Revamp Information-Gathering System

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls for the revamp of the whole information-gathering system of the police, so as to ensure that intelligence obtained reflect the true situation.

Dr Tan made this call on 15.7.2008 during a media conference in the lobby of parliament to refute the allegation of the Home Minister YB Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Syed Albar. At the conference, DAP National Advisor YB Lim Kit Siang and the Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Lim Guan Eng clarified that they were not present at the socalled Pakatan meeting at the PKR headquarters on 9.7.2008.

From 12 to 14 July, 2008, the police set up road blocks along the roads leading to parliament, causing traffic jam and inconveniencing the people.

On 14.7.2008, YB Hamid said that the police action of putting up roadblocks in the city for three days is justifiable based on the intelligence gathered. According to Hamid the blogs calling for people to turn up were 1626.blogspot.com and zul4kulim.blogspot.com.

He stressed that intelligence was also gathered from a July 9 meeting chaired by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the PKR headquarters. The meeting was attended by various leaders, including DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng, DAP Vice (Deputy) Chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw and PAS treasurer Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli.

On 9.7.2008 Guan Eng was in Penang with the Governor. Kit Siang was not at the socalled meeting. I was at the House during the day and in Kepong in the evening.

Clearly, the Home Minister was not speaking the truth. He should find out from his source why such a mistake was made. Then, he should withdraw the allegation and apologize to the people for the inconvenience caused in the three-day witchhunt. What was the actual intelligence that prompted the three-day action?

The Government must review the whole information-gathering system to ascertain its integrity and effectiveness. It must be revamped.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Stop collecting parking fees outside the KL city centre

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw reiterates that the Government must reconsider the step to start collecting parking fees outside the city centre because the people are facing difficulties such as business as business downturn.

Being sympathetic to the people who are beginning to go through a tough time is essential. City Hall Kuala Lumpur (CHKL) must be more sensitive. Has it shortchanged the people?

Dr Tan was with residents at the Kepong Baru playing field in the morning of 13.7.2008. They object to the imposition of parking fees outside the city centre.

On 10.7.2008, the Deputy Federal Territory Minister YB Datuk Saravanan insisted that the measure to collect parking fees outside the KL city centre would be continued so as to reduce traffic congestion. Hitherto, CHKL only imposes this in the city centre, side by side with non-CHKL operators. Or, has CHKL teamed up with all of them?

CHKL has begun to issue compounds to those who refuse to pay parking fees such as in Kepong Baru. This has infuriated residents.

If the intention is to reduce traffic congestion, one sensible step is to improve all forms of public transport. Now, less than 20% of cityfolks use public transport, compared with other cities such as Singapore where 60-70% of city dwellers take public transport. KL public transport like buses must be improved.

Before the recent increase of petrol price by 40-60%, people were starting to feel the pinch of inflation. Business is down perhaps by 50 to 70%. Collecting parking fees in business areas outside the KL city centre affects business further.

We stress that stopping the imposition of parking fees outside KL city cntre will lighten the burden on the people. CHKL must respond sympathetically.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Fairer poverty eradication policy; difference in the cost of living between rural and urban areas.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Government to review its assessment on the difference in the cost of living between rural and urban areas. It must promulgate a fairer policy to narrow the gap between rural and urban areas without using race as a basis.

On 1.7.2008, Dr Tan spoke in the House during the debate on the motion by the Prime Minister to justify the restructuring of the system of subsidies. While it is essential to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor and between regions, it is necessary to be fair and just.

Recently, the Deputy Prime Minister talked about Bumiputera equity and ownership of premises and so forth.

Since 1970, the Government has insisted on the 30% Bumiputera equity. The government figures show that after 38 years, this is not even 20%. Why? What is the true figure? The Government must review this policy.

We must be more reasonable in assessing the difference in the urban and rural incomes. A person earning RM 5000 in a city such as Kuala Lumpur is not likely to live as well as a person earning RM 3,000 in a village.

Besides promulgating a fairer poverty eradication policy, the Government must ensure that there are integrity and accountability in the implementation. A village lacks certain facilities. A city such as KL lacks green lungs and faces poor public transport, congestion in schools, high crime rate and civil servants of virtually one race.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Do not increase petrol price further

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Government to refrain from letting petrol price increase further. Higher petrol price means heavier burden for the people.

The reduction of subsidy and the hike of petrol of 60% at RM2.70 per litre and the subsequent increase in prices of goods have put a strain on the people.

Dr Tan spoke at the gathering of Pakatan at the Kelana Jaya Stadium on 6.7.08.

To introduce subsidy is easy, but to abolish it difficult. Subsidy is to help truly poor people to be self-sufficient gradually.

The recent reduction in subsidy and the increase in petrol price by 60% make life very tough. At present, the downturn in the economy and the decrease in the income of people make people nervous. The long queues at post offices to claim rebates reflect the situation.

The Government insists that it is using the levy of profits from the price hike, amounting to RM13.7 billion, to help poor people. In this unusual period, the Government needs to look after the people more. Besides saving energy, reducing wastage, increasing efficiency and using public fund more productively, the Government must ensure that there is no further increase in petrol price. This is especially necessary when the price of crude oil has reached over USD 140 a barrel.

Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister tabled a motion in the House on the restructuring of subsidy. We did not agree with the big increase in petrol price and we pressed the Government to use the profits of Petronas that amounts to over RM100 billion properly. Savings and conservation must also come from the top including the big corporations.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw