TwoSen

I REFER to the letter “Monkey menace at the local varsity hostel” (The Star, Jan 30). The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) appreciates the issue highlighted.

In 2007, the DWNP received several complaints regarding the Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) at Universiti Malaya. The majority of the complaints were from Kolej Kediaman Tunku Bahiyah, Kolej Pertama and Fakulti Bahasa.

The population of the macaques is quite high at the university with current figures at about 150-180 monkeys. To date, the DWNP has trans-located 40 monkeys from the area, yet the problem still persists.

In matters involving human-wildlife conflict, the DWNP will give our commitment in reducing the problem.

The public can also do its part in informing us about the human-wildlife conflict in their area by calling 03-9075 2872 (ext 118) or lodging complaints at e-aduan (www. wildlife.gov.my).

The DWNP would also appreciate if the reports/complaints also mention the exact location and type of wildlife involved.

NOR AZEAN HASAN,

Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Putrajaya.

Source: The Star – February 15, 2008

I AM writing in response to a comment made by Lee CG from Penang entitled “Schools asking for private info”.

Firstly, we teachers never want to bother ourselves with such a tedious job like asking information about people’s salary, etc.

However, we need such information in order to select which pupils are entitled to receive the many types of bantuan (aid) from the Government.

We also need them to understand our pupils better and hence help them in a more effective way when they have problems.

Such private information is always kept in a file in a cabinet unless needed. Finally, we really don’t have the time to gossip about people’s salary.

My advice to Lee CG is: Go to your children’s schools and get to know the teachers and also the system.

CLI,

Butterworth, Penang.

Source: The Star – February 15, 2008

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s televised apology to the Aborigines is so refreshing.

We have become almost nauseated with inflated egos of so many political leaders. Sorry is almost non-existent in their vocabulary and even if it’s uttered, it is not out of sincerity.

An apology is a sign of weakness to them, but not so to Rudd. His sincerity made many teary eyed, including myself.

Many felt relief and a sense of healing is on its way. The apology was a sign of strength and a humane thing to do.

As we face the general election in our beloved country, let all politicians be reminded that they are merely human and also subjected to errors. But to say sorry, genuinely and truthfully, could help ordinary Malaysians be more forgiving, thus healing every hurt and mistake said and done.

RON,

Kuala Lumpur.

Source: The Star – February 15, 2008

I WOULD like to highlight our youths’ attitude toward the elections. Being a youth myself and being eligible to vote for the first time, it is quite depressing to learn that most of my peers are very ignorant and indifferent about voting.

Some say they don’t even care who wins and some even proclaim that they are planning to spoil their votes (undi rosak).

Today’s youths belong to the Internet generation. Most of us are active members, participants or observers of blogs, online message boards, groups and forums on the World Wide Web.

There are so many opinionated youths but they are never heard in the conventional media. Do a quick survey of the websites and you will see how liberal and open-minded youths are when discussing serious matters like politics.

Some have even set up online groups and campaigning online, with a huge number of followers. Whether they are actual youths or politicians in disguise I don’t know, and if they are politicians, I think they are very smart to make use of this.

They can also be very confusing, misleading and even damaging, especially when the Internet is unregulated and youths are on their own in deciding what is right or wrong.

The influence of the vast amount of opinions are strong on the youths’ decision-making process. It is a well-known fact that we would prefer to consider our peer’s opinions rather than that of politicians who are not in our age group.

What I suggest here is that leaders must revamp the way “campaigns” and “manifestos” are carried out so as to reach us.

They must not be concerned with just winning in the short term. It is vital that they figure out how to change the present attitudes of youths towards politics.

We are the future leaders of Malaysia. They have to understand our lifestyle. The same method used 10 years ago might not be applicable any more.

Focus on capturing our minds and groom us to be good decision-makers, or even “re-brand” the whole election process to suit us youths. Bring us closer to the government and reinforce in us that voting is indeed our responsibility.

OPINIONED YOUTH,

Subang Jaya, Selangor.

Source: The Star – February 15, 2008

I REFER to the letter “Sacrifice of teachers that hasn’t paid off” (The Star, Feb 13) and agree fully with it.

It is very demoralising and de-motivating for her sister-in-law to be deprived of her promotion and increment in pay after upgrading herself from DGA 29 to DG 41 at her own accord.

There are many teachers in the same predicament and it looks like the Education Ministry has forgotten about this group of teachers during the recent pay revision!

I fully understand what she is going through, as I am one of the unfortunate teachers as well. I taught for 11 years before embarking on a degree course that took me four years.

During that period, I had to leave my aged parents, my husband and my children and scrimp on my half-pay, just to complete my studies and upgrade myself at my own expense so that I can move up the rung of the ladder from a non-graduate teacher to a graduate teacher.

Alas! My sacrifice did not pay off. I made a foolish move. Now, after five years in DG41, my pay is even lower than those teachers in DGA 32 who are more junior than me in years of service.

Had I stayed put in DGA29, I would have moved up to DGA32 and drawn a higher salary by about RM400 than what I am receiving now in DG 41.

I feel so ashamed to meet my ex-colleagues who did not heed my advice to upgrade themselves then as they made a wiser choice than me.

I am in my 19th year of service and yet I am still considered a very junior teacher in the graduate scheme as all my 11 years in the non-graduate scheme are not taken into consideration. For me to be eligible for promotion to DG44 or to apply to further my studies or to attend courses, I also lose out as I have only served five years in the graduate scheme.

TAN PEI NEE,

Ipoh, Perak.

Source: The Star – February 15, 2008

READING the letter “Snip, snips, oops no snip” (The Star, Feb 12) has left me in awe on how ignorant and tactless some people can be.

I also have had some issues with the “over zealousness,” and sometimes the lack of it, of the censorship board. Although I agree with the writer’s predicament, allow me to highlight the attitudes some Malaysian moviegoers seem to possess.

I took several of my 17-year-old students to see Beowulf last year. The animated figures definitely bore striking resemblance to the actors and actresses. My students and I were really impressed with the realistic graphic images.

Certainly we and the other movie patrons didn’t fill the cinema with awe and there were no hushed whispers when Angelina Jolie appeared.

Initially, I thought the students would cringe with embarrassment but to my surprise, they showed a level of maturity. After the movie, they gushed about the realistic and artistic nature of Beowulf. Nothing on Jolie at all, and the same went for the other viewers. It really depends on one’s perception.

I beg to differ on the lack of warnings that Cloverfield makes you sick. Every single movie review that I have read about the movie carried the reminder that some viewers may experience discomfort, headaches and nausea.

Which brings me to another issue. While we were watching Sweeny Todd, some patrons beside us were making noises and remarks every time the characters broke into song.

Their comments of “Nyanyi lagi!” annoyed us as the movie is indeed a musical.

NAZREEN,

Mersing, Johor.

Source: The Star – February 15, 2008

MY son took a bus from Malacca back to his university in Kedah on Feb 13 . The bus apparently was stopped by JPJ officers in Seremban at around midnight because of a bald tyre.

For the bus to proceed on its journey, the tyre had to be changed and the passengers were made to wait until the next morning.

At 8.30am, they were still waiting. There was no sign of anybody coming to change the tyre or provide them with another bus so that they could continue their journey.

My son had to sit for his maths examination on Feb 14 and I was worried that he would be affected.

My complaint here is the irresponsible attitude of the bus company in helping their passengers as they had paid the fare. When my son asked the drivers on the latest update, he was informed that they were only bus drivers and could not make any decisions.

Is there any way that we as passengers can take legal action against the bus company for putting us in such hardship?

CONCERNED FATHER,

Malacca.

Source: The Star – February 15, 2008

OUT of the four international airports in Malaysia, Penang Airport remains the only one that offers no bus service to the general public for some untold reasons.

It is strange that Penang, being the major tourist destination and the second largest city in Malaysia, should choose to ignore such a vital bus service route to transport the locals and tourists to and from the main gateway of the nation.

Instead, every passenger is forced to take the most expensive taxi rides in Malaysia measured in terms of ringgit per km, or get on to the family car to join the perpetual traffic jam at the airport.

I remember well that Penang used to have a bus route offered by the Yellow Bus Co to the airport from George Town.

It is time to bring back the airport bus service and, if possible, extend the route all the way to the tourist belt in the northern beach area and another route to serve those staying in the mainland.

Otherwise, can the state authorities invite some private bus company to run some sort of limousine bus service to shuttle passengers to the major hotels in Penang ?

CLEMENT LIANG,

Penang.

Source: The Star – February 15, 2008

WE refer to the recent statement by Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu on direct payment to sub-contractors in the event the main contractor fails to pay or under-pays the sub-contractor.

The issue of non-payment, delayed payment and reduced payment to sub-contractors has plagued the construction industry for a long time. It is good the government has recognised the problem.

Generally, sub-contractors have few avenues to compel main contractors to pay what is due to them. The most common excuse is the non-preparation of the payment certificate or under-certification.

We have carried out a number of government jobs as a sub-contractor to main contractors, the most recent being a construction job in Penang. In nearly all cases, we have monies outstanding to us.

With reference to the minister’s statement, it would be helpful if he could detail the procedures or processes a sub-contractor has to follow to forward this issue to the authorities.

Is the minister’s statement also relevant to other ministries?

It would also be helpful if safeguards are introduced when jobs are awarded to main contractors to prevent either non-certification or under-certification and subsequent non-payment or under-payment for work carried out by sub-contractors.

Expecting the sub-contractor to finance the works cannot continue and will lead to a disaster for the construction industry.

A.H.M.Y., Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – February 15, 2008

HAVING switched from using my car to using the Light Rail Transit system to get to work, I was greeted by long queues behind the lone manual ticketing counter, the other one displaying the “Tutup” sign.

What baffled me was the fact that all four automated ticketing machines at the Kelana Jaya LRT were functioning yet not a single soul was using it.

I decided to be the guinea pig and used the machine to buy a RM2.10 ticket to KL Sentral, only to unravel the mystery behind the non-existent queues: the machine would only accept a single RM1 note.

In other words, after inserting my first RM1, the machine refused to accept the second ringgit note.

A second bottleneck is the fact that only one exit gate, at most, is equipped with a Touch ‘n Go reader.

Why not install the readers on all exit gates and encourage the public to use these cards instead of wasting time lining up for the manual tickets?

I propose the following to RapidKL: tweak the automated ticketing machines to accept multiple ringgit notes; install Touch ‘n Go readers on all exit gates and keep all counters open during peak hours.

VIJAYANDHRAN VALAYATHAM, Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – February 15, 2008