Police, as seen by the fact that there seems no fear of being harassed and caught?"

Finally, the all important question. "Are the operators of this type of business also involved indirectly in 'human trafficking'?

The Government may want to think these questions through, and provide the public with some good answers

Budget does not mean 'heartless'

I refer to your report, {Group wants aerobridges at KLIA 2}, and it's disheartening to read that the disadvantaged have to stoop to such strong measures to get the Govt to look into their grievances.

In my view, the nation's premier budget airline, in its bid to become a global leader in budget air travel, has seen fit to sacrifice its CSR objectives (Corporate Social Responsibility) for the sake of the bottom line, and has left us wondering if achieving profitability and a high income status should be done at the expense of the poor and the disadvantaged.

I have been using this budget airline since its inception, for business and private purposes, and I have seen it deteriorate from a friendly and warm airline to an airline that rushes and cajoles its passengers just to make a few dollars. In the beginning, pregnant women, children and the elderly were boarded before the other passengers. This compassionate gesture has been removed, although I observe that it is still being followed by other budget airlines (Cebu Pacific for example).

I had also twritten to the CEO of that airline to ask him to provide for hand cleaning soap in the toilets, as hygiene and cleanliness was also overlooked in the beginning. When I again wrote in to suggest that passengers be given seat numbers to reduce rushing and pushing (as the priority to board for pregnant ladies,children, etc was withdrawn), the CEO replied that ALL BUDGET airlines operate on a "numberless" seat policy. A few months down the road, the airline offered seat number bookings AT AN EXTRA COST.

Of course we know now of the other 'benefits' that have been removed or shifted into the 'paying category', like front row seats, check in luggage, "administration" fee, the list is long.

Suffice to say, I think it is ironic that, for Malaysia to endeavour to achieve high income status, and by extension a better standard of living, to have to downgrade the construction of KLIA2 to an international airport without aerobridges, which is the perfect way for passengers to embark and disembark in ALL weather conditions. It is a double irony that the decision NOT to have aerobridges is apparently made following the request of the budget carrier, IN ORDER TO HELP IT MAINTAIN ITS TURNAROUND TIME!!!

It is quite clear to me, if the decision not to have aerobridges is upheld, the Govt, as well as the National Budget carrier is treating air travel passengers just as a cost centre for profit, and nothing else.

Does Malaysia want to become a nation without soul?

Is Malaysia really a hub for human trafficking?

I refer to your report, Sex Slaves Freed, and first of all would like to commend the police for busting up some slave trade activities in the country. However praiseworthy this deed is, I believe it's just addressing the symptoms of the problem, and at worse, it just indirectly confirms the increasingly negative perception of the international community that Malaysia is indeed a hub for human trafficking, among other things.

In this instance, since Malaysia was the second destination, after initially being sent to 'work' in China, it amazes me to think of the ease that the human traffickers manage to 'smuggle' 21 savagely abused and beaten women into our country, fooling our alert Immigration officials, and even the airport security who are on a 24 hour surveillance of all entry points into our country.

The question that the Polis should be asking is, 'How do the traffickers manage to subdue these women, who are desperate to escape from a living hell, when they have to go through immigration, airport security and a public place?' I am sure the public would also like to know the answer.

Sex ring bust only addressing the symptoms

Carlsberg, it's a shame...

Dear Carlsberg,
This is a shameful thing, but I am sorry I have to report it. This evening I went to Restoran GAsing in PJ, happy in the knowledge that this is a place that Carlsberg was served with abandon. Imagine to my HORROR, I was told they had only one bottle of Carlsberg left, and they only serve Tiger{Yucks!!!}. We were told that, Carlsberg, in spite of winning the owner's confidence to serve only CArlsberg, were so complacent in their success that they never followed up in their efforts to install a proper business signboard for the restaurant, and also NEVER finalised the contract between the owner and Carlsberg. Tiger, on seeing the complacency, pestered the owner, and got the owner to sign a new contract, and now they have banned Carlsberg from the premises.

