GIGO.... "Garbage in Garbage Out"

At first, when I read this letter, Why wasn't I asked ALL 51 questions?? :-( it struck me that this was a simply a case of of some incompetence. But, on reflection, I realised that the enumerators who came to 'interview' me also did not do much better, as she asked me only for our names, ages, religious affiliation, and profession. She then left hurriedly. I have since spoken with my neighbours, and it seems that only the basic 3 or 4 questions were asked.

Now, projecting this superficial work of the enumerators country wide, we can see that the effect of the results of this Census on Government strategy and planning can be disastrous! I remember in my days studying computer systems and programming, we were always told of the acronym "GIGO", and that is "Garbage in Garbage Out". I also read today the comments of the author of the book "Analytics" who said, and I quote.. ".. in cases where data is of the low quality, you have to trace it back to the source. If the person collecting the data has not paid enough attention to the quality, the company he is working for would then be unable to analyse them at all...... "

I am now wondering if the current census exercise is turning into an exercise of futility. What will these mainly incomplete and/or inaccurate data do the Government planning and analysis, (and we need to be right first time), when we have to plan for the country to move forward and to the next level of prosperity.

Sadly, it looks like another botched job for a Govt department, and I wonder how this will impact its KPIs and KRAs .

I hope to be corrected.

In computer terms, it's garbage in, garbage out

Cameron Highlands, soon to be renamed Cameron Lowlands..

The letter by Rev.Dr Vijendra Daniel Stop the desecration of Cameron Highlands... is a cry from the heart, and it really pains me to see that it will again fall on deaf ears! Why do I say that? I have the chance to follow TV3's progam "Aduan Rakyat" helmed by Karam Singh Waliah and in the 2 episodes that was aired a few weeks ago, it was clear that the Highlands is fighting a losing battle with selfish vegetable farmers and nonchalant politicians to preserve its virginity, or what's left of it. In the second episode of the program, it was disgusting to see the farmers who have encroached on reserve land, shouting down the TV crew, and at times seemed to be threatening violence. At the same time, the govt officials seem to be so helpless, and had on their faces 'tidakapa' looks. Of course the debacle would not be complete without some politicians jumping into the 'fray', on the side of the "aggrieved". In the backdrop of this 'drama', I can see bare brown earth exposed to the scorching sun, carcasses of cut trees waiting to be dragged away, and streams of brown polluted waters, flowing morosely

Unless the State and Federal Govts. take a uniform step towards the preservation of Cameron Highlands for the future of this nation, very soon we will have to change its name to Cameron Lowlands, not to mention to suffer the loss of a huge water catchment area, and a rest and recreation place for our folks.

Why can't we stop thinking politics for a second, and do something for the country?

How does "trauma" center treat a Dengue case

My wife and I went to visit an old friend (Florence) Chang Yin Yoke at the Assunta Hospital in Mariam Ward room#4316 as we heard she is recovering from a Dengue attack since last week. We found her up and about, and is recovering quite nicely, but she almost lost her life due to apparent abject negligence on the part of some medical personnel at the Trauma Section in UMMC, also famously known as the University Hospital Petaling Jaya.

Let me relate her story. Sometime early last week, Florence was down with fever and went to her family physician for the normal check up. When the fever did not subside and she began to suffer excruciating pains, especially around the shoulders, the family physician took a blood test and found that her blood count was low, and getting lower. Being a retired Govt servant (Intan), and also the wife of a retired Police Officer, she went to UMMC(UH), on Thursday I think, and was sent back with some medicine. On Friday evening, when she started vomiting, and still in agonizing pain, she went to UH again this time to the Trauma centre, armed with a letter from the family physician saying that she is likely to have the Dengue and her blood test showing that her blood count was dangerously low. The doctor in charge, apparently of a Middle Eastern countenance (observed through pain filled eyes), told her she was ok, no need for further blood tests and prescribed her 5 types of medication and sent her home! Florence knew she was in bad shape, and vomiting all the way, her daughter drove her to Assunta Hospital, the nearest hospital around. Immediately on examining her, the doctors at the emergency section of Assunta warded her and gave her blood transfusion, and also sent word to the health authorities to fog the location where she purportedly got the dengue (Subang Jaya).

Today, when I saw her at noon, she is fit and chirpy. But I dread to think, if she had followed the instruction of the doctor at the UH Trauma centre on Friday, and went home, would she be too late to be saved??

Quite a harrowing thought for us Government Pensioners, who have no medical Insurance :-((

near death experience for patient

Ineffective Raids on Cybercafes.

Zari Malaysiana in her letter Ineffective Raids on Cybercafes... raised some important issues on the continuation of the "cybercafe" business which the Govt should address. The fact that these cybercafes are continually raided means that they are a haven for illegal internet gambling, and the other fact that in spite of these frequent raids, these cybercafes still suffer from the "closed today, open tomorrow" syndrome, as eloquently described by the writer. Are the authorities so powerless to stop the illegal gambling menace? Again, as I have written to The Star previously, why are these cybercafes using dark tinted glass as doors? Is it to keep the "business" from curious eyes?

From my own experience, I have seen computers and furniture being carried out of a "internet cafe" in Section 11 during a daylight raid by MBPJ, only to observe such computers, monitors being carried back to the cafe a few days later. We assume the business has been deemed legal now..

It would be good if someone in the Govt or the local authorities give a written answer to the issues raised by Zari Malaysiana, to dispel any ambiguity. In my personal view, we really seem to be drifting around like headless chickens.

Shady business at cybercafes

Powerless to stop illegal gambling

IRB owe taxpayers RM10billion

It is indeed a 'shocking disclosure' on reading your column Does the Govt owe me money? by P. Guna and the news Taxpayers cry foul over delay that taxpayers, in spite of diligently paying their taxes and on time, do not have their refunds made to them with the same alacrity. We understand that the IRB is indeed doing its best, but a reported case that a taxpayer who is owed RM15000 by the IRB still received a demand from the department to pay RM3000, conjures up images of total confusion in the IRB. Surely it's not impossible in these days of the Internet and ICT, for the assessment and collection systems of the department to be 'communicating' with each other instantaneously, and not have to depend on phone calls and onerous paper trails from the various units in order to obtain a complete 'picture' of a taxpayer and his debt position? It seems to me, up to today, in spite of millions spent on the latest technology and e-filing, what a taxpayer is assessed for and what he pays are under the control of two discrete entities, each not knowing exactly what the other is doing? As a corollary, what will a person think of his Bank, if the manager tells him his credits and debits cannot be shown in one statement?

A Divisive Call: Halal and non-halal revenue

Regarding the call by MCA that tax revenue from legalised betting sources be channeled to a separate fund Separate account needed for non halal revenue.. and the statement that the Finance Ministry is looking into it, I would like to suggest that the Govt think this out seriously before rushing into it, and then waste everybody's time backtracking, when the suggestion is found to be impractical, and may be even a divisive step towards nation building.

If we read the Call by MCA correctly, it was only in relation to its support for legalised sports betting, which now the Govt has seen its disadvantages more than its purported merits. The Government will need to consider the following issues before even putting up the idea to the Cabinet:

• Do we need a change in the Federal Constitution before Federal revenue can be classified as halal and non-halal?
• Though the suggestion to create a separate Fund was meant to address the Sports Betting revenue (which is now moot), need the Govt also consider that ALL revenue derived from ANY gambling source be channeled to this separate Fund, only to be used for "among others to educate people not to gamble"
• If the Government sees fit to classify the Consolidated fund as halal and non-halal, would it not bring to mind all other revenue from non-halal sources? That brings into questions other sources of revenue derived from sources that CAN be classified as non halal, e.g.,
  
• hotels selling alcoholic beverages
• Restaurants selling non halal food and/or alcoholic beverages
• sources that derive income doing business with non halal sources, e.g. supplying paper and computers to Toto or Magnum?
• sources with revenue derived from illegal activities, like pirated CDs, fake cigarettes, etc
• revenue generated by the Govt from the disposal of confiscated alcoholic beverages, illegally imported non halal meat, and other sources of confiscated non halal materials.
• If the non halal revenue is restricted for use for certain purposes, it will certainly give rise to calls by intolerant members that Muslims cannot utilize such revenue, for religious and moral reasons. In the long run, this will not augur well for the nation, which is facing deep divisive issues even just discussing the NEP.
  

These are some of the preliminary questions that will be raised and will need detailed analysis of the political repercussions of making such a move. In the midst of the Government trying to build a United and Inclusive nation, based on mutual respect and tolerance, will not the effort to "divide" revenue into halal and non-halal at this stage provide further reasons for altercations later on, based on the known 'political immaturity' of most of our politicians.

Think about it

Malaysia's unsavoury reputation confirmed??

Reading the headline news in The Sunday Star concerning foreign workers being totally exploited in the New Palace construction Foreigners work lke Slaves building the NEW PALACE.. and also more news inside about foreigners forced to work illegally 8 filipinas rescued from Night Club.... it is not surprising at all the Malaysia has big problems trying to live down its image of a country that is becoming the hub of illegal human trafficking and worse, is practicing and "encouraging" slave labour. If in the construction of a project "fit for a King", we seem to ignore the basic rights of human beings, what will the global community think of us? On the other hand, the Police have their hands full in the almost daily raids at entertainment outlets all over the country, where inevitably, female foreign workers are found, most working against their will. How can such large numbers of "human traffic" pass through our country each day, apparently undetected?

Sadly, these cases in the news are just the 'tip of the iceberg' of a situation that is happening all over the country with the Govt seemingly helpless to stem the tide.

Admittedly it is very very difficult for the Govt to stamp out human trafficking and slave labour in our country, if big businesses, as well as rich individuals think that treating a fellow human badly in the name of profit and expedience is a natural thing to do, and too bad for those who are deprived. Under such circumstances, only punitive laws will stop such selfish and barbaric acts, ALONG WITH SWIFT AND INCORRUPTIBLE ENFORCEMENT

It is a sad day indeed for Malaysia if we allow our efforts to move our country forward to be driven by the continuous 'infusion' of such exploitative labour, and our "entertainment" industry to be fueled by "slaves" imported by heartless Slave traders.

Despicable--treating foreigners like Slaves