TwoSen

EVERYONE would have high expectations of a cool journey when driving through highland roads. However, our drive from Simpang Pulai in Perak to Gua Musang in Kelantan was not that pleasant.

Before reaching the Blue Valley from Simpang Pulai, we came across a huge area facing serious soil erosion. From afar, we could see that one side of the mountain was eroding. A lot of sediment was deposited at the bottom of the mountain, and it could be observed from a distance.

Approaching the Blue Valley landfill, we could see solid waste which was not disposed of in a proper manner. The sight was very bad, especially for tourists who would like to enjoy the beauty of Cameron Highlands .

After crossing the Kelantan border, I noticed that huge areas were deforested for plantations and logging. There were also traces of open burning throughout the journey.

We have also observed that Sungai Berok and a few other rivers were murky, especially Sungai Berok which was reddish.

Such large-scale land clearing will affect not only the mountains and hills which have been cleared, but also the water supply in the downstream areas, the reserve forest next to it, animal habitats and eventually the whole ecosystem.

Many such incidents are rampantly taking place. It becomes a daunting question as to who is responsible for such unsustainable development.

It is also evident that hill development contributes to global warming, loss of animal habitats and eventually it affects human beings. We should take measures to prevent such incidents from reoccurring.

Logging causes deforestation. Some of the trees take hundreds of years to grow while others can grow from within a period of 50 to 100 years. If we plan from now, a sustainable timber industry can be created by reforestation. However, the loss of habitat to the flora and fauna cannot be measured and recreated.

All agriculture-based deforestation must be studied carefully, and good agricultural practices maintained in these areas.

This includes prevention of soil erosion, discharge of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers to the water body and hill slope and protection against landslides.

There are organic agriculture methods available. Our farmers must be taught of such methods to ensure good quality agricultural products are available, and at the same time ensure a sustainable agricultural industry.

Some quarters claim that creating new plantations after deforestation can reduce the impact on the environment.

However, no real proof has been presented with proper third party verification on such claims.

The environment desk of Fomca hopes more meaningful sustainable development would be carried out. These beautiful forests cannot be recreated once they are lost.

The Economic Planning Unit should come up with a more sustainable development plan with the cooperation of all government agencies and industries.

There should be national concern over these crucial important issues.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca).

Source: The Star – February 28, 2008

Dear Editor, IT shocked me to discover that though the 12th general election is on March 8, there are only 10.9 million registered voters against a population of over 26 million.

Assuming four million Malaysians are under 21 years old and two million are living abroad, we should have 10 million or more eligible voters in the country.

Why are so many Malaysians not registered and what is the Election Commission doing about this?

The government and the decision makers in the Election Commission should change the rules by making it easier for people to go to the polls to cast their votes, such as by bringing their identity cards as proof of citizenship.

This should remove suspicions of ‘foul play’ about how parliamentary and State Assembly seats are being worked out for the constituencies.

For more transparency, ac countability and fairness to all races, voting should be made mandatory to all Malaysians above 16 years of age and they should come out to cast their votes at the polling station in their place of residence as shown in the identity card, fail ing which, they should be giv en a reminder that they should exercise their right to vote to demonstrate the qualities of a good and responsible citizen.

Only when it becomes an ob ligation under the law will all citizens come out to vote dur ing a general election or by-election.

To prove their eligibility and identity, voters should bring their MyKad for verification by officers at the polling stations.

This helps to remove the tedious and costly registration of voter exercises and could save millions of ringgit in taxpayers’ money.

If this is put to practice, then we should see more people voting and not only less than half the nation’s population.

To account for the number of voters who turn up at the polling stations to cast their votes and also to prevent fraud and double voting, it is necessary to take the thumbprints of the voters and have them stored in a computer for checking purposes.

Lau Bing
Subang Jaya

Source: Malay Mail – February 27, 2008

Dear Editor, WITH nomination day over, voters will have to decide come March 8 which candid ates they want as their elected representatives in the August House.

Those who live in urban areas tend to be more educated and demanding and thus expect their elected representatives to fight for the nation’s interest while rur al folk who lack the basic amenities will vote for candidates who can deliver on development promises for their constituency.

A thriving democracy needs a good balance of government sup porters as well as opposition members to ensure that there is a check and balance on government policies.

Politicians on both sides of the aisle must be hardworking, honest and work tirelessly for the common people to win the hearts and minds of voters who will elect or re-elect them in the coming polls.

I believe that once the election is over, Malaysians from all political divides will close ranks and make this country an oasis for all races to live in peace and harmony.

Hamdan Ibrahim
Kuala Lumpur

Source: Malay Mail – February 27, 2008

Source: Malay Mail – February 27, 2008

Dear Editor, AS the 12th general election is on course, I would like to urge all Malaysians who are registered to vote.

We as Malaysians, no matter who you are and what your political orientation is, need to ex ercise our rights and responsibilities as citizens by voting.
I notice that there are a lot of people who are not aware of the importance of voting in the gen eral election.

Some are not bothered at all or worse, do not know how to get involved.
This is the time to take part in the future and political process of our nation.

The fate of the nation is in our hands.

Adil
Kuala Lumpur

Source: Malay Mail – February 27, 2008

In its drive to fulfil the target of 70% PhD holders among lecturers across local government-funded universities, the Higher Education Ministry has been aggressively sending lecturers overseas to pursue their PhDs. These lecturers need to fulfil only two general conditions, obtaining a band of 6.5 in the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) conducted by the British Council and second, be offered a place by a foreign university.

Given the government’s move (as announced in the 2008 Budget) to double the cost of living allowances for students in countries like the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, this suggests that our economy is good at the moment (Alhamdullilah!) and that the government has lots of money at its disposal to send these lecturers overseas.

Nevertheless, the ministry is not spending public money wisely by sending many of these lecturers overseas. Firstly, it is a fact, from the past records, that many lecturers who were sent overseas came home without a PhD (even though most of them proudly came home with a Mercedes). As such, the Higher Education Ministry should learn from their past mistake of sending the wrong candidates. Lecturers must prove their academic competency before they are funded by the government to go overseas.

They must have published at least one journal article in English on their own accord and not on an “Ali Baba” hitchhiking basis. Our public funds will definitely go down the drain if these lecturers have problems in writing their theses in English and subsequently come home empty-handed (I mean, without a PhD). Just for public awareness, the Higher Education Ministry spends at least RM500,000 on a lecturer to do his/her PhD overseas.

Secondly, it is a fact that almost all of these lecturers find themselves a job (or even jobs) while studying despite the two-fold or even ten-fold increase in their cost of living allowance. I know a few lecturers who are currently working in the UK, some part-time while others even full-time. They told me that it is perfectly fine to not complete their studies within the stipulated three-year period as the Higher Education Ministry will surely grant them a full-salary, six-month extension and more subsequent extensions.

Aren’t these lecturers taking advantage of state-funded opportunities? Just look around and compare – self-funded PhD candidates will try to complete their studies within the shortest time possible while government-funded candidates will try to complete theirs in the longest possible time!

Thirdly, why must the Higher Education Ministry send so many of these lecturers overseas when they can pursue similar courses at our local higher institutions at a fraction of the cost? Is it that our local universities have no “class” at all ?

May I suggest that the Higher Education Ministry spend public money wisely by not sending any Tom, Dick and Harry overseas when they do not have the aptitude to succeed? It is unfair to send the academically incompetent lecturers when many young, talented and academically bright Malaysians can be groomed to be future first-class lecturers who will in turn, transform the universities in which they serve into world-class universities.

The current scenario is dismal where substandard local universities grant double awards – by giving the PhD students a full salary, a full scholarship and then a double bonus (e.g. a three-fold increment in their salary and a promotion from DS45 to DS52 without even considering whether or not these lecturers possess that “mutu istimewa” (special quality) as stipulated in the promotion circular.

Lecturers were promoted despite their poor academic ability and a no-substance curriculum vitae, not even publishing in any national or regional journal articles, let alone international ones. Only substandard universities would consider promoting lecturers on the basis of one’s contribution in a managerial position and a few conference proceedings (these were not even peer reviewed and many lecturers share conference proceedings!).

It is also an irony that despite the “40-years-old ruling”, our universities are still sending their academic staff who have already passed the 40-year-old age limit to pursue their studies locally or overseas on a full-pay full-scholarship.

While taxpayers do support the advocated lifelong learning programme among Malaysians, it should not be at the expense of the taxpayer. It is not a good investment considering the huge cost and the number of years they are able to contribute upon their return from the three-year doctoral venture.

Stop the rhetoric of “internal breeding” as an excuse to send lecturers elsewhere for a PhD. They can always do a PhD in their respective universities under the supervision of an academically-capable supervisor.

The Higher Education Ministry should monitor these “privileged lecturers” while they are overseas to ensure that they fully concentrate on their studies rather than working and make some money on the side (possibly to buy a Mercedes).

If they are unable to complete their studies within the stipulated three-year period, direct them to come home and not waste any more of the public’s money.

In order to be at par with world-class universities, terms for Higher Education Ministry sholarships should be as firm and stringent as other prestigious scholarships. Then there will be no hanky-panky where a lecturer deliberately delays his/her thesis submission so as to gain extra mileage in getting a full-pay full-scholarship extension.

Finally, I have heard about lecturers who bring their family members overseas (of course, their whole family’s flight tickets are bought on government money) and then send their family members home secretly so that they can continue to enjoy or receive the full family allowances.

The Higher Education Ministry should take disciplinary action against lecturers who claim family allowances when their families are actually residing in Malaysia. This is blatant cheating as Higher Education Ministry staff are incompetent in their monitoring of such lecturers. Maybe the Anti-Corruption Agency can swing into action to bring these lecturers to justice.

Disappointed Rakyat
via e-mail

Source: The Sun – February 27, 2008

In its drive to fulfil the target of 70% PhD holders among lecturers across local government-funded universities, the Higher Education Ministry has been aggressively sending lecturers overseas to pursue their PhDs. These lecturers need to fulfil only two general conditions, obtaining a band of 6.5 in the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) conducted by the British Council and second, be offered a place by a foreign university.

Given the government’s move (as announced in the 2008 Budget) to double the cost of living allowances for students in countries like the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, this suggests that our economy is good at the moment (Alhamdullilah!) and that the government has lots of money at its disposal to send these lecturers overseas.

Nevertheless, the ministry is not spending public money wisely by sending many of these lecturers overseas. Firstly, it is a fact, from the past records, that many lecturers who were sent overseas came home without a PhD (even though most of them proudly came home with a Mercedes). As such, the Higher Education Ministry should learn from their past mistake of sending the wrong candidates. Lecturers must prove their academic competency before they are funded by the government to go overseas.

They must have published at least one journal article in English on their own accord and not on an “Ali Baba” hitchhiking basis. Our public funds will definitely go down the drain if these lecturers have problems in writing their theses in English and subsequently come home empty-handed (I mean, without a PhD). Just for public awareness, the Higher Education Ministry spends at least RM500,000 on a lecturer to do his/her PhD overseas.

Secondly, it is a fact that almost all of these lecturers find themselves a job (or even jobs) while studying despite the two-fold or even ten-fold increase in their cost of living allowance. I know a few lecturers who are currently working in the UK, some part-time while others even full-time. They told me that it is perfectly fine to not complete their studies within the stipulated three-year period as the Higher Education Ministry will surely grant them a full-salary, six-month extension and more subsequent extensions.

Aren’t these lecturers taking advantage of state-funded opportunities? Just look around and compare – self-funded PhD candidates will try to complete their studies within the shortest time possible while government-funded candidates will try to complete theirs in the longest possible time!

Thirdly, why must the Higher Education Ministry send so many of these lecturers overseas when they can pursue similar courses at our local higher institutions at a fraction of the cost? Is it that our local universities have no “class” at all ?

May I suggest that the Higher Education Ministry spend public money wisely by not sending any Tom, Dick and Harry overseas when they do not have the aptitude to succeed? It is unfair to send the academically incompetent lecturers when many young, talented and academically bright Malaysians can be groomed to be future first-class lecturers who will in turn, transform the universities in which they serve into world-class universities.

The current scenario is dismal where substandard local universities grant double awards – by giving the PhD students a full salary, a full scholarship and then a double bonus (e.g. a three-fold increment in their salary and a promotion from DS45 to DS52 without even considering whether or not these lecturers possess that “mutu istimewa” (special quality) as stipulated in the promotion circular.

Lecturers were promoted despite their poor academic ability and a no-substance curriculum vitae, not even publishing in any national or regional journal articles, let alone international ones. Only substandard universities would consider promoting lecturers on the basis of one’s contribution in a managerial position and a few conference proceedings (these were not even peer reviewed and many lecturers share conference proceedings!).

It is also an irony that despite the “40-years-old ruling”, our universities are still sending their academic staff who have already passed the 40-year-old age limit to pursue their studies locally or overseas on a full-pay full-scholarship.

While taxpayers do support the advocated lifelong learning programme among Malaysians, it should not be at the expense of the taxpayer. It is not a good investment considering the huge cost and the number of years they are able to contribute upon their return from the three-year doctoral venture.

Stop the rhetoric of “internal breeding” as an excuse to send lecturers elsewhere for a PhD. They can always do a PhD in their respective universities under the supervision of an academically-capable supervisor.

The Higher Education Ministry should monitor these “privileged lecturers” while they are overseas to ensure that they fully concentrate on their studies rather than working and make some money on the side (possibly to buy a Mercedes).

If they are unable to complete their studies within the stipulated three-year period, direct them to come home and not waste any more of the public’s money.

In order to be at par with world-class universities, terms for Higher Education Ministry sholarships should be as firm and stringent as other prestigious scholarships. Then there will be no hanky-panky where a lecturer deliberately delays his/her thesis submission so as to gain extra mileage in getting a full-pay full-scholarship extension.

Finally, I have heard about lecturers who bring their family members overseas (of course, their whole family’s flight tickets are bought on government money) and then send their family members home secretly so that they can continue to enjoy or receive the full family allowances.

The Higher Education Ministry should take disciplinary action against lecturers who claim family allowances when their families are actually residing in Malaysia. This is blatant cheating as Higher Education Ministry staff are incompetent in their monitoring of such lecturers. Maybe the Anti-Corruption Agency can swing into action to bring these lecturers to justice.

Disappointed Rakyat
via e-mail

Source: The Sun – February 27, 2008

The forthcoming elections are not just about where we want Malaysia to go economically, but the path we need to take to create a more civil society.

Such a civil society should focus upon the development of a closer and better appreciation of each other as members of the human race. Understanding and feeling for each other creates a better spirit of cooperation and trust in any society.

Also, Malaysian society must be encouraged to stand together as Malaysians and barriers – social, economic and political – must be removed to achieve this.

Although we all have our own selfish interests at heart, feeling for and working with others in our society is the only way to create a truly civil society.

Elections provide us with an opportunity to tell our politicians that, important as economic growth is to our country, society values are our priority on the agenda for Malaysia’s future development and progress.

Dr Ian Mackechnie
Kuala Lumpur

Source: The Sun – February 27, 2008

The forthcoming elections are not just about where we want Malaysia to go economically, but the path we need to take to create a more civil society.

Such a civil society should focus upon the development of a closer and better appreciation of each other as members of the human race. Understanding and feeling for each other creates a better spirit of cooperation and trust in any society.

Also, Malaysian society must be encouraged to stand together as Malaysians and barriers – social, economic and political – must be removed to achieve this.

Although we all have our own selfish interests at heart, feeling for and working with others in our society is the only way to create a truly civil society.

Elections provide us with an opportunity to tell our politicians that, important as economic growth is to our country, society values are our priority on the agenda for Malaysia’s future development and progress.

Dr Ian Mackechnie
Kuala Lumpur

Source: The Sun – February 27, 2008

ONCE again it seems the environment has been forgotten in the government’s plans for development.

I must admit I have not read the entire Barisan Nasional campaign manifesto, but the lead headings and main points highlighted in the papers give no indication that the environment has been considered as a major point or as a priority issue that transects all other topics.

The environment is what sustains us all, and given the current conditions of global warming, waste generation, flooding, etc, how can our leaders keep forgetting this essential point?

I would like to see some sincere pledges to increase green areas in all housing estates and that local councils and cities will be bound to follow the structure plans they ratify; that state governments will better manage our parks and protected areas so that they are not just “paper parks” or parks for wealthy visitors, but managed for sustainability and biodiversity; that all Malaysians have access to clean, safe drinking water, that our rivers are not treated like giant sewers to be built over and cemented up; that corporations are forced to play an active and financial role in waste reduction, pollution prevention, recycling and residential hazardous waste management; that the country push for the use of safe alternative energy and become a world leader in solar technology.

I could go on, but if these points could be upheld, that would be a fantastic start.

Let all the candidates, and later the elected officials, not forget that all our money, wealth and livelihood depend on a healthy, sustainable environment. Let’s hear some pledges to that effect.

Malaysian with children
Kuala Lumpur

Source: The Sun – February 27, 2008