View issues with Tan Seng Giaw

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Ensure that police personnel don't get involved in gambling

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar to ensure that police personnel do not involve themselves in legal and illegal gambling whether directly or indirectly.

On 20.11.2010, Dr Tan comments on IGP's mock casino at the police training centre in Cheras.

Yesterday, Tan Sri Ismail said that to catch a thief, we needed to think like a thief. Having a mock casino can enlighten police personnel on gambling activities from roulette to blackjack. Legal activities are seen in places such as Genting Highlands and Sentosa, Singapore, where some Malaysians spend their time. Illegal ones are rampant.

I hope the mini casino can truly help the 318 or more police personnel in dealing with illegal gambling activities.The part played by enforcers is essential.

Lets hope that the IGP investigate the allegations that illegal gambling activities are widespread because police personnel are hand in gloves with illegal operators. Even in legal gambling, what is the part played by the police? If he can clear this suspicion, it will help improve the credibility.

It is a human weakness to imagine that a person can become rich for doing nothing. Singapore has also capitalised on this weakness. Macau, being the biggest gambling centre in the world, has been doing it for years.

How many police personnel who are trained at the mini casino will end up as gamblers? How many are gamblers without having been in the mini casino?

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Monday, November 08, 2010

Ensure that GLCs do not stifle the private sector

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Central Government to formulate a liberal policy,ensuring that the Government-linked companies under Khazanah Nasional and other GLCs do not harm the private sector, affecting its initiatives and innovations.

In the Malaysian economy, the private sector should play a vital part. The Government should ensure stability and help the private sector, preventing irregularities such as seen in the American sub-prime fiasco.

On 8.11.2010, Dr Tan asked the Deputy Finance Minister YB Lim Siang Chai a supplementary question on the profits and losses of GLCs under Khazanah Nasional from 2006 to 2009 and the reasons for their performance.

According to the Deputy Minister in 2007 Axiata (Telecom) made profits of RM1.782 billion, 2008 RM498 million, 2009 RM1.652 bn; Mas 2006 losses RM1.36bn, 2007 profits RM851 mn, 2008 RM244 mn, 2009 RM490 mn. Proton 2006 profits RM470 mn, 2007 losses RM590 mn, 2008 profits RM1.85 bn, 2009 losses RM320 mn. He did not state the reasons for the losses or the profits

The Finance Ministry has to be transparent, making public the performance of all GLCs and the reasons for their performance, including their part in the national economy. The private sector must have the initiatives and the innovations to create vibrant economy. The Government must be vigilant, effective in its monitoring and prevention of all forms of irregularities. Fiasco such as that of the American sub-prime, should never be allowed to occur in this country.

The Central Government has announced its target of attracting RM1.3 trillion investment, 92% of which from the private sector by 2020. Then the part played by Khazanah Nasional and all GLCs should be made clear. Will they stifle initiatives and innovations in the private sector. How dominant will the Government be in the economy?

Dr Tan Seng Giaw