TwoSen

Dear Editor, THERE is no doubt that the rakyat’s attention is centred on the 12th general election.

Excited voters look forward to getting up close and personal with their favourite wakil rakyat on their walk abouts during their cam paigns, which to many, is a rare opportunity.

However, it is sad to note that because of the election fever, police have decided to reduce efforts in their search for Sharlinie Mohd Nashar, who has been missing for close to two months.

I don’t share the sentiment of Sharlinie’s father, who said that he understood that police officers have other jobs to do. I beg to differ.
I believe that in cases of missing children, the more time that goes by, the smaller the chances of finding them are.

I cannot understand why the police have decided to shift their focus on the general election.

While the police are doing their best to deal with the elections, Sharlinie could be going through something traumatic, pining for her parents or worse still, subjected to torture by her abductor(s).

Though I think the house-to-house searches may not be effective, I am confident that our police force have enough officers to continue the hunt for Sharlinie.

Is the Malaysian police force so short-handed that they all need to be roped in to work on the general election, abandoning their vow to nail the culprit(s) behind Sharlinie’s abduction, a pledge they had made the moment it was re ported that she had gone missing?

It does not take many police officers to continue with the search for Sharlinie. I believe that every effort counts for something.

I dread the day when the search for Sharlinie comes to a stop, with hopes of the young girl being reunited with her family fades and there is little chance of seeing her alive again.

Every minutes counts. Time is gold and things can change, even in a few seconds. I hope the police will reconsider their decision and continue their efforts to search for Sharlinie.

Cindy Yap
Damansara

Source: Malay Mail – February 26, 2008

Dear Editor, I HAVE always been proud of the service provided by Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Unfortunately, my perception changed after what I went through recently.

I was supposed to leave for Beijing on flight CA0972 on Feb 21 at 12.50am.
I had earlier checked in my luggage, weighing 24.8kg and padlocked, at Counter G at 11am.

I arrived in Beijing two days later at 7.15am.

However, there was only dis appointment awaiting me. When I reclaimed my baggage at Beijing International Airport, I was shocked to find the padlock missing and the locks on my luggage had been broken.

Upon opening the luggage, I was dismayed to find the con tents in disarray.
To make matters worse, all the money in my 21 ang pow packets, worth about RM300, had gone missing.

However, the mystery of the missing padlock was soon solved.

I found it inside my luggage with the broken padlock switch attached. The empty ang pow packets were scattered throughout my luggage.

I suspect that the thief had cut the padlock switch.

I would like an explanation on how secure KLIA is when handling checked-in luggage, especially when it has been hailed as one of the world’s best airports, delivering world-class service to its travellers.

I am disappointed with the airport staff whom I had en trusted the care of my belongings to.

I hope KLIA’s management looks into the incident, as it could damage the airport’s good name if they have dishonest staff handling customers’ be longings.

Lai
Kuala Lumpur

Source: Malay Mail – February 25, 2008

Dear Editor, KUDOS to the person who had written to a daily, asking the relevant governing body on whether the Federal Highway is open to motorcyclists.

This is because, as any driver on this stretch of road will tell you, the sight of many motor cyclists using the highway instead of using the motorcycle lane is a daily occurrence.

I find this outrageous as most of them not only neglect to use the allocated motorcycle lanes, but also do it in a reckless manner by weaving in and out of traffic.

If motorcyclists continue to ride their machines in lanes meant for cars along the Federal Highway or any other road where motorcycle lanes are provided for them, then the government should open the motorcycle lanes and widen them to make way for cars to use them as well.

A solution would be for the authorities to step up enforcement to ensure that all motorcyclists stick to the allocated lanes.

If they fail to do so, then these motorcyclists should be fined for unlawful or reckless riding.

Lau Bing
Subang Jaya

Source: Malay Mail – February 25, 2008

Source: Malay Mail – February 25, 2008

Dear Editor, I HAVE been a TMNet Streamyx broadband service subscriber since May 2006.

Before that, I was using TMNet’s dial-up connection since 2004. However, because the connection was slow, I changed to the Streamyx service, having signed up at the company’s Bukit Tinggi branch.

For the first month, the con nection was fast. I could access the Internet and download easily.

However, two months later, the connection was slow, sometimes slower than the original dial-up connection I had before.

As such, in May last year, after reaching the end of the one-year contract with the company, I

decided to discontinue the service.

I went to the company’s Bukit Tinggi branch, where I had registered my line.

After paying the outstanding amount and signing the termination letter with the acknow ledgement of the branch’s person- in-charge, I went home assuming that the matter was settled.

However, this was not the case. In December last year, I received a call from a TMNet agent, who was seeking payment from users with outstanding bills.

The agent told me that I owed Streamyx RM400 in unpaid bills for using the service from June to November last year.

I was shocked and explained that I had terminated the connection.

I also stressed that I had paid the outstanding amount at the Bukit Tinggi branch.

I also mentioned that I had the receipt of payment as well as the termination form. I then asked the agent to check with the branch if they still had any doubts.

But on Feb 23, I received an other call from a Streamyx agent claiming that I had outstanding Streamyx bills, this time amounting to more than RM500. The agent asked me to settle the payment immediately.

I told the agent what I had told the previous agent. However, she claimed that they had yet to receive any termination letter from the branch and requested me to fax her a copy of the termination letter.

Why am I supposed to do this? I believe that it is no longer my responsibility.

The burden lies on the branch concerned. I related this to the agent, at which point she hung up.

This got me thinking — do all former Streamyx subscribers face the same problems I encountered?

How do we get TMNet to for ward details of our termination of service to the relevant parties?

Mohd Muhibburrahman
Klang

Source: Malay Mail – February 25, 2008

It is time we introduce a system where ordinary people may sit on the disciplinary boards of professional organisations such as the Malaysian Medical Council. This idea is nothing new as the jury system in capital trails involves citizens from various walks of life, although this system has been discontinued in the country.

If members of the public were to sit in the Malaysian Medical Council Disciplinary Board they could provide a clearer picture of how the public grouses are handled. A solicitor should also be allowed to be present with the complainant. However, the solicitor should be there merely to protect, advise and to guide, but not represent his or her client.

This proposal can be extended to other service-oriented organisations such as the Bar Council. All reported grievances against solicitors are handed by the Bar Council’s disciplinary board.

This board appears to comprise of senior and maybe retired lawyers. However the composition of the Bar Council disciplinary board is not revealed. If the board does not include an outsider; then it is time to introduce transparency and allow people from other walks of life to sit at these hearings. The Bar Council’s disciplinary board should preside at the town of residence of the complainant so as to ease the burden of travelling expenses. The complainant should be allowed to be assisted by a solicitor who would be appointed by the Bar Council without any further charges.

In the existing system, when a complaint is filed against a lawyer, the disciplinary board sits to hear the complaint. What goes on at the hearing is not known by anyone from outside, including the aggrieved party.

The complainant should enjoy unconditional immunity from being sued by the lawyer against whom the complaint was made. If this is permitted the entire process of disciplinary action to weed out the bad sheep would not be defeated and many more would come forward to lodge complaints against rotten apples.

K. Ramamurthy Achari
Penang

Source: The Sun – February 25, 2008

It is time we introduce a system where ordinary people may sit on the disciplinary boards of professional organisations such as the Malaysian Medical Council. This idea is nothing new as the jury system in capital trails involves citizens from various walks of life, although this system has been discontinued in the country.

If members of the public were to sit in the Malaysian Medical Council Disciplinary Board they could provide a clearer picture of how the public grouses are handled. A solicitor should also be allowed to be present with the complainant. However, the solicitor should be there merely to protect, advise and to guide, but not represent his or her client.

This proposal can be extended to other service-oriented organisations such as the Bar Council. All reported grievances against solicitors are handed by the Bar Council’s disciplinary board.

This board appears to comprise of senior and maybe retired lawyers. However the composition of the Bar Council disciplinary board is not revealed. If the board does not include an outsider; then it is time to introduce transparency and allow people from other walks of life to sit at these hearings. The Bar Council’s disciplinary board should preside at the town of residence of the complainant so as to ease the burden of travelling expenses. The complainant should be allowed to be assisted by a solicitor who would be appointed by the Bar Council without any further charges.

In the existing system, when a complaint is filed against a lawyer, the disciplinary board sits to hear the complaint. What goes on at the hearing is not known by anyone from outside, including the aggrieved party.

The complainant should enjoy unconditional immunity from being sued by the lawyer against whom the complaint was made. If this is permitted the entire process of disciplinary action to weed out the bad sheep would not be defeated and many more would come forward to lodge complaints against rotten apples.

K. Ramamurthy Achari
Penang

Source: The Sun – February 25, 2008

The Malaysian Indian community is at a crossroads. Opposition parties are fielding more Indian candidates in the coming general election to capitalise on the perceived anti-establishment sentiments triggered by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and the discontentment among Indians towards MIC, which may see a major swing of Indian votes to the opposition.

On the other hand the government understands the Indians’ grouses and grievances and has taken steps to address them. Better employment and business opportunities may also be in the pipeline for Indians. They may as well work within the system to negotiate a better deal for them. Indians must decide wisely.

The government took measures to uplift the socio-economic status of the Indian community and is even willing to work with MIC on a monitoring mechanism because MIC is still relevant in coalition government.

This may well be a turning point for the Malaysian Indians, if they unite and give their full support to Barisan Nasional, thereby giving MIC the political clout.

Being a minority community, every Indian vote is valuable and should translate into political clout. MIC is the sole representative for Indians in the government and we cannot abandon the party. Leaders may be changed. In 1969, when Umno was perceived to have failed, Malays did not abandon the party. In fact there was even greater awareness to strengthen Umno’s ruling power.

The Indians’ position is the same. They need a strong presence in the ruling coalition to serve their interests best.

Indians cannot have a credible opposition. No one can win an election just on an Indian ticket. In 1970, the Indian university intake dropped to 2% (when the New Economic Policy was launched) and, sandwiched between the two giants (Umno and MCA) Indians saw zero hope.

No opposition party was willing to take up the issue. It was MIC’s persistent effort and powerful lobbying of the government that gradually increased the Indian intake to around 8% (until meritocracy was introduced).

Opposition parties will only pursue an issue seriously if it is in the best interest of the communities that form their support base. They have never fought for Indians’ interests.

If the opposition parties succeed they celebrate and Indians will be the losers. Indians must not become traitors to their own community by being instrumental to splitting their votes.

If MIC is weakened to the extent that it becomes irrelevant in the coalition government, Indians too will become irrelevant. It will be Malay, Chinese and others.

Indians are not economically strong and self-reliant like the Chinese to have the luxury of voting for the opposition. What they need is an NGO to pursue their issues as well as to monitor MIC, highlighting its shortcomings and failures.

This should work effectively so long as they do not invite trouble by taking up sensitive issues like Malay rights and use such terms as “ethnic cleansing”.

Indians must bear in mind that it was the failure of opposition parties to bring up Indian issues that prompted Hindraf to bring up these issues, although its confrontational approach and some of its allegations were wrong.

It is foolish to think that Indians can teach the ruling party a lesson by voting for opposition parties. According to the political analyst Baradan Kuppusamy, who wrote in the Star on Feb 21, a counter reaction from other races is already visible and Malay and Chinese voters may turn out in large numbers to erase the gains to the opposition from Indians.

In Malaysian politics, it is not uncommon for Malaysians to abandon their traditional support to opposition parties and swing towards the ruling party in order to strengthen their communities’ bargaining power.

It is especially relevant now as the government is talking about of equitable distribution of opportunities among all races. If this happens, it will be “the end” for Indians. So think smart. Don’t be blinded by emotions.

MIC must play a direct role in bringing about social transformation so that the community is well equipped to avail the social and economic opportunities generated by the private and government sectors.

MIC’s best option, in this respect, would be to seek the support of volunteer groups (VG) within the community, comprising of educated Indians.

Among others, VGs will organise awareness programmes on education, jobs, trade opportunities and the government’s poverty reduction programs etc; educational programs to improve students’ performance; job and trade skills training programmes as well as handle other social and economic issues such as welfare aid etc., thereby laying a strong foundation of self-help within the community. A network of influential Indians and those with talents/skills will be established to draw support from the community.

Support can also be sought from relevant government and private institutions. Increased transparency in MIC may attract financial contributions from the community for its projects. Ultimately it is through self-help and self-reliance that the community can live in dignity.

Perhaps it is time to consider setting up an Indian Economic Congress, where we can freely discuss/review our successes, achievements, failures, opportunities, challenges, feedbacks, ideas, future strategies and actions etc.

Kanna Chennasamy
Seri Kembangan

Source: The Sun – February 25, 2008

The Malaysian Indian community is at a crossroads. Opposition parties are fielding more Indian candidates in the coming general election to capitalise on the perceived anti-establishment sentiments triggered by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and the discontentment among Indians towards MIC, which may see a major swing of Indian votes to the opposition.

On the other hand the government understands the Indians’ grouses and grievances and has taken steps to address them. Better employment and business opportunities may also be in the pipeline for Indians. They may as well work within the system to negotiate a better deal for them. Indians must decide wisely.

The government took measures to uplift the socio-economic status of the Indian community and is even willing to work with MIC on a monitoring mechanism because MIC is still relevant in coalition government.

This may well be a turning point for the Malaysian Indians, if they unite and give their full support to Barisan Nasional, thereby giving MIC the political clout.

Being a minority community, every Indian vote is valuable and should translate into political clout. MIC is the sole representative for Indians in the government and we cannot abandon the party. Leaders may be changed. In 1969, when Umno was perceived to have failed, Malays did not abandon the party. In fact there was even greater awareness to strengthen Umno’s ruling power.

The Indians’ position is the same. They need a strong presence in the ruling coalition to serve their interests best.

Indians cannot have a credible opposition. No one can win an election just on an Indian ticket. In 1970, the Indian university intake dropped to 2% (when the New Economic Policy was launched) and, sandwiched between the two giants (Umno and MCA) Indians saw zero hope.

No opposition party was willing to take up the issue. It was MIC’s persistent effort and powerful lobbying of the government that gradually increased the Indian intake to around 8% (until meritocracy was introduced).

Opposition parties will only pursue an issue seriously if it is in the best interest of the communities that form their support base. They have never fought for Indians’ interests.

If the opposition parties succeed they celebrate and Indians will be the losers. Indians must not become traitors to their own community by being instrumental to splitting their votes.

If MIC is weakened to the extent that it becomes irrelevant in the coalition government, Indians too will become irrelevant. It will be Malay, Chinese and others.

Indians are not economically strong and self-reliant like the Chinese to have the luxury of voting for the opposition. What they need is an NGO to pursue their issues as well as to monitor MIC, highlighting its shortcomings and failures.

This should work effectively so long as they do not invite trouble by taking up sensitive issues like Malay rights and use such terms as “ethnic cleansing”.

Indians must bear in mind that it was the failure of opposition parties to bring up Indian issues that prompted Hindraf to bring up these issues, although its confrontational approach and some of its allegations were wrong.

It is foolish to think that Indians can teach the ruling party a lesson by voting for opposition parties. According to the political analyst Baradan Kuppusamy, who wrote in the Star on Feb 21, a counter reaction from other races is already visible and Malay and Chinese voters may turn out in large numbers to erase the gains to the opposition from Indians.

In Malaysian politics, it is not uncommon for Malaysians to abandon their traditional support to opposition parties and swing towards the ruling party in order to strengthen their communities’ bargaining power.

It is especially relevant now as the government is talking about of equitable distribution of opportunities among all races. If this happens, it will be “the end” for Indians. So think smart. Don’t be blinded by emotions.

MIC must play a direct role in bringing about social transformation so that the community is well equipped to avail the social and economic opportunities generated by the private and government sectors.

MIC’s best option, in this respect, would be to seek the support of volunteer groups (VG) within the community, comprising of educated Indians.

Among others, VGs will organise awareness programmes on education, jobs, trade opportunities and the government’s poverty reduction programs etc; educational programs to improve students’ performance; job and trade skills training programmes as well as handle other social and economic issues such as welfare aid etc., thereby laying a strong foundation of self-help within the community. A network of influential Indians and those with talents/skills will be established to draw support from the community.

Support can also be sought from relevant government and private institutions. Increased transparency in MIC may attract financial contributions from the community for its projects. Ultimately it is through self-help and self-reliance that the community can live in dignity.

Perhaps it is time to consider setting up an Indian Economic Congress, where we can freely discuss/review our successes, achievements, failures, opportunities, challenges, feedbacks, ideas, future strategies and actions etc.

Kanna Chennasamy
Seri Kembangan

Source: The Sun – February 25, 2008

Dear Editor, I HAVE always been proud of the service provided by Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Unfortunately, my perception changed after what I went through recently.

I was supposed to leave for Beijing on flight CA0972 on Feb 21 at 12.50am.
I had earlier checked in my luggage, weighing 24.8kg and padlocked, at Counter G at 11am.

I arrived in Beijing two days later at 7.15am.

However, there was only dis appointment awaiting me. When I reclaimed my baggage at Beijing International Airport, I was shocked to find the padlock missing and the locks on my luggage had been broken.

Upon opening the luggage, I was dismayed to find the con tents in disarray.
To make matters worse, all the money in my 21 ang pow packets, worth about RM300, had gone missing.

However, the mystery of the missing padlock was soon solved.

I found it inside my luggage with the broken padlock switch attached. The empty ang pow packets were scattered throughout my luggage.

I suspect that the thief had cut the padlock switch.

I would like an explanation on how secure KLIA is when handling checked-in luggage, especially when it has been hailed as one of the world’s best airports, delivering world-class service to its travellers.

I am disappointed with the airport staff whom I had en trusted the care of my belongings to.

I hope KLIA’s management looks into the incident, as it could damage the airport’s good name if they have dishonest staff handling customers’ be longings.

Lai
Kuala Lumpur

Source: Malay Mail – February 25, 2008