Now I know, this is the reason why Carlsberg is losing its market share in PJ to GAB. You need to f*** your sales team. How can they lose a contract in hand to Tiger in the bush?? According to what I have heard tonight, it seems that the owner was pissed waiting for Carlsberg to consummate the deal, and Tiger stabbed Carlsberg in the back.. Imagine this happening all over PJ

No wonder I find it so tough to get a CArlsberg in PJ!!!! Maybe I should take over your marketing team,,, can I send you my CV? :((

Unsightly refuse

I refer to your report Unsightly refuse and while I agree that some "Rubbish" contractors have been quite indifferent to their jobs, I feel the blame should not be totally assigned to those overworked and underpaid labourers.

Some of the blame should be towards the authorities who fail to provide proper and easily accessible rubbish bins and containers so that the public and residents know where to bring their rubbish to be collected. However, most of the blame should be put on the public and the residents themselves, as most of them ignore assigned rubbish collection areas and haphazardly throw their rubbish at corners and side roads, and at other not so conspicuous places.

In this respect, how do you expect the hard-pressed contractors to know ALL the areas that have the rubbish that have been arbitrarily thrown by selfish and irresponsible people? We, as responsible people should do our part to assist the contractors to do a good job. From the pictures that have appeared in your paper about those rubbish that have been uncollected, can you genuinely say that they have been left at collection points designated by the local authorities? Maybe the local councils should install more CCTV cameras to catch those totally irresponsible culprits.

Only when we behave responsibly can we blame the garbage contractors for being remiss in their jobs. We have to do our part too, to make the country livable.

Forests vital for future

It is quite obvious that after reading the letter Forests vital for future and the response by the State Government be reasonable with demands to gazette forests, says Zambry that politicians do not see the real danger of continuing to allow timber logging in areas that are close to our forest reserves, which also act as our water catchment areas feeding life saving water to our people.

We should be asking ourselves if it's possible and practicable to enforce and monitor the logging companies, to ensure they will not encroach onto the reserves when they have finished logging their approved areas. Do we then ask the logging companies to shut down their businesses?

It is better for the country and the environment in the long run, if the politicians make a strong stand against the irreversible destruction to our forests and catchment areas, by insisting that the logging companies stick to the areas they have been given, and gazette the rest of the Main Range as reserves so that nobody in the future can destroy it.

Such a tough policy will also force the logging companies to embark immediately on a 'sustainable' forest regeneration program, to protect their businesses, and get them to implement 'best practices' for sustainable development of the timber industry.

At the present moment, can we truthfully say that Malaysia complies with international guidelines for producing 'sustainable' timber? Sabah, maybe, but not for the rest of our country

Think about it

Make learning English a joy

I refer to the letter Make learning English a joy, by Joshua Tan, Layang layang Johor, and congratulate the writer for his suggestions to make Malaysians improve on their command of the English language.

However, I think, in the final analysis, it will be up to the individual himself, as no amount of Government coddling and motivational events will help the student if he makes up his mind that English is not in his mind. I would like to use myself as an example of how a serious commitment, in spite of having to face the most adverse conditions, will triumph over all obstacle to master the language.

I was born in a small town in Johor and attended secondary school in the late 1950's. My parents were dirt poor, and I had 9 siblings, all school going. When I was in Form 2, I decided that I wanted to improve my English. I begged money from my mum, and went to buy the best dictionary the town could offer then, and it was the 20th Century Chamber's Dictionary. I treasured the book, and even hid it from my brothers and sisters. I asked my father to buy us the Straits Times, and I made sure I read the EDITORIAL, every day. Believe me, it was no fun doing that, but I stuck to it. I even subscribed to the Listener, from London, and tried to read it from page to page, when a copy arrived. In the lighter vein, I saved my pocket money (then at 10sen a day) to buy my weekly Beano and Dandy comics, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also got addicted to PG Wodehouse books, and twisted my mum's hands to get me the money to buy the latest offerings{i have a collection of not less than 65 of his books}. To their credit, my parents would sacrifice everything else, but I had my story books.

We as parents must change our attitudes first; we must get rid of our distrust of a foreign language, we must not keep holding on to our pride of our own national and/or vernacular languages and think that learning English is making our culture and language second best. Our children must start young, and we as parents must show them that mastering languages and acquiring knowledge is a noble thing to do.

And finally the politicians must agree not to use the study of languages as a means to their political ends. Malaysia have suffered too much already. Don't let our future generation bear the pain of our selfish addiction!

The mind must be willing
English: have the right attitude

Illegal businesses thrive despite enforcement

I REFER to “Robber killed in shootout at cyber cafe” (The Star, Aug 22). The cyber cafe is believed to have been “a front for an online gambling centre which had been previously raided five times by local authorities and the police”.

One wonders if anyone is doing anything to root out illegal cyber cafes in the state, when the police have stated that they have raided the place five times already, and the centre still apparently is doing good business.

The fact that this place is a front for online gambling makes one wonder if hanky panky is also involved in keeping the centre open, such as corruption in the local authorities and the “close one eye” syndrome, as the owners may be well connected.

I believe cutting off the electricity and sealing the premises will be a really effective deterrent.

I am raising this issue as I feel that this is just one of the thousands of examples of illegal businesses continuing to flourish despite “enforcement”, others being massage centres and spas, karaokes, budget hotels, swiftlet farms.

Illegal businesses thrive despite enforcement

Malaysia a haven for illegal workers?

While we commend the Government for taking proactive action in stemming out international militant and terrorist groups from using Malaysia as a hub for radical activities, Indian Nationals held under the ISA ! it nevertheless brings to mind several disconcerting questions regarding our official policy towards foreigners working in the country, whether legally or illegally.

In the news report, the three foreigners arrested under our Security laws were a restaurant operator, a music teacher and a construction contractor respectively. It is amazing to read that foreign nationals find it so easy to either operate a business or to take up a profession here, not being citizens of the country? In most of the other countries in the Asia Pacific region, it is even difficult for foreigners to open bank accounts unless they have approval from the Government authorities to operate a business, or have a work permit. Most small and medium size businesses must be operated through the local citizenry, and all such businesses must have at least majority local control. Professionals like engineers and music teachers require a work permit, no less. And engineering and contracting businesses require that the business must have locally recognised engineers appointed in management positions. In addition, in the Philippines, for example, non citizens and non residents cannot be involved in ANY retail business.

Reading further this news report against the backdrop of the present Amnesty program of the Government, it will look like the Government is in actual fact 'legalising' all such illegal businesses and employment in the country, otherwise why is there a need for amnesty? Where will our own citizens stand against this onslaught?

To me, it is no surprise at all why Malaysia seems to attract foreigners like ants to honey. Once inside the country, they seem to ba able to do anything with impunity. Until they are caught, that is.

Violence in London.....

The spectre of unabated Violence in London..... and wanton destruction of the last three nights sent a chill down the spine. More terrifying is the spontaneous mushrooming of many copycat incidents that threaten to spread all over the country. The police and the Government seem to be woefully unprepared for it with dire consequences to the country's reputation as a haven for good living and multi cultural tolerance. What has gone wrong? Is it police arrogance, high handedness and insensitivity towards the poor and the under privileged? Were there serious problems of unemployment and exorbitantly high living costs which have been swept under the carpet for many years? Has racist practices been a covert practice of the authorities, and there was a trigger for the conflagration? There are many soul searching questions that the Govt of UK has to find answers to, and fast.

On the national front, I can see that our nation is veering into a situation, that, given the same 'triggers' will mirror what is happening in London now. I am thinking about the consequences of our Amnesty Program. By the time we finish the registration process of legal and illegal aliens, including Maids, etc. we may have close to 4 million foreign workers in the country, most of them working for meagre wages, and probably no off days, and little medical aid. The category that will cause the most concern is of course the illegal aliens, now made "legal" by the biometric registration and the Amnesty program.

My confusion of this process is,... though they are legal now, are they better off than before? Are they being paid the same as the originally legal aliens and the maids(that is not saying much anyway), and are they adequately protected from harassment from unscrupulous agents and sometimes corrupt Police officers?

I am aware that even now, in certain locations, 'legal' migrants have rented whole apartments, and they have in turn brought in friends and relatives, most of them by covert means, who do what they can to scrounge for a living. Living more than 10 to an apartment, they loiter around in the daytime, when unemployed, and get themselves drunk on some strong beer(now you can get those beer with more than 12% alcohol for RM5 a 500ml can, eg Bavaria, Kingfisher Strong, etc) at nights, and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Some of these aliens may also have come surreptitiously from countries that have made a transition from war to peace, and being ex guerrillas, they have no job and no money, just relatives in Malaysia.

With millions of these youths, underpaid and underemployed, displaced from their mother countries, with no future to look forward to, we are actually having pockets of distressed and disturbed people in many locations all over the country. If, though some reckless policy, or even high handed police action on some transgressions made by these aliens, it maybe easy for a flashpoint to be achieved under incendiary conditions, and the "London Experience" will be repeated here.

Calling for an Amnesty for these aliens is a noble thing to do, and the United Nations will be pleased, but can we look after them the same way as our citizens(that is not saying much again), fairly and equitably?

We need great political leadership soon, with long sighted vision for the country.

Keep eye on flashpoints..

London riots: Are aliens better off?

Water crisis looms in Klang Valley

It is time we take seriously the warning by the Syabas COO that Putrajaya, Selangor and the Klang Valley will be the first to be hit by a water crisis, in the report, Water crisis looms in Klang Valley. It has been obvious since 2008 that the State Government was never serious in promoting frugal water usage; rather the politicians seem to favour encouraging water profligacy by offering the first 20 cubic metres water free of charge.

Short term and long term measures need to be considered and debated now, if we are to avoid a national water crisis in a few years' time, regrettably aided by the uncontrolled influx of foreign workers and migrants into our crowded country.

Short term and immediate measures include offering large incentives for households and businesses to harvest rainwater, by providing steep discounts on the purchase of large storage tanks and ancillary equipment like pumps, and piping, along with basic installation costs. Engineers in Syabas can also come up with basic designs for the implementation of rain harvesting systems in homes and business complexes. The State Authority should also clamp down on the mainly illegal car-wash business that are mushrooming in Selangor and KL. These car wash businesses really waste a lot of water, if one will just observe their mode of operations.

A long term measure that can be considered by the State in the conservation of our limited water resources may be to follow the example of the South Korean Government, which mandates all housing and business complexes to build large underground storage tanks to harvest rain water, and to have reliable systems installed in those complexes to use the 'grey' water for washing and cleaning purposes. These large water harvesting systems are also useful in alleviating flood conditions in times of heavy downpour. At the moment, the frequent heavy downpours in Selangor just mean horrific floods and millions of litres of water literally 'down the drain'

We need to be pro active, and not just always only talk about the problems

Water management: act now before it's too late!

Has Muar town 'gone to the Birds?'

I am a Muarian, and am very proud of it. There is nothing that I like to do better than to return to the town occasionally to visit my siblings and to eat some of the famous Otak-otak or the Ikan assam pedas while in town.(not to mention the 'mee pok' and the durians)

Yesterday afternoon, I took my wife for a leisurely walk in the town centre, and our walk took us around Jalan Ali, Jalan Abdullah, Jalan Meriam and Jalan Yahya. All over town, we could see pedlars selling the ubiquitous otak and many shops carried the famous Muar coffee brands like '434' '282' 'AAA', among many others. It was pleasant memories,and good for the soul.

However, against the backdrop of vehicle noises, we could hear an incessant twittering, and to my horror, I suddenly realised that Muar town, has through the years, been turned into a noisy Swiftlet breeding town. Wherever you turn, you can see double storey shophouses with closed darkened windows, and there you can hear twitters emanating from them. Some of these enclosed structures are even built on top of the double storey shops! What was even more amazing is that the residents in the shops surrounding the many swiflet 'farms' seem oblivious to the noise, and also the the health hazards posed by this business.

One more fact that stood out in the swiftlet business in Muar is that they seem to be concentrated only in the town areas, or areas where there are a collection of shops. Driving just out of town, we can also see more breeding structures in places where there are shops being built. In fact, we even noticed that some new shops have already been 'converted' into swiftlet homes.

I am not anti business, and I am glad my fellow Muarians have found a way to earn some lucrative income. But have the swiftlet 'homes' been approved according to the terms and guidelines issued by the Government, which, if I have not read incorrectly, the homes should be built in agricultural areas, and should be of some distance (500 metres??) from any residential areas?

Has the local authorities in Muar a different set of guidelines for swiftlet breeding? I love my town, please do not let be degraded by unscrupulous or worse, corrupt practices.

Muar a swiftlet farm!!
The Sun E paper on Swiftlets
Swift action please!

Malaysian Forests taking a back seat.

I suppose on reading this piece of business news, Malaysia is king of wood products export, one would expect Malaysians to be celebrating some sort of achievement, but on delving deeper into the report, I think there are some questions that cross the mind. First is the news that the Asia Pacific region has only 2% of the certified forests in the world while North America has the bulk at 54%. What this revelation means to us is that, the Asia Pacific region is arguably doing the most damage to its remaining virgin forests and forest reserves, and though it's mentioned in the report that Malaysia has the largest area of "certified" tropical forests, I am not sure this is one fact that we can be proud of.

All the more a nebulous claim for fame, if we read further the challenges facing 'forest certification' which, "include the conduct of macro-environmental impact assessment at FMU level (for Peninsular Malaysia), protection of endangered species of flora and fauna, avoid or minimise pollution of water sources as well as avoid or minimise conversion of natural forest to forest plantations and/or non-forest land use."

My confusion here is, how will Malaysia maintain its claim that it's exporting 'certified timber' which mandates that the country must protect its "endangered species of flora and fauna, avoid or minimise pollution of water sources as well as avoid or minimise conversion of natural forest to forest plantations and/or non-forest land use", when we know for a fact that all timber producing companies are increasing ANNUALLY their hardwood production from existing forests, and that the ever increasing acreage of forest plantations initiated by some State Governments are just in a nascent stage.

What we see here is, again, short term profits take precedence over the long term survival of the forests, and of Mother Earth herself..

Malaysian Forests taking a back seat.

Rude taxi drivers

Reading this letter from Jin Kobayashi, [Taxi drivers] A bad image for the country, which is easily the fifth letter in a fortnight on errant taxi and airport limousine drivers, I am beginning to think if there is anything we can do to redress the situation. No amount of policing and fines will address the situation, if it's the drivers themselves who want to continue to flout the law, be rude and obnoxious, and to drive like there's no tomorrow and maintain their vehicles in an almost 'scrap' condition'!

Let me give an example of the taxi services in Singapore; the drivers there too have a hard time making a living, they too curse and blame the government for their problems, and they also complain endlessly the rules that they have to abide by, and that they have to work until they die, for the pittance they get. But, they always use meters, converse with the passengers, their vehicles are spick and span, regardless of the age of the vehicles, and they go anywhere the passengers ask them to, anytime.

Why is there such a difference? Can we change the mindset of our taxi drivers, and can we make them grateful that they have a job or business, no matter how tough it is? Can the Government transformation program transform the taxi business, and why are we not make a strong effort to do it?

Too many readers have written to the Press in recent times for the Govt to ignore this problem of obdurate Malaysian taxi drivers, but alas, I see the lack of political will to do what has to be done.

We need to fix the problem of rude taxi drivers

slow start to alien registration

Reading this news that only Over 7,000 legal workers registered in biometric system in 3 days looks like it's a VERY slow process. Doing a simple mental arithmetic, completing the registration of 2 million Legal workers, (not including maids??), the whole exercise would take almost 3 years, not including Sundays!!! How are the maids to be registered then?

I am just wondering how the Amnesty exercise for the illegals are going to work out.. Do they stay illegal for three years, or will they be deported, or is the amnesty in force for the whole duration, as this will take more than three years, unless thousands of "authorised agents" are appointed.

It sure looks like a big mess to me, and I think the concerned public would like to get some clarifications, and of course, I would breathe a huge sigh of relief, if I am proven terribly wrong

need to hasten registration of alien workers

Foreigners and Social Ills

While reading the report on the slow start to the biometric registration of foreign workers in Malaysia, Many still confused over Alien registration I came across these reports of crime where foreigners are also involved. In Vietnamese kill two roommates several Vietnamese had a fight over a petty matter, and two were killed, while in the report about a car theft, Car theft suspect shot dead. the Pakistani robber was shot dead for resisting arrest.

I cannot but feel, after reading this (the reported incidents) that our nation is beginning to experience the ill effects of arbitrarily and easily allowing for 'any kind' of foreign labour to come and work in the country. Not long ago, it seems that the only foreigners who maybe involved in petty crimes are the Indonesians, who through easy access to our country have come in droves, abetted most probably by immoral agents and corrupt Immigration officials.

Now it seems that crime in this country has taken an 'international hue'. Besides the two cases reported in your papers today, we have read all too frequently, drug trafficking arrests of Iranians and Africans, and illegal social 'business' monopolised by the Chinese, Thais, Indonesians, and Filipinas, among other things. We too have heard about gang clashes between groups of poorly paid Indonesians and Bangladeshis at construction sites.

All these have exacted a very high cost from our nation, such as large increases in police work to monitor and minimise such crimes. Other costs are not so direct, but the millions of foreigners also tax our natural resources like drinking water and living quarters, and because they do not feel any "ownership" of the country, they treat it as one massive garbage dump. All these just because Malaysians do not want to pay reasonable wages for work done, or are too pampered to do menial work.

With the biometric registration of the millions of foreigners, even though we are trying to make sure we can control the problem of too many illegal workers in the country, we seem to be acknowledging the fact that we are willing to pay a high price for the "convenience" of cheap labour.

I am not too sure if, by doing this, we are on the right road to a high income nation. Even our neighbour is now beginning to feel dragged down by the social ills of the unmitigated influx of ungrateful foreigners.

Paying the price for cheap foreign labour

Stupid Economic Analysis

In the present turbulent economic times, staying up to date with the latest financial news is important for the most of us, even if most of the time, we senior citizens get panic attacks after reading crisis upon crisis leering out of control, disastrously affecting our lives and 'retirement nests'. It was with a small feeling of relief, albeit temporary, that we read this piece of news Economists expect interest rates to rise in StarBiz, that for a little while, the poor forgotten elderly can keep pace with inflation, even if for a fleeting moment.

However, I would like to suggest that when analysts and economists write about trends, they also should be rational about their views and expectations, and not treat readers as gullible fools. I quote from your report, " He said the good news was the 10 sen cut in petrol RON97 in June to RM2.80 per litre would help to offset the price pressure. Hence, price pressures should start to subside in the second half...."

Give us a break! How will the 10 sen reduction in the price of RON97 petrol help to offset and subside the price pressures in the second half of the year, when even without factual statistical input, we all know that about 90% of the poor and middle income rakyat use RON95 for personal and business purposes. They have no choice as the difference between RON95 and 97 is RM1 per litre.

