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Friday, May 27, 2011

Full report on National Service training

DAP National Deputy Chiarman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to present to Parliament a full report including the expenditure on the National Service training in the country.

Let us have a debate on the merits and demerits of this type of training before actually exending the period of training to longer than three months.

On 27.5.2011. Dr Tan comments on the statement by YB Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Yesrerday, the Defence Minister said the National Service training programme's three-month period might be extended as three months was too short a time to develop noble characters and foster a sense of patriotism. The matter would be discussed at a meeting of the National Service Training Council

We regard the instillation of universal values into youths as acceptable. We have to consider the millions of ringgits spent and the effectiveness of training programmes.

The National Service Trianing Department has 3,698 contract staff. They would be given permanent employment. How good are they?

We urge Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to present a detailed report to Parliament on the above-mentioned training programmes, so that we can assess the nature and the effectiveness of these trainings. Are they value for money?

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Thursday, May 12, 2011

The Government must use greater efforts to overcome the problem of haze

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw reminds the Government again to have further discussions with Indonesian government to find solutions to recurrent haze in Malaysia, including persuading the latter to ratify the Treaty on Transboundary Haze Pollution adopted by ASEAN.

According to media reports, the haze in this country comes annually from Sumatra and Kalimantan. The Air Pollution Index(API)issued by the Department of Environment reaches over 100 in some areas. This is unhealthy.

On 12.5.2011, Dr Tan repeats his statement on the annual haze.

For many years, haze appears in Malaysia and neighbouring countries, affecting the people. For example, today the API in Klang is over 100, Banting 96, Shah Alam 84, Bukit Rambai, Melaka 82. The Department of Environment believes that this fine dust comes from Sumatra and Central Riau. Some Indonesians say that this has nothing to do with their country. Farmers clear land for cultivation by burning and plantations burn old trees to save cost.

Association of South East Asian Nations, ASEAN, has repeatedly discussed this issue. For instance, ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, AIPA, has resolutions on the subject. Malaysian Government has frequent meetings with Indonesian Government, reaching agreements. Alas, farm burnings and forest fires persist. We have heard about Malaysian-Indonesian Joint Disaster Management Committee, Cross-Border-Fire-Fighting Operations and so forth. But, there is little effective action.

In 2002, ASEAN adopted a treaty on Transboundary Haze Pollution. Indonesia has not ratified it. This is to coordinate joint efforts to overcome farm burnings, forest fires and haze.

Tan Seng Giaw

Friday, May 06, 2011

Call on the Government to announce the details of 1 Care

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Central Government to announce the details of its 1 Care programme.

On 6.6.2011, Dr Tan issues a statement concerning 1 Care.

The Government has 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) with Key Performance Indices (KPIs) and National Key Result Areas (NKRAs). By 2020 the expenditure is estimated at RM1.4 trillion, 92% being from the private sector. One of the Government Transformation Programmes (GTPs) is said to be 1 Care, rhyming with 1 Malaysia.

What is 1 Care? The Government has yet to let the public know.

Over 10 years ago, there was much talk about corporatisation of the health services involving over 3,000 hospitals, clinics and public polyclinics in Malaysia. In 1999, the then Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Ming denied it.

Although the Government refers to the corporatisation of the National Heart Institute (IJN) since 1993 with continued subsidies, the trend of Government-Linked Companies (GLC) like Sime Darby taking over private hospitals such as Subang Jaya Medical Centre makes people search for answers. This sounds American. In 2010, President Obama promulgated Health Care Legislation,allocating USD 940 billion to cover 32 million more Americans. Does the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib intend to propose new Health Care Legislation?

We would like to know what GTP on health care is. We continue to seek details on 1 Care as health issue is very complicated. Can poor people afford it? What is important is that Malaysians should be treated fairly in health care.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw