When an MB rather fund a hotel than service centres

In today's STAR report, the second Finance Minister reportedly urge government agencies not to waste money on needless luxuries.

“It is a moral thing. At a time when everybody is affected by price increases, government agencies should also take heed of the situation by not organising events on a big scale because this might lead to wastage.

“Government agencies should not hold events at five-star hotels, which is quite unnecessary and very costly.

“It is suffice to conduct events in a moderate manner but produce fruitful results. We should start saving money so that we can use the excess to help the rakyat,” he said.

What about state governments who, instead of concentrating on eradicating poverty, improving public facilities and basic infrastructure for the benefit of the rakyat, chose to spend millions in acquiring and refurbishing a 4-star resort hotel?

Is this something that is going to endear them to the rakyat?

KLANA Resort Seremban, which was previously known as Allson Klana Resort, will undergo a refurbishment exercise beginning this month.

Its director Datuk Mohd Haslah Mohd Amin said the refurbishment exercise, which involves 211 rooms, will be carried out in phases and is expected to be completed by June.

"Besides the rooms, we will also be upgrading our kitchen and computer system. We will spend about RM2 million for the exercise," Mohd Haslah said.

He said the hotel will also rename two of its food and beverage (F&B) outlets besides ensuring that all its F&B outlets are halal.

The state government took over the management of Klana Resort in July last year through an asset swap with Glen Glamour Sdn Bhd in a deal worth about RM80 million.

With the takeover, Menteri Besar Inc (MBI) now owns 77.25 per cent of the hotel while the rest is owned by Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Negeri Sembilan.

He said following its rebranding exercise, the hotel expects its average room rate to rise from the current RM128 to RM150.

"For this year, we expect the hotel to record a turnover of RM20 million," Mohd Haslah said.

He also said that the state government has plans to turn Emerald Spirit Sdn Bhd, Klana Resort's parent company, into the flagship company for all its hospitality related businesses.

"The plan is to inject the state government's hospitality assets into Emerald Spirit. We are currently in discussions regarding this matter and hope to finalise it by the end of the year," Mohd Haslah said. (Business Times Online, April 7, 2008)

I wonder when Mohd Haslah talked about the projected turnover of RM20 million whether a large portion of this figure is going to come from the coffers of the state and federal government.

Certainly, not many people in the state of Negeri Sembilan is amused about our MB spending millions playing hotelier. In contrast, it just makes him seem petty for terminating the RM1,500 service centre allowance for state assemblymen on the pretext of cutting costs and channeling the funds to the underprivileged.

How paltry is this sum compared to RM80 million and counting?

And how will the state-owned hotel benefit the ordinary folks compared to well-funded and efficiently-run service centres that could be set up close to them?

Itulah ...

No more nasi lemak and teh manis?

It was a standard routine each time SP had to attend one of those SPNB (Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad) meetings.

There on the table would be plates of kuih-muih and cups of teh manis. If the meeting is held in the morning, everyone gets to enjoy nasi lemak complete with fried chicken and sotong sambal. SP makes no apologies for the fact that he thoroughly enjoyed the complimentary delicious nasi lemak, although the tea is a tad too sweet for his taste!

Recently, he read in the MSM that Mr Lim Guan Eng, the new DAP Chief Minister of Penang has done away with such frivolousness in his administration. He directed that only mineral water be served during meetings.

And today, the MB of Negeri Sembilan announced a series of cost-cutting measures to save some money. And he is taking the cue from the Penang CM on using existing cars for Exco members.

Now SP is wondering whether he will still get his nasi lemak at the next SPNB meeting to be held soon.

By the way, is there an Auditor-General's report on the operation of SPNB? The leakages would astound you, and I don't mean the amount being spent on nasi lemak, kuih and teh manis.

Apa saya peduli? Merdeka!

I can't belief he actually said this (as reported in The SUN today at page 2):-

"It's NOT MY NATURE TO INTERFERE in such matters. What is required is JUSTICE." (My emphasis in BOLD.)

So the hue and cry over the case of THAT UMNO guy bold enough to snub HRH The Sultan of Selangor is now CLOSED? Semua OK?

BERSIH, CEKAP DAN AMANAH?

Frankly, I'd expect someone to be mighty pissed-off by the whole shameful episode. These days, the little and big napoleons are more powerful than kings and emperors.

And of course, he who-need-not-be-named is celebrating MERDEKA in the very real sense of the word.

Ops Xenon - hangat hangat tahi ayam?

I did wonder when our authorities are going to wake up to the problems posed by Xenon headlights.

Apparently now they have. Let's hope this is not another farcical attempt to show the rakyat that they are earning their keep with the recent increase in government salaries.

Crackdown on Xenon headlights (The Star, 14 June 2007)

KANGAR: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will act against vehicle owners who modify their headlamps with bright Xenon lights that are blinding to other motorists at night.

JPJ Director of Enforcement Salim Parlan said the Xenon lights could blind drivers of vehicles coming from the opposite direction or in front of them.

