View issues with Tan Seng Giaw

Monday, June 28, 2010

Land Tranport Department must make public whether it intends to introduce car plates with chip

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls for the Land Transport Department to announce whether it intends to introduce vehicle plate with smart chip, preceded by the amendment to the Transport Act.

On 27.6.2010, Dr Tan commented on media report on the proposed use of car plate with smart chip or chipped car plate.

Vehicular transport is essential. Hence, the Road Transport Department plays an important part. 2010 budget for land transport is RM312,386,000, from which enforcement is about RM 85 million. We hope that the department has reasonable measures to improve road transport in the country.

If smart chip is installed in car plate, the authority can extract personal data. How much will each chipped plate cost? RM150? Will an offender be fined RM2000 or banned from driving 20 years? These may cause controversy. RM150 per chipped plate may be considered too expensive. Acquisition of personal data may be deemed invasion of privacy. Will the appointment of companies that make chipped plates be based on cronyism?

If the Government has decided to implement chipped plate, it should reveal the details, avoiding guesswork by the public. Then, we can give evidence-based views.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) must be fair in issuing taxi licenses

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw stresses that CVLB must have fair and reasonable criteria in issuing taxi licenses,using good methods to treat those who earn their living by driving taxis. At the same time, it must be just in enforcing the law.

Conversely, Taxi Associations and their members must adhere to the regulations including Clients' Charter, to give good service to passengers.

On 26.6.2010, Dr Tan attended the dinner of Kepong Taxi Drivers' Associations.

The taxi occupation has a contribution to society. Hence, government departments such as CVLB, Transport Department and Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry must treat Taxi Associations and their members fairly.

For instance, CVLB must be accountable in giving out taxi licenses, avoiding irregularities including cronyism. Singapore has two big taxi companies, taking care of their taxi drivers reasonably. Why does Malaysia need such a long time to implement fair and just policy and measures in the provision of taxi service.

The authority concerned has said that 30% taxi licenses will be awarded to women. Recently, how does the authority manage the new licences? The number is said to be 9,000.

The Tourism Board sponsors courses for taxi drivers. CVLB and Transport Department have regulations such as taxis must use: meter, not take excess fee, not refuse to take passengers, wear white shirt, dark trousers and dark shoes as well as be polite.

Clients'Charter includes treating passengers well and effective service.

I believe that most taxi drivers follow regulations and only a few flout the law. Taxi Associations must play their parts.

Once the image of taxis is raised, passengers have a good impression. This is good for the country.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Use the allocation of RM230 billion for 10 MP effectively?

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw presses the Federal Government to use the allocation of RM 230 billion for the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) effectively.

We must avoid irregularities and wastage.

On 21.6.2010, Dr Tan took part in the debate on the 10MP (2011-2015). As many members of parliament have not spoken, the Speaker imposes the restriction of 10 minutes per member.

10MP book cover is light green and the words are beautiful. For example, it contains the aspirations of Government Transformation Programme and New Economic Model based on high income, wide-ranging and sustainable. The words are full of policies with little details on projects planned. It seems that the Government will announce the details of these projects in September, 2010. We hope the Governmental action reflects its words.

Announce details of projects

On 3.5.2010, Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said, "There are 1,673 abandoned projects under the 9MP and the Government will be reviving them.

"The Public Works Department had planned for 3,737 projects under the 9MP."

We hope that the Government will announce the number of projects completed under the 9MP, the number of projects abandoned, the original allocations and the final amount paid out for all the projects.

We shall keep an eye on the implementation of the 10MP projects and the allocation of RM230 billion for these projects.

The success of each project depends on many factors such as the type of tender, the ability of the contractor, building materials, technical scope, irregularity and weather.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Review of media freedom & modern media in Malaysia

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw proposes that the Central Government review the actual situation of the media to determine whether there is media freedom and the need of the society. Then, it should introduce a fairer media policy, consistent with the modern information technology.

Although the Central Government insists that there is media freedom, the Opposition does not agree.

On 17.6.2010, Dr Tan asked a supplementary question on media freedom. The Information, Communications and Culture Minister YB Datuk Dr Rais Yatim was answering the original question by Tebrau MP YB Teng Boon Soon on the Freedom House, U.S., for putting Malaysia at 141 in the Press Freedom Ranking (Malaysia Press Still Not Free).

Rais believes that the American organization does not understand Asian values in Malaysia. It gives an armchair reporting.

He points out that Malaysia has 76 daily newspapers, 151 TV channels, 53 radio channels and 2 million bloggers. The broadband is expanding.

In our multiracial and multi-religious society, we should avoid fanning racial and religious feeling. But, we must be able to reflect the truth with responsible media reports. in the modern technology, news and reportage are full of truth and falsehood. How do we distinguish them?

The information technology is changing the world. As soon as the Government issues a news item, the Internet such as bloggers can present differing views. Whose opinions are correct?

For example, the media carry various versions of the Port Klang Free Zone scandal and the financial problem of the conglomerate Sime Darby. What is the truth?

We require a comprehensive review of the media, the Government's media policy and the need of the society. Then we formulate a fairer policy, consistent with the reality of the modern information technology.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

To maintain the standard of teachers is essential

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw reiterates that the Education Minister (EM) must take the issue of the quality of teachers very seriously, such as going all out to raise the quality of teachers in the country. At the same time, we must be able to compare the quality of Malaysian teachers with that in Singapore in various aspects, consistent with the objective of becoming an advanced nation by 2020.

On 16.6.2010, Dr Tan comments on the answer in the House yesterday by EM on the quality and performance of 386,000 teaches in the country.

In his reply, EM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says that he is naturally satisfied with the quality of teachers produced. On this, there is no compromise. From time to time, teachers in service are given in-service short- and long-term courses and guidance. Newly Qualified Teachers from Institute of Education for Teachers (IPG)are monitored by the Teachers' Education Section in the first six months of their service, guided by experienced teachers and headmasters, including the mentor-mentee method.

There are dedicated teachers. We hope that the number will increase. But, there are complaints about the quality of teachers. This may be due to many factors. As some become teachers as the last resort, EM must find out whether these complaints are true. Then, he should take appropriate steps to rectify.

We hope that EM does as he preaches. This year, the allocations for primary and secondary schools are RM 10 billion and RM 8.8 billion respectively. Let these be used correctly without unnecessary wastage.

Tan Sri Muyiddin says he pays great emphasis on the quality of teachers. But, he did not answer the comparison of the quality of our teachers with that of Singaporean teachers. How many teachers have left this country to work in Singapore? In the last 20 years, how many have resigned from government schools to work in the private sector and other countries?

We shall continue to raise the issue of the quality, treatment and working conditions of teachers. To maintain the standard of the teaching profession is essential.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Monday, June 07, 2010

The Central Government must explain how NKRA, KPI & Laboratory are beneficial to Malaysia.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Central Government to explain clearly how Key Performance Index (KPI), National Key Result Area (NKRA) and Laboratory are of benefit to the nation.

How do KPI and NKRA help to achieve 10.1% economic growth for the first quarter 2010 and increase of one million Light Rail Transit (LRT) passengers?

Dr Tan asked a supplementary question on the attainment of NKRA while the minister Tan Sri Koh Tzu Khoon answered the question lengthily including NKRA in transport, education, crime prevention and agriculture.

Business corporations often talk about NPI dan NKRA. These may help to assess and to improve these corporations. How do they assist Malaysia?

The 10.1% economic growth is due to several factors, not just NKRA. The same applies to the increase in the number of LRT passengers.

The people feel the effects of the economic downturn. We need to increase the number of people using public transport to enter the city and the number of schools is more than 716 monitored through NKRA.

There are 7,643 primary schools and 2,165 secondary schools in the country. The minister has said that he does not mean 716 schools,but 7,643 schools. While it is necessary to encourage good schools, it is important to help other schools to improve.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw