View issues with Tan Seng Giaw

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year

Happy New Year.

Let us hope that the new year will bring peace and happiness to all.

Tan Seng Giaw

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Reduce bureaucracy & irregularities in the processing of foreign workers

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Central Government to deal seriously with bureaucracy and irregularities in the processing of foreign workers.

To let foreign workers registered under the recent 6P programme to work in 10 more sectors and 11 sub-sectors is one thing. Hindrances in the processing of these workers is another.

On 28.12.2011, Dr Tan looks at the Government announcement to let 6P foreign workers to work in 10 more sectors & 11 sub-sectors for two years.

As a country progresses, it faces the increasing problems of workers in various fields. Local workers demand higher salaries for certain types of work. Definitely, it is cheaper to employ foreign workers. Millions of these workers enter Malaysia legally and illegally. Today, legal workers number over two million. The number of illegal workers is unknown. Although over a million illegals have been registered under 6P Bersih Programme, we are still in the dark about millions of unregistered illegals. 6P means Program Penyelesaian Menyeluruh Pekerja Asing dan Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin.    

The processing of 6P involves 12 government departments and agencies. The bureaucracy is seemingly insoluble. This gives rise to irregularities such as corruption. As employers need workers desperately, many are driven to pay to avoid unnecessary delay.

On 27.12.2011,  Secretary-General at the Home Office, Tan Sri Mahmood Adam, made public the extra 10 sectors such as mining and 11 sub-sectors like cargo handling for 6P foreign workers. Certainly, they need more workers. But, the Secretary-General must review the difficulties faced by employers in going through the processes of getting the workers.

Tan Seng Giaw




Monday, December 12, 2011

Improve management,administration & accountability in Iskandar

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw believes that Iskandar Malaysia and Nusajaya have to step up their management, admistration,transparency and accountability.

On 12.12.2011, Dr Tan notices that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib praises the southern corridor, Iskandar Malaysia. We do not hear him talking much about other corridors such as the northern corridor.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister mentions about investments committed to Iskandar amounting to RM 77 billion. We hope the actual investments will match the commitment.

Najib says,"I have no doubt that Iskandar will be a vanguard for Malaysia and the region in the years to come."

There is much publicity about Johore Premium Outlets (JPO) as a major shopping haven. Apparently, JPO is owned and operated by Genting Simon. This is a joint venture between Genting Plantations unit Azzon Ltd and Premium Outlets.

The Parliamentary Public Account Committee (PAC) went to Iskandar twice in the past three years, to ascertain the actual situation of the special development area. The management talked about more investments into the area.

Iskandar's strategic position is obvious. It needs to be seen to have good management, efficient administration, transparency and accountability.

Tan Seng Giaw

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Lets hope the Housing Ministry help Kepong Green View Apartment

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw urges the Housing and Local Government Ministry to help residents at Green View Apartment, Kepong Central, to solve their problems including maintenance of the apartment.

On 11.12.2011, Dr Tan visited Green View to listen to the residents.

Malaysia has thousands of private and public apartments and condominiums. They need good management. In the last few years, over 2000 Joint Management Bodies (JMBs) have been formed in the country, collecting fees from residents to provide various types of services such as security, cleaning and car parking.

Some JMBs do well and some face difficulties. At times, residents complain about bad service, refusing to pay maintenance fees. If JMB does not receive enough payment, it cannot function. At Green View, the fee was RM65 per unit a month. Now, its JMB increases the fee to RM85. As residents are unhappy with the service, many refuse to pay.

We raise apartment and condominium issues in Parliament. The ministry amends laws to overcome the impasse face by some PMBs. We hope it can help Green View.

We have reminded the ministry that PMBs in apartments for people with medium- and low-income often face difficulties. We contact the ministry in the hope that it can assist residents of Green View.

Tan Seng Giaw


Thursday, December 08, 2011

Overcome bureaucracy & other obstacles

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Director-General of the Public Service Department Tan Sri Abu Bakar Abdullah to help overcome bureaucracy and irregularities in government departments.

On 8.12.2011, Dr Tan comments on the statement by Tan Sri Abu Bakar on the civil servants' pay rise of 7-13%, starting from January 1, 2012.

Yesterday, the Director-General explained how he was going to deal with the increase in salaries and staff promotion, based on heirachy, talent, experience and performance. This attracts attention. Rewarding government workers on merits is logical. If 1.3 million civil servants become more dedicated and work harder, the society benefits.

We bring these matters up in Parliament frequently. We continue to do so, because monitoring the performance of government officials in very important.

Besides wishing those civil servants who work hard and are rewarded, we would like the Director-General to review the attitude and the work done in government departments. For example, the Bersih Biometric Project has registered over 2 million foreign workers. We still do not know how many millions enter this country illegally.

It is reasonable to try to get to know the actual number of foreign workers in Malaysia. But, people continue to face bureaucracy and various obstacles. These make life difficult.

We hope all concerned look at these problems seriously. Tan Sri Abu Bakar can help to find solution to these irregularities.

Tan Seng Giaw