He said the JPJ had received several complaints from the public on these modified headlamps and would take immediate action against modification beyond the set standard under the Road Transport Act 1987.

“These Xenon lights are too bright and can obstruct the visibility of other road users at night. This poses a danger to the other road users,” he said during an integrated traffic operation here yesterday.

The Road Transport Act provides for a RM200 fine for modification to a vehicle without the approval of JPJ's technical authorities. Salim said the JPJ was considering regulations to prohibit the use of Xenon lights on vehicles altogether. “We know that vehicles of several manufacturers use such lights. The JPJ will submit its application to introduce such regulations to the higher authorities for consideration,” he said.

Xenon headlights danger alert

I bet you have read about the dangers posed by drivers of cars with HID or "xenon" headlights not properly adjusted to the correct beam level.

Some of you might even have experienced the "blinding" glare of such lights coming to you head-on.

I almost became a "road accident statistic" due to one such incident recently along the dark winding road of Seremban-Jelebu, but luckily, I survived to tell the tale, or in this case, to blog about it here now.

It was a harrowing experience, to say the least.

According to the Wikipedia, these xenon headlights are actually automotive HID lamps using xenon gas in the lamps. HID stands for high-intensity discharge, the technical term for the electric arc that produces the light.

Despite marketing claims to the contrary, HID headlamps' light output is not similar to daylight. The spectral power distribution (SPD) of an automotive HID headlamp is discontinuous, while the SPD of a filament lamp, like that of the sun, is a continuous curve.

European vehicles equipped with HID headlamps are required by ECE regulation 48 also to be equipped with headlamp lens cleaning systems and automatic beam levelling control. Both of these measures are intended to reduce the tendency for high-output headlamps to cause high levels of glare to other road users.

The arc light source in an HID headlamp is fundamentally different from the filament light source used in tungsten/halogen headlamps. For that reason, HID-specific optics are used to collect and distribute the light. Installing HID bulbs in headlamps designed to take filament bulbs results in improperly-focused beam patterns and excessive glare, and is therefore illegal in almost all countries.

Do we have similar regulations in our country governing the use of HID headlights?

If not, why not?

Can you imagine if more than 50% of the vehicles on Malaysian roads are installed with poorly adjusted xenon lights, and half of them are on MPVs and other such similar big cars, how pleasant can it be for the driver in a poorly lit road?

These are just accidents waiting to happen.

Can something be done to address this issue?

Uniquely Malaysian?

This is one scene that must surely be uniquely Malaysian.

Says a lot about our society, especially in the eyes of visitors who come to see what we have to offer in VMY 2007.

Wanna sell your gold jewellery?

Or secretly in need of urgent cash?

You can even find someone to fix your Astro, air-conditioner or hire a lorry here!

JUST CHECK OUT YOUR LOCAL TNB BOX FOR DETAILS

Familiar tune greeting VMY 2007

Brand new year, same ol' tune.

From theSUN (page 2 today):-

Hop-on-hop-off snags will be ironed out: Lim

KUALA LUMPUR: Though embarrassed that a new tourism product suffered glitches on the first day of Visit Malaysia Year 2007, Deputy Tourism Minister, Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai remained confident that the shortcomings associated with the hop-on-hop-off tour bus service will be ironed out.

As with any new services, such problems are bound to arise during the trial period, he told theSUN yesterday.

He said the service was operated by a private company, Elang Wah Sdn Bhd, and not linked to any government tourism agencies.

However, Lim said that since the service was part of the nation's tourism industry, the ministry will step in to ensure that such shortcomings will not recur.

He was commenting on a news report that tourists were disappointed that there was no on-board commentary on tourist attractions along the route, and were instead shown tourism advertisements on monitors placed in the double-decker bus.

... The hop-on-hop-off service, which will be launched on Saturday, will allow tourists to tour the city from a semi-glass roof double-decker bus service. ...

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It is interesting to note that the honourable minister took great pains to state the fact that the bus service that left tourists hopping mad is "not linked to any government tourism agencies."

What this is supposed to mean is left to the imagination of the readers.

But the standard refrain is such a familiar tune, a comforting reminder that things are almost back to the same ol' routine right at the start of the new year.

I'd expect that the launching ceremony on Saturday will be done in usual great fanfare after which we can all expect the service to go down the same route as all other great ideas conceived in Bolehland.

Am I being too cynical? Well ... yes. But I'd like to be proven wrong this time.

I'd wager a RM1000 donation to a charitable organisation of my readers' choice if this hop-on-hop-off service proved to be a huge success by the end of VMY2007 and remain a welcomed feature of KL beyond 2007.

Is that a fair bargain?

What does JBANS means to you?

It never fails to amuse me each time I encounter the local water department's official vehicle with the acronym JBANS.

JBANS stands for Jabatan Bekalan Air Negeri Sembilan (Negeri Sembilan Waterworks Department).

