Improve police measures against crime

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw presses the police to improve the measures against crime such as robbery, stealing and snatch-thieving. These are necessary to protect the public.

Meanwhile, the people must cooperate and use preventive measures against crime.

Dr Tan issues the statement on 24.12.2008, Boxing Day, after receiving complaints about robbery including a few houses having been robbed by attackers wielding parangs in Jinjang North last night.

Malaysia faces problems of security. The crime rate in the country is serious and the people are unhappy. Next year, the economic slowdown will be worse and crime will increase.

Last night, robbers terrified residents in Jinjang North. The police has detained a robber of Chinese descent.

We have contacted the OCPD of Sentul District. Next week, we shall meet to discuss the ways for the people and the police to cooperate against crime.

We have often debated the crime issue in Parliament, reminding the Government of the need to take effective action to tackle the problem.

When residents such as those in Kepong Baru remind the police of the activities of criminals, the latter increase their efforts and relative peace is restored. Then, crime rate goes up in other places. After the police shift the attention to other polices, crime returns to Kepong Baru. Such is the pattern.

The population of Malaysia is 25 million. It seems that there are 161 prisoners per 100,000. This is serious. We hope the Government announce the true crime rate.

The causes of crime include unemployment, parental neglect and illegal immigrants. The people must try to understand these causes, if possible.

The police have a heavy resposibility. Now, the force is about 80,000, or it is also quoted as 90,000. It may not be able to cope with everything. Let us hope that by 2012, the strength will increase to 150,000. In the meantime, the police must have better measures against crime.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

The Cabinet must delay approving 8 highways raising the toll rate

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Federal Government Cabinet to delay giving permisson to concessionaires of eight highways from raising the toll rate by 10%, as the economic slowdown becomes worse.

Dr Tan makes the call on 23.12.2008 as the eight concessionaires are considering raising the toll rate.

Apparently, these concessionaires had intended to up the toll rate on 1.1.2008. Because of various factors, especially the General Elections on 8.3.2008, the toll hike has been put off. The Government is said to give compensation of RM350 million. We hope the government can confirm this as well as the eight highways involved. Are they New Klang Highway, Penang Bridge, North South Highway (Seremban-Port Dickson and Kulim-Butterworth, the Second Link between Malaysia and Singapore, Ampang-KL Highway and KL West Highway?

When the contracts between concessionaires and the government are made public on 1.1.2009, the people will know the details of the agreement including the rate of toll increase and the compensation to be paid if the government refuses the t0ll hike. If the Government lets the concessionaires do as they like, what is the burden on the people?

Now, the world economic recession, especially that in the United States of America, is affecting Malaysia. Next year, the economy will be worse. Hence, the Cabinet must consider postponing its decision to let these concessionaires increase the toll rate. Obviously, there must be negotiations between the Government and the concessionares to find an amicable solution.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Study the racial relationships among students of various races from national schools since 1970.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to study the degree of integration among stduents of all races from national schools, say, since 1970. For the past 38 years, what is the racial relationship among the products of national schools.

National unity is multifactorial. As there are over 70,000 non-Chinese pupils in Chinese schools, are pupils of various races from these schools racially united?

Dr Tan comments on Hisham's view that Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir's utterance is not seditious. Mukhriz said in the House on 1 December, 2008 that schools of all streams should be placed under a single education system.

Mukhriz is contesting the Umno Youth Chief post in March, 2009; it is a three-cornered fight. His remark causes reactions.

Hisham insists that allegations that Mukhriz's statement was racially-charged are totally baseless. "Ideally, the government would like to see a single education system but numerous factors have to be considered before that can become a reality," he added.

The Education Minister says that there are 5,831 national schools and 1,827 government-aided schools, comprising 889 Chinese schools, 374 Tamil schools,410 mission schools and 154 government-aided religious schools.

Let him conduct a detailed study of the racial relationship among Malaysians from national schools and and those from Chinese schools. As long as factors such as unfair policies are not resolved, it is difficult to see further unity and integration.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Only education system that is accepted by all races will succeed.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw maintains that only the education system that is accepted by all races in the country can be sucessfully implemented.

The Barnes Committee 1951 and the Razak Report 1956 recommended one education system with Bahasa Malaysia (BM) as the medium of instruction. This has not been accepted by all races. Hence, the present education system evolves.

Dr Tan was in the House on 1 December, 2008, when MP for Jerlun, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir raised the issue of one education system again, based on national spirit for uniting the people and avoiding racial polarization in the country.

This means that schools of all streams are absolved into one system with BM as the medium except the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English.


Mukhriz says:"Definitely, it is compulsory for pupils to learn their mother tongue, that is, Mandarin for Chinese and Tamil for Indians. Further, under this system, Malay pupils can choose to learn other languages such as Mandarin and Tamil."

He reminds that a national education system is practised in 99% of the countries in the world, and this transworld pattern should then be a practice in Malaysia.

Muhkriz stands for election as Umno Youth Chief. On the eve of the Umno election in March 2009, he broaches the issue.

We must look at the history of Malaysia and consider the feelings of all races. If the proposal above is not accepted by non-Malays, it cannot be successfully implemented.

In the current system, all schools follow the broad national syllabus and examinations. The number of Malaysians fluent in BM has increased. This is reflected in the House. If language teachers are first class in all schools, more students will master the language.

National unity and racial integration depend on many factors, including a fair and equitable policy. The advocates of one education policy should try their best to observe the situation of Malay and Non-Malay students in national schools. If a Non-Malay who obtains 9A in an examination does not get scholarship, while a Malay student with 3A is given scholarship and better treatment, can we have unity?

We must always narrow the gap among the races. But, this does not mean that we should cause such ill-feeling, which is a factor that affects unity.

Muhkriz talks about many countries having a single education system. This does not mean that it will naturally lead to national unity. In ASEAN, Indonesia, Myanma and Thailand have one education system, what happens to their national unity?

Dr Tan Seng Giaw