Reading this letter, Understand terms of insurance policy
written by Tan Sek Choo, really gives me the creeps, and demonstrates
how the majority of the people who buy Medical Insurance may have been
taken for a ride.
Leaving out the other details, I would like to refer to what she
said of the critical illnesses APPROVED by Bank Negara, quote "....the
definitions of the lists of critical illnesses cover are very rigid. The
condition of the illnesses should be life-threatening for the purpose of claim. For
example, in the case of cancer, the cancer cells must be invasive and
normally a stage three cancer is considered “critical”. I would say the
condition must be “terminally ill”. ...." {underline, mine}
It
would be correct of me to say that, when we take out medical insurance
for ourselves and our relatives, we expect the insurance to be able to
assist us defray the high cost of private medical care, with the normal
expectation that the insured will recover from the illness. But as the
letter has explained, Insurance companies will only pay for critical
illness treatment if they feel you have a slim chance of surviving the
illness ! Being told that you have cancer or a heart attack is already
terrible, but then to find out that your expenses can only get
reimbursed by your insurance, if you have less than 10% chance of coming
out of the treatment cured, or being alive for a period of time is
"adding salt to the wound".
And to think that Bank Negara has a hand in the dirty trick.
Furthermore,
do we know that most medical insurance are limited by age? After
faithfully paying for decades, you may find that the cover is withdrawn,
once you reach 70, when the need for medical expenses is likely to
rise.. Even before you reach that age, premiums double up every year or
so, after reaching 60.
How cruel can we be?
Sunday 29 July 2012
Wednesday 25 July 2012
Public service a letdown
It's very interesting to read these reports 'side by side', Public service a letdown and Pemandu to review all public feedback.
In the first report, a letter to the Star written by TAN SRI RAMON NAVARATMAN Chairman, Asli Center of Public Policy Studies it was reported that "despite all the good government efforts to transform our country and society, to reach developed economy status by 2020, about 45% or nearly half our public complaints end up with bad results!"
The second report, however gave an ironic twist to the fact, and would seem to me to be a fabricated report of Pemandu to the public. In fact, if you read ALL of Pemandu's public presentations, there is never any negative report of any Government functions at all. Even when the public live in fear due to increasingly aggressive crimes being committed on them, Pemandu says it's only a 'perception'.
Who is telling the truth then? For me, it has to be the Public Complaints Bureau.
In the first report, a letter to the Star written by TAN SRI RAMON NAVARATMAN Chairman, Asli Center of Public Policy Studies it was reported that "despite all the good government efforts to transform our country and society, to reach developed economy status by 2020, about 45% or nearly half our public complaints end up with bad results!"
The second report, however gave an ironic twist to the fact, and would seem to me to be a fabricated report of Pemandu to the public. In fact, if you read ALL of Pemandu's public presentations, there is never any negative report of any Government functions at all. Even when the public live in fear due to increasingly aggressive crimes being committed on them, Pemandu says it's only a 'perception'.
Who is telling the truth then? For me, it has to be the Public Complaints Bureau.
Monday 23 July 2012
Selangor' Rubbish problems
The never ending reports on the saga of uncollected rubbish and incompetent rubbish contractors, in the reports Petaling Jaya folk want rubbish collectors to respond faster and Irregular rubbish collection in Kinrara remind us that Malaysia lies almost at the bottom of the heap in keeping the country clean and healthy.
Whilst I have also been adamant that the rubbish contractors have been quite irresponsible in their efforts to do the job, I have also raised the observation that most, if not all the residents in the respecitve areas have not been cooperative. On my part, I try to separate the rubbish everyday, so that food waste is not bagged together with plastics and recyclables. I always put mu rubbish in proper disposal bins while awaiting collection, and I know the collectors will at least have a decent chance to save and salvage the reusable "rubbish" like aluminum cans and plastic bottles. I also send my bulk waste to organisations that recycle them for charity. I put my garden waste in black bags as suggested by the contractors, and leave them in neat piles for collection.
Reading the reports today, it is obvious that half the blame lie on the residents themselves. They nonchalantly
Keeping the areas clean is a mutual responsibility between the residents, the local councils and the contractors, and at the moment, though the contractors have not been competent, the residents have not been cooperative too.
The local councils need to be firm with residents who throw rubbish in such a irresponsible manner; for example I have told MBPJ about mattresses and broken chairs and radios and TVs etc being thrown just outside some houses in Jalan 11/10; the enforcers could have just gone there and fined and warned the tenants or the owners. Instead, everyone is blaming the rubbish contractor. What sort of Rubbish management is that?
In Germany, for example, if a household has bulk waste to dispose of, the owner will call a certain number, and arrange it to be collected on a certain day, leave her rubbish in a neat pile at a convenient corner on the designated day, otherwise it will not be collected. At present, Malaysians adopt a "throw as you like" attitude on their rubbish disposal, and unless the councils can do something about that, the rubbish problem will persist.
It takes two to keep Selangor clean
Whilst I have also been adamant that the rubbish contractors have been quite irresponsible in their efforts to do the job, I have also raised the observation that most, if not all the residents in the respecitve areas have not been cooperative. On my part, I try to separate the rubbish everyday, so that food waste is not bagged together with plastics and recyclables. I always put mu rubbish in proper disposal bins while awaiting collection, and I know the collectors will at least have a decent chance to save and salvage the reusable "rubbish" like aluminum cans and plastic bottles. I also send my bulk waste to organisations that recycle them for charity. I put my garden waste in black bags as suggested by the contractors, and leave them in neat piles for collection.
Reading the reports today, it is obvious that half the blame lie on the residents themselves. They nonchalantly
- put their garbage bags almost anywhere;
pay no heed to "no Litter" signs and throw all rubbish including bulk waste anywhere they like; this is making it extra difficult for the rubbish contractors to complete their job on schedule
throw rubbish outside the designated areas, and then complain that the contractors do not collect the bags; are the contractors expected to know of EVERY place rubbish is being thrown?
dump bulk waste anywhere they feel it's convenient, and they also expect the contractors to know how to collect them;
throw rubbish into drains clogging them; restaurant owners are the most guilty of this act; and then they complain that the rubbish contractors do not clear rubbish from the clogged drains.
Keeping the areas clean is a mutual responsibility between the residents, the local councils and the contractors, and at the moment, though the contractors have not been competent, the residents have not been cooperative too.
The local councils need to be firm with residents who throw rubbish in such a irresponsible manner; for example I have told MBPJ about mattresses and broken chairs and radios and TVs etc being thrown just outside some houses in Jalan 11/10; the enforcers could have just gone there and fined and warned the tenants or the owners. Instead, everyone is blaming the rubbish contractor. What sort of Rubbish management is that?
In Germany, for example, if a household has bulk waste to dispose of, the owner will call a certain number, and arrange it to be collected on a certain day, leave her rubbish in a neat pile at a convenient corner on the designated day, otherwise it will not be collected. At present, Malaysians adopt a "throw as you like" attitude on their rubbish disposal, and unless the councils can do something about that, the rubbish problem will persist.
It takes two to keep Selangor clean
Wednesday 18 July 2012
Tony Pua Media Statement Responding to Tan Sri Fong Chan Onn on SEDA
http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/letterssurat/50536-tony-pua-media-statement-responding-to-tan-sri-fong-chan-onn-on-seda
But I am curious about this issue, and the approval of FIA holders under the FIt scheme whereby the holder of the approval is to supply power back to the grid, for some profit, thereby increasing the use of renewable energy? Some questions roiling my head {not rolling in my head}:
- Since this is a new "industry", where are the people, companies with the right criteria to get the approvals, Isn't almost everyone a 'newbie' in this industry, especially in Malaysia?
- If the end objective is to generate renewable energy for own use and then sell the excess back to the Grid at a pre determined price, is there a need for an approval holder, whether a corporation, or an individual, to have experience in that area?
- Wouldn't it suffice if there is confidence that the equipment and supplies are properly installed by certified and authorized parties?
- What
track record will an individual have, for example, if he wants to
supply RE based on solar pv panels from his single storey terrace house?
- What sort of track record will any company have in the burning of palm oil waste to convert into RE?
I am not sure if there are no corrupt practices involved in this, but please don't let the zest to stop corruption and cronyism cloud every thing else.
Thursday 12 July 2012
Keep Bukit Kiara green
I refer to the letter, Keep Bukit Kiara green and in particular this statement, "Constructing the fences finally “opened” the eyes of the people who
walk, jog and cycle along this popular trail every day. The public then
realised it was only a matter of time before Bukit Kiara makes way for
development, and it would never be the same again. The
demarcation shows that the “other side of the fence” belongs to private
landowners, and there is nothing to stop them from commercialising their
land. If that happens, Bukit Kiara would no longer be tranquil and the
green, green grass of Bukit Kiara would be gone forever...."
I was a little surprised that it took so long for this letter to be written, AND published, but it's better late than never. About a year ago, when I had the occasion to take a walk there with my daughter, I pointed out to her the fence-works, which was only in the preliminary stages but still very messy. I did not realise it then, but I made the prescient remark that the fencing was constructed actually to facilitate private developers to develop the land into expensive 'hillside' residences and condominiums in a premium location. One also wonders if the 'guidelines' on hillside slope development would be totally ignored also.
I hope this letter would open up the public's eyes, and I also hope that this place would not turn up to be another "PKNS field controversy", currently hogging your Metro section.
I was a little surprised that it took so long for this letter to be written, AND published, but it's better late than never. About a year ago, when I had the occasion to take a walk there with my daughter, I pointed out to her the fence-works, which was only in the preliminary stages but still very messy. I did not realise it then, but I made the prescient remark that the fencing was constructed actually to facilitate private developers to develop the land into expensive 'hillside' residences and condominiums in a premium location. One also wonders if the 'guidelines' on hillside slope development would be totally ignored also.
I hope this letter would open up the public's eyes, and I also hope that this place would not turn up to be another "PKNS field controversy", currently hogging your Metro section.
Road too narrow for comfort Jalan 11/10 PJaya
Zainun, Referring to your comments in Road too narrow for comfort Jalan 11/10 could you also please contact the residents of house #28 and #46 Jalan 11/10 P Jaya, as they live DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE AFFECTED ROAD
and they will be only too glad to agree that the MBPJ take action to
widen the road. By the way, Section 11 does not have a RA, as most of
them residing in Jalan 11/10 are illegal foreign workers and the rest of
the Section are just sleeping. While
you are checking on the road, please also look at the dilapidated
condition of some of the houses there, especially from #18 to #30, they
are even used to keep stacks of cardboard, old furniture, used
newspapers? Can residential houses be used as stores, or maybe hostels?
Residents living along Jalan 11/10 in Section 11, Petaling Jaya, are tired of manoeuvring their vehicles in and out of the narrow road.
They want the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to widen the road that will allow residents to park their vehicles without causing any obstruction.
Resident YS Tam said he had forwarded several emails on the matter to the council but that nothing had come out of this.
Wasted
space: Tam showing the one metre space along the road shoulder where he
has suggested to MBPJ to widen and level the road to allow motorists to
park with ease.
“Widening Jalan 11/10 must be made a
priority. When residents park their vehicles opposite the houses on the
roadside, the path becomes too narrow for garbage trucks or larger
vehicles to enter.
“School buses also find it difficult to drive along the road,” he said.
Tam pointed out that there was about one metre of space between the tarred road. But due to the uneven road shoulder, motorists did not want to risk parking there and damaging the undercarriage of their vehicles.
“We had a similar situation along Jalan 11/5 and the drains were covered up more than a decade ago. Recently, the council did the same in parts of Jalan 11/4 opposite Grand City Restaurant.
“Similar action can be taken along Jalan 11/10 and the problem will be resolved. We hope our request will not fall on deaf ears,” he added.
Tam said the safety of roadusers must be considered, especially when SK Sultan Alam Shah children used the road daily.
He said residents must also be notified when the council’s Engineering Department officers come to inspect the area.
When the matter was related to a Selangor Fire and Rescue Department officer, he said the narrow road would hamper them in an event of a fire.
He said the council should upgrade roads in the older neighbourhoods as well.
MBPJ public relations officer Zainun Zakaria said technicians from the Engineering Department would inspect the road and ascertain if it was suitable to cover the drains with metal gratings.
“We will appreciate it if a resident representative could be present to provide feedback,” she said.
Residents living along Jalan 11/10 in Section 11, Petaling Jaya, are tired of manoeuvring their vehicles in and out of the narrow road.
They want the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to widen the road that will allow residents to park their vehicles without causing any obstruction.
Resident YS Tam said he had forwarded several emails on the matter to the council but that nothing had come out of this.
Wasted
space: Tam showing the one metre space along the road shoulder where he
has suggested to MBPJ to widen and level the road to allow motorists to
park with ease. “School buses also find it difficult to drive along the road,” he said.
Tam pointed out that there was about one metre of space between the tarred road. But due to the uneven road shoulder, motorists did not want to risk parking there and damaging the undercarriage of their vehicles.
“We had a similar situation along Jalan 11/5 and the drains were covered up more than a decade ago. Recently, the council did the same in parts of Jalan 11/4 opposite Grand City Restaurant.
“Similar action can be taken along Jalan 11/10 and the problem will be resolved. We hope our request will not fall on deaf ears,” he added.
Tam said the safety of roadusers must be considered, especially when SK Sultan Alam Shah children used the road daily.
He said residents must also be notified when the council’s Engineering Department officers come to inspect the area.
When the matter was related to a Selangor Fire and Rescue Department officer, he said the narrow road would hamper them in an event of a fire.
He said the council should upgrade roads in the older neighbourhoods as well.
MBPJ public relations officer Zainun Zakaria said technicians from the Engineering Department would inspect the road and ascertain if it was suitable to cover the drains with metal gratings.
“We will appreciate it if a resident representative could be present to provide feedback,” she said.
Assessing the RM40bil Battersea project
In Assessing the RM40bil Battersea project,
the writer is right to voice some concerns regarding such a big project
that requires billions of ringgit to develop and to finalise, and it is
hoped that the companies, together with the EPF holding 500billion of
public money in trust, have made the correct assumptions, and the
financial models show good returns as required for such a flagship
investment.
However, in my limited experience with local blue chip corporations making huge investments in foreign countries, one factor that has been consistently overlooked by these corporations is the fluctuation of the foreign currency during the investment, and then in the revenue generation periods. As the world's economies become more volatile and uncertain from day to day, (even the breakup of the Eurozone is not an impossible event), I wonder if these companies, and the EPF have considered, in their financial proposals, the rise and fall of the ringgit compared with the Sterling, and the effects on the of such fluctuations on the capital drawdowns and profits.
A 20% gross profit can turn into a break even or loss situation, if currency values fluctuate more than 5%. If the sterling strengthens at the time of capital injection, more than the anticipated ringgit capital may have to be sourced.
I have also known of projects that have seen the profits wiped out because of delays in getting approval, permits and licences, and in supply and implementation bottlenecks. And I am not speaking of SMEs but big corporations too.
Big corporations such as Sime Darby can take such a business risk, as it's expected business strategy to seek growth, but should the EPF, which is responsible to protect the public's welfare fund, do so?
Yes, if the project is too big to swallow, we may get choked.
However, in my limited experience with local blue chip corporations making huge investments in foreign countries, one factor that has been consistently overlooked by these corporations is the fluctuation of the foreign currency during the investment, and then in the revenue generation periods. As the world's economies become more volatile and uncertain from day to day, (even the breakup of the Eurozone is not an impossible event), I wonder if these companies, and the EPF have considered, in their financial proposals, the rise and fall of the ringgit compared with the Sterling, and the effects on the of such fluctuations on the capital drawdowns and profits.
A 20% gross profit can turn into a break even or loss situation, if currency values fluctuate more than 5%. If the sterling strengthens at the time of capital injection, more than the anticipated ringgit capital may have to be sourced.
I have also known of projects that have seen the profits wiped out because of delays in getting approval, permits and licences, and in supply and implementation bottlenecks. And I am not speaking of SMEs but big corporations too.
Big corporations such as Sime Darby can take such a business risk, as it's expected business strategy to seek growth, but should the EPF, which is responsible to protect the public's welfare fund, do so?
Yes, if the project is too big to swallow, we may get choked.
Tuesday 3 July 2012
Malaysia.. fuel subsidy and renewable energy
Reading this letter from Distraught Malaysian, Remove fuel subsidy to prevent abuse,
it does not take one to be the Prime Minister to realise that long term
subsidy of our fuel would just hamper our efforts to stabilize our
economy and balance our budget. However, until the Government has
established a viable Social Security net for all citizens, and not just
those in the civil service, some form of subsidy will be necessary to
help the unfortunates survive in this tough world of ever rising costs.
The Government instead, must find the political will to cut off the
subsidy abuse of the rich and the arrogant, though it will be like
asking a guy with a knife to cut off his own hand!
Rather than just mouthing truisms like we cannot live on subsidies forever, the Govt should really think out of the box, to find ways of using renewable energy to keep our energy costs down, so that removing fuel subsidy eventually will not hurt as much. Let me digress a bit and give you an example.
When I was watching an Al Jazeera news program recently, I watched some new Jewish settlements on occupied territory being demolished by the Israeli Govt and what I saw amazed me. All the new residences that were just constructed had solar panels on their roofs, and from the pictures, they looked like those that provided hot water for the homes. It seemed to me that it's a policy in that dry and arid land to have solar panels for every house?
Now, coming back to our nation, if we look around us, in all housing areas, only the few rich and well heeled can afford solar heating systems, as they are priced out of reach by greedy businessmen. On the other hand, air conditioners proliferate the housing estates, sometimes each house having three or more units of standalone air conditioners.
If the Government has the political will to push the country to
Malaysia is so lucky to have sunlight a,most 365 days a year, and why are we not doing something about it? Leaving these efforts just to "big business" will just not work, and market capitalism as we know, only favours the rich and super rich.
Rather than just mouthing truisms like we cannot live on subsidies forever, the Govt should really think out of the box, to find ways of using renewable energy to keep our energy costs down, so that removing fuel subsidy eventually will not hurt as much. Let me digress a bit and give you an example.
When I was watching an Al Jazeera news program recently, I watched some new Jewish settlements on occupied territory being demolished by the Israeli Govt and what I saw amazed me. All the new residences that were just constructed had solar panels on their roofs, and from the pictures, they looked like those that provided hot water for the homes. It seemed to me that it's a policy in that dry and arid land to have solar panels for every house?
Now, coming back to our nation, if we look around us, in all housing areas, only the few rich and well heeled can afford solar heating systems, as they are priced out of reach by greedy businessmen. On the other hand, air conditioners proliferate the housing estates, sometimes each house having three or more units of standalone air conditioners.
If the Government has the political will to push the country to
- invent air conditioners to be driven by renewable solar energy
- and to also have policies to drive down the prices of solar pv panel prices,
- fund research into inventing new and super efficient batteries
Malaysia is so lucky to have sunlight a,most 365 days a year, and why are we not doing something about it? Leaving these efforts just to "big business" will just not work, and market capitalism as we know, only favours the rich and super rich.
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