But in my mind, it invariably translates to JamBANS (not a conscious effort, really!).

Oh, you don't know the meaning of Jamban? It is the Malay word for TOILET. So Jambans would mean toilets.

Since JBANS deals with water, and since we are all so familiar with the quality of our piped water as well as the escalating costs to the consumer without any substantial improvement in quality, I suppose it is really appropriate to think "JamBANS" whenever we think of JBANS.

Goes to show how the unintentional can really hit the right notes sometimes, eh?

A bunch of pigheads

Look, if these pigheads can't get their act together, might as well shut the whole industry down. That'll teach them a lesson.


From the NST today:-

Pork war hots up over banned growth drug

JOHOR BARU: A "pork war" is brewing.

The Malaysian Pork Sellers’ Association (MPSA) and the Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Association of Malaysia (FLFAM) are pointing fingers at each other over the use of beta-agonist, a banned growth enhancer, on pigs.

...

In May, the Consumers’ Association of Penang advised consumers to refrain from eating pork as half of the samples tested in Penang showed they were tainted with salbutamol, a type of beta-agonist.

On Wednesday, MCA Traditional Agriculture bureau chief Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng said 70 per cent of the pigs bred in Selangor were tested positive for the banned drug.

His statements were immediately refuted by the FLFAM, which claimed that most of the farmers were using a substitute drug, Paylean, since beta-agonist was banned.

...

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From the STAR:-

JOHOR BARU: About 70% of locally-bred pigs are still fed beta-agonist, a substance banned two years ago, according to the Malaysian Pork Sellers Association.

Association chairman Goh Chui Lai said beta-agonist was still widely-used as a growth enhancer by many pig farms in the central and northern states, and he urged the Government to check the problem at the source instead of fining butchers for selling pork with the banned substance.

... (Health) Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said monitoring the use of beta-agonist was complex and involved many levels in the food chain.

“At our level, we monitor beta-agonist in pork while the Agriculture Ministry monitors the substance in pigs in the farms, before they are slaughtered,” he said. “We had carried out checks on pork and imposed fines on pork sellers. But the action alone is not fair because they would not know if the meat has beta-agonist. So we also trace the farmers through them,” he said.

The ministry had taken two cases against pig farmers to court but lost the cases due to poor coordination and documentation between agencies involved, he said.

“The Health Ministry, Agriculture Ministry and Local Government and Housing Ministry have to improve on the coordination, and enforcement must be strengthened so that there is no power abuse,” he said.

Dr Chua said there was also difficulty monitoring the use of beta-agonist in pigs due to religious obstacles. He said the enforcement had been weak and urged the Government to raid pharmacies that import and supply the substance and feed-additive producers that pre-mix the substance.

...

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What are these pigs trying to tell us? That it is a LOST cause? Eat at your own RISKS?

Like many other issues in this country, the Chinese community should be proactive in resolving this matter of great health consequences rather than look to the government for action.

If consuming local pork is BAD and HARMFUL for you and your loved ones, surely it's not that difficult to abstain from eating them, right?

Who better to teach these greedy and unscrupulous industry players a lesson than the consumer himself?

Sunday's walkabout DEJA VU

This morning's frontpage headline in the NST grabbed my attention at breakfast: Have I heard this one before? Why does it sound so familiar?

In LARGE fonts, occupying half a page, it read:-

SHAKE-UP

Malaysia's top cop wants to bust the complacency syndrome. Tan Sri Mua Hassan is shaking up things with his "walkabout" style. He's on the move to make sure that the nation's policemen are always on their toes.

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I distinctly remember when our current Prime Minister took over the hot seat, the first thing he did was also some sort of "walkabout" to the immigration department.

It certainly got things moving in double quick time after that "surprise" visit. And he followed up on the success of it with a promise to do more "ground" checks from time to time.

And then, predictably after a very short while, I think he got tired of walking on the ground, preferring instead a more glamorous jetsetting lifestyle of preaching to an overseas audience.

So, what happened afterwards was that "the mice came out to play" while the cat was away.

And it has been one grand party ever since he abdicated his responsibility to clean up his own backyard as promised in his election manifesto, hence the little and Big NAPOLEANS that we see scrambling to grab whatever they can get their greasy hands on while the going is still good. (Bet they too heard the rumour that it's not going to last, so better make haste while the sun still shines, or rather while their boss is still in power.)

While some people are busy looting, we also witness the warlords coming out to stir some excitement on the ground by whipping up some long-buried racial sentiments ahead of the race for pole position in the coming elections. These people of course, are doing all they can to ensure their political survival, never mind if they need to sacrifice national unity and harmony in order to achieve their selfish ambitions.

*(What's national unity & harmony anyway but another pretty slogan?)

So this new IGP's first task is really nothing new in Malaysia.

Almost every top brass getting their first taste of power do the same standard routine. And routinely too, they do not last very long, I'm afraid. The trouble with every top brass is that they too will fall into the "complacency syndrome" given enough time to warm their seats. The frailty of human nature, perhaps?

