1. Why does the media publish stories that stir up sensational issues in ways to corrupt our minds? Don’t we all have better things to worry about than worrying or speculating as to what will happen to the government, ministers, cabinet, parliament, opposition, monarch, etc? Business people are still weary about doing business despite a new cabinet in place because we Malaysians just love creating rumors thus creating instability to the current government and country. Smart opposition members are taking advantage of this media ride and to build up a momentum, one has to create sensations… there will be a few more by-elections before 2012 because these little victories will show (or confuse) the rakyat as to what it means to be part of change (for good or for worse is secondary but change is what people are inspired to “want”). It is sad that we read about the financial reforms initiated etc courtesy of only half a page day news while the Perak saga has been reported longer than the Olympics games! What do we really care about at the end of the day? Why the ex (now back to official!) MB’s Camry can’t be sold yet or a progressive discussion on the future of our national education system so that we have a half a chance to see a better future for Malaysia that is different from the circus that it is in now.
2. Why can’t our government change policies that are not cast in stone to better their governance for the good of the rakyat? For example take the Approved Permit (AP) issue that has been long debated (and cursed by the industry too) and deemed very sensationally sensitive but nothing is done to correct this problem. What is so difficult for the government to implement a new policy that will champion merit and grow the auto industry (and at the same time still please the people that the AP system has been pleasing in the last 30 years or so)? Imagine if all APs are abolished but every individual imported or franchise car sold will be subjected to a special “MITI” tax as part of an invoice. This special tax can be less than half the amount of the current APs that are “trading” in the market today that are obtained “free” by a select group of individuals (of a certain race) and sold to a select group of trading individuals/companies/dealers etc (of a certain race) so the savings can be passed on to the consumers and the government will earn so much income. Consumers are so used to paying such a high price for cars in the country even a small reduction in AP portion alone will come as a great bonus to all although the ideal situation is for us consumers to buy cars at zero AP cost and minimal duties/tax. But let’s not talk about an ideal world here. There are 2 types of APs (franchise and open) and the highly priced traded ones are the open APs which apparently trades for around RM50,000 a pop (and it is added to the cost of the car obviously) so if there are 66,979 APs issued in year 2005 (i only managed to get this factual data as declared by the then Minister in Parliament), the government is looking at an AP income of approximately RM3-4b which it does not EARN! Can you imagine how much better our public transport system can be if just a fraction of this “lost” income is put to a budget to improve public transport on an annual basis? Open up the AP policy and impose an AP tax to every bona fide car dealer that is in a genuine business of selling cars and when they sell a car, they will pay this AP tax (can be 50% less than the trading price of APs so consumers save from cheaper car prices) to the government directly instead of paying it to a few individuals who clearly do not value add or innovate the auto industry. The figures and facts may vary here but the point remains clear – revamp the policy and reward those who are deserving. The NAZA Motor Group is an example of a big AP recipient but they have clearly demonstrated that they are the champions of the auto world and can build up a local industry. This what governments of the world must appreciate and reward. To the rest of the Ali Baba’s, you all should be ashamed of yourselves!
3. Why is it when the whole world is serious of the new “swine” disease threat with intense checks at entry points etc, we the Malaysian government seem to be rather relaxed about it? Do we wait for a few cases before we over react and scare the hell out of people? I came back from Singapore on Thursday night via KLIA and on the plane I was asked to fill up a “Kementrian Kesihatan Health & Quarantine Form” so I thought to myself my government must be serious in combating this issue. So as I unboarded the JetStar aircraft (which by the way sold me a ticket at just 30% of what our national airline sells for the same route) and headed out I did not see any health screening taking place. The time was only 8.30pm and none in sight were any medical stations or anyone at all that would at least take my health form and check it! Eventually I left the airport building and jumped into a taxi with the form still in my pocket.
4. Why do we constantly take the easy way out without realizing the entire concept or substance behind it? We have the tallest and perhaps the most beautiful building KLCC in the world but we still see the need to place ugly plastic/rubber cones around it’s entrance areas to prevent people from parking! This is a pathetic sight and such a monument does not deserve such horrible “make do” actions that are limited to those small working minds who does not share the same inspiration as the architect or the leader of the nation that wanted to put Malaysia on the world map! We accept things the way they are just because they are like that. When we exit another national monument the KLIA airport departure, do you realize how many lights are not working inside and outside? Don’t you get irritated sometimes with the Limo counter girls who are rude and not bothered about customer service? Do you feel like as though you are in a Myanmar bus station with many odd looking characters approaching you asking if you need an (illegal) taxi? Outside at the (legal but questionable) taxi area, the situation is almost chaotic with make do partitions and cones (again!) in a dark and hot surroundings (most of the lights are not working and funny enough the security cameras too are not working) and these are all the 1st impressions a visitor gets when they visit Malaysia. Welcome to Malaysia.
5. Why do all the government aided Small Medium Industries (SMI) funding programs take more than 1 year in certain clear cut cases to disburse a small amount of growth or capital funding to SMI companies when it is only logical that such small companies need these funds urgently to survive even another year! The Government talks about active assistance but the little napoleans kill those aspirations and in many cases, SMIs have been known to lose business or suffer greatly waiting for their approved disbursement. The Government needs to create an independent agency to swiftly handle this growth sensitive process and it should not be the Credit Guarantee Corp. Banks will always be banks and the SMI Bank is no different so why all the buzz about helping the SMIs? Why put traditional bankers in these agencies? Such programs are not for traditional lending where collateral, assets, track record etc are all required. Even those who obtained government contracts take a long time to get approval! What a waste of money, patience and time.
shaik rizal sulaiman
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Coincidently I was at the airport on Sunday and noticed, while on the train from the satellite building to the main, that the “rubber trim” surrounding the main windscreen of the train is a make-do sealant!! How could one have imagined solving a likely leaking problem on an “expensive” machine with a “2-ringgit” solution….. penny wise pound foolish or tidak-apa or both? I guess this is the very attitude most of us need to overcome.
In a rational world, to save the unfortunate or disadvantage, one will not kill meritocracy and deprive the able person the decency to excel, in the name of having a so called level playing field. In the world of high commerce and competition, only the capable will survive. no one out there will care to give you a level playing field. In this country, in the name of level playing field, affirmative discrimination and deprivation to many citizens have made many capable young souls to miss the opportunity to excel because not all these poor young souls come from the rich background. Why should a government bend on discriminating these young souls just because the government wants to help the poor? It is a very ridiculous plan. No other country in the world will force out the young citizens from having the chance to excel just because they wanted to help the poor. The two issues are just like oil and water.
thank you sinewy. but perhaps you had meant for this comment to be for my earlier articles on malay rights? just wondering
They want to sell more,… that’s why the media write nonsense to stir up sentiment.
Well – news about AP reform will interest only a handful of business enthusiasts while news about MPs and ADUNs are of direct concern to the rakyat because they are the elected representatives. These people are seen and heard while APs are NAZA’s successes are an abstraction and remote to most.
Yes many things need polishing and refining and civil society must speak up and contribute to these processes. If people’s attitudes do not change no amount of government reforms can help.
It’s the vicious circle of human progress or human destruction I think!
Why oh Why? Sigh…We have always manage to come out with good policies (or dream?) and ideas but implementing, monitoring and maintaining these policies don’t seem to go in right directions. Perhaps, as the PM rightly said it is the time to get new blood to work in the civil service. Some of the “benefits” like APs and all are only enjoyed by or reserved exclusively by certain privilege people. Not all ordinary rakyat seem to know their existence. I wonder why..
As for the plastic cones, they will still be @ KLCC’s or any other beautiful entrances, and customer services @ KLIA will remain to be seen….My dear uncle from Singapore used to say ” Malaysia has such beautiful buildings and landscapes but maintaining these don’t seem to be in their priority list..”
ermmm… i just read your blog.. nice info and good tips..