Tuesday, May 29, 2007

English Forum: CIVIL SERVICE EXCELLENCE: QUALITY VS QUANTITY

"The Government must hence take the painful but very important step of trimming the civil service sector into a leaner and more efficient "machine".

The increase in pay will be a waste of public funds, if the move is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in civil service productivity."

-- Tony Pua
"Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO mendesak Pua dan DAP mengambil langkah memperbetulkan kata-kata mereka yang langsung tidak bertimbang rasa dan begitu menghina sekali."
"Pua's negative comments about the civil service can cause considerable damage to the morale and image of the public sector."

-- Khairy Jamaluddin
Panel of Distinguished Speakers

* YB Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader
* Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General
* Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, PKR Secretary-General
* A. H. Ponniah, former Secretary of Public Service International (Asia-Pacific Region)
* Nurul Izzah Anwar, Special Assistant to Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim
* Tony Pua, Economic Advisor to DAP Secretary-General

* Open invitation to Khairy Jamaluddin, UMNO Deputy Youth Chief*

Venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
Date: 30th May 2007 (Wednesday)
Time: 8.00 pm
Admission is Free; Bring Friends

Sunday, May 27, 2007

要求市长关注双溪威英比安拜杜里组屋问题

我在双溪威英比安拜杜里组屋的要求之下见天前往巡视该地区的民生问题。

报章昨日报道该组屋最近遭‘五雷轰顶’的事件,导致该组屋D座17楼屋顶的洋灰石块被雷电击中而掉落,砸损停放在组屋顶层的轿车,所幸未伤及居民。

我今天接获D座组屋居民协会筹委会主席梅育铭的投诉之后前往该组屋巡视,发现该组屋面对一连串的民生问题。

第一个最主要的民生问题,也同时关系居民性命安全问题就是发展商当初承建这座组屋的时候,没有为每一各单位的窗口安装铁枝,导致居民时时刻刻担忧家中的幼儿随时会因为玩耍不小心冲撞窗口而掉出去。

双溪威英比安拜杜里组屋居民是原本当地非法木屋地区的居民。市政厅是在州政府的零度木屋之下把这个地区的非法木屋铲平,然后委任发展商Taipan Focus在该地区进行重建工作,承建四座组屋,并命名为Impian Baiduri组屋(中文译:英比安拜杜里组屋)

居民投诉在两年前当他们迁入这座组屋时便已经发现问题的存在。居民更曾经在对话会上向发展商和雪州行政议员莫达达南声诉,但是却一直没有下文。

发展商以消防局的理由,即发展商应该为居民提供火灾逃生活门,而决定不为组屋单位装置窗口铁枝,但是,可是当发生火灾时,居住在17楼高的居民如何能够从17楼高通过窗口逃生呢?而且雪州其他比英比安拜杜里组屋更高的组屋都有装置窗口铁枝,英比安拜杜里组屋的发展商没有理由如此偷工减料。

此外,居民也表示这个地区本来是闪电高风险区。居民怀疑发展商是否装置充足的避雷针。居民也表示前天发生的闪电事件已经是第五次发生。如果当天闪电集中的是其中一条电缆的话,那么整座组屋肯定会着火燃烧,后果肯定不堪设想。在政府大厦最近频频出现状况之后,居民开始怀疑到底发展商是否有依循建筑条规来城建整座组屋。

另外,该组屋也经常面对电梯失灵的问题。发展商委任的维修公司往往没有在第一时间之内修理损坏的电梯,造成居民在出入方面的很大麻烦。其中D座组屋的电梯已经停止操作长达一年之久。

另一个关系所有居民的问题就是该组屋对面的空地问题。根据居民当初迁入这四座组屋的时候,图册中注明组屋对面的一片空地是草场。居民也认为这片草场不仅应该保留下来,甚至也应该美化成为一个能够让居民作息的场所。现有的小型儿童游乐场所根本不能应付双溪威英比安拜杜里组屋1千多户人家的需求。

由于儿童和成人都需要充足的活动空间,因此居民对于最近这片空地遭发展商以铁锌片围起来而感担忧,恐怕这片土地最终不保而被发展成另一个人口高密度的地区。

因此,我将联合居民,计划在本周五前往市政厅,要求会见市长,希望市长能够针对双溪威英比安拜杜里组屋居民所面对的困境给于个人关注。

Friday, May 25, 2007

50 years into independence and where is OUR national unity?!?..

By: T T

Hey frens!

Lately we see/hear tons of advertisements via the tv, newspaper, radio, etc... mentioning that we will be celebrating our 50th anniversary soon... we also see those black and white clips and black and white videos a lot lately...

Major plans ahead on how to go around celebrate it... they even going to transform merdeka stadium into how exactly it looked like during the proclamation of merdeka by tunku in 1957...

Had a chat with my parents just few days ago about national unity... my parents certainly went through a lot... Japanese occupation, communist’s insurgency, May 13, merdeka, etc... All this are indeed very important events for the country....

During this time (probably except May 13 event), it certainly shows one very visible thing... The NATIONAL UNITY... be it Malay, Chinese, Indian, etc... All of them work, eat, sleep, fight, etc... Together... they can hear almost nothing about big hoo-hahs on racial/religion issues like what we are facing now... everyone were kind of free to do whatever they want and be happy about it.. no suppression or whatsoever like what we are facing now...

Totally different now... every race seems want to beat each other, loves comparing to one another, etc... For example, I came across a book that mentioned something along this line...

"kalau tak malas, bukan melayu"...
"kalau tak tipu, bukan cina"...
"kalau tak minum, bukan india"...

What made this author comment this kind of comments?!?...

According to my parents... we certainly cannot compare the national unity we had then to the national unity we have now...

It's madness now!... despite the good time we are having, the roller coaster economy we are having, the 1st class infrastructure we are having, we produce our own car, we have world class f1 track, yummy food all around, etc... To me personally, all this are just the surface projecting a 'beautiful and peaceful Malaysia', what is going on beneath this surface is the TOTAL opposite!

They put the meaning of democracy to shame, racial issues, so-called freedom on religion, breaking up families due to religion issues, fighting over dead body because of religion issues, NEP, corruption, discrimination, marginalization, we have ministers who put Malaysia to shame and no proper action is taken against them, etc.. etc.. etc...

For those who want to deny that all this is happening and/or dun bother to go and vote because you think yr 1 miserable vote won't do a thing... I wish you a happy and peaceful life living the Malaysian way...

For those who want to help save the country before the country go beyond help... pls do the necessities... be pro-active... perhaps, getting people to vote WISELY in the coming general election may be a very small but it will be a very significant step towards changing the country for the better...

Elected representatives should lead by example by following rules and regulations

YB Dr. Wong Sai Hou is the MCA Selangor State Assemblyman for Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya and also one of the senior councilors in Petaling Jaya City Hall or Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ).

Being a State Assemblyman cum senior councilor in Petaling Jaya, he is expected to lead by example by at least following all the rules and regulations set by MBPJ.

One would be shocked to learn the other way round, that banners to publicize activities organized by the State Assemblyman cum Councilor are without permission from MBPJ, meaning that the councilor violates the very own rules and regulations of the City Hall that he is sitting in.

Wong Sai Hou held an activity to distribute scholarships to needy students in DUN Kampung Tunku on 19th May 2007 in SJKC Sungai Way auditorium.

Banners to publicize the activities are up in various popular spots in Kampung Tunku state constituency. However, on close examination on the banners, one can easily discover that the banners are up without any permission, license or even knowledge of MBPJ, as any banner approved by MBPJ should carry a sticker to be stuck on the banner. Failing so, MBPJ enforcement unit will have all the rights to pull down the banner.

As can be examined from “Legal sticker-01.jpeg”, we can notice that the sticker carries information on the account number of the banner’s owner, start date and due date for the banner. That will also mean that any overdue banner will also be pulled down by the City Hall.

However, this is not the same case for Wo
ng Sai Hou’s banners, which was spotted in at least six spots in Kampung Tunku (namely Section 21, Section 20, SJKC Sungai Way, morning market of SS9A, SS1 and his own service centre in SS3).


None of these banners carries any stickers from
the City Hall and none of these banners are pulled down even the event was already over since four days ago.

One may argue that this could due to the bureaucrats in MBPJ.

I have made personal visit to the City Hall’s Services Management Department (Licensing Division) on this matter and was shocked to notice that not only the payment to apply for banner permit are surprisingly affordable (the sticker cost RM2 per banner, total processing fees for one banner will normally be lest than RM50 depending on the size of the banner and the displa
y duration), but the number of days taken to process the application was surprising short – maximum five working days – this is even if the City Hall raises questions on the banners.

Be it as it may, the question of whether the City Hall could deliver such effective and business-friendly environment is another question, as there is certainly no reason for a State Assemblyman cum Councilor to fail to lead by example by following rules and regulations set by his own City Hall! More so
when the requirements to obtain a license are not as bureaucratic as one thinks about.

In addition to that, it was also reported to the DAP that MCA MP for PJ Selatan and Deputy Tourism Minister, YB Donald Lim Siang Chai’s Chinese New Year banner displayed on an overhead
bridge in Jalan Semangat is also an illegal banner (as shown in the picture: DLCS S4-05.jpeg) and it has been there since Chinese New Year with no action taken by the City Hall to take down the long overdue banner.

Meanwhile, it is also questionable of whether the City Hall is practicing double standard on monitoring outdoor banner in Petaling Jaya.


DAP Damansara Branch Chairman Tony Pua has a banner outside his branch’s premise in 55-M Jalan SS21/1A, Damansara Utama 4740
0 Petaling Jaya (see photo: TNP SS21.jpeg) and he was slapped with a City Hall summon for hanging up unlicensed banner. This summon is highly arguable as YB Dr Wong Sai Hou also put up similar banner outside his service centre (as shown in the picture: WSH SS3.jpeg). The summon issued by MBPJ is highly arguable as MBPJ mainly regulate banners and buntings displayed in public places, not those displayed in private premises.

Has Wong Sai Hou been slapped with similar summon? If not, is it because that Wong Sai Hou is an MCA State Assemblyman and a senior City Hall councilor that the City Hall does not take any action against him?

It is certain that both MBPJ and Wong Sai Hou have to come clear on this as we do not hope to witness another pathetic Zakaria episode in Petaling Jaya.
If a councilor cum State Assemblyman fails to follow simple rules and regulations of the local council, what moral authority does the government has to demand the rakyat to follow suit?

民选代议士应该以身作则,遵守条规

黄世豪医生是雪兰莪州马华甘榜冬姑区州议员兼八打灵再也市政厅一名资深市议员。

身为一名兼任市议员的州议员,人们期望他是一名奉公守法,遵守地方议会条规的议员,但是最近这名议员所举办的一项活动却触犯市政厅其中一项最基本条规,即为其活动的布条申请市政厅准证。

黄世豪于2007年5月19日在双溪威华小颁发奖学金给甘榜冬姑州选区的贫困学生。

有关活动的宣传布条已经张挂在该选区数个地点。然而,如果我们详细留意,这些四处张挂的布条几乎没有一条是合法的,因为合法的布条必须贴上市政厅的贴纸,方是合法的布条,要不然市政厅执法组人员有权力没收这些布条。

正好比我们能够从Legal sticker-01.jpeg图片中所能够看到的,市政厅的贴纸上面注明布条拥有者的户口号码、张挂开始和截止日期。这也意味着市政厅能权力把任何逾期张挂的合法布条拆除充公。

然而,黄世豪所张挂的布条却却不是那么一回事。其在甘榜冬姑州选区所张挂的至少六张布条(21区、20区、双溪威华小、双溪为巴刹,SS1以及
他在SS3服务中心外),没有一条是有贴上市政厅的贴纸。更甚的是,当局迄今依然诺无其事地没有采取任何行动。

一些人士可能以为人们避免向市政厅申请准证是因为市政厅的官僚态度。我个人就此曾经就此事亲自造访市政厅服务管理局(制造局)。令人惊讶的是,市政厅的收费并不是想象中的高昂。一片布条的费用大概不会超过50令吉(胥视布条尺寸和张挂期限)。市政厅在处理申请大多只耗费5天工作天,这还是那些市政厅觉得有问题的布条。


无论如何,市政厅是否能够缔造如此友善的商业环境则是另一个问题,更重要的是,兼任州议员的市议员应该以身作则,奉公守
法遵守市政厅所订下的条规,尤其是这些并不是什么苛刻无理的条规!

与此同时,我们也获得消息指出马华八打灵再也南区国会议员兼副旅游部部长拿督林祥才张挂在Jalan Semangat的一面恭贺农历新年快乐的布条迄今依然高挂在该路的一个行人天桥(请看图片:DLCS S4-05.jpeg)。这面布条也阻碍视线,不符合城市安全标准。

与此同时,我们也质问到底市政厅在对付非法张挂布条的取缔工作上是否出现双重标准。

行动党白沙罗支部主席潘俭伟最
近在其支部位于百乐镇SS21/1A路的会所外面张挂布条(见照片:TNP SS21.jpeg)最近遭市政厅执法组人员发传票,理由是张挂不合法布条。就此,我们也发现黄世豪医生的服务中心外面也张挂同样性质的布条(见照片:WSH SS3.jpeg)。市政厅发出的传单是不寻常的,因为市政厅通常管辖的布条都是那些张挂在公共场所的布条,而不是那些张挂在私人产业的布条。

如果行动党在会所外面张挂布条而遭市政厅发传单,那么市政厅是否也应该法传单给黄世豪呢?如果没有,这是不是因为黄世豪是马华的州议员兼市政厅的资深市议员,以致市议会的执法组不敢向他采取行动?很肯定的,市政厅和黄世豪必须交待清楚,因为我们不想查卡利亚事件会再次在八打灵再也上演。

如果兼任市议员的州议员连市政厅最基本简单的条规都无法遵守,那么政府还有什么道德权威要求普通老百姓遵照条规呢?

Monday, May 21, 2007

政府大派糖果大选近在眉捷

公仆加薪超出经济学家预估
政府大派糖果大选近在眉捷
■日期/May 21, 2007 ■时间/04:00:35 pm■新闻/家国风云 ■作者/本刊陈子莹

【本刊陈子莹撰述】早前政府就已发出公务员调薪的消息,马来西亚首相阿都拉巴达威今天正式宣布,公务员将可获得7.5%至35%的调薪,生活津贴全面增加100%,警察与军人将获额外的20%加薪,由7月1日起生效。

根据《马新社》的报道,阿都拉今天在布城宣布,公务员在7月1日起,都能获得7.5%至35%的调薪;至于在工作岗位上需冒上生命危险的警察和军人,则会获得另外20%的调薪。

阿都拉也提到,专业阶级(第1至16级)的底薪,可获得35%的调整;而第一支援组(第17级至40级)将可获25%的调整。

政府在调整全国100万2040个公务员的薪水后,今年需耗费马币34亿元,或是每年需花费额外68亿元。至于100%调升公务员生活津贴后,政府也必须在今年内拨出六亿元,在接下来的每一年都必须额外的12亿元。

调薪幅度超出经济学家预估

国内经济学家早前就推算,若是政府要提高公务员薪水5%,我国的财政赤字就会展延至国内生产总值的3.8%。假设所有的状况都维持不变,公务员薪金调整 10%,将会把公共开销提高2.4%,同时在2008年的实质国内生产总值(Real GDP)也会提高0.3至0.4点。【点击:公务员调薪到巨无霸指数 加薪也追不上邻国购买力】

显然地,首相今天公布的调薪幅度,已远远超出经济学家的预估。公务员这一次大幅度加薪后,应该会进一步推动国内的私人消费;不过,却也为国库加重了负担。

尽管如此,阿都拉今天在宣布时也提及,政府这一次有能力为公务员调薪,主要的因素来自税收的增高以及更精明的开销。

他接着还特别提起,政府已在去年成功将财政赤字,从5.3%降到3.5%,政府会继续秉持这一套的财政原则。

大选前派糖果的伎俩

另一边厢,社会主义党秘书阿鲁茨万(Arutchelvan)不排除,这是政府在大选前打派政治糖果的技俩。他向《独立新闻在线》提到,眼前可观察的两个大选前“暗示”就是:公务员调薪及降低国内的汽油价格。

除此之外,他非常赞同政府这一次的举动,寄望这一次调薪后,可以让低级公务员的生活水平可以获得提升。毕竟,我国公务员最高和最低薪水的落差,排在全世界最高位。

他也希望,既然政府这次可以调升公务员的薪金,应该进一步把最低薪金制推介到私人界,让全体的工人都能得到保障。

政府这一次调整公务员薪金,升幅最大的相信是最低级的公务员,这些包括了月薪只有马币480元的普通工人,还有就是从事园丁、司机、书记以及普通文员的公务员。

公务员加薪7.5%至35%

首相∶7月1日生效
公务员加薪7.5%至35%
updated:2007-05-21 13:22:15 MYT

(吉隆坡讯)大马首相拿督斯里阿都拉今日(周一,21日)宣布,从7月1日起,公务员将加薪7.5%至35%,其中军警的加薪幅度达20%。

另外,政府也将调高公务员生活津贴一倍。由於公务员加薪,今年政府开销增加34亿令吉,明年68亿令吉。 (星洲互动·2007.05.21)

Up to 35% pay hike for civil servants

Up to 35% pay hike for civil servants
May 21, 07 2:22pm

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today announced a hefty pay rise for civil servants which observers view as a strong indicator of a general election being around the corner.

Effective July 1, Abdullah said government servants will get a pay raise of between 7.5% and 35%.

The cost of living allowance, or Cola will, also be increased by 100%.

Meanwhile, members of the police and the armed forces will receive 20% over and above the announced increase in pay.

Abdullah’s announcement at a Workers Day gathering in Putrajaya drew a huge round of applause from those present.

He was later given a standing ovation and the crowd chanted 'Hidup Pak Lah' (Long Live Pak Lah).

On the whole, the premier said the pay rise will amount to RM3.4 billion for this year or an additional expenditure of RM6.8 billion a year.

Whereas the increase in Cola will involve an additional expenditure of RM600 million for this year and RM6.8 billion annually.

Careful decision

Abdullah said the main factor behind the government’s decision for the pay hike was the strong GDP growth over the past five years at a rate of 5.6 percent a year.

The second factor, he added, was the need to attract and retain qualified and motivated personnel in the public sector.

The third factor is the increase in the cost of living due to global oil prices which is impacting the lower income group, he said, adding that the fourth factor is the capabilities of the government’s finances.

“In deciding on the pay rise, the government is careful on its impact on the country’s financial situation. Any pay increase will also involve pension and other allowances.

“In view of this, the quantum of increase was decided carefully. The government has successfully reduced the its expenditure deficit from 5.3% in 2003 to 3.5% last year and this good fiscal management will continue,” he said.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Chew Mei Fun should strongly deplore two BN sexist MPs

Chew Mei Fun and other BN women MPs should put up an undivided and strong stand by demanding the highest leadership of the BN to strongly deplore and condemn the two sexist BN MPs.

All Malaysians should have felt utterly disappointed and annoyed by the attitude demonstrated by the two sexist BN MPs yesterday. The gender-desensitized stand took up by the cabinet, which is to direct the two sexist BN MPs to meet the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, does not solve the problem.

The two sexist BN MPs had initially apologized to everybody, but they withdrawn their apology soon after the cabinet made its decision, and until now, the two stil refused to apology to DAP MP for Batu Gajah, YB Fong Po Kuan, a sign that the two sexist BN MPs have yet to understand that they have to bear full responsibility on their own speech, as well as the two have failed to understand the seriousness of the problem.

The Cabinet’s decision to refer the matter to the Ministry of Women and Community Development clearly shows that the Cabinet has failed to do justice for all women in Malaysia. If this is just a problem of the women, then what is the purpose for the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development to bring up this matter in the Cabinet?

It is now the time for BN women MPs to stand up for YB Fong Po Kuan in this crucial moment. When her male counterparts in the DAP, including DAP male MPs, leaders and members are willing to come out in full force to deplore such unacceptable act of the two BN MPs, we do not understand why BN MPs are so “slow-moving” in respect to this matter.

In fact, when YB Fong Po Kuan tabled the motion to refer the two sexist BN MPs to the Parliament Committee of Priviledges at 10am, 10th May 2007, the Speaker then decided to decide on the motion at 2:30pm on the day. Therefore, any just-thinking and BN women MPs who claimed to be standing up for justice and solidarity would have attended the Dewan Rakyat proceeding at 2:30pm to show support to the motion, and they should not have absent from the meeting and scurried out from the chamber.

In this regards, I would like to specifically mention about MCA MP for PJ Utara and Parliament Secretary for the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, YB Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun who was absent on the demonstraton held outside her ministry by various women NGOs and the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, YB Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was also present to show support and solidarity. I personally failed to understand what reasons Chew Mei Fun would have for her to be absent from the event as the event should be regarded as an event of utmost importance in regards to upholding women right. Also, why would she also absent from the Parliament proceeding when MPs were to decide on Po Kuan’s motion at 2:30pm on 10th May 2007?

周美芬应该展示严厉的立场和态度

周美芬和其他国阵女性国会议员应该展示严厉的立场和态度,要求国阵最高领导曾以最严厉的方式谴责和惩罚这两名歧视女性的国阵国会议员。

全国所有人民都应该对昨天这两名国会议员的表现感到非常失望和愤怒。除此以外,内阁所采取的立场,即要求这两名议员会见妇女部部长,根本还没有解决问题。

这两名国会议员一开始表示向所有人道歉,然后更因为内阁决定出炉之后,把它们之前所发出的道歉收回,甚至到今天还坚持不像第一受害者——行动党华都牙也去国会议员冯宝君——道歉,再再显示他们两人完全没有对他们的言论负责任,也没有认真看待问题的严重性。

内阁一再把问题踢回去给妇女部处理,再再显示他们无法在这个课题上为全马所有女性主持公道。如果这个问题只是妇女的问题,妇女部何必把这个问题带上内阁讨论作决定?

国阵的女性国会议员应该在这个关键勇敢站出来力挺冯宝君。当行动党的男性国会议员、领袖、党员以及全国各地尊重女性的马来西亚同胞能够站出来严厉谴责这两名国阵国会议员的时候,我们不能明白为何国阵的女性国会议员在这方面的表现却‘反应缓慢’。

其实,当冯宝君在2007年5月10日上午10时提出动议要求议会把这两名发表其实女性言论的国阵国会议员提交到国会特权委员会处理的时候,议长当时已经决定把这项动议诺后到当天下午2时半才作出决定。

国阵的女性议员如果认为这两名议员的行为举止太过分,站在姐妹的立场上,她们其实有充足的时间在下午2时半的会议开腔声援冯宝君,而不是避免尴尬而不出席会议,或者是选择离席。

在这方面,我本人特别要提到八打灵再也北区国会议员兼妇女部政务次长周美芬。周美芬在前天在其部门举行的纠察上完全没有亮相。既然部长已经愿意亮相,甚至支持这项纠察,我个人完全不能明白周美芬会有什么理由,或者是什么活动会比这个活动更为贴近妇女的权益,以致她必须缺席这么重要的活动。她又为何缺席5月10日下午2时半,针对冯宝君所提出的动议的表决环节呢?

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Perangsan Templer Golf Club issue - 'Don’t mix the issues'

DON’T mix the issue of retrenchment and the RM3 million used to upgrade facilities and equipment at the Perangsang Templer Golf Club.

“These are two separate issues. It has nothing to do with one another,” said Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad president Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar yesterday.

He was reacting to our report that the club had allegedly retrenched 72 employees but had spent a huge amount of money to upgrade the club owned by the group.

Speaking at his office in Plaza Perangsang, Shah Alam, Abdul Karim said the 72 staff were a surplus.

“We had 160 employees at the club, which far exceeded the manpower at similar clubs.

“It was a difficult decision to retrench them,” he said.

The 72 were mainly those from the golfing, building maintenance and housekeeping departments.

Abdul Karim said before the retrenchment, the management had taken steps to minimise cost by restricting overtime work, redeployment and rescheduling the working hours.

He said in the case of the 72, the management had complied with labour regulations by paying one-month salary for every year of service and one month salary as payment-in-lieu of notice and pay-in-lieu of unutilised leave.

Abdul Karim said the RM3 million used to improve operational efficiency of the golf course was made through borrowings.

“The reconditioning and improving of the golf course was crucial as golfing is the core business of the club.

“We had to do it. The club’s facilities had not been upgraded since it opened in 1993.

“We wanted to uplift the club’s image to make it the pride of the State,” he said.

He said the upgrading exercise began last November to improve basic facilities such as the ballrooms, washrooms and locker rooms, bowling alley and the food and beverage outlets.

Abdul Karim said the purchase of 80 new buggies were done on a hire-purchase basis.

“The purchase did not burden the club financially,” he said.

“Not only are these new buggies self-financing, they generate sufficient cash flow to service the hire-purchase loan.

“They have added to the club’s profitability and improved the cash flow.”

The club, he said, was previously only entitled to 20 per cent of the revenue from buggy rentals under a partnership agreement.

The club also had to bear utility charges and was required to pay a minimum of RM50,000 per month.

On the recruitment of foreign workers as caddies, Abdul Karim clarified that they are not on the club’s payroll.

“The hiring of caddies was outsourced to an agent as attempts to engage local caddies proved less than encouraging,” he said.

The Malay Mail had on Monday highlighted the grievances of the 72 former employees whose services were terminated on the eve of Labour Day.

On Saturday, the workers staged a protest in front of the club’s main entrance.

Carrying placards, the former workers distributed flyers, highlighting their plight to visitors.

They said they were aware of the club’s financial difficulties but were disillusioned as the management had spent RM3.2 million on the new buggies and repainting.

Kami akan pastikan MB Selangor dipenjarakan

"Kami akan pastikan MB Selangor dipenjarakan"
Intan Abdullah
Sat | May 12, 07 | 04:29:55 PM

RAWANG, 12 Mei (Hrkh) - Amarah rakyat Selangor memuncak lagi. Kali ini mereka mahu memenjarakan Menteri Besar Selangor, Dato' Mohd Khir Toyo yang dikatakan merupakan dalang kepada masalah mereka ini.

ImageKira-kira 100 orang yang terdiri daripada pekerja dan ahli Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Kelab Semenanjung (CEUPM) berpiket di pintu masuk Peransang Templer Golf Club, Templer Park Resort, Rawang pada pagi ini untuk membantah tindakan pihak pengurusan yang memecat seramai 72 orang pekerja Perangsang Templer Golf Club, yang merupakan salah sebuah anak syarikat kerajaan negeri Selangor dengan alasan pihak kelab mengalami masalah kewangan.

Mereka menggesa untuk memecat MB sebagai 'key person' juga merupakan penaung kepada Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) kerana gagal mengawal orang-orang bawahannya dan menganggap MB biadap kerana tidak menghormati undang-undang negara.

Mereka menyifatkan kerajaan negeri Selangor tidak prihatin terhadap undang-undang yang diakui oleh perlembagaan, dengan bersikap zalim pada rakyatnya sendiri sehingga tidak memberi peluang kepada mereka untuk menyelamatkan kelab tersebut.

ImageSeramai 72 orang pekerja telah dipecat secara serentak oleh Presiden KDEB iaitu Dato' Abdul Karim Munisa, pada 30 April yang lalu berkuatkuasa dalam tempoh 24 jam tanpa sebarang notis diberikan serta perbincangan awal bersama mereka, dan hanya diberi pampasan berjumlah RM 20 ribu, bahkan pihak kelab telah pun mengambil 60 orang pekerja asing bagi menggantikan mereka dalam tempoh terdekat ini.

Dato' Abdul Karim juga dikatakan menganggap masalah yang pernah diutarakan kepada beliau ini sebagai satu isu dan beliau juga telah menyalahgunakan kuasanya dengan melantik beberapa individu di jawatan tertinggi seperti CEO iaitu Mohamad Shah Abdul Aziz, yang dipertikaikan kelayakannya untuk menerajui kelab itu.

ImageMenurut Setiausaha Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Kelab Semenanjung (CEUPM), Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid, 45, sekiranya MB tidak memanggil mereka untuk berbincang,maka beliau tidak akan teragak-agak untuk memfailkan kes ini ke Mahkamah Tinggi untuk mendakwa dan memenjarakan MB atas tindakan yang telah dibuat oleh orang bawahan beliau.

Beliau mendakwa tindakan pemecatan tersebut menunjukkan bahawa pihak pengurusan mempunyai niat jahat atau 'mala fide' terhadap pekerja, bahkan mereka telah melanggar seksyen 60M Akta Pekerja 1955 yakni Larangan menamatkan pekerja tempatan untuk pekerja asing, seksyen 60N Akta Pekerja 1955 iaitu menamatkan pekerja oleh sebab lebihan pekerja.

Katanya, pemecatan ini juga tidak mengikut prosedur kerana mereka hanya merujuk kepada Jabatan Buruh sahaja.

Sementara itu, pihak kelab juga dikatakan telah melanggar seksyen 12 dengan memberi notis 24 jam pada tarikh pembuangan kerja pada 30 April, sehari sebelum Hari Pekerja dirayakan di seluruh negara.

ImagePihak pengurusan kelab dianggap tidak bijak dalam menangani masalah kelab dengan mengambil tindakan tidak membuat perancangan yang konkrit untuk menyelamatkan kelab, sebaliknya pembaziran duit dibuat dengan membatalkan kontrak buggy bahkan kemudian membeli buggy yang baru tanpa tujuan yang jelas.

Abdullah Sani turut mendedahkan penyata kewangan yang merekodkan bahawa kos menaiktarafkan kelab tersebut yang dibuat secara tidak menyeluruh dengan jumlah RM3 Juta.

CEUPM juga dikatakan pernah berkompromi dengan MB untuk menyelamatkan kelab di Shah Alam pada tahun 2003 dan 2004 apabila keadaan kewangan yang merudum dengan memotong gaji pegawai-pegawai kanan dan pekerja serta kesannya kelab berjaya diselamatkan bahkan memperolehi keuntungan yang besar.

ImageKetua pekerja, Maintainance Supervisor Kelab tersebut,Abdul Rahman Bakar,42,pula berkata pelbagai usaha telah dibuat sebelum ini termasuk perbincangan dengan Umno kawasan tersebut, iaitu Dato' Ahmad Bahari yang berjanji akan mengetengah kan hal ini kepada MB tetapi setakat ini masih belum ada sebarang maklum balas.

CEUPM katanya akan terus mengumpulkan maklumat, seterusnya akan menyalurkannya kepada Badan Pencegah Rasuah bagi mengenalpasti penyalahgunaan kuasa yang berlaku, dengan tidak menolak kemungkinan wujudnya agenda-agenda tertentu pihak tertinggi pengurusan yang mengamalkan kronisme untuk menjaga kepentingan suku sakat mereka di dalam pengurusan.

Mereka juga menghantar surat kepada Menteri Besar, Perdana Menteri,Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Menteri Sumber Manusia, serta exco-exco kerajaan negeri Selangor tetapi masih belum mendapat sebarang respon dan akan turut memaklumkan hal ini kepada Sultan Selangor. - mks.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

庄祷融应该正视地方政府长期以委任制所引发的弊病

我国地方政府自1965年以来便停止以选举的方式选出地方上的县市议员,反而却以各执政党推荐的名单来委任全马144个县市议会和市政厅的议员。

这些县市议员及不是选民投过选票选出来的议员,由于他们是通过各自政党上层‘委任’,因此他们的负责任对象不再是地方上的人民,而是各自政党的上层领导。

这大大削弱地方议员的代表性,也间接降低他们和人民的关系。除非这些议员能够自动自发与人民打成一片,了解草根人民的看法、关心民瘼,要不然大部分人民根本不敢对这些‘走后门’进入地方议会的议员由所期望。

因此,庄祷融绝对不能以‘讯息传达和发展拨款的不足’作为地方议会无法良好表现的理由。

事实是,在缺乏民选代议士的监督下,地方政府已沦为我国贪污温床之一。

雪州州务大臣基尔曾经表示建议修改1976年地方政府法令,以委任专业人士为个别地区的市议员,以拥有多元背景的人士参与市政局。

他曾经说过:“州政府希望可以在国会中进行有关修改及在州层次落实。州政府也建议关闭式的地方当局服务可以改变成像其他民事服务部门那般的共同使用者服务。”

明显的,基尔当了6年州务大臣後,仍不知根本就不必国会进行修改。这是因为1976年地方政府法今早就明文规定委任专业人士为市议员。

该法令的第 10条款就阐明“地方当局的议员应委任自地方当局辖区内的普通居民及在州当局眼中,拥有地方政府事务的广泛经验,或在任何专业、商业或工业上具成卓越成就,或能够代表地方当局辖区内社群的利益。”

然而,过去30年里,地方政府法令沦为国阵成员党的垃圾桶,收容那些只顾私利,而不把纳税人利益放在眼里的政客,以至连我国首个“先进州”的州务大臣,当了一州政府首长6年之後,也搞不清有关法律条款!

问题现在已经严重到连诸如庄祷融等辈的州行政议员也无法分辨地方政府弊病的根源,反之以‘讯息传达和发展拨款的不足’作为推堂之词。

基尔和庄祷融的谈话完全符合了敦马哈迪的国内“半桶水”部长及州务大臣的形容。

这给人带来的教训是,过去的地方政府议员委任制已彻低的失败,而成为滥权与贪污的温床。

因此,目前是恢复我国人民“第3张选票”权的时候,以恢复民选制来恢复责任感、问责、透明度、廉正及良好地方政府施政。

Friday, May 04, 2007

公开招标杜绝豆腐渣工程

最近接二连三的‘豆腐渣工程’敲醒了国人对政府工程的信心,也印象政府的国际形象。

我国建筑领域一些人靠权力、关系、金钱承包建筑工程已成为公开秘密。许多承包单位没有建筑资格,或是承揽工程项目太多,纷纷将工程项目转包出去,以至造成层层承包,层层剥皮,制造了一个个偷工减料、以次充好的‘豆腐渣工程’。

首相阿都拉巴达威作日已经下令公共工程局为所有政府建筑物即刻进行检查,以免有些地方表明看来没有问题,但突然发生坍塌事件。

他问道:“到底是承包商疏忽,还是设计出问题?我经常强调维修非常重要,但只要没发生什么问题,没人会去在意维修这件事,我不可能兼顾到每一个地方。”

政府在委派公共工程局检查每座政府建筑物的安全使用性同时,也不能忽略问题的肯本原因,既马来西亚政府的承包制度。

‘豆腐渣工程’一再出现显示问题的严重性,也显示政府必须解决根本问题的紧迫性。从2004年迄今,我国已经发生10起涉及政府建筑物的‘豆腐渣工程’。以下就是这些工程的清单:

  1. 2004年5月21日——第二中环公路甲洞高架天桥桥墩龟裂
  2. 2004年9月25日——柔佛班兰医院滋生霉菌
  3. 2004年10月11日——椰壳洞大道土崩
  4. 2004年10月23日——外贸大厦逾期竣工
  5. 2004年11月2日——21间未启用的学校建筑出现问题
  6. 2005年4月28日——国会大厦漏水
  7. 2007年3月22日——布城第9区疑排水系统出现问题导致水泥崩泄
  8. 2007年4月11日——布城移民局总部水管爆裂
  9. 2007年4月28日——布城企合部底楼的多元用途礼堂在周六发生天花板倒塌。
  10. 2007年4月30日——位于大使路的吉隆坡法庭综合大厦的秘书办公室天花板倒塌。

首先必须检讨的就是承包合约的颁发过程。首相在诺干年前曾经表示政府将会实施公开招标制度。

当时,这个建议迄今依然停留在‘只听楼梯响,不见人下来’的阶段。到底政府是基于什么原因不能全面实行公开招标制度呢?

众所周知,通过公开招标能降低政府官员受贿的机率,避免政府官员以特选的方式遴选承包商承包政府工程合约。

然而,政府在履行公开招标方面的工作依然如蜗牛式的漫步爬行,导致不具备专业建筑资格的承包商依然能够通过关系获得政府合约,然后再把合约转手予二三手承包商,自己却从中捞取一笔。

一般正值的承包商如果必须耗费大量的时间和金钱‘购买’所需的人脉和管道,是向他如何还有剩余的金钱花在真正的工作上。

例如布城移民局总部水管爆裂事件,除了因为缺乏定期保养外,我们是否能够调查当初施工时水管的设计是否符合液流力学(fluids mechanics)的原理,即水管设计会否过小(更小的水管更便宜),导致水管不能符合过快的水流,导致水管破裂?

除非政府能够落实公开招标的方式,要不然如此偷工减料寻租(Rent-seeking)心态的作业方式除了祸国殃民、提高政府工程的成本之外,也把许多有能力承包政府工程的非土著承包商拒于政府工程的大门之外。

选贤任能已经是全球经济发展的趋势,我国政府此时此刻如果不采取开放的态度来管理政府工程合约的发放,反而选择以守旧的方式盲目扶植土著承包商,那么类似布城移民局总部水管爆裂或布城企业部多用途礼堂天花板倒塌等‘豆腐渣工程’将接踵而来。

Thursday, May 03, 2007

为华小临教设立固打制违反教育原则

雪州行动党谴责教育局为华小临教立下固打数额是违法教育原则的。

最近多个州属华小向教育局申请聘请临教,以填补目前因教师退休、升职、深造、离职、调职或合约教师期满所出现的空缺,却遭教育局以临教的‘固打’名额已经用完的理由而加以拒绝。

根据教总的数据,教育局今年批准全国华小在今年的新学年聘请1645名临教,以填补在开学时所出现的师资空缺。

但是,随着各州都绘画校教师退休,或者是其他理由而不能继续在学校执教鞭,导致华小再度出现师资空缺。这些问题绝对不是学校管理层能够控制的范围之内。因此,教育局应该以伸缩性的处理方式来管理华小教师不足的问题,而不是以不公平的方式为华小设立固打制。

华小面对师资短缺的问题并非是一朝一夕之事,而是长年累月所面对的棘手问题。我们认为,如果教育局无法为华小提供充足的师资,那么教育局就没有理由立下诸多限制,限制华小聘请临教以应付学校师资不足的问题。

再加上,每名学生都应该获得同样的受教育机会,华小长期缺乏师资其实对华小学生来说是间接剥夺学生受教育机会。此次为华小临教设下固打数额更是和教育原则开倒车。

教育部长希山姆丁应该公开澄清到底各州教育局有否为华小临教定下固打制。如有,那么其个中原因是什么?有过没有,教育部长有责任在报章上公开澄清,并在内部发函告知各州教育局应该伸缩性处理华小临教的申请,不应该随意设立没有必要的固打限额。