But I guess it must be a Malaysian culture - this "hangat-hangat tahi ayam" syndrome that we all fall prey to so often and never really feel embarrassed to admit that we always like to "cakap tak serupa bikin" in the long run.

We all know, and we all have come to accept that this is the way Malaysians do things. Seperti biasalah. It's just all in a day's work. Besok sudah lupa.

*******************

It has been heavily rumoured that the General Election is going to happen sooner than we think.

A few things crossed my mind.

Shouldn't we all take this opportunity in the next General Election to voice our collective disapproval of racism in our multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious country?

Like - reject communal politics?

Reject parties where memberships are only open to ONE particular race?

Parties like these are the ones who almost always stir up communal and racist feelings without any shame and in the process create hatred and distrust amongst our otherwise rational and peace-loving rakyat.

We have all seen how ugly such racist talks can be. We have all been embarrassed by it. So, why should we allow it anymore? It is time to say a BIG NO!!

And, the only way we can send a message that politics of race is NOT GOOD for our society anymore, even dangerous and harmful to our well-being and peace, is to NOT VOTE for parties that promote such values.

If we reject racism, we must reject such political parties. By NOT VOTING for them in the general election. By only voting for parties that are multi-national and multi-religious. That would be a great message to our future leader who is supposed to be the leader FOR ALL. That would be one way of heading in the right direction for the future good of this country.

And another thought came into my mind.

Multi-level marketing, or the pyramid system.

If one person can convince three others that we can have better governance by changing the system that has proven again and again to be so disadvantageous to the disadvantaged in our society - can you imagine how powerful this force can be?

One important vote plus three more plus nine more plus twenty seven ...

Do we want to convince people that a fair and equitable society can only benefit EVERYONE and not just the chosen few by voting for A CHANGE?

Can we use the multi-level marketing system to generate the momentum and desire necessary to achieve something which has never been achieved before in the history of Malaysia, in a peaceful and democratic manner?

I hope to see more people rise to the challenge of displaying our patriotism and love for this country. Let us all reject what is morally wrong and bad for every citizen, regardless of your race, religion or status in society.

We must learn not to tolerate anymore.

Instead, mutual genuine acceptance and respect for the rights and dignity of each individual should be a way of life for all of us in Malaysia, from the young to the old.

Then, truly then, can we say we are united as Malaysians and we need never be forced to display our Jalur Gemilang proudly each and every day of our lives.

A good government will gradually help us to learn to love our neighbours, not just tolerate them.

New circus could feature talented YB clowns & monkeys

This sounds interesting:-

FIRST IN ASIA: RM30 mil circus academy for Johor Baru (NST, 27 Sep 2006)
Chuah Bee Kim

JOHOR BARU, JOHOR: NOVEL Showcase Company Sdn Bhd, the owner of the Royal London Circus (RLC), is planning to set up a RM30 million circus academy at Danga Bay in Johor Baru, which will be the first of its kind in Asia.

Its president Paul Lee said talks are under way with Danga Bay Sdn Bhd (DBSB) to build the modern training facility to train circus acts such as juggling and acrobatics, among others.

Lee said the facility could also serve as a theatre for the staging of plays as there is a lack of such venues in Johor.

********************

I think some of our MPs in our esteemed Dewan Rakyat would make great trainers for this new circus academy should they ever need to find themselves another job after the next General Election.

After all, it takes a monkey to train another monkey, no? Heck, they have the whole set up there with clowns, actors, jugglers, tongue-twisters, fire-breathers, etc ...

There's just no lack of talents, after all they have been doing a fine job entertaining us for umpteen years.

Hello, can you hear Citizen Nades cry?

Is Citizen Nades of the SUN in trouble?

Read an excerpt from his column published on Wednesday, 30 Aug 2006 here (bold & italicised emphasis mine) :-

LAW OF THE JUNGLE MUST END

... the inevitable conclusion that one can come to is: the actions of local authorities cannot be questioned by anyone.

That's because PJ is in the country's first and only fully-developed state where anything goes.

Those in authority can take money from anyone; spend it as they like; give contracts to their friends and cronies; transfer revenue meant for the government to private accounts and above all, declare themselves immune from any form of investigation or action.

There is no respect for rules and regulations; there is total disregard for established norms; transparency and accountability are bad words; and it is an offence to question their actions and deeds.

Has Selangor descended to a state where jungle law rules?

Who will save the citizens from being made to pay for the excesses of the administrators? Who will prevent the savaging of state funds?

Who will stop the plundering and the pillage of the environment? Who will put an end to the one-man rule?

I don't have the answer, but surely, the powers-that-be cannot watch in silence as the excesses get bigger and run beyond control.

Someone, yes someone with the power and authority, must stop it before lawlessness descends and must stop that one man from throwing those who speak up into the lions' den as punishment.

********************

That is a desperate cry to be heard!

And that last sentence I highlighted, is someone trying to shut him up?


Now, contrast this with what our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said at the opening of the 1st OIC Anti-Corruption and Enhancing Integrity Forum 2006 on 28th Aug 2006 as reported in The Star:-

COMBAT GRAFT, OIC urged

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia wants member countries in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to play a more active role in the global fight against corruption.

“We must do this not only to fulfil our obligations to the international community, but more importantly for the ummah, to secure a better economic, social and political future,” said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said the OIC, with a combined population of 1.8 billion in its 57 member countries, comprised about one-fifth of the global community, and whose belief in Allah formed the foundation of integrity.

“As chair of the OIC and the leader of a developing Muslim country I want to see the OIC play an active role in fighting corruption,” he said at the opening of the 1st OIC Anti-Corruption and Enhancing Integrity Forum 2006 yesterday. He said he was saddened to note that Muslim countries did not rate highly when it came to perceptions of corruption.

********************

Do you see the irony of the above two articles? Obviously, here we have someone with the power and authority to check corruption, choosing to ignore what is happening in his own backyard, while preaching to others how to clean up theirs.

CAKAP TAK SERUPA BIKIN?

********************

(Update: Latest news from the SUN here. "Sue the paper!" said (MBPJ councillor, V.) Subramaniam and "ayes" of all 23 councillors present at the meeting (new Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Roslan Sakiman chaired his first full-board meeting today).

All's well ends well for the Coliseum

The Star frontpage, 16 August 2006

Coliseum Stays!

KUALA LUMPUR: The show goes on for the Coliseum cinema! The heritage building will not be acquired or leased by the Government and it will continue to screen movies. Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim assured cinema owner Dr Chua Seong Siew that there was “no question” of the Government taking over the cinema. “The Government does not intend to take away the Coliseum cinema from the owner. We will work together in making it a great arts and culture hub to promote street-level activities. ..."

... Dr Chua said Rais was magnanimous in guaranteeing that the cinema could not be taken from his family. "My bad dreams and days of anxiety over the takeover of the cinema have come to an end," he said. ... Dr Chua said he was more than willing to cooperate with the Government to make the cinema a brighter and better place for movie goers. ...

********************

Well - we are all glad that Dr Chua's tears have finally turned to smiles.

Thank God the old man didn't suffer adverse health complications due to the unnecessary stress he had to endure, courtesy of the Ministry and Kuala Lumpur land administrator's unsolicited shock treatment.

I think it would be better that politicians or public officers give more thought to half-baked ideas in future, if only to avoid stirring up public anger and causing unnecessary heartache to innocent and law-abiding citizens.

By the way, Bok House is crying out to be saved from ending up as dust and rubble in our memory of a long forgotten era of grand old buildings in KL.

Would Dr Rais be interested to do something positive for a change?

Save the Coliseum, Save Bok House!

On the one hand, S. Vikneswaran, 25, is starting an e-mail and signature campaign to "Save Our Coliseum" from being forcibly acquired by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry.

On the other, The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) is urging the government to save Bok House from being demolished by declaring it a national heritage.

Contrast the following two reports appearing in our local papers today:-

The Star, page N23, 14 August 2006

Moviegoer starts campaign to ‘Save Our Coliseum’

KUALA LUMPUR: Frequent moviegoer S. Vikneswaran, 25, has started an e-mail and signature campaign to “Save Our Coliseum” because of his fond memories of the theatre since he watched his first movie there at the age of five.

He is calling on all fans of the cinema to show their support and come and sign the petition at the Coliseum on Aug 19 at 2pm.

“I do not belong to any NGO, and I am starting this campaign from the bottom of my heart because I have had a liking for the cinema since I was five,” said Vikneswaran, 25, a clerk. He has already sent more than 1,000 e-mails and distributed the notices for the signature campaign to various places in the city.

“If the Government takes over Coliseum it would mean there’ll be no more great places for Indian movies in Kuala Lumpur. Whenever a relative came from outstation we would take him or her to the Coliseum for a movie. It is ideally located for Indian moviegoers because they can watch a movie, dine and shop along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman,” Vikneswaran said.

He added that there were other heritage places in the city that could be taken over as a heritage centre.

“There are several unoccupied buildings along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman that could be taken over for a heritage centre. Why do they want to acquire Coliseum when it has created so many fond memories for Malaysians all these years.”

Many of his married friends informed him that their first movie date was at the Coliseum.

Meanwhile, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim will be meeting the cinema’s owner this week to discuss the future of the cinema.

The late Chua Cheng Bok built the Coliseum Cinema during his lifetime. After his death in 1940, the Coliseum Cinema property formed part of the estate of Chua Cheng Bok.

**********

The SUN, page 16, 14 August 2006

Save Bok House, says IEM

The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) is deeply concerned that Bok House, which was completed in 1929, is in danger of being demolished.