I did my recent round of groceries, and I found that ALL the usual items have increased, and even Gardenia bread has increased by 20 sen. Will the analyst confirm that if the RON97 stays at RM2.80 for the remaining part of the year, the price of the loaf of bread will revert to RM3? Or the cup of kopi O will reduce to RM1.10 from 1.30?

It's easy to write without thinking. Try living on a shoe string budget like 95% of the elderly and the retired... :-(

More like feminine hypocrisy

Referring to the letter More like feminine hypocrisy written by Dr Thirunavukkarasu Jr. R. Karasu, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this letter, and have to restrain myself from a few hearty guffaws while digesting its contents. I am not an avowed MCP, but I agree wholeheartedly with some of his views concerning the politicians and the local celebrities, and he has really presented an 'eye opening' view on some of the stereotype myths that have gone down the pages of history on men and women, ie., that women are always the 'victim' or the weaker sex, and men inevitably the heartless fool or a sex maniac.

I would recommend this letter to my friends as 'serious' reading, and as for me, I am glad, after reading this letter, that I am able to 'forgive' Ryan Giggs and not think of him as what the media has painted, a "sex terrorist" :-)

Thank you Dr. Thiru

Thiru's got it right!

Councils need to do a better job

First of all, I wish to commend StarProbe for investigating this "massage menace" in Selangor and for highlighting these places for generally what they are, houses of sleaze. However I must say that there are genuine places that offer very good massage and therapeutic rubs but there are by far too few of them. My wife and I go to a place in PJ (Jalan SS2/24) that serves the authentic fare, and we are glad for its existence.

Reading further through the probe, I realise that instead of the local councils taking prompt action to eradicate this problem, they seem to be passing the bug to the Police and the others, for not doing their work. In your reports Cops find it hard to get Councils to close the outlets, and No new licence issued since 2006 it seems quite obvious to me that the Council has been remiss and is offering flimsy excuses for not doing their job, or worse, for seemingly protecting these nefarious activities?

In my opinion, if the Councils have the final authority to issue and retract licenses, why then do they find it so difficult to close down those premises, when the Police have actually raided them and arrested the owners for conducting illicit activities there? Why do the Councils say that only the Police have the authority to bring the culprits to court? Do you require a court order to retract a licence, when you don't need one to issue the licence? I am confused.

The Council will need to pull up their socks and do a better job. Prompt and fair action will also protect the genuine businesses, and not give them a bad name.

Councils need to do a better job

Airfares:Government should ensure fair play and practices.

It is quite an exciting time nowadays for those who are not so rich, or those who are retired, and want to travel the world a bit, as the airfares in Malaysia are quite competitive and mostly affordable. Allowing competition and the cessation of monopolistic policies is the main reason for the appearance of reasonable fares..

However, the reality of the matter is that the fares advertised by the various airlines are not uniformly computed. Whilst there are airlines that presumably advertise an "all in" fare inclusive of all charges, except for the fuel surcharge which is a very variable factor, there are also airlines which trumpet an incredibly cheap "one way" fare that is irresistible(the return fare is however another matter). However, on accessing those websites in order to perform an online booking, the potential passenger will be slapped with many 'other' charges, namely, airport taxes, check-in baggage, online food booking, reservation of seats, administration fees, travel insurance, and lately even a fee charged for payment using the credit card{for goodness sake, how can we pay by cash when booking online}! If we complete the process of booking the flight (return ticket of course), we find that we may have been better off going for the airline that discloses the "all in" fare at the outset. Many of those online bookings go through with the process since they have been "trapped" by the fictitious offer.

The Government should take immediate steps to enforce a fair and uniform fare pricing for ALL airlines whose passengers embark from Malaysia, and also enforce the rule that airlines must advertise the "what you see is what you get" fare, to ensure fair competition and to prohibit connivance.

Finally, the public would like to know if the fare pricing structure is in accordance with IATA guidelines

Enforce fair and uniform airfares!