TwoSen

WHEN two people get married and have children, they are liable for their children till they are independent to take care of themselves. Leaving children unattended or at risks shows that the parents are not responsible.

In western countries, if anything happens to the children, the parents are sent to jail and the children sent to welfare or foster homes. Parents are also given counselling.

In Malaysia, parents take the safety of their children for granted and send small kids to buy

provisions or leave them alone to play. Recently we have read about many mishaps concerning young kids.

There are more parents who abandon their kids. Mostly, it is the men who do that, leaving behind a trail of single mothers who shoulder many responsibilities such as looking after the kids as well as doing odd jobs to make ends meet.

Some are even living in rented rooms with their kids. I propose that the parent who abandons his or her family be punished.

Some parents do not send their children to school although education is free now. Even if they have financial problems, there are many non-governmental organisations and government bodies which are willing to help.

If they still deny their children proper education, they should be punished.

Some parents, especially single parents, complain that they are unable to control their kids and make them behave, study or attend courses.

That is why both parents are needed to nurture a kid properly.

It is proven in many studies that kids from broken homes cause problems in the families as well as society.

They need attention, love and care.

Based on my experience as a discipline teacher, indiscipline in children is the result of problems at home.

SOCIAL WORKER,

PETALING JAYA.

Source: The Star – February 5, 2008

I HAVE twice complained at the main post office in Kuah, Langkawi, concerning the non-arrival of mail.

On both occasions, I was promised that they would investigate and get back to me. I have not received any reply.

Naturally, I also had my postal address checked at the post office.

My problem is I do not or very rarely, receive letters from Britain. Postcards don’t appear to be a problem. My sister who lived in my house for six months had the same problem.

I mentioned this to many British people staying here and their experience is identical. I have also mentioned this on Langkawi-online only to be told that the same thing happens to locals.

This suggests that there is quite an issue here with the non-arrival of mail. Where has it gone to? Is it lost or stolen?

I am interested to read the response from the Head of Corporate Communications and what his department intends to do to rectify this problem.

ROBERT JAMES JOHN TALBOT,

Langkawi.

Source: The Star – February 5, 2008

OBJECTIONS have been raised by various quarters on the proposed high-rise commercial development of the vacant narrow strip of 6.2 acres of land in Federal Hill, located along Jalan Travers between the Caltex petrol station and Balai Polis Jalan Travers, opposite KL Sentral in Kuala Lumpur which is known as Lot 55, Section 70, Jalan Travers.

This high value piece of Federal Government-owned land designated “institution” use (for the police), serves as an essential buffer between the quiet low density low-rise residential Federal Hill and the busy commercial centre of KL Sentral.

Lot 55 is in fact an ideal site for the Natural History Museum of Malaysia, a proposal by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and Badan Warisan Malaysia (BWM).

It is highly visible being right in front of the busy KL Sentral, close to the transportation hub, and near other museums.

Expert landscaping with trees, plants, etc., is needed befitting its name and to blend into the overall environment of Federal Hill.

The Natural History Museum of Malaysia will be our national heritage, legacy and pride, for the benefit of all 26 million Malaysians and therefore should take precedence over any commercial development which would only benefit a few.

The Balai Polis in Jalan Travers should remain in its present location and the proposed police quarters should be located elsewhere.

I call upon Lembah Pantai MP Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, FT Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique and KL mayor Datuk Abdul Hakim Borhan to stop the proposed high-rise

high density commercial development of two 30-storey and one 16-storey buildings on Lot 55, and in its place site the Natural History Museum of Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur.

Source: The Star – February 5, 2008

THE Perak government should rethink the RM200 million resort project in the heart of the Belum Forest as the development will only cause destruction to the tranquillity and beauty of Belum Forest.

If we are indeed targeting nature tourism, the focus should be on backpacking and campsites to preserve the natural surrounding.

No amount of tourist dollars generated from the proposed resort will replace the trees, streams and swamps, animals, insects, flora and fauna which might be lost forever during and after the construction on 2,000ha in Pulau Besar.

JOHN HO, Masai, Johor

Source: NST – February 5, 2008

I REFER to your report on “Swapping prisoners” (NST, Feb 2 ).

It is an innovative idea to bring back Malaysian prisoners from abroad and to transfer foreign prisoners to their home countries.

It is indeed appalling to read that there are currently 11,868 foreign prisoners in the country. Even if one of the concepts of imprisonment may be to rehabilitate them, it is beyond doubt that nothing much can be done for these foreign prisoners as they are from a different background and culture.

Furthermore, detaining such prisoners for long periods just for the sake of punishment is in a way punishing ourselves as we are paying for the cost of their food and safety with no beneficial results whatsoever.

There are no available statistics as to what extent imprisonment can change the attitude of a criminal.

Hard-core criminals tend to return to criminal activities as soon as they are out of prison. This has been the case with repeat offenders.

Rehabilitation programmes seem to have no positive effect on them.

If this is the case with our own prisoners, what is the use of detaining foreign culprits in our prisons for long periods?

It only results in overcrowding and extra expenses.

G. JOHNSON, Johor Baru

Source: NST – February 5, 2008

I REFER to your report on Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad’s decision to push ahead with the insurance for maids (”Insurance for maids to cost only RM75″ — NST, Jan 17).

Why are employers made to pay such a huge sum for annual insurance for medical and accident insurance? Employers are already paying Fomema RM190 every year for medical check-up of maids.

If the ministry wants to push for medical insurance, then the government should do away with the annual Fomema medical check-up.

A medical check-up year after year is a huge cost for employers to bear. Most Malaysians cannot even afford to have a medical check-up once in a lifetime.

The majority of employers are not affluent. The maids are a necessity because both spouses have to work to make ends meet.

T.P.H., Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – February 5, 2008

I REFER to your report “Ministry drops plan to export monkey” (NST, Feb 2).

Nature lovers against animal experiments and monkeys ending up in the cooking pot will give a round of applause to the decision of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

However, it was also worrying that the ministry had discovered that about 80 per cent of urban monkeys had contracted deadly diseases and were deemed unfit for export.

They were found to have deadly diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis and AIDS, according to the report.

This reminds me of the hundreds of monkeys when I visited Batu Caves a couple of weeks ago.

For the visitors, the monkeys are cute, funny and photogenic. However, the public needs to be educated that humans can be infected with diseases carried by the monkeys if there is close contact.

Veterinary experts have called for relocation programmes, reproduction controls and public education to stop residents from feeding or teasing the animals. Sterilisation and humane culling have also been suggested.

Education could be done at tourist attractions like Batu Caves. Put up a signboard or distribute information through leaflets to prevent unpleasant incidents.

Abandoning the export plan is a good move, but it does not mean that the urban monkeys should be left wandering in the cities without further action after their homes have been destroyed by unplanned development.

THING SIEW SHUEN, Johor Baru

Source: NST – February 5, 2008

HARDEV Kaur is right to take issue with the inconsistent application of policy prescriptions in global affairs (”Now, it’s the whole world’s turn to save the US” — NST, Feb 1).

One rule for the powerful and another for the rest stinks. But I’m not sure if the principle can be rigorously applied at all costs. On the issue in question, it may be prudent to take economic pragmatism into account.

On economic weight, one cannot possibly compare any one of the countries that fell victim to the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis with the United States. Or for that matter, compare all of the countries combined with the US.

However much we might begrudge the reality, it remains the case that when the US — for now still the largest economy in the world — sneezes, the rest of the world catches the cold.

Far from the whole world being called to save the US, self-preservation might suggest prudence in lending the US a hand in ameliorating its subprime mortgage crisis.

How, and to what extent? I’m no economist, but I would be keen to hear from one. Hardev mentions Jeffrey Sachs, from her alma mater Harvard. He’s as good an arbiter in my book as any.

BOEY KOK CHOY, Shah Alam

Source: NST – February 5, 2008

I AM prompted to write this letter because I observe that the Malaysian postal service has deviated from its role, which is to provide an efficient postal service in Malaysia.

Posting a letter or parcel in a post office is a hassle nowadays with long queues and slow service.

I went to the post office at Batu 9, Cheras several times last month to post letters and parcels.

I noticed that, usually, three counters are open for service at any given time.

However, two of the counters are purely dedicated to bill collection (water, electricity, handphone and Astro bills).

The third counter, known as the multipurpose counter, has slow-moving long queues as people fumble to fill forms to post, buy money orders, renew licences and remit money to unit trusts.

It takes me an average of 45 minutes waiting in line to post my parcels and letters which, by the way, takes less than five minutes.

Just imagine how those who line up to buy a few 50 sen stamps to post their New Year cards feel. How nice it would be to have a counter just to sell stamps and handle Pos Laju.

I hope Pos Malaysia will improve its counter services for mailing letters, rather than just focus on becoming a bill collection agency.

KENNY GOH, Cheras, Selangor

Source: NST – February 5, 2008

THIS is a complaint on the service provided by Telekom Malaysia Berhad for my Streamyx subscription.

I signed up for the service in April last year, agreeing to pay RM77 a month for a period of two years.

From the very first bill, the amount due, at RM91, was higher than agreed.

Two months later, Streamyx failed to credit a payment made through an ATM machine and later sent me a letter that services would be disconnected unless payment was received.

At the same time, Streamyx combined its bill with my telephone bill on the pretext that this was done for customers’ convenience.

I believe the sole beneficiary of such a policy is Telekom itself because they can now collect both telephone and Streamyx charges at once.

As for me, the telephone bill has nearly doubled, which makes payment on time more difficult. As a self-employed person, whose monthly income is staggered, I do not find big bills customer-friendly at all.

My latest payment was three days after the due date and Telekom promptly issued a reminder with the accompanying disconnection threat. Telekom needs six months to adjust discrepancies and complaints in billing, such as the overcharge I mentioned above.

If they require prompt payment, why can’t they also promptly rectify their mistakes? After nearly nine months of subscribing and numerous complaints, I still have to be billed for the right amount of RM77. On top of that, arrears, which are in fact overcharges on the part of Telekom, still appear on my monthly bills.

Every time there is a complaint, it is my responsibility to contact Telekom or go to their office in person, thus wasting precious time and money. Contacting their Customer Service Centre at 100 was disappointing as I am put on hold for an extended period of time.

I have no complaints about the Streamyx Internet connection itself. However, because of the poor service offered to me as a subscriber and Telekom’s business tactics, which I feel are unfair and unethical at times, I regret ever taking up the Streamyx subscription.

M.A., Ipoh

Source: NST – February 5, 2008