"We urge the government to save Bok House by declaring it a national heritage. The government is empowered to do so under the National Heritage Act 2005. IEM is willing to play its part to maintain the national heritage when Bok House is so saved by the government," it added.

IEM said the well-known civil engineering firm of Swan & Maclaren designed and built Bok House, which represents Kuala Lumpur's grandest neo-classical mansion.

"Bok House is an outstanding example of how a classical European Palladian villa was adopted to Malaysia's tropical climate with its deep verandahs," IEM said in a statement.

Swan & Maclaren was one of the three leading firms designing commercial and residential buildings including among others, Raffles Hotel (1899) and Victoria Memorial Hall (1905) in Singapore and Victoria Institute (1929) in Kuala Lumpur. It played a significant role in the development of modern architecture in the region.

IEM said it would be proud and honoured to serve as the Government-appointed caretaker and custodian of Bok House.

********************

Like blogger HJ Angus said here: "The indecent haste to acquire the COLISEUM CINEMA in KL shows that the authorities can be very callous when they want to show their power.

Just imagine offering RM500k for a well-maintained building on prime building land just because the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry were affected by the present heatwave and came up with this half-baked idea."

And blogger Maverick has opined that: "Adverse acquisition, the compulsory acquisition by the government of properties belonging to the citizen is provided for, under the statute.

However, the manner it can be done and had been done is the fear that wide discretionary and uncontrolled power had been given to the executives and ministers, who could, in the name of the government, under the disguise or pretext of some state needs for development or under the name of HERITAGE, forced the property owner out of their possession.

Title by 'adverse acquisition' seems to resemble ‘Title by theft or robbery’, a primitive method of acquiring property without paying adequately for it. Wrongful taking eventually generates rightful title.” (adapted from HW Ballantine; ‘Title by Adverse Possession’)."

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Does the above two contrasting fate affecting old buildings in our country tell us something about the way our government viz-a-viz it's political leaders view the true value of our heritage and culture as against the desire to satisfy certain selfish motivation for commercial & economic purposes?

The case of migrants & internal security

Spotted this on page 6 of The SUN today:-

Press Digest by Kong See Hoh

POLICE will beef up their crime beat with 2,000 more patrol cars and additional manpower.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow says the cabinet recently approved the additional patrol cars and manpower to maintain law and order, according to a report in Sin Chew Daily yesterday.

Fu admitted the country still face a shortage of police personnel. The police-to-population ratio in Malaysia is lower than that in many other countries.

"There is a need to recruit more personnel to improve the ratio in the long term," he said.

Fu told the daily in an interview that drug addicts and foreign workers are two main factors contributing to the high number of snatch-theft crimes. ...

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It is interesting to note the acknowledgment by Datuk Fu that foreign workers have contributed to the issue of escalating crime in our country.

But are we doing enough to address the problem of increasing presence of foreigners in our land, including the fact that we have even made it easy for a huge number of them to obtain citizenship (and bumiputra status with all the attendant perks & privileges) for reasons best known to our government?

Look at the following report also from The SUN:-

More than five million alien workers by 2010, says Fong

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is likely to have more than five million alien workers by 2010, if the employers' current thirst for foreign labour is not quenched, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said today (Aug 11, 2006).

"We now have about 1.8 million foreign workers. Local employers are submitting a large number of applications monthly to the Home Ministry to employ more foreign workers.

"If this problem is not addressed now, it is highly probable that the total number of foreign workers in this country may well exceed five million by the year 2010," he said in a luncheon address at the Law Association for Asia and Pacific (Lawasia) Labour Law Conference here.

He said the country had to deal with various aspects of foreign labour, especially in areas pertaining to legal and social framework like terms and conditions of employment, orientation and skills training, protection under the employment laws, security of tenure, social security and insurance, trade unionism, industrial relations and industrial adjudication.

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1.8 million foreign workers now ... possibly more than 5 million in 2010!! (How many millions more originally foreign workers now legally absorbed into our community as citizens of Malaysia?)

You do the maths as against the population of those Malaysians who have been here prior to Merdeka and whose parents and grandparents have settled here for more than 2 generations before we are allowed to call ourselves Malaysians.

And I'm not just referring to the mostly Indonesian-born new citizens in the Peninsular but just look at what is happening in Sabah & Sarawak. We have thrown our gates wide open to migrants in such an indiscriminate fashion that it has now come back to haunt us in ways that we are just beginning to comprehend.

Can these people fend for themselves during less than prosperous times? If our country is affected by a global economic downturn and decent-paying jobs become scarce for them, what will happen to them and the families they had brought along to live here? Will they return to their countries of birth or will they be a burden to their adopted country?

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Anyway, coming back to the issue of public safety in Malaysia, I am glad that the cabinet has recognised the urgency to restore some semblance of law and order in our country.

It will take some years to beef up our police force but better late than never. I hope more allocations will be set aside in the upcoming budget to increase our police workforce and do all that is necessary to restore the image of our law enforcers in the eyes of the jaded public.

Whatever happened to the IPCMC proposal, by the way? That is one good suggestion which has yet to see the light of day.

Govt acknowledge rising crime, but is it enough?

Our deputy prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has acknowledged the fact that rising crime is a worrying problem for the Government as reported in today's news.

The NST, 10 August 2006

Govt will provide safe environment

KUALA LUMPUR: Everyone has the right to live without the fear of being attacked or mugged.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the Government would not tolerate such crimes and would continue to work towards a safe environment for the people.

He said this was one of the reasons why Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wanted closed-circuit television cameras across the country to curb crime.

He said there was a need to raise the people’s awareness to help prevent crime.

"It doesn’t mean we are going to reduce the number of policemen but we want people to co-operate with the police to implement a more comprehensive crime prevention strategy," he said at the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation’s charity dinner last night.

He said snatch thefts had become rampant.

"The increasing number of cases should make everyone uncomfortable because who knows, we could be a victim if we are not careful," he said.

He said many people were now living in fear.

"We are shocked by the deaths of a teenager who was mugged in Wangsa Maju and also of a woman in Kuantan."

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Yes sir, we thank you for your kind attention to this matter and the promises made to us (again!) that the Government will work towards a safer environment for the people.

While I agree with you that we all should play a part in assisting the police to combat the rising crime rate, would it not help the situation a whole lot more by providing additional police personnel on walking beats as practised in the past?

From what we see these days, most of our police move around comfortably in their air-conditioned cars and motorcycles. No wonder we see a number of our policemen obviously looking less than fit and trim enough to give chase to criminals should the need arises.

Maybe they lack the exercise they used to get patrolling our streets ON FOOT?

I don't want to sound too negative. I welcome all efforts from all parties in giving utmost attention to this issue and I certainly thank leaders like Pak Lah, Najib and Opposition Leader Mr Lim for being willing to talk about this so that our newspapers can also play their part in promoting the urgency in resolving this menacing problem.

The police should, on top of urging the public to give them full co-operation and a helping hand, also look into all possible avenues to deter petty and dangerous criminals from running loose and fancy free on our streets and neighbourhood.

One precious life lost is one too many to bear for the family and loved ones concerned.

Let us all be proactive and not treat this as merely an exercise in talking. Everyone has said enough to be understood and many promises have been made and forgotten.

Please, for goodness sake, do try harder not to turn this latest episode into yet another "cerita hangat-hangat tahi ayam".

THANK YOU and have a safe day!

Thanks, Mr Opposition

I appreciate the fact that our Opposition Leader, Mr Lim Kit Siang has highlighted the distressing escalation of crime in Malaysia on his blog here. I hope he will spearhead a nationwide campaign to persuade our government to view this matter seriously.

His call to restore a peaceful & low-crime nation to all Malaysians is timely:-

"Sunday saw another fatal victim of a snatch-thief – the avoidable death of 25-year-old sales girl Ng Chew Lim who sustained internal head injuries when she fell down the staircase in a scuffle with a drug addict at the Berjaya Megamall shopping centre in Kuantan.

... the Inspector-General of Police-designate, Tan Sri Musa Hassan, said ... a large number of murders, rapes, robberies and snatch thefts have been blamed on those under the influence of designer drugs, who “tend to be aggressive and fail to understand the consequences of their actions”.

What is the message? That the Police are helpless in the face of the crime wave? That the times of only the recent past when Malaysians are free from crime and the fear of crime are gone forever, never to return? That Malaysians must be prepared for crime to strike anytime, any place, regardless of public places, streets and even the privacy of their homes? ..."

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She dies after tussle with snatch thief (NST, 8 Aug 2006)
M. Hamzah Jamaludin

KUANTAN: When Ng Chiew Lim opted to use the staircase at the Berjaya Megamall shopping centre on Sunday, little did she know that a snatch thief would be waiting for prey there.

Seconds after the 25-year-old salesgirl began descending to the ground floor at 7pm, a youth, sniffing glue, began trailing her.

He tried to snatch her handbag only to have the victim fight back. In the melee, both fell.

The thief escaped injury and fled to the ground floor but Ng was not so fortunate.

She sustained internal injuries and sat on the steps, nursing her head. Shoppers who rushed into the area on hearing the commotion found her mute and in a state of shock.

Ng was rushed to the nearby Kuantan Medical Centre where she lapsed into a coma. Doctors tried to save her but failed and she died at 11am yesterday.

... Meanwhile, Ng’s family were devastated when met at the hospital.

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How many more heart-breaking incidents like this are we to endure before our police force realise we need their help to protect us from falling victim, again & again?

The ethnic divide along religious line

As a non-bumiputra citizen, I can relate to this. Credit goes to Ktemoc for consistently highlighting pertinent issues in his blog.

Ways to make you change lifestyle

If the Ministry of Health can't persuade you to change your lifestyle to one that's more beneficial to personal and national interest, perhaps hitting you where it hurts would dismantle your stubborn insistence.

B(arang) N(aik) gomen's (possible) latest test of patience:- Sugar price increase.

Since the consumer (as represented by FOMCA) asked for it, okaylah! Gomen very nice. Gomen will support your request. Do you also want Gomen to raise the price of water and cooking oil while we are at it? After all, it's just a matter of when. Might as well get all the pain over and done with in one BIG dose of reality.

As a patriotic consumer who supports Pak Lah's noble agenda as articulated in Wong Sulong's commentary in The Star, I am increasingly finding it tough to stomach the dent in my pockets, while I constantly see some elected reps continue to waste public funds indecently. When are THEY going to change THEIR lifestyles??

Of course, decency is not a requirement of patriotism in Malaysian lingo, am I right?

Good news on a Monday

I don't want to sound overly optimistic but still, today's news that the government plans to set up an ombudsman to investigate complaints against the authorities, including ministers and the ACA is most certainly welcoming.

The STAR reported that a study is being conducted on the establishment of the independent body and once completed, a proposal will be tabled to the Parliament for ratification.

An ombudsman is a government appointee who investigates complaints by private persons against the government.

Some pertinent comments from prominent personalities in response to this proposal:-

Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, in welcoming the move said that it should not be an excuse to "kill off plans for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC)" and "A proper study of the mechanism of the ombudsman should be made and revealed to the public."

Bar Council chairman Yeo Yang Poh said the body should have enough regulatory powers as it would have to deal with many issues affecting government agencies. "If the legal structure of the ombudsman is diluted, then it will be inadequate. The ombudsman should be able to reach a real solution to the issues at hand." He further said that, "Making it workable would mean the ombudsman’s office would have to be huge, with highly competent staff."

Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who has been championing the cause, was upbeat with the decision. "It is high time for such a body to be set up," he said. "It should be headed by someone who is well-versed in the law and possesses the utmost integrity."

Transparency International chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said it was "the best news I’ve heard in years. What’s exciting about the ombudsman is that it will not be confined to just the police," he said. "This should strengthen confidence in the public delivery system."

Navaratnam, who is also chairman of the Asli Centre for Public Policy Studies, cautioned however, that if the body were ineffective in its duties, the reverse would occur. "If the ombudsman is not given any teeth, it will end up being just another advisory body and public confidence will be eroded," he said. "It is therefore important that the ombudsman be a person willing to act for the public and independent of political influence. His or her office should also be adequately staffed by good assistants."

Click here for the link to this announcement by the NST.

I hope at the end of the day, this proposal will really work out for the benefit of the Rakyat and not end up as just another half-baked idea full of empty promises and lofty pronouncements.

Incidentally, I also wonder how this ombudsman proposal will affect the earlier recommendation for the setting up of the IPCMC. Is this supposed to be something which is offered to the Rakyat as an appeasement to the ultimate caning of the IPCMC suggestion? I certainly hope not.

The SUN reported today in its front-page that the Bar Council has launched a public petition campaign to call for the implementation of major recommendations of the police royal commission, in particular the setting up of the IPCMC as it is seen as an essential part of the reform.

The online petition, entitled Movement Towards a Better Police Force can be viewed here. Apart from this, the Bar Council will start sending out the petition to individuals and organisations starting today, by mail or fax, to gain their support until the government commits itself to the formation of the IPCMC. Do give your support if you should receive the petition.

Well, things seem to have picked up speed all of a sudden.

I am hopeful that the momentum can be sustained and not fizzled out unexpectedly. In this country, it has been amply displayed that good intentions and suggestions are all too often shot down by a few spoilsports who are bent on keeping the status quo for reasons best known to themselves.

Nevertheless, it is still good news on a blue Monday.

I'm looking forward to more positive pronouncements from Pak Lah's government. It's high time for Pak Lah to deliver on his promises and reaffirm our faith in him. It's really way overdue, in case he hadn't noticed.

Update @ 5:00pm:

I like the sound of this:

No room for civil servants who frustrate implementation of 9MP, says PM.

Heads of department and civil servants who frustrate the implementation of the Ninth Malaysia Plan will be removed.

This stern reminder to all ranks in the civil service came from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in his meeting with Perlis civil servants at Dewan Warisan today.

There is no place for passengers in the civil service, he cautioned.

But I'm equally confused by this:

Najib: Gov't yet to decide on proposal to set up ombudsman system.

The Government has yet to decide on the proposal to set up an ombudsman system to look into complaints against the authorities, including ministers and elected representatives.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the proposal was being studied.

"We are currently getting feedback from various quarters. Actually, the Government has yet to make any decision on the matter ... we will only make a statement when we are ready," he told reporters after officiating at the Tun Razak camp in Bukit Gedong here yesterday.

He was asked if the ombudsman system would serve as an alternative to the proposed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

Now, what's this all about, getting people unnecessarily excited and optimistic. Is he talking cock again?