Why do Aussies’ dirty work?

I refer to Dennis Ignatius' column, Why do Aussies’ dirty work? and cannot help but feel that our nation, in its efforts to project a progressive image to the world, is in fact turning a blind eye to activities and businesses that have a deleteriously negative effect on our country.

The writer is rightfully concerned that Malaysia, which already has a serious problem dealing with asylum seekers, and many illegal aliens who try to pose as political/economic migrants, is taking on a problem that it will find too hot to handle in the near future. Moreover, we already have a big problem with more than 2 million foreign workers flooding our country, about half of them likely to have gained access to this country's labour market illegally. There are no signs that this "labour tide" will ebb anytime soon.

The title of the column, 'why do Aussies' dirty work' also remind us of the ongoing controversy of the Lynas project, when our Government agreed to build a radioactive rare earth processing plant (which the Aussies themselves object to) in Kuantan! The question is clamouring for an answer.

I feel our country, and in particular, our leaders have to be more circumspect when they practise their Statesmanship all over the globe, and not conduct activities that will further erode our country's fast dwindling credibility. In my opinion, we already have the dubious distinction of being a conduit for drug and human traffickers in the South East Asian region, and there are reports that our citizens smoke more "duty free" cigarettes than those on which tax has been paid. And just today, we read of reports that many CEOs and Company Directors drive luxury cars that have almost totally evaded Customs duties.

We know there is a price to be paid for progress and development, and our fast depleting forests are a testament to that, unfortunately. So, why must we also "import" further degradation?

In ending, let me tell you of an incident that happened in a developing SE Asian country(Philippines) some years back. That country was importing "Medical waste" from a developed Asian nation (Japan), purportedly for recycling some of the reusable stuff. In one of the shipments, the Customs discovered used syringes and dirty tampons, among the waste, and it caused a huge furore. Poor nations must always guard against being used as 'dumping grounds' for the rich, that's the least we should do for our "maruah"

I pray that our country will never stoop to this level, God forbid!

We don't need to import more problems..

My neighbourhood has gone to the dogs

I refer to the letter about selfish and inconsiderate dog owners Dog owners have to be responsible which has highlighted the problems faced by 'non dog' owners in Petaling Jaya, but which is also applicable all over the country. Most serious among them,as the writer has pointed out, is the selfish act of these dog owners, who "take their dogs for walks not for the love of the animal but to make sure their pets do not dirty their own premises with their droppings... Even the children’s parks/playgrounds are not spared..".

I live in Section 11, a matured part of PJ and I can understand the anguished cry of the writer. I have seen owners of link houses who own 3 dogs per house but who do not bother even to take the dogs out to 'do their business' in other people's premises. These wretched animals are locked in the whole day, and sometimes take to barking needlessly at all hours of the day. Other houses with lesser number of dogs, however, just open their gates at certain times of the day, and the dogs roam around the area, 'doing their business' where they like, with the owners nowhere to be seen. The dogs run around freely without leashes, and also take the opportunity to raid those plastic garbage bags left by tenants, who cannot be bothered to buy rubbish bins. Some of these link houses are in dilapidated condition, and are almost like 'cheap hostels' occupied by legal or illegal migrant workers.

Why does MBPJ allow the area to deteriorate into such a sleazy area? Are there no building codes and guidelines on how such premises are to be maintained in a hygienic condition, how many 'pets' are the owners allowed to have, are the owners allowed to bring their pets to their neighbours' houses to 'do their business', are house owners allowed to let their houses run down without maintenance, and rent those houses unscrupulously to migrants(some of them suspiciously 'illegal' looking), who literally use the houses as 'dumps"? Also, are these owners allowed to "increase" the number of rooms in the house illegally thus making the house a fire hazard in addition to being a very unhealthy place.

What has become of the Councillor's promise to make Sections 11 and 12 PJ into a "model section"? This is getting tiresome, and to me, MBPJ is beginning to sound like a broken record !!

My neighbourhood has gone to the dogs

Sabah may be the first state to ban shark hunting

Kudos to the Sabah State Government for being the first State in Malaysia to announce a likely ban on shark hunting Sabah may be the first state to ban shark hunting to "harvest" the shark fins. In view of my appeal in April for 100% of Malaysians to avoid taking sharksfin soup the efforts of the State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister to educate the people to avoid the dish for conservation's sake must be vigorously supported by all, and I hope a decision can be taken that will transcend selfish monetary interests for the better good of the country and the preservation of an endangered species for the future.

I also hope that other littoral States in Malaysia will follow the lead of Sabah, and may we achieve a total ban on Shark hunting in the near future.

Let Malaysia take the lead.

EPF to buy Rubber Research Institute land for RM3bil

I refer to the business news, EPF to buy Rubber Research Institute land for RM3bil that reported that the EPF will pay the Government RM3Billion for the RRI land, and will likely spend additionally up to RM10billion to further develop it within the next 15 years.

it is good to hear that the EPF, who is the Trusted party of public funds, is taking such good care of the contributions of our employees, doing its best to diversify and maintain a good stream of income for the Fund.

However, if we do some simple mental arithmetic on the figures quoted in your report, EPF will also be tying up funds of up to RM13billion (likely to be much more, when the full details of the investment are made known, and taking into account the inflationary pressure on money) will be tied up and not earning any income for the rakyat. Assuming simplistically that such money if invested otherwise in banks, equities or bonds(13billion) can earn up to 5% per year, the public will stand to "lose" up to RM600 million per year, pro-rated, for the next 10 to 15 years..

Perhaps the EPF, under such circumstances will do the public a big favour by disclosing the full details of its investment plan on the Sungei Buloh land for the next 15 years for the benefit of public information, especially the estimated revenue stream that it will generate on its completion.

After all, it's their money

Tax rates maybe lowered, but GST implemented

I refer to the report, Tax rates maybe lowered, but GST implemented wherein the Deputy Finance Minister announced that on implementation of the GST for goods and services, individual and corporate tax rates will be cut.

Notwithstanding the fact that more than 50% of our working citizens fall into the non taxable group by virtue of not earning sufficient income, and at least 10% of our population are the elderly and the retired, the Government has again chosen to ignore the silent suffering majority. The Govt need to consider how these group of people, (many of whom are just surviving day to day, or trying to keep business costs down), will be affected by the implementation of the GST, which, because of the roll-on effect will increase prices of goods and services by up to 20%.

If only because of political reasons, the Govt has to remember that this suffering majority belongs to a significant number of voters, who may feel that the latest 'gimmick announcement' of the Govt is "enough is enough" and vote with their feet.

In the meantime, they will just go a little hungrier.

GST: Prices may go up 20%

Body may have been placed, engineer tells Teoh inquiry

Reading the report on the MACC RCI, Body may have been placed, engineer tells Teoh inquiry some of the statements purportedly to have been uttered might have caused great amusement, if the RCI was not such a serious matter, initiated after despairing results of the Court enquiry over the tragic death of a witness.

In trying to determine the cause of death of the witness, the forensic expert, a self confessed aeronautical engineer, (the body was flying through the air before it reached the ground?) used an elliptical object to simulate the fall of the body, but admitted he was not satisfied with it, as naturally, the object did not have the inherent shape of a human body.

He also remarked that the Police wanted to provide a PLASTIC mannequin, but of course he was correct that plastic will shatter to bits, quite unlike what the human flesh will do, falling from a great height.

I am not sure what the RCI panel would have inferred from such disclosures, but as a layman who is addicted to the CSI series on TV(in addition to KBS World), I have a feeling of discomfort that we are not using the proper personnel and props to conduct a proper and professional investigation at all. Improperly conducted investigations will surely give rise to concern, and incorrect findings, and ultimately, the cause of true justice cannot then be served.