View issues with Tan Seng Giaw

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Do we love Kuala Lumpur?

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP fopr Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (CHKL) to to implement policies which are fair to all people and to enhance the delivery system.

Dr Tan comments on the Federal Territory Day, 1st February.

KL city folks must look after the city. As people from villages migrate to cities, the number of Malays and Chinese in the city is nearly the same.

The CHKL wants cityfolks to love the city. This is correct. We must love it. But, CHKL ought to review its policies and measures. If it makes the sun shine upon all alike and improves its service (delivery system), people will love the city more. Let us do away with the lackadaisical attitude.

CHKL is thinking about raising assessment. The most important is to consider the slow down in the 2005 economy and the difficulties faced by people. It should not raise the asessment unreasonably.

There are criminal activities including snatch-thievings and assaults. The security situation is not good enough. We hope that CHKL helps the police by putting on security facilities such as more traffic light and raising anti-crime awareness among city folks.

KL traffic must be improved. It is not sufficient to widen some roads: we must raise the efficiency of the computer system and the traffic police.

There have been extensive cracks of the Kepong flyover (MRR2) for six years. The authorities have appointed at least eight foreign consultants for MRR2. A year ago, the UK consultant recommended the Public Works Departemnt (JKR) to water-proof the cracks immediately. But, JKR dithers. It has not started the repair works. CHKL can help press JKR to do so.

At the end of 2004, KL 2020 was gazetted. CHKL is drafting the local plans. We hope that this year we shall see the completion of the local plans, incorporating the 190 policy articles to develop KL into an international tropical garden city of light.

Friday, January 27, 2006

Wishing all races Happy New Year

DAP National National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw wishes all people Happy New Year. Let there be peace for all.

Let us hope that the Year of the Dog will bring good luck and better economic atmosphere. Good riddance the Year of the Rooster that saw slowing of the economy.

We wish that the Malaysian security situation improves and that all the recommedations of the Royal Commission on the police are fully implemented. Had these been implemented, the nude-squat incident would not have occurred and there would not have been any need for the enquiry on the incident. We must eradicate corruption at all levels.

We want just laws to maintain a sense of order and fairness in the multiracial society. Inter-religious conflicts must be resolved amicably. The nine non-Muslim ministers withdrew their memorandum to the Prime Minister, asking the latter to amend the Federal Constitution so that Civil High Court can make judgement on the decision of Syariah High Court. Instead, they must raise the issue in Cabinet meetings. Since the Moorthy @ Muhammad incident on 20 December, 2005, there have been six Cabinet meetings. We wish the ministers make public the decision of the Cabinet on this matter.

The Government must revamp its policy on projects, including the tender system. We must eradicate policy that gives rise to structural and implementation scandals. For example, the Kepong flyover or MRR2 has seen extensive cracks of its crossbeams since 2000 with structural and implementation failures. The relative impotence of the Economic Planning Unit, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Works Department (JKR) must not be allowed to continue. We demand that the Government start water-proofing works on the MRR2 immediately.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

How do we solve inter-religious problems amicably?

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong believes that the Malaysian Prime Minister should create acceptable channels such as a council represented by all religions, to overcome issues such as the Moorthy @ Muhammad controversy.

We should review and amend laws to ensure justice for all religions.

Now, the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism (MCCBCHS) has no representatives from Islam. Muslims have different views on such a council.
Dr Tan looks at the withdrawal of the memorandum submitted by the nine non-Muslim ministers to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on 22 January, 2006. On 19 inst. these ministers forwarded the memorandum, urging the PM to amend Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution to give the civil court power to hear matters concerning Islam. This causes unhappiness among some Muslims.

On 20 December, 2005, Mount Everest climber Sargeant M. Moorthy @ Muhammad Abdullah died. His wife clashed with the Federal Territory Religious department (Jawi) to bury the remains. Eight days later Jawi interred the body as the Malaysian High Court ruled that it had no power to intervene in the decision of the Syariah High Court that he was a Muslim.

The nine ministers were: Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, Datuk Choi Soi Lek, Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Datuk Seri Lim Keng Yaik, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili, Datuk Peter Chin and Tan Sri Bernard Dompok. Has Tan Sri Dompok withdrawn?

Abdullah advised them to withdraw the memorandum, saying that the Barisan Nasional (BN) did not forbid discussions and ministers could speak up even on the most sensitive issues at Cabinet meetings. Since 20 December, 2005, there have been five Cabinet meetings. Haven't the ministers discussed the issue?

The public are aware that these ministers submitted and withdrew the memorandum. What now?

For hundreds of years, major religions have had examples of enlightenment and liberalism in handling various issues. But, how do we solve pressing inter-religious problems such as the above-mentioned issue, loudness of bells in temples, ceremonies that affect other religious followers, the volume of muezzin's calls and so forth. We need to voice these through channels that are acceptable to all religions. Quoting enlightened case histories of each religion is one thing. But, some local religious followers do not care that their activities affect people of other faiths is another.

We continue to fight for the promugation of laws that are fair and just to people of all faiths. The law is essential in maintaining a sense of order and fairness.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Start water-proofing Kepong flyover immediately

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw presses the Public Works Department (JKR) to start works on water-proofing the Kepong flyover (Middle Ring Road, MRR2) immediately.

Let us not beat about the bush. JKR has known of the cracks of the crossbeams for about 6 years. Out of the 33 crossbeams, 31 have cracked.

We must revamp the whole organization and system of JKR.

Dr Tan comments on the media reports of shakings of MRR2.

Dr Tan and over a hundred thousand motorists continue to use the flyover almost every day. Whatever the utterances of the Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, nobody can predict precisely when the flyover will explode and collapse.

Dr Tan will bring up the MRR2 saga again in the meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) tomorrow. On 9 December, 2005, the JKR Director-General Datuk Dr Wahid stressed in his briefing to the PAC that he was issuing a letter to the contractor BumiHiway Consortium to reply within two weeks whether the latter would undertake the waterprooofing and repair works. Otherwise, JKR would appoint a new contractor. BumiHiway is responsible for the repiar works, estimated at RM20 million.

Samy says that JKR has received the water-proofing membrane from United Kingdom and that the repiar works could start. We would like to see the works being implemented straightaway.

In the year 2000, the authorities noticed the crossbeam cracks. Over 8 consultants have been appointed. About 4 years later, the Halcrow Group, UK, recommended that JKR waterproof the cracks as soon as possible in January 2005. Alas, one year later, JKR has not done so. Since the discovery of the cracks, they have been getting from bad to worse.