TwoSen

THE Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing would like to express its appreciation for Dr Goh Ban Lee’s views and comments in his article titled “Urban wellbeing is no small matter” (Local Counsel, Nov 17).

This article clearly demonstrates the writer’s interest, sensitivity and concern on the formation of the Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing in line with the prime minister’s concern that the government should be more serious in handling the issue of urban poverty as Malaysia’s urbanisation grows at a more rapid pace.

Therefore, the ministry has taken the initiative to flesh out its role through discussions with various ministries and agencies, by studying the requirements for a more effective policy and mechanism to combat urban poverty and by clarifying the areas covered under urbanisation to ensure that the ministry is able to perform its duties properly, in line with the prime minister’s vision.

Referring to the writer’s comment on the lack of updates on the ministry’s organisational chart, the ministry has conducted an investigation and discovered that the address referred to was the ministry’s disabled English website.

The current organisational chart can be accessed via the official Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing website in Malay (www.kwp.gov.my) which was updated as soon as the new cabinet lineup under the prime minister was announced on April 10.

The English version of the official ministry website should not have been accessible. However, because of some technical issues, the website could be reached via the address www.kwp.gov.my/cmsen. This could lead to the dissemination of unofficial and inaccurate information.

As soon as the ministry was made aware of this situation, we took immediate action to wipe out the information from the ministry’s website. We are also updating the website to better reflect the changes in the ministry.

However, the Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing would like to apologise to the writer with regards to the confusion surrounding this issue.

The ministry welcomes all constructive comments and criticism from the writer in our efforts to handle the urban poverty issue with emphasis on sustainable development in our urban areas. The ministry believes that the writer’s willingness to share his experience and expertise will be of great assistance in our efforts in achieving 1Malaysia – People First, Performance Now.

Mazurah Ismail
Head of Corporate
Communication
Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing

Source: The Sun – December 17, 2009

I WISH to comment on the request by opposition lawmakers for a ministerial statement on the RM58 billion plunge in the national oil company’s revenue before the end of the current meeting of the Dewan Rakyat.

The lawmakers must understand that since the formation of Petronas in 1974 until 2007, this company had given the government RM335.7 billion out of a total profit of RM570 billion, but yet we still doubt its management capability and expected performance.

Petronas has been the nation’s pride and shown its credibility in competing with other global oil companies. Recently, in a strategic venture with Shell and CNPC it won an Iraq oilfield contract.

It is true that Petronas reported a 37.5% fall in revenue to RM98.18 billion in the first half ended Sept 30, 2009 from RM157.2 billion for the same period last year, but it was during a global financial crisis when most stock markets fell, large financial institutions collapsed or were bought out, and governments of some of the wealthiest nations had to come up with rescue packages to bail out their companies.

Petronas has a good track record and I believe its self-discipline is at the heart of good governance and it has people of high personal integrity and good business judgment.

Political pressures may deliberately limit competition and compromise the efficiency of Petronas. I understand that Petronas’s income stream is a public interest issue and it is far from perfect but for all intents and purposes, Petronas is a public-listed company and is rated by agencies like Standard and Poors, and Moody. Politicians should be more trusting of this company.

Mohd Fadhil Ali
Subang Jaya

Source: The Sun – December 17, 2009

I REFER to “Premium on good manners” (Letters, Dec 16). I believe that most of the examples of poor behaviour are the consequences of poor infrastructure development.

As a driver myself, I do not waste time on the road if I can reach my destination much earlier than later, but I do not do this at the expense of others.

As an LRT patron myself, I admit that some people are ignorant when they see an elderly or a pregnant woman onboard. But I do understand why commuters rush into the train as soon as the train door opens, especially during peak hours.

If our train systems were timely and efficient, people would not behave in this manner. This is because patrons know that they will get onto a train on time and reach their destination within an estimated time frame. But you cannot possibly plan for this if you are in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

I take the LRT from Bangsar regularly and I am often frustrated to see empty trains whisk by the station because it needs to go KL Sentral to fetch passengers, all at the expense of equally deserving patrons at other stations. This is not fair.

You do not find this happening in the UK because the public transportation there is timely.

Angeline Gabriel
Kuala Lumpur

Source: The Sun – December 17, 2009

LOOKS like the government will not budge on the RM50 tax on each principal credit card come January. Despite the outcry, it has turned a deaf ear. The relevant ministry has not indicated if there will be a review.

This issue will be exploited at the next general election. The government’s argument is that this tax is imposed to inculcate prudent spending among credit card users. Who had advised the finance minister that such taxes will lead to prudent spending?

The only guaranteed outcome of such a tax is an increase in revenue for the government. The government must show some data on how prudent spending can be achieved and what are the positive outcomes that can be translated as beneficial to the economy. As an ardent user of credit cards, I am now forced to cancel all except maybe one or two of my cards. We will be forced to carry cash which is not safe especially for the elderly, retired and women.

Also, many will postpone or not make a purchase due to lack of cash for retail purchases which could be paid by interest-free instalments charged to the card. This will result in less retail sales translating into a lower turnover for business. Meaning less income and less overall taxes paid to the government. Has this chain reaction been thought through by policymakers? Plastic money is one of the economic drivers, especially within the microeconomic platform. Excessive spending is not due to credit cards per se. There are many other contributing factors.

And what is the percentage of non-performing loans due to credit card use in Malaysia? Is it even significant to the pool of non-performing loans. Will the credit card tax make any huge contribution to the reduction in NPLs? It is critical that the authorities dissect the issue of imposing this new tax. The habit of spending excessively is born out of indiscipline, ignorance and the ease of obtaining credit cards.

Do not punish the majority for the negligence of a few. It is time the government checks the practice of handing out credit cards with no proper credit worthiness assessment of the applicant. The issuers must be more responsible and diligent before punishing their customers and not vice versa.

Narinder Pal Singh
Shah Alam

Source: The Sun – December 17, 2009

MORE and more public roads in many neighbourhoods throughout the Klang Valley are being barricaded to prevent the public from using them. This is ostensibly to prevent burglars or snatch thieves or whomever to move freely through a given neighbourhood.

I understand the concern of the citizens to protect themselves from this sometimes real – and sometimes imagined – threat. But vigilantism – the taking of the law into your own hands – is not the answer. If residents have no faith in the police’s capability to ensure their safety, this is an issue that must be worked out through political channels, not by hijacking public roads.

Public roads are there for anyone – anyone at all – to use. That’s why they are PUBLIC roads. Barricading or “privatising” these roads is illegal.

I wonder if the irony escapes most residents’ committees that by illegally blocking public roads to, somehow, stop law-breakers, they themselves become law-breakers. So either work through the proper channels to make the random barricading of our roads legal. Or stop doing it.

It would be like me commandeering a public bus and forcing everyone off except the few people I felt comfortable around, just because it made me feel safer, regardless of the public’s right to use the bus. Legal? Obviously not. So why should commandeering our roads and denying the public access to them be seen any differently?

The police, as usual, seem unsure of what the law is regarding this straightforward matter. Otherwise they would not allow it. But their attitude seems to be: “Hey, if this makes neighbourhoods feel safer, then, sure, block all the roads you want. I’m sure the public would understand. It’s for the greater good, after all.”

The greater good is actually that we Malaysians follow the law and do not take the law into our own hands. Because once you start ignoring some laws, it becomes a slippery slope to ignoring other laws …

If you want private roads, move to a private housing development. Otherwise, respect the right of the rakyat to use the public roads we pay for with our taxes.

If neighbourhood crime is the problem, barricading thousands of public roads throughout the Klang Valley is not the answer.

Law Abiding PR
Petaling Jaya

Source: The Sun – December 17, 2009

Source: Slippery steps to car park

by Indra Benwatt, Kuala Lumpur IT is a nightmare for me and other drivers who park their cars daily at the open-air car-park next to the Bangsar LRT station. The steps that lead to the car-park at Menara UOA are broken, steep, narrow, slippery and pose a danger to commuters using it.

The Sun – December 15, 2009

Source: Insensitive attitudes push patients overseas

by Narinder Pal Singh, Shah Alam I READ with much interest “Our doctors hold their own” (Letters, Dec 10) written by Dr Daniel Wong Wai Yan. There is no doubt that his opinion had a tinge of annoyance and anger in regards to cancer patients seeking treatment in other countries. Agreed, there are many equally qualified and skilled doctors in our country, but he must realise that the ultimate choice is within the hands of the patients. Dr Daniel would have come across some doctors who behave like demi-gods on their own ground, but has he not noticed that some doctors in Malaysia think they are God and questioning them is regarded sinful?

The Sun – December 14, 2009

Source: Many questions over LRT extensions

by M.Vivekananda, Subang Jaya DURING the Public Forum on Sustainable Public Transportation held at the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia on July 11, the salient point that was conclusively stated by the panel of experts was that an efficient bus system can be set up for public transport at a fraction of the cost of an LRT system. Why has this option not been exhaustively explored before embarking on the LRT line extensions especially so when the cost savings are substantial considering that the initial estimated cost of the proposed LRT is RM7 billion for the extensions of the Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines?

The Sun – December 14, 2009

Source: Maid agencies must do more

by Patricia Nunis, Via email

IT is a good idea to ensure that employers and maids are clear of their mutual rights and obligations. This should be done at the beginning of the contract.

The Sun – December 13, 2009

Source: This is not safe driving

by Chen SL, Via email I REFER to a car advertisement broadcast on TV which shows a pregnant woman driving her car recklessly to the hospital. This advertisement is “disgusting”, in the way it delivers its message.

The Sun – December 13, 2009