Categories: Malaysia
The proposal for a protection program to shield whistle-blowers in graft cases has won the support of Prime Minister Badawi. He said that there are some merits in such a program. This is because until now, despite the many letters of allegations received by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), the agency cannot act on them because of the anonymity of the letters. With a protection program, it is hoped that witnesses can come forward to help in investigations.
Not surprisingly, the PM has said that there should be gatherings of views from various interested groups before any final decisions are being made. This is to prevent new problems later. This would mean that corruptions will continue because going by previous standards, the government takes unusually long time, often years before final decisions can be made. In the mean time those who conduct grafts will go scot-free.
The ACA is correct to say that investigating anonymous letters of allegation may amount to playing into the hands of poison letters. However given the seriousness of the issues which can erode the government's integrity, should some of these letters be at least looked into. What I have in mind is something akin to preliminary hearing in the law courts to determine where there is a case to be answered. This can be done discretely without much huh-hah. Once enough incriminating evidence is found, only then will a full-scale investigation be conducted. In this way, at least there is some form of deterrent to any would-be culprit.
Even if the protection program were to be passed eventually, it does not guarantee that the whistle-blowers will reveal their identities. This is hardly surprising because given the mistrust of the people to the government agencies and police, the climate of fear is enough to thwart anyone to boldly pen their names in the letter of allegations. Moreover, most of the alleged corruptions involve people with some form of power.
The PM has promised many things since he took power 3 years ago. Until now nothing much has materialised. This is maybe due to him being Mr Nice Guy, to the extend that subordination occurred, making the implementation to be difficult. The talk on setting up an ombudsman, a police watchdog and committee to look into an MP possible misconduct has remains just that - empty talk. Therefore if history is anything to go by, I fear that the only protection program 'implemented' will be that which protect the corrupt.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Immunity for on-going graft?
Monday, June 26, 2006
Missed Opportunity in Harmony
Categories: Singapore
A 2.5 m diameter ball, dubbed the "Great Ball of Harmony" will kick off the North East Community Development Council's Racial Harmony Month next month. The ball will make the rounds of HDB estates under the North East CDC. Residents are encouraged to write down their goals for harmony.
This Harmony Ball idea is a good one because it makes people aware of Racial Harmony. However, I felt that this is something which is very superficial. People tend to have very short memory. Today they write some aspirations on the ball, tomorrow they are back to their old ways. Writing aspirations on the ball is not so much a pledge but more of a novelty. How often do you have a 2.5m-diameter ball making its round around the housing estates? What is more important is to make people understand each other's beliefs. With more understanding, there will be more tolerance. With time, tolerance will bring about acceptance.
Currently, there are many activities that promote racial harmony. In school, there is Racial Harmony Day where school children are encourage to dress in their traditional dress, and posters put up to explain each racial cultures. On the constituency level, there are visits to places of worship. However such activities only target a certain section of society, not to mention the carnival atmosphere may dilute the underlying message.
I feel a more lasting effects will be to have short clips introducing each racial cultures and beliefs. Such messages need not be in form of moving images but may just be in a slide show format. By doing so, nearly all segments of the society can benefit as anyone who tuned in to TV will get to appreciate each others beliefs and cultures. With the daily exposure to such messages, there is less likelihood of people forgetting such messages.
Currently, all the TV channels in Singapore is very vernacular; there is no overlap of programs shown by another vernacular channel. This will only serve to limit the exposure each racial group have to the already little interactions they have in their daily lives. As a result, if one watches say only the Chinese channels, he will not know what happens in the next channel and vice versa. This to a certain extend is unhealthy because one may go through everday life without knowing the going ons of the other racial groups. Considering that all the TV channels are under the same company, a good opportunity has been missed in the effort to promote racial harmony.
There is no getting away from the fact that we are of different racial groups and beliefs. To pretend that such differences did not exist is not practical. There can never be a homogeneous Singaporeans. It is better to admit that differences do exist and then work on common ground to reduce the differences. The Great Ball of Harmony is a good starting point, but the mass media is probably more effective in the long run.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Binge drinking discouraged by pub owners?!
Categories: Singapore
Pubs discouraging their clients from binge drinking? Yes that is precisely what a group of pub owners are doing. They have come together and formed the Bars Against Binge Drinking Association. But if you think these pub owners are conscientious and responsible, think again. These pub owners are simply fed-up with the binge drinkers because they tend to be rowdy, mess up the place with their vomitus or simply just be a plain nuisance to the other clients from disinhibition that comes with too much alcohol. However don't belittle their efforts because by discouraging binge drinking, they have to suffer loss of income, because binge drinkers are big spenders.
Whatever their intentions, the Association's actions should be encouraged. According to a National Health Survey, binge drinking has nearly double that of 1998, with a rise from 5.1% in 2003 to 10% in 2004. Women binging nearly tripled during the same period. Hence the social impact binge drinking can bring.
The campaign initiated by the Association is a simple one. Put up posters that show how a person behaves when he had too much drink. By seeing themselves in the posters, it is hoped that they will be made to realise how silly they are when they are stone drunk. I feel that this is probably a very good move as drunks seldom remember what happened during the 'high' period. They should be made to realise how silly and 'low' class they looked like when they loose their disinhibition.
Having worked in the A&E department, I will relate just two of the more memorable incidents. There was this man who was dressed very smartly with tie and long-sleeve, obviously had a good time after work. The reason why he was brought to the A&E was because he was having severe gastric pain. While waiting to be seen by the doctor, he was seen hurling profanities to everyone who goes near him. Boy, what extensive vocabulary he had! The best must be this incident. This man was brought in by police for blood test for alcohol level. No.... I shall save this for later.
Drinking excessive alcohol in general should be discouraged. This is because not only will it harm the health, it will also expose one to vulnerability. It is well-known that women had been raped after binging session. Limbs have been broken because they fell into drains, or just walked into the path of on-coming cars. Such incidents if they occur is just their fault. However sometimes innocent by-standers got injured because of actions of binge drinkers. Most pertinent are drink drivers. These drivers are so drunk that their vision maybe affected, the reaction time slowed or just plain oblivious to their surroundings while driving! If you have watched some of the police videos on AXN, you will know exactly what I mean.
Coming back to the story. This man was brought in by the police for a blood alcohol level. He actually looked sober enough although his eyes were blood-shot. When asked why he was arrested, he said that he did not know. He said that he had parked his car and was sleeping in the car when the police arrested him. So when the police was asked the reason, lo and behold, they agreed that he was sleeping in his parked car! Only problem was his 'parked' car was actually in the right most lane of the expressway!!!
So now you know why binge drinking should be strongly discouraged......
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Security features that are not
Categories: Wormie Says
Much has been said about Credit Card and Debit Card security in the newpapers recently. I feel that there is no security at all. I am not talking about the security at the vendor side which I am sure have multiple layers of security to prevent breaches into the computer system. What I am saying is the security at point of sale (POS). This can be either physically present to sign on the receipt or anonymous online transactions.
When you first get your credit card, you are asked to signed on the back. Below the strip where you are supposed to signed has a caption which states "Not valid unless signed".
When payment is made with a Credit Card, an imprint will be made of the Credit Card. If the POS uses electronic printout, card information will be obtained from the magnetic strip data. Whichever method used, the receipt will provide the following informations - the card number, the expiry date and the name. When you signed on the receipt, this signature is checked against the signature found at the back of the card. Therefore the Credit card that you hold in you hand has all the necessary information to make a transaction. There is nothing cryptic nor private.
Anyone who had gotten hold of your card, could have learn how to forge your signature - a sample is available at the back of the card!. And when this is checked against the signature at the back of the card at POS, of course they match. The checking of the signature is at best done cursorily, generally minor discrepancy is ignored. The incident as related by The Credit Card Prank is also not unheard of.
Online transactions are even more prone to fraud. Here the card is not even needed. What is needed is a copy of receipt. Generally online transactions only asked for the credit card number and the expiry date. This can be clearly seen on the receipt. Some paysite require the use of the Card Verification Number found on the back of the card. The use of this 3-digit number give a slight security as this number is not found on the receipt. However there is nothing to stop unscrupulous cashier from copying the number for use at a later date.
The above illustrations show how easy it is to commit fraud just by using what is available on the receipt and the card. Therefore whatever 'security' mentioned by card company is clearly non-existent on the part of the cardholders.
Because of the ease to commit fraud, the onus of security lies squarely with the cardholders. This site gives a fairly comprehensive advice on credit card security.
What can issuing banks do to prevent fraud using the above methods? One is Photocard, as introduced by Citibank. This is a type of credit card with the customers photo embossed. This will largely prevent forge signature being used. The face and photo will be the key to authenticity. Photocard should be made standard issues. Secondly the use a PIN on top of the signature for authentication, as practised overseas. Although this two-tier security check is inconvenient, this does provide added security feature especially when use for online transactions.
When such simple means can be used to commit fraud, one wonders why there are so few fraud committed. So Singaporeans are still very honest after all.
Interesting links:
Anatomy of Credit Card: http://www.merriampark.com/anatomycc.htm
History of credit card: http://www.didyouknow.cd/creditcards.htm
The Credit Card Prank: http://www.zug.com/pranks/credit/
Credit Card security: http://www.whatprice.co.uk/financial/credit-card-security.html
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Mr Prime Minister, are you there?
Categories: Malaysia
Tun Mahathir had fired his most stinging attack against Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi. Till now Prime Minister Badawi has not personally answer or rebut his criticism. His standard reply has been that Tun Mahathir is free to say what he wants as Malaysia is a democratic country.
In not replying to Tun Mahathir's outburst, Datuk Seri Badawi probably hope that he is on a high moral ground. Unfortunately, his mandate to govern is not based on moral authority but one of popular vote, and answerable to the people. As such by not rebutting any of Tun Mahathir's allegations, would seemed as being weak and indecisive. Granted that the premier, also known as Mr Nice Guy, is not one to be confrontational. However when Tun Mahathir's attacks has been more personal, should not it be time to defend himself? Anything that is less than a rebuttal would be seen being weak.
Observers have also defended PM Badawi's decision to remain silent because they felt that this would prevent in-fighting in UMNO. I beg to differ. By remaining silent, especially after the latest personal attack, he would be seen to be weak. Further, now there is an added dimension in Mahathir-Badawi squabble, in Datuk Seri Najib. Now, not only Badawi has to show Malaysians who is in charge, but also to convince his supporters why their support is not wasted. On top of that he has to convince other factions within UMNO why he is still relevant to the party leadership. Keeping mum certainly will not help his cause.
Tun Mahathir has maintained that he has nothing personal and is not against Badawi's government. All he wanted was answers. And I think he has a right to answers just any ordinary people. By choosing to keep quite, or delegating his ministers to address the issues, Badawi has unwittingly give the 'tidak apa' (can't be bother) impression. It even hints of having something to hide in the decision making. After all, being voted to power by the people, it is only right that the people be given an explanation. This is even more pertinent because contradictory decisions are being made by essentially the same cabinet sans the premier.
Datuk Seri Badawi has been known to be very loyal to Tun Mahathir when he was his deputy. Therefore it is not surprising if the only reason why he has kept quiet was because of his respect to Tun Mahathir. However I feel that there is a limit to what people can say even for a former Prime Minister. Whereas previously Tun Mahathir has attacked the cabinet as a whole, the lastest one has been rather personal. A normal person, no matter how respectful he is, would be expected to respond. I am sure given the long service as a Foreign Minister, PM Badawi is well verse with the nuance of nicety and diplomacy. He can rebut all the points highlighted by Tun Mahathir without the slightest hint of being disrespectful or confrontational. Hopefully PM Badawi will act soon before the rakyat and UMNO gets tired with the Mr Nice Guy tag.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Tun Mahathir gets personal
Categories: Malaysia
Tun Mahathir, who had been criticising the government under Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, has got personal. This time he had directly criticised the man he had chosen to succeed him.
Since PM Badawi had taken over the rein in 2003, he had cancelled a few of the mega-project proposed by the former Prime Minister. Tun Mahathir had been rather silent, in keeping with his promise not to meddle with the government of the day. However he started his salvo when the Approved Permit (AP) controversy (involving imports of foreign cars) started. From then on it just deteriorated with the scrapping of the Scenic Bridge.
Are such outburst a result of PM Badawi himself? Since becoming the PM, Badawi had been rather low-key. Much of the 'important' job had been delegated to the DPM Najib - for example handling of the tsunami aftermath and the national service issue. He had also largely been silent regarding the AP controversy, the IPCMC, the Proton issues and the cancellation of the Scenic Bridge. Have all these contributed to his protrayal as being a weak leader? Since Mahathir had chosen him to be his successor, did he feel partly responsible and therefore have to speak up so as to jolt some sense into his successor or is this a wake-up call to UMNO for possible change in leadership? After all in his last salvo, he even went so much as to say that Badawi was not the first choice candidate for the premiership.
Another reason often cited by Tun Mahathir is that PM Badawi is making mistakes when he halted some of the mega-projects initiated by Tun. Tun Mahathir maintained that such mega-projects were necessary to drive the economy; whereas PM Badawi has felt that such mega-projects were eating up too much into the government's coffer. He felt that this is wrong as the future generations should not be made to pay for these excesses. According to Tun, if these projects were scrapped, then there will be slowdown and the economy will suffer. Whether this is true or not, the economic growth had truely showed a slight decline in the last 2 years. Is it a direct effect of the halting the mega-projects or just coincidental, being driven by the world economic climate?
With the dismantling of many of the proposed mega-projects by the Badawi administration, could this have been viewed by Tun Mahathir as a dismantling of his legacy? In the more than 20 years of Tun premiership, he has initiated many projects and thus bring Malaysia nearer to the developed world status. The Twin Tower of Petronas, once the tallest building in the world, has become an icon for Malaysia. Putrajaya and KLIA were proudly showcased during world meetings in Malaysia. All these were testaments to his great leadership. However less than 2 years, he finds that his other 'legacy' has been dismantled for example the Linear City of KL and a dual-track railway in the south of Malaysia. The greatest resentment he had must be the scrapping of the Scenic Bridge, as he had tied the building of the bridge to Malaysia's sovereignity and pride. Is he feeling bitter because of all these? This seem so for he was quoted to have said: “When I decided to step down, I planned not to interfere with the Government of the day. There were certain things that were promised by the incoming Government but it not only did not do things as promised but reversed many decisions made (by the former Government) when he (Abdullah) was still in the Government."
One thing that has come out of this episode is that such outburst actually reflects not too kindly on Tun Mahathir's own administration. As the current cabinet is largely the same as the previous cabinet under Mahathir's premiership, the inconsistency and discrepancy in the decision of the government raised eyebrows. How can both administration come to such different conclusions with just a change in the premier? It is hard to believe that all the Cabinet Ministers are so pliable and go with the tide. More likely is the style of leadership. Tun Mahathir is well known for his strong and forceful character. This is in contrast with that of Datuk Seri Badawi, aka Mr Nice Guy, who believes in collective agreement and concensus. The suggestion here is that Tun Mahathir is an authoritarian, brushing aside his Ministers' opinions or he was so feared that his Ministers dare not put forth their opinions or in his own words, "expect a reasonable degree of gratefulness." This seemed the more likely because Premier Badawi is such a nice guy to the extend that he even tolerated subordination from the Inspector-General of Police when the latter publicly rejected the setting up of IPCMC, which was recommended by a Royal Commission and agreed to by Badawi. I am sure such subordination would never have happened under Tun Mahathir.
Such outburst will also make Tun Mahathir look arrogant. No doubt Tun Mahathir is a proud man, and he probably has a right to be proud for what he has done for Malaysia. However, pride bordering on arrogance is another thing altogether. Like Tun Musa Hitam said in an interview: "Had it ever occurred to him that he had been wrong, rather the people wrong?" He was referring to the fact that Tun Mahathir had 4 DPM when he was the premier and each ended up opposing him.
In the lastest attack on PM Badawi, Tun Mahathir created a new dimension in his displeasure. He had publicly said that Badawi was not the first choice as the premier. The first choice should go to Najib, the current deputy premier. Whatever the reason for such disclosure is only best known to Tun Mahathir, but now the spotlight is on Datuk Seri Najib. Such disclosure will only serve to create a rift between Badawi and Najib. However Datuk Seri Najib had done the right thing when he quickly come out to defend and pledge his support for Badawi. However the Pandora box has been opened. The seed for discontent has been sowed. Whether Najib likes it or not, his supporters will start asking questions and stir up ideas. The true intention of Datuk Seri Najib will only come into the open when the next UMNO General Meeting is convened next year.
Of the five Prime Minister Malaysia has, Tun Mahathir has been one most worthy of respect. Under his leadership, he has transformed Malaysia from a agriculture-based economy to one of industrial-based. He has initiated a long-term goal for the country when he proclaimed Wawasan 2020 (Vision 2020), a date when Malaysia will be a developed country. He was also one of the few Asian leaders who dare to stand up to the Americans. In the process, he has made Malaysia known in world politics. Hopefully his achievements will not come to nought because of frustrations or arrogance. It will be a sad day when he is remembered other than as the 'Father of Modern Malaysia'.
Friday, June 09, 2006
World Cup Championship 2006 - 1st round predictions
Categories: Others
The opening match of the FIFA World Cup will open on 9 June. As with previous tournament, there will be many predictions as to who will win the Cup. And here is my predictions.
Those making through the 1st round:
Group A: Germany, Poland
Group B: England, Sweden
Group C: Argentina, Holland
Group D: Mexico, Portugal
Group E: Italy, Czech Rep
Group F: Brazil, Japan
Group G: France, Korea
Group H: Spain, Tunisia
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
A very brief history of football
Categories: Do You Know?
The football fever is once again raging with FIFA World Cup Football final tournament starting on 9 June. Lets look back to see how it all started and enjoy some of the lighter moments.
The very earliest form of the game for which there is scientific evidence dates as far back as 2500 B.C. in China. According to records, the goal of the game, named Tsu Chu, was to kick a ball through an opening into a small net fixed onto erected bamboo canes.
The Greeks developed a kicking/throwing game, called Episkyros around 2000 BC. This was later adopted by the Romans, who renamed and transformed it into Harpastum. It was played by 5-12 players on a rectangular field marked by boundary lines and split by a center line with the aim of trying to keep the ball as long as possible while the opponent try to steal the ball. In the Americas various ball games played with the legs were variously known as Pok A Tok, Pasuckuakohowog, Asqaqtuk and Tlatchi.
However the present day football probably originated from a version called Mob football from Britain. According to Expert Football.com, "It was explicitly violent and played between villages, at the time of celebration and festivity. In fact, it was so violent that people living nearby would barricade their windows during matches. Both "teams" tried to force a ball into the center square of the enemy village or they might have played across different parts of town, again centered at a market place or a town square."
But it was in England that football as we know it really begin to take shape. It all started on 8 December 1863 with the formation of the first Football Association in England, a result of a split of two football association - that of football and rugby football. From here football spread to the European continent.
France, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Sweden, Spain and Switzerland wanted to create an umbrella football body to govern the game of football. England, where football started was not part of the founding members because they were not convinced of the benefits of such an organisation. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in the rear of the headquarters of the Union Française de Sports Athlétiques at the rue Saint Honoré 229 in Paris on 21 May 1904. The English only joined FIFA in 1905.
The first football competition in the world, the English FA Cup was played in 1871
The first international football match was played in 1872 between England and Scotland
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The English Football Association legalised professionalism in 1885
Belgium faced France at the first official international match in Brussels on 1 May 1904.
Football was introduced to the Olympic Games in 1908. It was won by England.
FIFA was all-European until 1909. South Africa joined in 1909/1910, Argentina and Chile in 1912, USA in 1913.
The first World Cup was opened at the Centenary Stadium in Montevideo on 18 July 1930
World Cup Final was first transmitted on the radio in 1934
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Most goals in a single World Cup finals match:
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Fastest player sent off in a World cup finals tournament game:
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The current trophy will be retired when the name plaque has been entirely filled but this will not be until 2038
Reference:
Soccer History and Information
History of FIFA
History of the Game
World Cup Football
Expert Football
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Student - Teacher scandal
Categories: Singapore
A teacher was reprimanded after he was caught sending messages praising his student's beauty through the school's intranet messaging system. What started as a friendly exchange of messages between a 28-year old male teacher and his 17-year old student became more personal. With time, he said "she had sexy legs" and that "she was pretty." He has also asked her to go with him to buy school supplies. These messages where chanced upon when the girl forgot to log off her account and was discovered by another student who said: 'I realised that the teacher was doing something very wrong. I thought he should be exposed. That's why I decided to save the messages.' She also forwarded the messages to his classmates, which ended up being passed to almost every student in school.
What the intentions the teacher has, is only known to himself, but there are certain things to learn from this episode.
This episode highlight the bigger danger of anonymity of the Internet. Internet is the virtual world and in a virtual world one can become anybody he likes. And these alter egos maybe vastly different from their true selves. If a person assumed a fictitious role long enough, there is always a danger of that the role grew on the person once he logged on. Humans are after all creature of habits. I am not surprise that in this case the teacher may have assumed his alter ego in the virtual world despite the fact that he is clearly identifiable. Old habits die hard.
This is compounded by the fact that there is no direct contact with the other person.
As there is nothing to help 'bring' the person back to the real world, sometimes a person may get carried away by things said and done. Because of lack of visual contact, a person cannot gauge the reaction of the opposing party to what was said unlike in a real conversation. In a real world, we react to another person not just by what is said but also by the body language and the manner of the conversation. All this is lacking in the virtual world. This case may not have happened if there is a 'real' conversation between the teacher and the student.
Electronic messagings like emails, IM are easily copied and forwarded. Most of us are guilty of forwarding some good gossips at one time in our lives. Before you press the 'forward' button the next time, think first. What is the consequence to the person in the gossip or the writer? Luckily in this case the outcome is beneficial to the student. What will happen if the outcome is detrimental because it was a malicious lie written with the teacher's name, after all the only thing to identify the teacher is the account? People had also been charged for propagating gossips and lies. Forwarding mails also has an exponential effects. You may think that you just want to share with your closest friends. Unfortunately each of them also wants to share with their closest friends. With time the forwarded message is halfway round the world.
Thankfully this episode turns up well for all parties. No physical harm has come to the student although I am sure she has suffered some mental stress. Luckily the student who discovered the incident knew that the teacher as crossed the social boundary otherwise worse could have happened. However his action of forwarding the message to his friends is another matter.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Graphics to jolt smokers
Categories: Singapore
The Singapore's Health Promotion Board (HPB) has released six new graphics health warnings on tobacco packs which tobacco company has to used by Nov 1. The use of graphic warnings on cigarette packs were first introduced in August 2004. This was part of the greater Singapore government's effort in combating smoking amongst its populations. Other measures used include high import tariffs, sale of only large packs, making sales to those under 18 years old illegal, creating more smoke-free public areas, and the use of campaigns slogans.
The reasons cited for the change in the graphic used is that warning labels become stale with time. HPB is not making any apologies if smokers find the graphic too gory. This is because the graphics are intended to jolt smokers "into kicking the habit, discourage those toying with smoking and push non-smokers to convince their family and friends to quit."
Singapore had been very active in promoting smoking cessation because studies had shown that a lot of diseases are related to smoking. To followings serve to highlight some of the relationship:
> Smoking is directly responsible for approximately 90 percent of lung cancer deaths and approximately 80-90 percent of COPD (emphysema and chronic bronchitis) deaths
> For every person who dies of a smoking-related disease, there are 20 more people who suffer from at least one serious illness associated with smoking
> Smoking is also a major factor in coronary heart disease and stroke
> Smoking in pregnancy accounts for an estimated 20 to 30 percent of low-birth weight babies, up to 14 percent of preterm deliveries, and some 10 percent of all infant deaths.
> Smoking by parents is also associated with a wide range of adverse effects in their children, including exacerbation of asthma, increased frequency of colds and ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome.
> Nicotine is an addictive drug, which when inhaled in cigarette smoke reaches the brain faster than drugs that enter the body intravenously.
The HPB also provide an online anti-smoking FAQ for anyone wants to find out more about the dangers of cigarettes. The FAQ also gives a brief explaination on the various options to help quit smoking, the reactions a person who had quit smoking will feel and how to conquer the urge to start smoking again.
Wormie has uploaded the 3 new graphics that will be used so as to help the efforts of the HPB. All the graphics are scanned from the Straits Times.
Useful reads:
Smoking Cessation Support by American Lung Association
CHAMPSS - Children Helping and Motivating Parents to Stop Smoking
Infotobacco (Includes the facts behind health warning messages)
Keep Kids From Smoking
Smoke Free Women Kick Butt (Information on issues concerning women and smoking, and recommendations on ways to quit)
Thursday, June 01, 2006
The 'Newer' Penang Bus Service
Categories: Malaysia
Barely 2 months and the Penang State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan has already given up on the revamped bus service started on April 1. This is hardly surprising given that the same bus company that failed to provide a decent service for the last 10 years was given a second chance when their contract was renewed. With the 'newer' revamped public bus service, the Municipal Council will now manage the bus service. This seems to complete the full circle for the public bus service in Penang.
I am not surprise that the revamped bus service started on April 1 failed. Like I said in my previous blog, the problem lies with the philosophy of the company. A tiger don't change its stripes. Unless the management change, the philosophy will be the same, the thinking will be the same and hence the result will be the same.
In the same blog I also proposed the use of tender system to try to solve the bus service problem. And this will be precisely the method used for the 'newer' revamped bus service. It is strange that only now such a system will be used. I am not sure about the reason behind the previous decision but maybe affirmative policy may have a role to play. Even then a tender system can also be tweaked to accommodate the affirmative policy. I am sure the tender system is a far more superior one because at least the tender has an interest and a plan. At the very least, new players are tried out.
It is surprising that Dr Teng Hock Nan should still be in office for such incompetence. This was the same guy who said that the state government cannot do anything about the public transport because "Public transport in Penang is operated by privately-owned companies and the authority issuing permits and licences is the CVLB. The CVLB and the JPJ are also responsible for enforcement." That was in January 2006. Then in March he announced the new zoning system but inexplicably using the same bus companies that had failed the last 10 years. I wonder how he is going to account for his dismal decisions. Maybe it is time for him to retire so that someone with more gray matter can take over make things work!
Looks I was not too pessimistic after all, only too realistic!
