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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Report on the Kuala Dipang bridge collapse

28.10.2009

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls the Central Government to announce the report on the inquiry into the tragedy of the Kuala Dipang bridge.

We express sympathy to the families of the three pupils drowned in the incident. We hope that the rescue team of 222 personnel would recover all the bodies. Hitherto, one body has been found.

At 10.30 pm on 26.10.2009, 22 pupils from Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Tamil Gopeng crosses the newly-built suspension bridge which collapsed over the Kampar River.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced the formation of Committee of Inquiry into the tragedy.

According to media report, the pupils were among 298 from 60 primary schools in Kampar, Tronoh and Batu Gajah taking part in a 1Malaysia camp organised by the Kinta Selatan District Education Department.

On 25.10,2009, they registered for the camp. The following day, as they were walking across the bridge from the campsite to the school to have their dinner, the accident occurred.

There are many questions about the safety of the suspension bridge. Once the inquiry is completed, the Education Minister would be able to make it public.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Greater efforts to be important IT outsourcing hub

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Government to increase the efforts to make Malaysia an important Information Technology (IT) outsourcing hub. These should include the synergistic effort to develop nanotechnology especially with the National Nanotechnology Centre and Master Plan. Nano means one thousand millionth of metre.

On 22.10.2009, Dr Tan asked a supplementary question in parliament on the attraction of foreign investors that can help this country to be an IT outsourcing centre.

Answering the original question by His Honourable MP for Kulai Ong Ka Ting, His Honourable MP for Baram, Jacob Dungau, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, states that there are 2461 IT companies with Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) status. The most recent to be given MSC status are 23 companies with investment of RM1.02billion, creating 4,425 jobs.

The Deputy Minister says that Malaysia is number three outsourcing centre after India and China in Asia. If this is recognized as such internationally, I hope we can keep this up.
The minister has not answered the inquiry on nanotechnology. He mentions 1,923 active IT companies out of 2,461 stated above, the rest remaining dormant. They provide 92,201 jobs, many of which are held byMalaysians. He would have to give details on the composition of IT workers.

We give insentives to bring investors to make this country an important hub. If these are less attractive than other countries, fewer will come to us. One major hindrance is bureaucracy. We should always take effective steps to get rid of the hindrance. We should look at the time it takes for leading countries to approve an application, making sure that Malaysian time is always competitive.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Lip service on One Malaysia

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw callson the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to ensure that theimplementation of 1 Malaysia will not be just a lip service.

Similar concept such as Malaysian Race (Bangsa Malaysia), mirroringMalaysian Malaysia was promoted by Tun Mahathir.

One of the fears about making Malaysia one is lip service on One Malaysia.

Dr Tan listened very carefully to the long reply by Najib on 1Malaysia in Parliament on 19.10.2009.

He dwelled on the eight values, people first, performance is the priority, key performance index and national key result area.

In the Prime Minister's words, what makes Malaysia unique is the diversity of our people, 1 Malaysia's goal is to preserve and enhance this unity in diversity which has always been our best hope for the future.

The values are universal: acceptance, culture of excellence, education, humility, integrity, loyalty, meritocracy and perseverance.

If these values are practised by Malaysians, it will be very good. The Prime Minister must show leadership by example. On the other hand, we urge Najib to ensure that 1 Malaysia will not be only a lip service.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Monday, October 19, 2009

Beefing up the whole police force?

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Home Ministry to consider beefing up the whole police force, instead of just the top echelon, to make it effective.

We shall feel proud if our police force can be one of the best in the world. Let us work towards this objective.

Dr Tan comments on a media report on 19.10.2009 that the Royal Malaysian Police will have three new assistant inspectors-general of police (AIG) after a major restructuring exercise next year.

We need to know the details of the restructuring. It is true that the police has to be streamlined to improve its efficiency such as in the forensics and prosecution of cases.

Apparently, the creation of six new departments in addition to the existing 8 is part of the 100,000-force's Five-Year Plan launched by Tun Abdullah Badawi three years ago. Yet, we still have not known to what extent has the force been able to implement the 10 strategic bases stated in the Royal Commission Report 2005. Although the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) mentions over 90% of the 125 recommendations of the Commission have been implemented, we would like to know the difficulty of completing the remaining ones.

We can see that there are encouraging signs of better spirit in the force. In the last three years, the number has increased from over 80,000 to 100,000 personnel. It would be a good thing if the IGP can keep us posted on how he keeps discipline among the personnel. What attempts have been made to get rid of the image that some in the police indulge in irregular activities during road blocks and rounding up of immigrants.

Beefing up the whole force instead of just the top few officers would mean a great deal to the public. We must instil integrity and efficiency in the force.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Thursday, October 15, 2009

How is Najib going to be the champion of all races?

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to show how he walks the talk to be the champion of the people by putting the people of all races above itself through the changes that he hopes Umno is currently undergoing.

Dr Tan looks at Najib's maiden speech as Umno president at the party's general assembly on 15.10.2009; Najib said Umno would continue to champion the people's lot in matters relating to their welfare and livelihood in keeping with the times.

He emphasised to the 2,500 delegates at the Putra World TradeCentre:"Umno can no longer be seen as a party that leans towards onlyone group."

When he was the Umno Youth Chief, he breathed fire and brimstone, threatening to take drastic action against other races. Today, his speech is full of the type of tolerance that is needed to sustain apeaceful and progressive country.

As a true champion of all races, we would like to see Najib fulfil his promise by creating various bases such as the strong bases for religious and racial tolerance in Malaysia, without leaning towards one group. Action should be taken at once against any group that incites racial or religious hatred like waving a dead bull's head against the relocation of a Hindu temple in Shah Alam. The same applies to the current forms of terrorism such as suicide bombings that kill innocent people. The Prime Minister may want to look at the need to replace the Internal Security Act by an Anti-Terrorism Act.

There are many aspects including the economic sector in which Najib can show his true colour by ensuring fairness and justice. But, we must never forget to narrow the gap between groups and regions. These types of gap should not be allowed to get bigger.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Administration that practises fairness, justice and integrity.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw reminds the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that besides cashing on our diversity, the administration must strive to establish fairness, justice and integrity in the public and the private sectors..

The Prime MInister has a point when, on 5.10.2009, he said in Paris that Malaysia could leverage on its diversity to bring economic benefits to the people, fitting into his 1Malaysia concept. True, we should always make the best of the country’s multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious population which bore elements of Asian civilisations.

He said throughout history, civilisations that prospered were inclusive and open while those which were closed and resistant to ideas and free movement of people withered away.

U.S.A. is an example of diversity. Those who are good can rise to the top as shown by President Barack Obama. Just look at the number of Nobel Prize winners from the country. Many originate from other nations such as Albert Eistein. She has her peculiarities like being the biggest debtor nation in the world. As the largest economy on earth, the bankrupcy of such banks as the Lehman Brothers contribute to the global recession. The former chairman of the New York Stock Exchange Bernard Maadorf has gone to jail for gigantic fraud. We do not want to immitate the greed of these captains of the financial world.

Encouraging people to capitalize on diversity, Najib may want to examine hindrances in the public and the private sectors. For example, despite his emphasis on Key Performance Indices (KPIs) and Key Product Areas (KPAs), he would have to review the practice in all government departments and agencies. How many have accepted the concept of 1Malaysia, giving priority to the people? How is it that government departments tend to become monoethnic? On the other hand, the private sector may show this trend in certain aspects. Then, there are irregularities including corruption.

If government departments show that they truly imbue fairness, justice and integrity, it will be easier for Malaysians to exploit the diversity. We still have a long way.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Monday, October 05, 2009

Need effective action to solve the PKFZ scandal

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Central Government to take drastic action to solve the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, including taking those truly involved to court.

Dr Tan made this call on 4.10.2009 at the KL Federal Territory DAP Convention.

Creating free trade zone beside the Klang Port means that products can be sent all over the world easily. This is a good concept.

On 20.9.2001, the Treasury gave a directive to acquire the 1,ooo acre of land in Pulau Indah at RM10 per square foot. On 6.11.2002, the Cabinet resolved to buy the land at RM25 per square foot. On 23.10.2002, the Cabinet agreed to let Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) to do landfilling and infrastructure, but it did not appoint KDSB the developer and contractor for the PKFZ. It was Port Klang Authority (PKA) that appointed KDSB.

The cost for PKFZ increased from the initial RM400 million to RM2.25 billion, and then RM4.5 Billion. If there is no effective step, it may reach RM12.5 billion.

From the Cabinet to PKA, there was scarcely any financial procedure; certain persons did as they wish. After the then Prime Minister Tun Mahathir gave the nod, those involved dealt with PKFZ as they like.

In 1983, there was RM 2.5 billion Bank Bumiputera Finance (BMF) scandal; in 1996, there was PERWAJA scandal. Now, there is PKFZ scandal.

Those involved in BMF were charged in Hong Kong and British courts. But, none were tried in Malaysian court.

With One Malaysia and priority given to the people, we see the Transport Ministry setting up committees and task force and the Cabinet also has its special task force for PKFZ. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating PKFZ.

We would like to see the Central Government do more than setting up a task force. We need effective action to solve the PKFZ scandal, including charging those involved in court.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Friday, October 02, 2009

Ensure all army personnel can vote freely in Bagan Pinang.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Election Commssion (EC) to ensure that 4,604 armed forces personnel can vote freely without any undue influence of any political leader in the Bagan Pinang by-election on 11.10.2009.

The Commission should make certain that no party leaders such as the Defence Minister have any political interference on army offcers and other ranks. There are two army camps in the Bagan Pinang state constituency, each being commanded by a Leftenant Colonel.

On 2.10.2009, Dr Tan comments on the intention of the EC Deputy Chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar to distribute ballot papers on Oct 7 to 4,604 army personnel for the Bagan Pinang by-election to allow postal voting the next day. Contesting political parties would be allowed to appoint a representative each to witness balloting and counting of postal votes at army camps.

There are 13,664 voters in the Bagan Pinang constituency, 4,604 being postal voters.

Since the EC has nothing to hide, it should try its utmost to ensure that the Defence Minister or other party leaders do not have an undue advantage. If the EC is not biased and pro-government, why is it that it does not say anything when Port Dickson was declared an Army Town four days before nomination on 3.10.2009 by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib.

Datuk Wan Ahmad would need more than just letting a representative of each candidate to witness the postal voting. He would have to show more transparency. Any Government activity in the army camps such as insentive including promotion or bonus or promise of such things or coercion is construed as biased.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw