View issues with Tan Seng Giaw

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Prime Minister visits KL & Kepong & helps with local plan for KL20,31.5.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw urges the Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to ensure that City Hall Kuala Lumpur (CHKL) implements the Kuala Lumpur Structural Plan (KL20), including the local plan and the 190 policy articles.

Dr Tan made this call when the PM visited the CHKL headquarters and officiated the ground-breaking ceremony of the Intan Baiduri People's Flats, Kepong, on 1 June, 2007.

It is appropriate that the PM is concerned with the development of KL. He first visited KL in 1957 for the Merdeka celebrations. He began residing in the city in 1964. He was Deputy Minister for Federal Territory in the 80s, last Century.

There has been rapid development in KL including Kepong. However, there are weaknesses in town planning. For example, Desa Complex is situated at the side of Kepong flyover (MRR2). The 1984 KL Structural Plan appeared to be useless. Hence, in 2004, CHKL drafted and gazetted the KL20 with the objective of making KL a world-class tropical garden city of light. We agree.

KL20 must have local plan. Last year, CHKL said that the local plan would be completed and gazetted by the end of the year.

We hope that after visiting KL, Abdullah would have understood the actual situation of KL20 with its local plan, so that we can attain the objective by 2020.

To prepare for the PM's visit, CHKL worked very hard. For instance, the road diversion for the Flood Mitigation Project at the Jinjang section of the Kepong Road was removed, roads had been resurfaced, drains cleaned, flags, awnings and huge tents were installed at the People's Flats, Intan Baiduri Garden. For over two years, residents at the garden had been complaining of illegal dumpsites. Within a day, the piles of rubbish had been removed. Trees had been planted overnight. Residents saw the efficiency of CHKL. An estimate showed that there were at least 40 large buses, ferrying people from various parts of KL to Intan Baiduri.

On the other hand, complaints about rubbish in other areas such as the Kepong Central Garden and its Block 4 Greenview Apartment have been temporarily ignored.

KL20 contains 190 policy articles for attaining world standard. These include knowledge-based centres for the commercial and industrial sectors, improvement of public transport, upgrading of infrastructure, better quality of housing, beautiful lanscapes at residential, industrial and commercial areas and the revamping of structure to ensure efficiency of planning, coordination and development.

When the new mayor came at the beginning of the year, we reminded him of KL20 and its local plan. Now, we let the PM know in the hope that he will be able to assist us in the implementation of KL20.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Submit report of defects of court complex, parliament etc to Parliament, 30.5.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw insists that the Government present a full report to Parliament on the defects such as leakages of the new court complex, public buildings in Putrajya and parliament building. There must be a full enquiry, not just media conference as exemplified by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dato' Seri Mohamed Nazri Tan Sri Abdul Aziz

On 29 May, 2007, Dr Tan referred to the media conference by Dato' Seri Nazri with Johari, the Chief Executive Officer of Joharwaki Sdn Bhd, the main contractor for the new court complex in Kuala Lumpur.

The day before, Nazri met Johari in Parliament, stating in the media conference that the latter had apologized for the defects of the court complex, the piping contractor used plastic corks for the taps instead of metal corks, the complaint about the piping contractor to construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), the warranty period for the court complex ended in February 2008, the Government still owed the contractor RM 60 million and there was no need for the certficate of fitness for occupation (CFO) and so forth.

Parliament wants the Government to enquire into the series of defects for the new court complex, public buildings in Putrajaya and the parliament building. After sepending RM 90 million to renovate parliament building recently, why are there defects? As tens of billions have been used, why do the buildings for Immigration Department and the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives show defects?

The Auditor-General heads an Enquiry Committee on public buildings in Putrajya. Its scope can be expanded to the court complex. Obviously, the House Committee should be responsible for investigating the defects of the parliament building.

Apparently, the new court complex costs RM270 millionn. on an area of 97,337 square metres. There are 28 high court rooms, 21 session court rooms, 26 magistrate court rooms and two family court rooms. Works on the comlpex started in January, 2001 and completed in February 2007. It has been in use since March, 2007.

From 30 April, 2007 to 25 May, 2007, there were at least nine incidents at the court complex, such as the falling of ceiling, the bursting of pipes, the cracking of walls and the accumulation of water in the filing room. These cannot be solved by the above-stated media conference.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Education Minister must review the one-language policy,27.5.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw proposes that the Education Minister Dato' Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein reviews the language policy and get rid of the one-language policy. Besides Bahasa Malaysia, he should encourage the teaching of English, Mandarin and Tamil. Stop sending those teachers who don't speak Mandarin to Chinese schools.

Dr Tan spoke at the hall of the Serdang Primary Chinese School (1) duirng the 40th Anniversary of the DAP Serdang Branch dinner on 26 May, 2007.

Tonight, the Dong Jiao Zhong (the Joint Chinese School Boards and Teachers' Associations) has a 5,000 people dinner in Kajang with special atmosphere. If Hisham were to be there, he would have had an impression that would spur him to adopt a more enlightened education policy.

In the last few days, the media carry reports of the Education Minister having a week-long study tour of educational institutions of China. He says that the Chinese people place the national interest above individual or racial interest, leading to the success of China. We can learn from this. China's educational sentiment is above all other considerations.

" China does not allow controversial issues to cause schism, so much so that today, international society recognizes China's economic development and her ability to lead," he added.

We don't know how long can China keep up the pace. This depends on the efforts of the Chinese.

We wish that after his return from China, Hisham will consider carefully the better ways to plan and implement our education policy, treating schools of all streams fairly. If he were to give a new national school RM 2 million and a new Chinese school RM 20,000, then he must have one eye biggter than the other. How does he expect all races to feel? The Education Minister should get a new pair of glasses that ensure that the sight from both eyes is the same.

We have achieved Merdeka for 50 years. The Government prattles on the one-language policy. In 1982, this was highlighted in the Royal Address. Now, Hisham should review this policy and replace it with an enlightened policy on languages. True, all Malaysians must be proficient in BM. But, let us have a more sensible policy on English, Mandarin and Tamil.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Parliament must resolve to confer power on the House Committee to order persons to appear to investigate serious leakages, 23.5.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw believes that Parliament should resolve giving power to the House Select Committee to send for persons, documents or papers, so that the Committee can enquire into the serious leakages of the parliament building.

Dr Tan issued a statement on leakages of parliament building on 20 May, 2007.

Since DAP MPs brought up the issue of leakages of parliament building on 10 May, 2007, unreasonable events appear, including MPs offending women byuttering an unpleasant thing about monthly period and the Works Minister muttering about the RM 90 million renovation of parliament building in 2005 without waterproofing. We are perplexed.

The House Committee is chaired by the Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib. The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Datuk Shahrir insists that the House Committee should investigate the leakages. The Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang feels that the Works Minister is responsible for the defect and that maintenance should be inlcuded in the House Committee. These are reasonable views.

But, the House Committee deals with all matters connected with the comfort and convenience of and services and amenities available to members of the House. The Committee does not have power to send for persons, documents or papers unless the House so resolves. Hence, the House must resolve to confer the Committe such power so that it can enquire into the serious leakages and other defects of the parliament building.

We really want to know the true responsibility of the Works Minister. In fact, not only does he plan and implement public facilities, but also the maintenance and the improvement of the quality of infrastructure. Spending RM90 million, parliament only gets bad leakages. This is not the standard of a developed nation, to which Malaysia aspires by 2020.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Housing standards, local authorities, developers, contractors & professionals, 13.5.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw presses the Housing and Local Government Ministry and 144 local authorities such as City Hall Kuala Lumpur (CHKL) to take action against developers and contractors who don't comply with housing standards. For example, Taman Fortune, 7th Mile Kepong, has houses which are cracked with land slip. The developer BH Realty Sdn Bhd must do something about it.

Dr Tan made the call when he met residents at the Taman Fortune on 13 May, 2007.

Recently, some buildings in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur show leakages and falling of ceilings, causing public furor. The Prime Minister is angry and feeling shameful. The Government appoints a Committee of Enquiry to investigate these public buildings. On the other hand, every year there are countless numbers of new private buildings in the country. Some are defective. Certain developers appear unable to overcome the problems of housing standards and the unhappiness of house buyers. Local authorities still issue certificate of fitness for occupation (CFO) despite the lack of standards. Now, CFO has been replaced by Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC), issued by professionals involved.

The above-stated Taman Fortune has been built on disused mining land. This means that the developer must have adequate piling to make the foundation sound. At the nearby Taman Indah Perdana, tens of buildings have cracks with landslip, getting worse in the last over 20 years. The residents of the affected houses are facing danger and the houses have no value.

Now, we are witnessing cracks and land subsidence among 26 terraced houses and there may be more. These residents request BH Realty Sdn Bhd to mend the cracks and prevent deterioration, protecting them and ensuring their safety.

There are houses with defects in many parts of the country. The affected house buyers need help.

Last year, parliament passed a series of amendment bills such as amendment to the Housing Development Act to ensure that local governments, developers, contractors, related professionals like engineers and, most of all, house buyers are protected. We believe that the Government must use these laws to help house buyers such as those in Taman Fortune.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Improve administration & enforcement of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), 9.5.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong calls on the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) to improve its administration and enforcement, so that it will be able to play a more effective part in higher education.

PTPTN must enhance the coordination with the Inland Revenue Board. Many had hoped that the board would be able to collect with ease the repayments from the borrowers who have graduated from institutes of higher learning.

Dr Tan made the call while taking part in the debate on the bill to amend the PTPTN Act in Parliament on 7 May, 2007.

This bill seeks to amend a few clauses such as to change the memberships of the Board of Management, to receive deposits from a Malaysian citizen and, most importantly, to introduce a new section 22A into Act 566 to empower the Chief Executive to issue certificate to the Inspector General of Police or the Director General of Immigration to prevent any recipient student from leaving Malaysia in certain circumstances especially when an educational loan is not paid or in arrears.

On principles, I agree with the Higher Education Minister Dato' Mustapa Mohamed concerning the stricter action against borrowers who do not pay their debts. We cannot entertain graduates who are not grateful for the loans.

[PTPTN action must be based on compassion and humanitarianism towards those borrowers who are genuinely poor. Can a really poor person afford to go overseas, unless he or she has financial help? Will he or she be ready to pay back in instalments of RM50 or RM100 a month?]

Many MPs took part in the debate on the bill. Although they have differing views, I am pleased that they pay attention to higher education.

On 8 April, 2007, the media reported that the total debts of recipients of loans from PTPTN, Public Service Department and Mara were RM12.5 billion. The minister said that until 31 March, 2007, the debts that should have been collected by PTPTN were RM1.37 billion, involving 438,775 recipients. At the same time, PTPTN had filed summonses in court against 395 defaulters.

It is reported that over 75 graduates of Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (Unitar) complained that they were asked to pay back the loans by PTPTN. [Dato' Mustapa stated that PTPTN sent the money to Unitar, but an investigation had shown that it was not given to the graduates. The university had returned the money to PTPTN.]

It is necessary to streamline PTPTN administration and to improve its enforcement. Although it is reasonable to learn from New Zealand and Australia that had a longer history of student loans, we have to be careful. The conditions in Malaysia are different from those in the two countries. For example, New Zealand has a population not more than 6 million, whereas Malaysia has 26 million. The two nations have been successful in collecting more than 80% of the study loans.

We had hoped that the Inland Revenues Board collect back the loans. In New Zealand, its board is more successful. But, in Malaysia we have to improve the coordination with the board, so that collection can be more effective.

Applicants for PTPTN loans often ask members of parliament to be witnesses. I agree provided that they pay back the loans in the future.

With the measures stated above, PTPTN will be able to play a more effective part in higher education in the country.

(Dato'Mustapa admits that there are weaknesses in the PTPTN administration and enforcement. Hitherto, it has sent 61,000 letters of reminder and 17,382 letters of demand to recalcitrant borrowers, but only a small number has replied. ?4% or 40%.

PTPTN takes 11 steps to collect back the study loans from borrowers. Only after all these have failed, withholding their passports would only be a last resort?)

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Monday, May 07, 2007

Must set up Special Select Committee on Press Freedom in Parliament, 7.5.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw proposes that Parliament set up Special Select Committee on Press Freedom to enquire into the true state of the media in this country, consistent with May 3 as the World Press Freedom Day.

The Government must review all laws relating to press freedom, such as the Printing and Publications Act, the Official Secret Act (OSA) and the Internal Security Act (ISA). It has to look again at the annual printing license, KDN, to ensure transparency and accountability.

Dr Tan was a panelist at the forum on press freedom organized by Asian Institute for Development Communication (Aidcom) at the National Integrity Institute on 3 May, 2007.

It is in the nature of governments that they control the media and the judiciary. As Lord Acton says power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. These are universal truths which will be with us for posterity.

The people deserve the government they get. They deserve the leaders they get. It is only when the people are passionate about press freedom that leaders will take heed. Hence, we need continuous education.

Virtually all journalists would not like to see their writings result in disturbances in the multireligious and multiracial country. We should forge a nation, united in our diversity.

According to the organization, Reporters Without Borders, the ranking for Malaysia in the Press Freedom Index jumps 21 points from 113 in 2005 to 92 in 2006. This is an improvement. But from my viewpoint, the change is cosmetic. For 31 years, I regularly comment on issues in three languages. In the last few years, these statements are sent to newspapers by faxes and e-malis. For example, on 30 April, 2007, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi expressed his feeling of anger and shame following the bursting of pipes and the leakage of sprinklers and the collapse of ceiling of government buildings in Putrajya and Kuala Lumpur. He ordered the checking of all buildings in the whole country. I put up a statement on these shameful defects, suggesting that the Government present a White Paper in Parliament so that members could debate on the matter in depth. As usual, very few media show interest.

Now, we have an alternative in the form of Internet and its blogs. There are not many people who read blogs. The number will increase in the next few years.

20 years ago, 107 persons were detained in Operation Lalang under ISA. Many were released within 60 days. A few were forcibly enrolled at the University of Kamunting. I was one of them. One of the charges against me was that on October 11, 1987, at a gathering at Thean Hou Temple, Kuala Lumpur, I used the issue of promotions of headmasters and senior assistant teachers without Mandarin qualifications to national-type Chinese primary schools to provoke the racial feelings of the Chinese. I did not speak at the temple. Now, especially in the Ijok By-election on 28 April, 2007, the Government says that it was wrong to send headmasters who did not understand Mandarin to Mandarin schools.

The struggle for media freedom takes a long time. The roads are tortuous. In 2006, 150 reporters were killed in various parts of the world.

In Malaysia, no journalist has been physically harmed or killed. Some such as Abdul Samad Ismail were detained under ISA or dismissed from their posts.

Throughout history true leaders have suffered or died because of liberty or freedom such as 18th century French writers and philosophers Rousseau and Voltaire。Both were the embodiment of the French Enlightenment, connected with the French Revolution. In the same century, English poet, painter, engraver and mystic, William Blake,wrote a poem Mock On, Mock On, Voltaire, Rousseau:

Mock On, Mock On, Voltaire, Rousseau;

Mock on, Mock on, 'Tis all in vain.

You throw the sand against the wind,

And the wind blows it back again.


And every sand becomes a Gem

Reflected in the beams divine; .....

Voltaire believed in religious, political and social liberty. He suffered from periods of banishment because of his radical beliefs.

Aidcom organized World Press Freedom Day, in collaboration with the Malaysian Press Institute and the National Press Club, and in cooperation with United Nations. Its booklet contains the meaning of press freedom and a table on the imprisonment and murder of cyber-dissidents, media assistants and journalists.

We encourage the Government to try its best to promote press freedom, not only to improve the Press Freedom Index, but also the contents of press freedom. One meaningful way is to set up Special Select Committee on press freedom, to enquire into the true situation. It should review all the laws that affect press freedom and the annual printing license, KDN, marching towards the bright future.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Thursday, May 03, 2007

White Paper in Parliament after checking all buildings, 3.5.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw proposes that after checking all buildings, the Government should present a White Paper in Parliament, stating the real reasons for the pipe leakage at the Immigration Department Headquarters on 11 April, 2007, and a leaky sprinkler system at the Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development Ministry, both in Putrajaya, as well as the ceiling collapse at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex, Jalan Duta. We need a workable solution such as effective open tender and maintenance systems.

Dr Tan comments on the outrage and embarassment of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi concerning the series of defects of government buildings on 1 May, 2007.

For many years, we have been feeling aggrieved with some of the government projects and buildings. Now, the Prime Minister is angry and ashamed of the defects. We fervently hope that after instructing the Public Works Department to inspect all buildings immediately, Abdullah should direct the Works Ministry or form an Independent Commission and present a White Paper on the matter. Members of Parliament can then represent the people to debate it in great depth, enquiring into those responsible.

Putrajaya is only built recently, and yet there are serious defects. After spending tens of billions of ringgits of public fund, the leakage of pipes and sprinkler system and the collapse of ceiling boggle the mind.

Last century, Brazil built its new capital Brazilia and Australia constructed Canberra. This century, Myanma erects its new capital; we don't know whether anything will go wrong. Brazilia and Canberra have not had similar leakage and collapse. Will we see more shameful defects in government buildings?

On 20 March, 2007, I raised in Parliament once more about government projects and their problems. The Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said that from 1990 until the end of 2006, the Government completed successfully 9,235 projects. There were no failures. The Government removed the names of 180 contractors who failed. But, we have been really unhappy with projects like the Matrade building at Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, that took many years to complete, some school buildings and computer rooms could not be used, Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar has been delayed, the flood mitigation project in Kuala Lumpur takes longer than estimated and the saga of the Kepong MRR2 (flyover) that cracked extensively. The repair works of MRR2 was first announced as RM18 million, going up to RM40 million, RM67 million and further claims from the contractor. The delays and the extra cost of projects upset the people.

The Prime Minister has said: "I feel ashamed. These are new buildings and there are problems. There must be something wrong.

"We don't know if this is becuase the contractor did not do the work properly, was careless, or the buildings were poorly designed.

"Maintenance is very important. I have said this many times but these people, as long as nothing happens, they don't care. I can't go everywhere to look after them."

We shall remind the Prime Minister about this issue in Parliament. We shall follow it up. The Government should table a White Paper on the matter and provide longer time for debate. This is essential.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

After checking all buildings, present White Paper in Parliament, 1.5.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw proposes that after checking all buildings, the Government should present a White Paper in Parliament, stating the real reasons for the pipe leakage at the Immigration Department Headquarters on 11 April, 2007, and a leaky sprinkler system at the Entrepreneur and Co-operative Devlopment Ministry, both in Putrajaya, as well as the ceiling collapse at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex, Jalan Duta. We need a workable solution such as effective open tender and maintenance systems.

Dr Tan comments on the outrage and embarassment of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi concerning the series of defects of government buildings on 1 May, 2007.

For many years, we have been feeling aggrieved with some of the government projects and buildings. Now, the Prime Minister is angry and ashamed of the defects. We fervently hope that after instructing the Public Works Department to inspect all buildings immediately, Abdullah should direct the Works Ministry or form an Independent Commission and present a White Paper on the matter. Members of Parliament can then represent the people to debate it in great depth, enquiring into those responsible.

Putrajaya is only built recently, and yet there are serious defects. After spending tens of billions of ringgits of public fund, the leakage of pipes and sprinkler system and the collapse of ceiling boggle the mind.

Last century, Brazil built its new capital Brazilia and Australia constructed Canberra. This century, Myanma erects its new capital; we don't know whether anything will go wrong. Brazilia and Canberra have not had similar leakage and collapse. Will we see more shameful defects in government buildings?

On 20 March, 2007, I raised in Parliament once more about government projects and their problems. The Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said that from 1990 until the end of 2006, the Government completed successfully 9,235 projects. There were no failures. The Government removed the names of 180 contractors who failed. But, we have been really unhappy with projects like the Matrade building at Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, that took many years to complete, some school buildings and computer rooms could not be used, Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar has been delayed, the flood mitigation project in Kuala Lumpur takes longer than estimated and the saga of the Kepong MRR2 (flyover) that cracked extensively. The repair works of MRR2 was first announced as RM18 million, going up to RM40 million, RM67 million and further claims from the contractor. The delays and the extra cost of projects upset the people.

The Prime Minister has said: "I feel ashamed. These are new buildings and there are problems. There must be something wrong.

"We don't know if this is becuase the contractor did not do the work properly, was careless, or the buildings were poorly designed.

"Maintenance is very important. I have said this many times but these people, as long as nothing happens, they don't care. I can't go everywhere to look after them."

We shall remind the Prime Minister about this issue in Parliament. We shall follow it up. The Government should table a White Paper on the matter and provide longer time for debate. This is essential.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw