View issues with Tan Seng Giaw

Monday, February 26, 2007

Pay hike for police and civil servants, efficiency and no corruption, 26.2.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Government to consider seriously the request to increase the pay of the police and the civil servants of lower income group, enforce the National Integrity Plan (PIN), improve efficiency and eradicate corruption.

Dr Tan refers to the statement of the Deputy Prime MInister Datuk Seri Najib who, yesterday, said that the Government agreed that there was good reason for the salaries of the lower income groups in the civilservice to be reviewed.

"There is a general feeling particularly for the lower income group that there is justification for the Goverment to look into it (pay hike)," he added.

Last year, the police submitted a proposal for a pay review. Cuepacs did likewise. Naturally, pay rise for over one million civil servants amounts to a huge sum. In the 2007 federal budget, the operating expenditure is estimated as RM113 billion. An important part of this is for salaries.

The Government must compare the salaries of the lower income civil servants and police with the cost of living. A police constable with a basic pay of RM 600 a month can scarcely survive in a city. Hence, reviewing the pay of these people is correct. How can they work well if their salaries are not enough for the present standard of living?

Today, the public grumble about the performance of civil servants. The incidence of serious crimes such as robberies and murders is causing concern. We would like to see the police overcoming these crimes and the civil servants perform well. We have to help them solve their cost of living.

In addition to pay rise, the Government must effectively enforce the National Integrity Plan, charge the corrupt in court, especially senior members. If those high up misbehave, what do we expect fromthose below them? We must take quick action on those who are notefficient or those who indulge in racialism.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Friday, February 23, 2007

Instant passport, competent personnel, good machines & aftersale service, 23.2.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw reiterates the need for the Home Affairs Ministry to train adequate number of trustworthy personnel, ensure electronic machines and computers conform with the agreement signed as well as maintain aftersale service, in order to expedite the processing of passport applications.

Besides good machines, the provision of aftersale service by relevant companies is important. Let us appoint companies which are truly reliable.

Dr Tan pays attention to the intention of the Home Affairs Ministry to take two new steps to speed up the processing of passports. According to its Deputy Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho, starting from June this year, states will install electronic processing machines and online computer system, so that an applicant only has to bring his or her Mykad and no other documents such as birth cerificate.

If all goes well, Malaysians will not have to queue and wait for a long time to get new passports. This is good. But then, making statement is one thing, the actual application may be another. It is necessary to prevent public disappointment.

On 16 January, 2007, the Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi officiated the opening of the Wangsa Maju branch of the ministry and announced the issuing of instant passport. The Secretary-General of the ministry Tan Sri Aseh stressed that it would take 5 to 10 minutes for the processing of each passport. I told Tan Sri that I would come the next day to renew my passport. He told me to go ahead by all means.

The next morning, a friend and I arrived at the branch just after eight. We took photographs and filled in the forms and waited. We left for our office before lunch without passports. After 2.30 p.m.the same day, an official rang us up, saying that the passports were ready. It took another 30 minutes for the issuance of the passports the following day.

In fact, the branch personnel tried their utmost. However, the electronic machines were not functioning properly. Now, the branch sets the target of two hours for processing a passport.

The minstry must train more reliable personnel so that they are adept at using the machines including computers. The relevant companies should supply machines according to specifications, followed by competent aftersale service.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Form Technical Committees to revive dead rivers, 21.2.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw urges the Government to form suitable technical committees to revive dead rivers and polluted rivers in water catchment areas.

Dr Tan refers to the statement by the Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid on 14 February, 2007 that he would obtain a full report of the ammonia pollution in Langat River in Hulu Langat and Selisik River in Hulu Selangor.

The meteorological office forecasts severe droughts after the floods in the country. This makes the pollution of the above-stated rivers by ammonia an especially sensitive matter. Apparently, it resulted in the closure of three treatment plants, namely at Selisik River, 11th Mile Cheras and Tampoi Hill, Sepang. We hope that Azmi gets the report as soon as possible, so that he can identify the type, the extent and the source of pollution.

Hitherto, the Government has mentioned nine dead rivers in the country, that is, they do not have fish, prawns and so forth. These are Juru River, Penang River and Jejawi River in Penang, Buloh River and Klang River in Selangor, Segget River, Kempas River, Danga River and Tukang Batu River in Johor.

The factors causing river pollution include silting from earthworks, solid waste, leachage from dumpsites, discharge from food premises, wet markets, factories, and animal farms.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment says that there is a four-year programme to clean the Klang River and a technical committee to carry out the activities. Besides the Klang River, the minister should set up appropriate technical committees to clean dead rivers and other polluted rivers in water catchment areas such as Langat River and Selisik River.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Implement the 10 strategic thrusts of the Royal Commission on the police,14.2.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw urges the police to embrace earnestly the ten strategic thrusts contained in the Report of The Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of The Royal Malaysia Police.

Strategic Thrust 2 is to launch a nation-wide drive against crime. Strategic Thrust 3 is to enhance investigative policing.

Dr Tan watches the special operation launched by the police yesterday to pursue the group of robbers who commit break-ins freely. The Director of Criminal Investigation Department, Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee has directed officers and constables in the whole country to double their effort to cripple break-in activities. We hope that he increases the efforts on all crimes in the country, consistent with the above-stated strategic thrusts.

Yesterday, the Chief of Traffic Squad, Bukit Aman, Datuk Nooryah Md. Anvar began placing uniformed police personnel in express buses selected at random until 25 February, 2007. This is one of the steps in the Ops Sikap XII during the Chinese New Year. Simultaneously, the Road Transport Department carries out Ops Balck Spot at accident-prone areas. Let us hope that these will improve road safety.

Many cases of break-ins take place including five robbers armed with knives wounding the former Chief Police Officer of Penang, Datuk Albert Ma, on 9 February, 2007. He died on 12 February, 2007 at the age pf 82. We express our condolences to his relatives.

The public must understand the situation. The lack of officers and other personnel must be overcome. The Cabinet has approved the increase of 60,000 police personnel in the next five years. At present, police personnel on active duty may be over 70,000. The Cabinet approval is a correct decision. Further, we must raise the police pay.

Besides increasing the number and pay of police personnel, we must know to what extent have the police adopted the 10 strategic thrusts contained in the above-stated report, such as monernise the role, functions and organisation of the police, eradicate corruption and provide better work premises and housing.

Because the number of crimes causes anxiety, some housing estates have engaged private security firms to patrol their areas 24 hours a day. While the police are trained and protected by laws, these private firms are not necessarily trained or protected in the same way. Hence, it is necessary for the police to safeguard the public by drawing up guidelines for the people and the private firms.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Sunday, February 11, 2007

There is a sea change in the training of British medical specialists, 11.2.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw would like to correct the mistake on the duration of the training of British medical specialists posted in the blog. For example, Dr Tan said that if a doctor passed every examination the first time and has all the luck in applying for recognized or numbered jobs, he or she requires at least 12 years before applying for a consultant job.

This was the draft. I have corrected it, but posted the wrong version on the blog.

In fact, there is a sea change in the training of British medical specialists. The British National Health Service (NHS) and the Department of Health try to explain the modernising of medical careers. NHS outlines the Foundation Programme of two years to replace housemanship of a year, Specialist "Run Through" Training Programmes, New Fixed-Term Specialist Training Posts and Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).

After spending four to six years in a medical school, a doctor can become a General Practioner four years after graduation and a Consultant General Physician six years after graduation. Cardiac and other specialists may take longer. A house doctor is called a foundation doctor.

Vision 2020 aims at making Malaysia a developed nation by 2020. The population and the medical service are changing . We must look into the changes in the modernisation of medical careers in other countries such as U.K. What type of modernisation does Malaysia need?

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Demolish the glass house at entrance to Jinjang North and remove all trespassers of KL green lung, 11.2.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw insists that City Hall Kuala Lumpur (CHKL) implements the KL structural plan (KL20), demolishes the glass house at the entrance to Jinjang North, ensures the free flow of traffic and improves its coordination with the Land Office.

For some reasons, the Federal Territory Land Office issues Temporary Occupation License (T.O.L.) every year to the owner of the glass house. T.O.L. means it is a government land, a road reserve. Once the owner shows the T.O.L., CHKL loses its bearing.

Dr Tan was with a group of Jinjang residents at the grass house on 11 February, 2007.

About four years ago, CHKL battered a new building at the entrance to Jinjang North. No soon it was torn down, the same owner built a new glass house at the same site. This time, he showed the T.O.L., renewable every year. CHKL has been at a loss what to do. Why has the Land Office issued the T.O.L.? Doesn't it know that the site is crucial for traffic?

On 17 December, 2004, CHKL approved the erection of the glass house, BPU12003007, on the basis of the T.O.L. that expires in December every year. We, including the Association of Civil Societies in Kepong, have informed the Land Office of the situation, requesting it to stop issuing the T.O.L.

If the site is a private land, the owner has the rights to build a structure that conforms with the regulations as enhanced by KL20, such as access road and parking facilities. Now, this is a government land, without access road and parking facilities. How do CHKL and the Land Office explain the glass house?

According to KL20, CHKL ensures that all public and private empty spaces must have suitable landscaping. CHKL also coordinates with relevant agencies to enforce environmental policy and guideline.

The application for appoval of building projects is full of bureaucracy that spawns irregularities. The Government must simplify all applications and eradicate irregularities, consistent with the National Integrity Plan (PIN).

We propose that CHKL has a comprehensive review of all empty spaces including green lung, remove all trespassers and improve its coordination with relevant agencies such as the Land Office. We need better landscaping and implementation of the KL20, turning KL into a truly international tropical garden city of light.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Effective assessment of specialist training & quality of specialists, 10.2.2007

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw proposes that the Health Ministry set up a truly effective assessment of the training and quality of specialists in the country. This must be followed by monitoring of the quality of specialist care in conjunction with respective professional bodies. The effectiveness of the Medical Council must be reviewed.

Dr Tan is concerned with the lack of specialists including cardiologists and complaints about the quality of specialist care in Malaysia. Most specialists try to provide the best care. But, there are black sheep.

On 6 February, 2007, the Minister of Health Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said that there were only 140 cardiac and cardiothoracic specialists, but the country needed 500 cardiovascular specialists. Out of the 140, 30 were chest specialists. We required at least 100 chest specialists. The minister did not touch on the criteria for evaluating the shortage.

Dr Chua attributes the shortage to the 12 years of training for cardiologists. He is right about the shortage, but he must look at not just the training of cardiologists but also other specialists.

This year, the ministry spends RM39,346,000 for cardiology and cardiothoracic specialty. The total allocation for medical treatment is RM4,547,817,000. Following this big expenditure, we have to improve our medical services including heart treatment. As mentioned by the minister, Malaysians spend RM300 million on cardiac medicines.
\n \nAs Dr Chua also understands, all countries experience the shortage of specialists. In the U.K. and other developed countries, training of specialists or consultants takes at least 5 years after obtaining specialist diploma. \n\n \nIn U.K., a medical student takes five or six years to finish the undergraduate course. Having qualified, he or she spends two years as a houseman. He or she starts to sit for specialist diploma such as Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). Once he or she gets the MRCP, he or she applies for a recognized centre to work as a specialist registrar for at least 5 years. If he or she passes every examination the first time and has all the luck in applying for recognized or numbered jobs, he or she requires at least 12 years before applying for a consultant job. This is applicable to all specialties.\n\n \nWe need many more well qualified and ethical specialists including cardiologists. Now, we receive complaints about the quality of specialst care. We hope that the ministry has a truly effective system to assess the training and the quality of specialists. It should also monitor the quality of specialist care in the public and private sectors to ensure that the patients are not shortchanged.\n\n \nDr Tan Seng Giaw\n",0]
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As Dr Chua also understands, all countries experience the shortage of specialists. In the U.K. and other developed countries, training of specialists or consultants takes at least 5 years after obtaining specialist diploma.

In U.K., a medical student takes five or six years to finish the undergraduate course. Having qualified, he or she spends two years as a houseman. He or she starts to sit for specialist diploma such as Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). Once he or she gets the MRCP, he or she applies for a recognized centre to work as a specialist registrar for at least 5 years. If he or she passes every examination the first time and has all the luck in applying for recognized or numbered jobs, he or she requires at least 12 years before applying for a consultant job. This is applicable to all specialties.

We need many more well qualified and ethical specialists including cardiologists. Now, we receive complaints about the quality of specialst care. We hope that the ministry has a truly effective system to assess the training and the quality of specialists. It should also monitor the quality of specialist care in the public and private sectors to ensure that the patients are not shortchanged.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Increase retirement age from 56 to 65, 8.2.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw presses the Government truly to implement the proposal to increase retirement age from 56 to 65.

In the past over 20 years, despite the repeated proposals from various bodies, the Government has dithered because of certain reasons.

Dr Tan agrees with the statement by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that retiring at 56 is too early. The number of senior citizens, 60 years and above, is increasing steadily.

The life expectancy of Malaysians continues to improve. Now, its 76 years for women and 73 for men. Lengthening the retirement age in public and private sectors is essential.

In the 80s last century, we urged the Government repeatedly to increase the retirement age. It managed to add one more year. Then, it has been hesitating ever since. Replying to our questions in Parliament, it has quoted myriad reasons for the vacillation, such as the government machinery is complicated, some civil servants are not suitable for extension of their service after 56, a service of over 35 years is too long and the promotions of younger people may be affected.

The Prime Minister's Department has listed a number of nations with retirement age 60 and above: U.K., U.S.A., Sweden, Norway (67), Australia, Japan (65), Singapore, Thailand (62), China, Korea, The Philippines(60). Malaysia has only 13 more years to reach its target of becoming a developed nation. Why should she continue to lag behind other nations on the retirement age?

If we do not use suitable formula to increase gradually the retirement age, more young people will have to pay taxes to sustain more senior citizens. At present, the annual budget has statutory allocations of over RM20 billion for the remunerations of the King, the Chief Justices, the Speakers of Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat, payments of national debts and pensions and gratuities, and so forth. Pensions and gratuities are over RM5 billion; the amount is increasing yearly.

We would like to see the Government stop dithering and get on with the gradual increase in the retirement age. We shall continue to remind the Prime Ministrer in Parliament.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Parliamentary select committee on regulation of Internet and blogging, 7.2.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls for the formation of a parliamentary select committee on the regulation of Internet, blogging and 2.0 virtual world.

Dr Tan proposed the establishment of Internet select committee in a speech at the DAP forum 'Silencing Cyberspace - The Final Frontier?' at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur, on 6 February, 2007.

The rapid development of Internet, blogging, 2.0 virtual world and so forth has changed the world, making the Government nervous. In some countries, occasonal Internet users and bloggers are prosecuted like in Brazil and South Korea. In Malaysia, action has been taken on a few Internet users, the latest being an injunction against Jeff Ooi and a writ of summons against Ahiruddin Attan (Rocky's Bru) by the New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad. Both defendants are popular bloggers.

Blogging is expanding very fast, being used more extensively such as by the business world, the corporate sector and lawyers. It is estimated that the number of bloggers increases by at least 75,000 a day in the world. In Malaysia, there are over 8.6 million people on Internet. We are not certain of the number of bloggers. It is increasing, but it has not yet reached rural areas. However, Internet users are having more powerful personal computers, such as PCs of one gigabyte to overcome congestion. Hard drive of 800 gigabytes and one terabyte appear in the market. The Government is taking notice.

What are the implications and consequences of legal action against bloggers. Although the cyberlaws passed in 1998 are commercially motivated, the Government is thinking of how to overcome its promise to have no censorship on Internet. It is an incentive to investors as long as the Government sticks to its promise.

What value does the Government place on a blog that carries items that are not favourable to the ruling alliance? What type of regulation will the Government impose on Internet including blogging before its effects on the electorate become overwhelming. We need a parliamentary select committee on the regulation of Internet. This committee should submit a credible report between six to 12 months unlike some other select committees such as the select committee on national service that has not presented any report after over a year. We should have select committees not just in parliament, but also similar committees all over the country. What do Malaysians like to see in Internet? What type of freedom of expression?What model of regulation on Internet, if any?

What value does the Government place on a blog that carries items that are not favourable to the ruling alliance? What type of regulation will the Government impose on Internet including blogging before its effects on the electorate become overwhelming.

We need a parliamentary select committee on the regulation of Internet. This committee should submit a credible report between six to 12 months unlike some other select committees such as the select committee on national service that has not presented any report after over a year.

We should have select committees not just in parliament, but also similar committees all over the country. What do Malaysians like to see in Internet? What type of freedom of expression?
What model of regulation on Internet, if any?

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Monday, February 05, 2007

Study the real consitions of all highrise flats in the country, 5.2.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to investigate the true conditions of all highrise flats including Mutiara Magna, Kepong, followed by effective remedial action.

Dr Tan visited the Mutiara Magna flats, looking into the management and the lack of strata titles on 4 February, 2007.

There are many highrise flats and condominiums in the country. They face myriad problems such as the inability to adapt to modern flat dwellings.

For example, residents complain of the following at the Mutiara Magna: no strata title, break-in, motorcycle theft, the large water tank at the 14th floor shakes and grunts, relative lack of fire equipment, rubbish bins too small, the nearby Keroh River bank erosion, open-air sewage treatment stinks, no transparency with management company, just over 500 parking spaces for over 5,000 residents and so forth.

We have emailed the Enforcement Section of the Ministry lof Housing and Local Government, requesting it to study the actual situation of higrise flats and condominiums and to take effective action to rectify the problems. This will take a long time. How many of these flats comply with the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) (Amendment) Act, 2006 and Building and Common Property (Maintenance and Management) Act, 2006?

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Friday, February 02, 2007

The explanation on RM70 million to repair Kepong MRR2 is unsatisfactory,2.2.2007

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw is very unhappy with the Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu's answer to the extra RM70 million for the repair of the extensive cracks of the Kepong MRR2.

Dr Tan comments on Samy Vellu's explanation on 1 February, 2007 that the government had to spend RM70 million in the repair of the serious cracks of the Middle Ring Road Two. This includes fees to the project's consultants. The explanation is unsatisfactory.

Two years ago Samy insisted that the bad cracks of 31 crossbeams of MRR2 out of 33 was not due to design fault. Now, he attributes the cracks to the design-and-build concept which he said was "shoddy".

Last year, he asked the Prime MInister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to announce the appointment of the British consultant with a cost of RM18 million. Then, the Cabinet agreed to the replacement of the British consultant with the German firm at the cost of RM40 million, to be paid by the contractor.

Now, the expenditure is RM70 million. The MRR2 saga including the repair boggles the mind. The culture of high cost, delay, multiple consultants, shoddy work and extraordinary cost is amazing. This type of culture should not be allowed to persist until 2020 when Malaysia is targetted to be a developed nation.

We need to know the truth about the MRR2 saga, especially the number of consultants appointed by the various people involved and the actual cost.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Thursday, February 01, 2007

The actual cost of Kepong MRR2 (flyover) project? 1.2.2007

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Works Ministry to make public the detailed expenditure for the Kepong MRR2 (flyover) project, including the real expenditure for the repair of the extensive cracks.

Dr Tan comments on the Kepong MRR2 in the midst of the celebration of the Federal Territory Day, 1.2.2007.

Today, we are happy to celebrate Federal Territory Day with the myriad programmes at Merdeka Square, officiated by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The PM is visibly happy. In the midst of the celebration, we look at cetain unhappy things such as the Kepong MRR2 saga.

At the end of last year, the Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu announced the complete opening of the flyover, three lanes in each direction. While this shows that the repair works is completed, we are still waiting for the details of the expenditure on the flyover as well as the actual cost of the repair.

Kepong MRR2 is virtually similar to many flyovers along the Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2. So far, other flyovers show no defects. Kepong MRR2 has 33 cross beams, 31 of which were cracked.

In 2006, the Works Minister went to the Prime Minister to announce the appointment of a British consultant to do the repair of the cracks for RM14 million. Two weeks later, the Works Ministry had the approval of the Cabinet to replace the British with a German sonsultant, costing RMN40 million. Now, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu admitted that the repair cost was RM70 million.

When the PM made the announcement, the cost of the repair was to be borne by the contractor. Hitherto, the Government has paid first.

We need to know the details of the total cost of the Kepong MRR2 project, including the heavy repair. Who pays for the repair?

Dr Tan Seng Giaw