TwoSen

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

WE REFER to the ongoing discussion on dental, medical and healthcare costs in Malaysia. In Implants cost too much (The Star, Feb 23) oral implants were likened to treatment for bone fractures.

Comparing the cost of dental implants to the local price of a cup of coffee does not make sense. This is because a major cost of a dental implant is the cost of the imported prosthesis itself.

More than just the cost of materials, oral implantology is a multi-stage multi-disciplinary treatment procedure. The surgical component (i.e. the placement of the implant within the bone) is performed by the implantologist/oral surgeon.

In fact, we invite interested medical surgeons to equip themselves with the proper training and accreditation that enable them to perform this surgical procedure.

The demand for oral implants is far higher than what dentists in this country can cope with. Having well-trained medical surgeons to help out in the surgical process will be a welcome bonus.

The next step involves designing an artificial tooth over the implant. When a patient requests an implant, this tooth component is the one he or she will see and use every day.

Therefore, this stage is best carried out by a dentist properly trained in treatment planning, dental occlusion, function and aesthetics.

Based on the dentist’s exact specifications and detailed instructions, the prosthesis (tooth) is custom-made in the laboratory by a dental technician. Finally, this prosthesis is precisely attached to the implant.

Function and cosmetics are examined clinically. This multi-stage, multi-disciplinary approach is important to ensure that each stage is done by an expert in that field, to ascertain the best possible treatment outcome.

The dental implant of today is by no means the ultimate replacement for missing teeth. Further research and development (R&D) is required.

Currently, essential/basic dental treatment like extraction, pain relief, fillings, scaling, and infection management are already affordably priced. These procedures are cheaper than most medical surgical treatment.

We are working towards a time when dental implants are no longer an optional luxury but a common affordable treatment alternative, just as cars were once exclusive to the rich but are now commonplace.

We can achieve all this and more only with the understanding and cooperation of our medical colleagues and the public.

Who knows, with support from all parties and sufficient funds for R&D, the option of replacing a missing tooth with a new one grown from stem cells may soon be available.

DR FOO CHI CHEAN,
President – Malaysian Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

DRMELISSA FOO SUYIN,
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Hospital Sungai Buloh.

Source: The Star – February 25, 2008

MY husband sent an SMS with his identity card number to the 33333 number to check his voting station. In response he got a surprising message “Rekod tidak ditemui. Sila daftar sbg pemileh dahulu (Record not found. Please register as a voter first)”.

He later called dialled 03-55113857 and an officer told him that his voting centre was at a Chinese school in Kampar, Perak, his hometown.

I decided to check out my centre and the officer replied that my name was not registered.

I explained to him that I had voted in Subang Jaya previously. He took down my old identity card number and handphone number. He said he needed time to check and would call back. I hope the verification can be done before March 8, so that we can vote at the Subang Jaya centre.

Both our names were dropped due to a technical glitch in 2004. Our names disappeared, despite the Election Commission’s confirmation earlier that our names were in.

I had registered as a voter in Bangsar and had voted there twice until I moved to Subang. I registered the change of address and had voted here in the 1999 elections.

For the 1999 elections we did our change of address at a small booth in a row of MPPJ stalls near the Sg Way Free Trade Zone. The recording was done manually and we got the card confirming the registration by post within two days.

I was truly amazed at their level of accuracy and efficiency. In 2004, we heard that it was a paperless, electronic system.

My husband’s centre was Kampar till he moved to Kuala Lumpur and registered here. Now, the software has put him back in Kampar.

Can someone from the SMS messaging centre explain how it got the info that my husband has not registered?

And, can the Election Commission let me know how my name got lost? Can the NGOs with “Election Watch 2008” set up some ‘help desks’ for people like us who have to go ‘hunting’?

I would like to suggest that a ‘smart team’ be set up to do the needful and confirm that the 2004 technical glitch is solved, and the voting public advised accordingly.

MENA JEYARAM,
Subang Jaya, Selangor.

Source: The Star – February 25, 2008

WE have an open slash-and-burn problem in Panglima Garang, Selangor, that is causing Bandar Botanic and Bukit Tinggi in Klang to be blanketed in haze these past weeks!

The open burning only happens at night when we are all asleep. The haze happens also daily and is seriously affecting our health and outdoor activities.

The constant complaints made to the Department of Environment (DOE) are futile and I hope The Star can help bring those responsible to book.

I am ashamed to see such problems happening in our own backyard when we always complain about similar misdeeds in a neighbouring country!

DISAPPOINTED,
Klang, Selangor.

Source: The Star – February 25, 2008

I REFER to Irked by ridiculous school rules as well as Silly school rules will de-motivate pupils (The Star, Feb 21 and 22).

I am a former 6th Form student and a former Prefectorial Board Council Member of a secondary boys’ school. Throughout the 13 years of my schooling life I have been a normal student and also a prefect.

As a prefect, I had to make sure I followed all the school rules before I ensured the students followed them.

School rules are not meant to torture the students. I had to follow and get used to new rules, and after a while it became a habit for me.

It was never a torture and I had no complaints or problems because every school rule has a reason behind it – and that only would be understood when one is dealing with all the disciplinary problems in school.

For example, hair gel is strictly not allowed in school because some students use gel to spike up their hair and attend school daily like that. What kind of a value does the student show? This is school and not a place to compete on who’s spiked up hairstyle is better.

Schools banned the use of correction fluid because students use it not to correct their work but to scribble on the walls, chairs and tables in school.

A student is not punished immediately on the first day he or she commits an offence but is first given a warning by the prefect and then by the discipline master. If the student still refuses to follow the rule, then action is taken.

The student is given sufficient time before any action is taken so I don’t understand why anyone should complain. Since parents have enrolled their kids in school, let the teachers deal with them. Only step in when parents are needed to do so.

Don’t always judge things by listening only to the students. The school needs support from parents to help students do better not only in studies but also in other things, and these are the small things that build leadership and communication skills.

Some parents have no idea what a nuisance their children can be at school, as some students have split personalities.

I hope parents understand that most of the disciplinary teachers are parents themselves and they, too, have to make sure their children follow the same school rules like any other student.

POULOMI CHOUDHURY,
Seremban.

Source: The Star – February 25, 2008

READING the articles Scarred for life (The Star, Feb 9) and Pupil punched for not finishing homework (The Star, Feb 7), I wonder why some quick-tempered teachers still choose to stay in the profession.

Do children deserve to be slapped and punched for misconduct in school? Are these forms of punishment fair to children who are of a very tender age?

Physically and violently punishing children in school should not be condoned, and it must be strictly addressed by the authorities to ensure punishment is not detrimental to a child’s mental well-being.

The school principal should deplore such an act by teachers under them and should not ignore the matter and blindly protect the teachers for their unjustifiable action.

Teachers who punish their pupils in a violent manner and cause serious bodily injury should be chided.

Punishing children in a violent manner is not the way to educate them. This will only instil fear and hatred in children to attending school.

Quick-tempered teachers need supervision before children begin to hate studying and going to school.

The late crime buster ACP S. Kulasingam was a teacher before joining the police force. He confessed that he could not continue working as a teacher as he was a quick-tempered person. He thus decided to quit teaching.

A personality test to gauge the traits of would-be teachers should be conducted periodically to weed out those who are not fit to be in the profession.

Dr M.A. NAIR,
Bandar Muadzam Shah, Pahang.

Source: The Star – February 25, 2008

I WRITE in response to Censorship lax because of lack of understanding of language (The Star, Feb 22). I find it both amusing and immature that there are people out there actually complaining that they got to watch the whole movie.

I vividly remember the days when entire scenes were cut off from movies screened in the cinemas, to the point where viewers were not able to understand the movie at all.

Contrary to ‘English Movie Fan,’ I credit the censors for finally progressing with the times, and understanding that our society is mature enough to accept scenes of violence or affection and are able to decide for ourselves what is good, bad and in between.

Vulgarity, along with violence, and kissing scenes, and even perhaps the odd love-making scene (no nudity) is part of the movie experience, it is part of the storyline.

It is sufficient to rate the movies, and ensure cineplexes nationwide adhere to the rules regarding the sale of tickets to underage persons. Kudos to our Censorship Board for its work, which in my opinion has been steadily improving and exceptionally tolerant.

I am truly dumbfounded how watching “an arrow shot by Rambo piercing the skull of a Myanmar soldier and exiting his forehead” is too gory. Really, if you’re watching Rambo and it’s been rated 18SG, you couldn’t possibly be expecting sheep and daisies, right?

If some people are unable to watch movies with an open mind, then they should close their eyes and ears. The rest of us mature movie fans should not be short-changed because of some. Keep up the good work, Censorship Board.

MOHD AZALI YUSOH,
Subang Jaya, Selangor.

Source: The Star – February 25, 2008

I REFER to Set up investment scheme for Indians (The Star, Feb 11). I agree with the writer that the Government via PNB should immediately launch an investment scheme for Malaysians of Indian origin along the lines of Amanah Saham Bumiputera.

This scheme together with the other proposals like civil service employment, university entrances, scholarships and poverty eradication put forward by the Deputy Prime Minister should be given serious attention by all concerned parties.

Barisan Nasional should include the uplifting of the economic status of the Indian community in its election manifesto and clearly outline the measures (planning, implementation and monitoring) that will be undertaken to achieve the target goals and dates.

To ensure that the proposals are not forgotten or the momentum slowing down after the elections, it is suggested that a special parliamentary committee be set up to regularly monitor and assess the implementation progress.

Government agencies responsible for the implementation of the various proposals should be held accountable for the success of the schemes and should report directly to the special parliamentary committee.

To help eradicate poverty, the Government should also assist Indians to own houses by making it mandatory for housing developers to provide a discount (say 7%-10%) when purchasing newly developed houses.

The Government will benefit by sincerely helping the Indian community to achieve economic progress.

Economic progress for the Indians would translate to crime reduction, elimination of unlawful demonstrations, investor confidence, peaceful co-existence with other communities and a host of other benefits.

H. SINGH, Waikato, New Zealand.

Source: The Star – February 25, 2008