TwoSen

IT is generally accepted that we have made tremendous progress in providing quality education for our young generation.

But the disparity in facilities in schools needs a re-examination. It is our duty to make sure that our younger generation receives the best education in appropriate surroundings and proper facilities.

Due to the categorisation of our schools, some have better facilities than others.

The government must make sure that students enjoy facilities that meet the minimum standards set by the authorities.

Setting minimum standards for the physical facilities that are conducive to effective teaching and learning activities, including co-curricular activities for primary and secondary schools, should not pose a problem to the Education Ministry.

Steps should be taken to ensure that schools considered “below par” are upgraded.

The authorities should set the criteria for minimum standards for such schools, and give them a timeframe to improve their facilities, and the government should allocate funds to make sure the facilities are of the required standard.

K. NARAYANASAMY, Malacca

Source: NST – February 15, 2008

I DROVE home to Muar from Kuala Lumpur during the Chinese New Year holidays last week.

On Sunday, I travelled back to Kuala Lumpur hoping to avoid any traffic jam. Unfortunately, 10km from the Port Dickson exit, a traffic jam was building up because of an accident.

The jam was due to so many inconsiderate drivers using the emergency lane to jump the queue.

This was being done not only by cars but also big lorries and buses. They just zoomed along the emergency lane and entered the normal lane when it suited them. We, the rule-abiding drivers, had to endure the torture of waiting in the right lane.

Nobody was around to deter these drivers from using the emergency lane.

I read in the newspapers recently that the traffic police and Road Transport Department are getting new staff.

Couldn’t they spare at least some of them to patrol the highways during festive holidays?

If there are not enough officers, why don’t we deploy recruits from the police and RTD academy and put them on highways with digital cameras to take pictures of these culprits and nab them?

M.Z.A., Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – February 15, 2008

I REFER to your preview of the card game Havoc in your Saturday supplement (NST, Feb 2). You referred to the 100 Years War as the War of the Roses. These are two different wars.

The 100 Years War was a conflict between England and France from 1337 to 1453, and fought mainly on French soil.

The War of the Roses was an English civil war (1455 to 1485), and was fought mainly on British soil.

WAN ABU BAKAR WAN TEH IBRAHIM, Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – February 15, 2008

ON Feb 9, I was travelling on the North-South Expressway heading for Ipoh. At the Km38 stretch and 1km before the exit to Behrang, there was an express bus stalled in the emergency lane.

There were two people at the back of the bus checking its engine. I assumed that they were the bus driver and his assistant. There was another man 50m away from those two men.

He was signalling with his hands to warn other motorists about the bus so that they would not veer into the path of the bus.

The way he was dressed, I am certain that this man was not an employee of the bus company but one of the passengers of the bus.

Should this not be the role of the bus driver or his assistant? I know his intentions were good and no doubt he knew what he was doing but who is to be blamed if a car runs out of control and rams into him?

MOHD FAIZAL ABDULLAH, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – February 15, 2008

I READ with interest the views on macaque control and the earlier letters on the conservation of Bukit Kiara.

There is a macaque explosion in Bukit Kiara and it is partly due to the public feeding the monkeys, not consciously but unwittingly, by leaving discarded food in garbage bins provided by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur.

Many people have complained that the conservation of Bukit Kiara is being compromised by the activities of DBKL in improving the old trails in the forest.

But then, some of these same people do not behave as responsible members of the public in maintaining the environment. In any botanical or nature reserve anywhere in the world, it is prohibited to leave rubbish around.

All personal garbage has to be taken out.

Those who would want to eat or drink as they enjoy their walk up Bukit Kiara must ensure that all garbage is carried back home.

Perhaps, DBKL should not put garbage bins in Bukit Kiara and should instead erect signboards to educate the people.

T.Q.T., Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – February 15, 2008

I AGREE with Victor Chew of Subang Jaya (”Look at record of candidates, parties” - NST, Feb 11) who wrote “that we practise a political system that allows us to vote for the people we want to represent us and to form the government. Do not listen to the rhetoric of seasoned politicians during campaigning, but look at the track record of individuals and parties”.

How then do we choose leaders?

For new candidates, their talents, competencies and education must be made known to the voters. For seasoned politicians, their scorecard rating should be shown.

As elected representatives of the community, they should be committed to their roles and responsibilities.

Emphasis should also be given to the communicative abilities of the individuals, since about 70 per cent of a leader’s job involves thinking and dealing with different people.

MENA JEYARAM, Subang Jaya

Source: NST – February 15, 2008

AS a veteran voter for democracy, peace, progress and prosperity of the nation and its people, let me salute Malaysians who are getting ready to exercise their democratic rights at the 12th general election.

It is a fact that Malaysia has been able to stay democratic since its independence. Malaysians, too, have become more united, always electing a government in which every race is represented.

As a registered voter since 1957, at every general election, I have tried to be the first voter, accompanied by family members and associates, to report at our polling stations to cast our votes. At the time of marking and placing our ballot papers in boxes, we pray for victory for democracy.

I have observed at every general election Malaysians exercising their rights and turning out in full force to uphold the principles of democracy.

I am not a member of any political party.

But as a pioneer, a senior citizen and a non-pensioner, I am proud of Malaysia, a country with a rich cultural heritage and a proud, peace-loving record.

As a Malaysian, I pray to God for continued blessings upon the nation, its people and leaders to be elected who will lead Malaysia towards peace, harmony, justice, progress and prosperity.

A.E. PEREIRA, Kluang

Source: NST – February 15, 2008

WHEN will we ever learn, I asked myself, when I read about the RM3 million heist at the Gurun rest area of the North-South Expressway (”Guards robbed of RM3m on highway” - NST, Feb 6).

Despite past occurrences, security companies have not learnt how to prevent them. Why was the driver of the security van left unprotected while his two colleagues walked with a sack of cash each towards the automated teller machines?

There should be another armed guard to protect the driver and another to escort the two with the cash.

My reasoning is based on an incident my wife, some friends and I witnessed in Russia at the Moscow Central train station on Aug 31.

We stopped in our tracks at the sight of six men, dressed in black from top to bottom, heading for a black security van parked at the entrance of the station and 5m from where we were standing.

The four unarmed men in the middle of the line were each carrying a black sack, probably filled with cash. The lead man and the guy at the rear were armed and so was another guard standing next to the driver, with all three armed with what looked like AK-47s. There was not a word spoken and not even a smile. All were focused on the safe delivery of the cash.

What impressed me most was the manner in which the armed guards performed their duties. They looked alert and were ready for any eventuality while the four sacks were being loaded into the van.

Then, the guard who was standing next to the driver sat next to him while the rest jumped into the back of the van and off they went. It was over in fewer than 10 seconds.

Only a band of idiots would have attempted to rob them. Now, that’s what I call airtight security and top-notch professionalism, Russian style, for our security companies to take their cue from.

I detest making comparisons, but here is what usually happens in Malaysia in a similar security operation: a van with cash stops beside a bank. With the cash box or sack handcuffed to his wrist and handgun in its holster, the guard walks casually into the bank followed by another guard holding a pump-gun like he is holding a grocery bag. Doesn’t this make for easy pickings for armed robbers?

Sometimes, these guards talk and smile at customers or friends as they enter or leave the bank. Service with a smile? Not when your job is to protect people’s money.

WAN MOHAMAD SALIH, Taiping

Source: NST – February 15, 2008

I AM moved by the “Aussie apology to Aborigines” (NST, Feb 13).

May I repeat the terms of apology here, which reflects the highest standard of civility in government?

“We apologise for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on our fellow Australians.

“For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generation, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

“And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and proud culture, we say sorry.”

Such poignant language reflects the character of a brave nation coming to terms with the misdeeds of its past.

To me, expressing and confronting guilt in such terms is a wonderful way of redemption.

However, I feel that poignant language may not be sufficient compensation for the degradation inflicted on these “proud people”.

Not only should they be brought into mainstream development and education but some reasonable compensation, be it monetary or in kind, should also be extended to the Aborigines for the past humilations.

ABU HASHIM ABU BAKAR, Seremban

Source: NST – February 15, 2008

I was shocked and flabbergasted over media reports that the RM34 million police flats built in Seri Temenggong in Taman Sentosa, Malacca have been completely abandoned by the 382 police families living in the nine blocks of four-storey flats.

These flats were supposedly ready for occupation in 1993, but the roofs of the nine blocks have been stripped apart, the doors and floors have removed and all the 382 police families have had to flee for their lives apparently due to some termite problem.

It is unbelievable that these flats which cost a hefty RM34 million can be destroyed and devastated in such short a time. A news report states that it is going to cost another RM49.5 million just to renovate the flats again for safe occupation.

Also, to relocate all the police officers and their families to rented houses has cost another half a million ringgit. It is also stated by the Chief Minister of Malacca that the termite problem is not the only cause. Other excuses that have been given are that the flats were built on a slope and there has been very extensive damage to the drainage, water and electrical and wiring systems of the whole block of flats. The repairs are going to cost more than the original cost of the flats.

Why were the flats built on a dangerous slope in the first place? Who was responsible for approving the project?

The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) collected RM75 billion last year due to the hard work of the IRB officers and staff. Is this how the hard earned revenue collected for the government going to be spent on such careless and irresponsible projects?

All the people who were responsible for planning and building the Seri Temenggong police flats in Taman Sentosa way back in 1993 should be fully investigated and those responsible for this fiasco should be prosecuted.

Balbir Singh Khaira
Johor Baru

Source: The Sun – February 14, 2008