Effective enforcement of financial laws

Tonight, Parliament debated Financial Services Bill. Streamlining of banking and insurance laws must be followed by effective enforcement.  The Deputy Finance Minister YB Datuk Seri Awang Adek told the House that a Malaysian citizen within and outside the country can be appointed Governor of Bank Negsra,  not a non-citizen. Recently,  UK has appointed a Canadian to be Governor of Bank of England.  This is unprecefented.

Greater efforts to prevent cancer

Greater efforts to prevent cancer

Yesterday, Health Ministers from 10 ASEAN nations met in Jakarta to discuss the effects of cancer on health and economy. For example, in 2008, there were 700,000 new cases of cancer in ASEAN and 500,000 deaths from cancer. This means that the 10 nations lost 7.5 million years of productive life. Each family spends at least 30 per cent of its income per year on treatment. Some have become poor, incurring debts.

All concerned must step up efforts to prevent cancer such as by regular exercise and avoiding cigarettes.

Amend all laws that are gender-insensitive

It is correct to fight for gender equality in all fields. Injustice weighs heavily against women such as hunger, disease, unremitting toil, poverty,deprivation and discrimination. In divorces, women tend to suffer most. Women tend to lose out on inheritance. 70% of illiterates in the world are women.

Fortunately, in Malaysia women have better chances in education. In 20 public universities, more than half of the students are women. In private universities, the numbers are about equal.  But, women graduates tend to be less employable in most fields.

There must be gender equality in laws and in real life. This is going to take a long time. For example, there are unfairness in some of the provisions in Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act and Inheritance Act. They need to be amended.

It is necessary to continue to fight for gender equality in theory and in practice. It is necessary to apoint women who are capable in all fields. A woman is selected because she has the ability, not because she is a woman.

Besides the National Language, we insist on multilingual policy.

This morning, we took part in the gathering organized by Dong Zong to petition for a fair policy on vernacular education. For over 40 years, we have followed the Federal Constitution: Besides the National Language, we insist on multilingual education policy. We feel that the Central Government does not have a fair policy on Chinese, Tamil education and government-aided schools. Since 1957, if the Government had adopted a fair multilingual policy, many problems would not have occurred such as shortage of teachers and controversy in the curriculum. If the Government had been enlightened, thousands of citizens would not have stood under the scorching sun, calling for the review of the 2013 National Education Development Blueprint.

We continue to struggle for a fair and just multilingual education policy within and outside parliament. We believe in non-violence.

Can BN bring true changes?

Can BN bring true changes?

PM YAB Najib says that BN can bring changes & that his administration is the 'envy' of others. The people can see what BN has done in all fields in the past 55 years & its present system including serious bureaucracy, lack of transparency & corruption. The voters can decide whether BN can really change. PR is ready to take over.

No country will accept Lynas waste

Today, Health Minister YB Datuk Seri Leow says that Lynas must send its waste products to other countries and must not keep them here. The public would like to remind the minister: The Government issues a license to Lynas to process the rare earth, but she has not made public environmental impact assessment (EIA). The people, especially those near the factory, are naturally worried about the waste products. Australian Government allows the rare earth ore to be exported to Kuantan, but she has not agreed to take back the waste products. And no countries will accept them. It does not matter whether the waste products are radioactive or slowly radioactive, the people are very concerned.

Traffic accident preventive measures must be fair

Transport Ministry implements Automated Enforcement System (AES) by privatisation, causing public outcry. The former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan believes that it should not be privatised. It is necessary to prevent traffic accidents. But, the measures taken including AES must be fair. Many are unlikely to believe that the two companies awarded AES contract are only concerned with public service without profit motive.

Malaysian Science Websites

DPM YAB Muhyiddin hopes that through science websites, Malaysian scientists overseas will eventually return home. There are difficulties facing those who wish to return, including bureaucracy, attitude of those who remain in the country and conditions of service. YAB must look at these problems seriously.

Drastic action against rapists.

Indonesia wants to stop sending workers to Malaysia because of the case of three policemen alleged to have raped an Indonesian woman causing a furore in that country. Illegal immigrants continue to come. Besides charging the alleged offenders in court, Malaysia must be seen to take drastic measures to fight crimes.

Get rid of dilapidated system

Get rid of dilapidated system

Today Prime Minister YAB Najib calls on Malaysians to remember that 'Malaysia is ours and to work together to take the country forward'. This is a country for all Malaysians who must look carefully at the dilapidated system, to find out whether the decay is too far gone and hence beyond repair.

After 55 years, the Government has enacted many laws and policies. Some are unfair, including those on small and medium enterprises. In the present system, Malaysians are watching whether the dilpidated system can dispose of laws and policies which are unacceptable to trhe people.

Fair policies

Fair policies

As General Elections approach, YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin goes to Australia to praise Chinese businesspersons, saying 'moral persons, who love money, get it legitimately and spend it moderately'. Besides laudation, Malaysian Government must promulgate fair and just policies.

Politicians pick up issues which can win votes. Some are more moral and some are less so: as long as they can get the support. On the one hand, Muhyiddin insists that Malays come first. On the other hand, he prsises Chinese businesspeersons as ethical. The Government should review laws and policies and get rid of those which are not fair.

Ensure that 1MOCC is effective.

YAB Najib has launched 1 Malaysia One Call Centre (1MOCC). He says,
"The principle behind 1MOCC is to achieve our objective of serving the rakyat effectively by centralising all calls to one centre, making it easier for customers." For those who have had difficulty dealing with government agency, this seems reasonable. Ordinary people find it bothersome to contact government department. There are cranks who disturb even emergency numbers such as fire station and ambulance service. The main principle must be to ensure a friendly and effective 1MOCC.

BN is not sure of the results of the General Elections

Much has been said about the date & the BN's chances in the 13th General Elections. Despite the goodies, the subsidies & the pomposities, YAB Najib is dilly-dallying because he is not sure of the outcome of the General Elections.

Index of Happiness in Malaysia

Bhutan is a country reputed to have a very high happiness index and a very low per capita income. YAB Najib says that this country's Happiness Index is 7.55 out of 10. We do not know the criteria which he has used. Besides per capita income, a happy family is important. It is necessary to review the struggle for the rights of the people and the pursuit of happiness as seen in the ideals and the principles of the Federal Constitution.

Transparency in double-track rail project in Laos

PM YAB Najib will witness the signing of RM15 billion double-track rail project from Savannakhet to Lao Bao, Laos. It is between the Lao Government and Malaysian company Giant Consolidated Ltd. This is an occasion for Malaysia to show transparency and accountability.

Effective monitoring of nurseries

Encouraging women to work is a good thing. This means providing facilities such as nurseries and kindergartens.

PM Datuk Seri Najib mentions RM10 million and his intention to facilitate and expedite the registration of nurseries without the need for the prior approval of technical agencies so long as they meet the minimum standard set by the Social Welfare Department. Najib said that under the new initiative, 372 new nurseries could be registered, bringing their total number to 1,767.

If the application procedure can be streamlined, it may help. What is of paramount importance is effective monitoring to prevent any mishap & to ensure the quality of care.