View issues with Tan Seng Giaw

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Congratulations on 201 Police Day:more training centres with good instructors

DAP National Depuity Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Government to set up more training centres with good instructors, so that the police can train up to 1,200 recruits a year.

There must be greater efforts to recruit more non-Malays into the force and to have special courses to instill the sense of values consistent with the new badge 'Integrity Is Our Practice' (Integriti Amalan Kita).

Dr Tan congratulates the Royal Malaysia Police Force on the occasion of the 201 Police Day on 25 March, 2008. The motto has been changed from Mesra, Cepat, Betul to Tegas, Adil, Berhemah, whereas the badge becoming Integriti Amalan Kita instead of Anti-Rasuah. We hope the change of the motto and the badge ushers in a new era. In 2005, the Royal Commission recommended Mesra, Cekap, Beramanah.

In the two centuries, there have been many dedicated police personnel who sacrificed for the country. We pay our tribute to them. We hope there are more committed people of all races joining the force.

Now, the number of police is about 80,000 in a population of nearly 27 million. We need a bigger force. Last year, the Cabinet approved the increase of 60,000 in the next five years. Every year, over 2,000 police personnel retire.

Hitherto, the training facilities can only cope with about 4,000 recruits a year, whereas the police must train 12,000 annually. Besides, paying attention to implementing the 125 proposals of the Royal Commission to enhance the runnng and management of the Royal Malaysia Police, including the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), the Government must create more training centres with good instructors to cope with the requirement.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Review implementation of all 125 recommendations of the Royal Commission on Police

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Government to review the full implementation of the 125 recommendations of The Royal Commission to enhance the operation and management of the Royal Malaysia Police, including the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC). There are still 18% of the recommmendations which are not implemented.

Hitherto, the police have implemented many of the above-stated recommendations, such as review of the service scheme, promotions and salaries.

On 22.3.2008, Dr Tan comments on the statement of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan that on 25th inst, 201st Police Day, the motto and badge of the police would be changed.

The current police motto of Mesra, Cepat dan Betul will be changed to Tegas, Adil dan Berhemah. This may signify the urshering in of a new police era. The badge 'Integriti Amalan Kita' differs from 'Anti-rasuah'. In 2005, the Royal Commission recommended the motto 'Mesra, Cekap dan Beramanah'. Clearly, the police have no intention of accepting this motto.

Whether the badge is 'Anti-Corruption' or 'Integrity is Our Practice' , the pronunciation is different, but the content is simialr. Some policemen are clean, but a few are not. We encourage police personnel who are clean and efficient.

On 30.8.2006, the National Security Ministry (now, it is merged into the opriginal Home Affairs Ministry) replied to our parliamentary question that 101 of the recommendations were implemented, that was 81%, 18 or 14% were being considered and 6 or 5% would not be implemented. On 29.3.2007, the police said it had implemented 102 recommendations, i.e. 82%. 23 or 18% were under consideration.

The Royal Commission has set a timetable , from August 2005 to May 2008. for the full implementation of the 125 recommendations. Now, there are remaining 18%, including IPCMC.

The police oppose IPCMC. One reason is that it is meant only for the police, but not others such as the transport department and customs. In countries like Australia and U.K., ombudsman for all departments have been set up. But, they have found this ineffective. They have formed an independent commission only for the police to deal with complaints and misconduct.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Some are happy and some are sad with the new Cabinet

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw believes that in our parliamentary democracy, service to people or voters is of primary importance. Once the voters have chosen, the party or the coalition of parties with the most seats forms a government to serve. Those who are appointed from the Prime Minister downwards, are there to carry out their duties. Those who are given a post should not feel too happy and those who are not appointed should not be angry.Theoretically, they should feel and behave as such. In practice, people express their inner feelings differently.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has formed his new Cabinet, reducing the ministries from 32 to 28 and abolishing parliamentary secretaries. Now, all ministers have to announce their assets publicly. This is a step in the right direction.


Some are happy and some are sad with the new Cabinet. Two deputy ministers refused to take up the appointments. Those who have been dropped such as Rafidah and Radzi react in their own ways. Radzi was Home Minister; he resigned from the post of the UMNO Secretary-General and Rafidah carries on with her UMNO Wanita Chairperson's post with some stimulating comments such as if she were not to be included in the Cabinet she should not have been asked to stand as a candidate.


Han dynasty philosopher Wang Chong 王充 says:"When a person is appointed to be an official (such as a member of the Cabinet), he or she should not be unduely happy; when he or she is removed from a post, he or she should not bear any hatred." This is the principle expressed by many people. In real life, some find it difficult to do.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Consider Royal Commission for the Judiciary

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the new minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim who is in charge of legal affairs to consider seriously the formation of a Royal Commission to enquire into all aspects of the judiciary.

Dr Tan notices that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has streamlined the Cabinet, reducing from 90 to 68 members and doing away with all parliamentary secretaries.

The March 8, 2008 general elections has seen the Barisan Nasional no longer having a two-third majority in Parliament; 140 BN and 82 Opposition. It has taken the Opposition over 40 years to achieve the objective. This is a healthy sign. Streamlining the Cabinet is a step in the right direction.

Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim heads the largest legal firm in the country, especially on corporate matters. We hope he can reorganize the judiciary, making it reputable within and outside the country. Things such as a lawyer writing a judgement for a judge as in the Lingam case should never be repeated.

The Royal Commission of Enquiry on the Lingam tape is limited in scope; we are waiting for the report. Meanwhile, we have a glimpse of the weaknesses in the judiciary during the enquiry.

Zaid Ibrahim expressed his opinions on the judicairy when he was an MP last term. We believe that he would need to know the extent of the weaknesses. He would have to consider seriously the formation of a Royal Commission of Enquiry on the judiciary.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Ceramahs: Dr Tan Seng Giaw

In the Kepong Constituency, it is a straight fight between DAP's Dr Tan Seng Giaw and Gerakan (BN)'s Lau Hoi Keong

Since 24.2.2008, Dr Tan Seng Giaw has held four big ceramahs and multiple small ones. Further ceramahs will be as follows:

3.2.2008 The Playing Field, Jalan Prima 2, Metro Prima, 7th Mile Jalan Kepong.

5.3.2008 The Playing Field, Jalan Bengkudu, Kepong Baru.

6.3.2008 The Main Playing Field, Jinjang North.

Dr Tan has raised issues in politics, economy, culture, religion,education and so forth, such as the need to have a strong opposition, the fight against inflation, religious tolerance, the eradication of all forms of extremism and efforts required to make Malaysian universities attaining world class. Now, in the World Univerisity Rankings, none of our universities are in the top 200.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw