View issues with Tan Seng Giaw

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

What happens to the remaining 9,788 schools?

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to let us know what steps he has taken to raise the performance of 9,788 schools in the country. What type of extra financial allocation will be given to these schools?

On 26.1.2010, Dr Tan comments on the 20 schools, 14 secondary and six primary, which were accorded the status of high performance schools. Apparently, they were chosen based on outstanding performance in academic matters, co-curriculum and niche areas. Ten of the 14 secondary schools are fully residential schools and the rest day schools.


Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said these schools would be guided and monitored closely to ensure they continued to attain higher levels of performance.


Each school will be allocated a budget of RM1 million annually. They are given free rein as to how to spend the money, which will be given in a lump-sum payment early in the school year. They also have autonomy to innovate and improve the quality of their schools.

It is laudable that these schools are recognised as performing well. We hope that they will continue to do so.

On the other hand, Malaysia has 9,808 primary and secondary schools. What does the Education Minister have in mind for the remaining 9,788 schools? They do not have the extra RM1 million, which we hope will be accountably managed by the Education Departments and the 20 schools.

For various reasons, these schools may not do so well. Or, their performance my not be noticed by the Education Ministry. Perhaps, one reason is the the lack of fund. However, we hope Muhyiddin will tell us how they can improve. He must show that he assesses them fairly.

While we look after clever students and better schools, we must never forget others. How would he manage when parents fight hard to get their children to the above-stated 20 schools? When school term starts we will ask Muhyddin for help.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Ensure that 1 Malaysia clinic treats patients well.

DAP Deputy National Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Central Government to ensure that the staff members of 1 Malaysia clinics are sympathetic, treating patients as well as possible.

Dr Tan watches the launching of 1 Malaysia community clinics by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib. Now, it is number 44. The people are wondering whether these clinics will provide meaningful treatment.

Clinics that can give good service to the people are meaningful. We hope that 1 Malaysia clinics can play this part. Naturally, Najib has promised that they will not compete with private clinics.

I shall keep an eye these clinics. For example, there is 1 Malaysia clinic in Taman Intan Baiduri, Kepong. I shall assess whether they give service as promised.

Each 1 Malaysia clinic is run by a hospital assistant and a nurse. It opens between 10 am to 10 pm every day.

The Government has allocated RM10 million this year to set up 50 such clinics in the whole country. What is the maintenance cost?

Government hospitals try to provide as good a service as possible. But, there are weaknesses such as the attitude of some staff members needs to be improved. This includes doctors, nurses and other staff members. Will these types of weaknesses appear in 1 Malaysia clinics?

We wish that hosptial assistants and nurses who run 1 Malaysia clinics are truly people-oriented, giving meaningful service to the public.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Saturday, January 09, 2010

Need for transparency on actions against the attacks of churches

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw reiterates that all concerned including the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the IGP must be transparent in the handling of the church burning incident.

Transparency is a positive way of dealing with rumours and untruths on yesterday's petrol bombing of three churches in the Klang Valley. The public expect effective action against the perpetrators of these arson attacks.

Just as many people, Dr Tan has received various types of information and interpretations of the incident that is thought to be as a result of the High Court decision allowing the use of the word Allah by the Catholic weekly, Herald. The King has called for calm and respect for houses of worship.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin condemned these attacks. The Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin viewed them seriously and would not comprise with those responsible. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Sri Musa Hassan said the police were investigating the matter and assured everyone they would conduct a thorough investigation.

“There will be no cover up. We have to be careful with what we say so as not to cause any unnecessary tension or uneasiness among the various races and religions in this country,” he said today.

Musa said political parties must not seize the opportunity to fuel the situation for their political benefit but instead work together to ensure peace and security prevailed and that various races continue to live in harmony.

We have insisted that no political party should be involved in such dastardly acts. All concerned especially Najib should make sure that this is so.

One positive way is to ensure that there is transparency. Let the people know the definite actions, the investigations and the results of various efforts. Otherwise, SMS, blog, facebook and others continue to carry information and interpretations.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Friday, January 08, 2010

The Prime Minister should act on the church attacks without fear or favour.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to act without fear or favour on the attacks on churches this morning.

On 8.1.2010, Dr Tan comments on the church attacks such as the petro bomb burning the administrative section of the Metro Tabernacle Church, Desa Melawati. In the technological age, such news spreads to the world instantaneously, tarnishing the Malaysian image.

Najib has condemned the attacks made on three churches in the Klang Valley but has asked the public not to start pointing fingers at who may have been responsible for the attacks, adding that the Government would take all possible action to prevent such incident from recurring.

Apparently, Najib had directed the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to beef up security and surveillance at places of worship.

We hope that the Prime Minister, the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin and the IGP act in the interest of the nation, taking the necessary action to deal with the matter.

The recent High Court decision to allow the Catholic weekly, Herald, to use the word Allah has given rise to emotion. This must be directed through peaceful channels.

No political party should foment religious or racial sentiment for political ends. We hope the Prime Minister will see to it.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

'Allah' controversy can only be handled by being tolerant.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw believes that the handling of the 'Allah' controversy is by tolerance, finding solution, if possible, through discussions by both sides.

Dr Tan has been asked to comment on the 'Allah' controversy.

For some years, the use of the word Allah by non-Muslim publications such as the Catholic weekly, Herald, evokes strong feeling among some Muslims. It is about sensitivity of those who oppose the use of this term in non-Muslim media.

Last week, High Court judge Lau Bee Lan ruled that usage of the word was constitutional as long as the periodical was confined to educate the followers of the Christian faith.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad said that the law did not take into consideration sensitivity factors that could provoke tension and animosity between followers of different religions.

“The solution to the controversy will not be achieved by making an appeal to the court. Such a sensitive issue cannot be solved through law,” he wrote on his blog yesterday.

Dr Mahathir said the controversy started when he was still in office, adding that the Cabinet at that time thought the usage of the name “Allah” in the Bible was a sensitive issue.

God is from the Old English, the Old Norse and the Old Saxon. Allah is Arabic for God. Kadazandusun use Kinoingan.

Our country is multireligious. All religions believe in tolerance. In the spirit of tolerance, let the proponents and the opponents find a solution, if possible, to the issue peacefully.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Friday, January 01, 2010

Happy New Year !

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw wishes everyone

Happy New Year !

The world economic recession affected 2009. Malaysians had a relatively bad time. It is hoped that 2010 will see the recovery of the world economy and Malaysians will have a more comfortable atmosphere.

Our politics is changing. The people are exposed to the modern world with, among others, information technology. What happens within and outside the country is known quickly, within minutes or even seconds. With more exposure, people will think differently, keeping up with the latest development.

For example, last month when a division was called in Parliament to pass the Supply Bill 2010 (budget) involving the sum of RM191.5 billion, Barisan Nasional (BN) had 63 votes and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had 63, the Speaker casting his vote for BN. This was history.

Malaysians look forward to improvement in education from kindergartens to universities. The 2010 allocation for education is RM57.5 billion, that is about 27% of the total budget. This is high by world standard. Let us hope that this allocation is used as effectively as the best in the world.

We wish Malaysians well in all aspects.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw