A higher tax on alcohol does not necessarily deter drinkers

The letter to the editor that urges the government to reduce the tax on alcohol has its valid point. He gave an example of the repercussions attributed to the price and tax increase on cigarettes. Illegal contraband is now quite common in the country.

The same phenomenon is applicable to alcohol. There is an optimal tax threshold that can be tolerated by the majority of consumers. They will most probably find alternatives when the price is too high and usually there is a supply pipeline in the waiting when there is a demand. That will defeat the purpose of the high taxes and the revenue received from the sin tax would remain static at a certain level.

Alternatives to legitimate alcohol would also rear its head, for example diluted versions or mixtures from unknown origins. That would put the lives of the drinkers at a greater risk as they would not realise the beverage they are drinking are of dubious origins and might not have passed stringent quality controls.

Home brews might even be popular if drinkers are desperate enough to have their usual drink or two. If this is widespread, we would need an increasing number of personnel to make checks on their illegal activity. The government wants the revenue but if drinkers go undercover and support a black market, all future development plans that is tied with the increased anticipated income would have to be redrawn.

Alcoholic consumption is part and parcel of certain cultures and slapping a huge tax bill on them would raise objections. Furthermore, the increase in the tax bill will not deter habitual drinkers. The drinkers would still find a way just as the smokers have managed to continue with their habits in a cheaper fashion.

The current gory pictures on cigarette packs have not deterred smokers, past, present and future to continue indulging in the habit. The same can be said regarding alcohol consumption. A reasonable tax rate will give some form of control to the industry and prevent contraband from taking over. Meanwhile, a continuous effort to educate the public that anything in excess should be avoided should be the rallying call. Moderation is acceptable.  

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Learn from Sabah and Sarawak

It is heartening to note that the Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has urged Malaysians to learn from their "humble brothers and sisters" in east Malaysia. He said in the latest posting on his blog 1Malaysia on Tuesday that he believes that Malaysians have much to learn from "our eastern brothers and sisters".

That is true but do those from Peninsular Malaysia want or are willing to learn from their brethren across the South China Sea? The nearly fifty years of being a single entity has not brought the two sides closer together in all senses of the word of a united nation. Those from the peninsular more often than not still have the misconceived perception that they know best and those on the Borneo island are the ones that need to learn a thing or two about living in a multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic society.

This perception is of course heightened by the economic disparity between the two even though it is the natural resources of the two states, Sabah and Sarawak that has contributed quite a huge chunk to our nation's prosperity all these years. The centralisation and concentration of power in the hands of those in the peninsular has also contributed to the uneven development still noticeable to the present day.

If anyone in the peninsular care to have a heart to heart talk with someone from Sabah or Sarawak, he will definitely notice the different world view of those from the two states. It does not matter who you talk to, but the openness and willingness to accept others is in their veins. There are some in the peninsular who have their hang-ups and chips on the shoulder over the issue of race and religion but it is almost non-existent in our eastern brothers and sisters.

It is now noticeable that prejudices has made its presence felt as reported in sporadic incidents in Sabah and Sarawak. Those who care to delve deeper into the cause would most probably find that the prejudices originated from the peninsular and is definitely not a home grown product.

We in the peninsular have lost that united feeling and the rot must stop now. The knowledge transfer should be reversed immediately as the benefits of accepting and accommodating those different from yourself far outweigh the perceived losses in adopting those traits.

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Success does not come overnight

Our news headline loves to highlight any achievement of Malaysians especially those abroad. In this case it is mining magnate Sam Chong, who becomes Australia's first Malaysian-born billionaire. I'm not trying to belittle his success but please consider that he is now 69 years old and went to Australia in 1973. That was nearly forty years ago and for all intents and purposes he is an Australian success story.

The news also mentioned another Malaysian-born who is close to joining the Billionaires Club. Property developer Maha Sinnathamby, 72, moved to Sydney after leaving St Paul's Institution, Seremban, to complete an engineering degree. That should easily be at least 50 years of being abroad.

The two examples is solid proof that success does not come easily. It takes years of hard work and dedication to achieve their current position. It so happens that they achieved their success in a foreign land. We should be proud that they were born in Malaysia but they went through their struggles and had the experiences out of this country.

It was the host country that moulded and nurtured them to be what they are today, not Malaysia. There have been many who went away and many have found fame and fortune elsewhere. They must have found obstacles and challenges just like anywhere else where new comers congregate. Take a look at the foreigners in our midst. They left their countries to find their pot of gold here. Some of them made it, not in the billionaire's league but at least in a better position than when they were in their homeland.

The same situation awaits any Malaysian who takes that ultimate step trying to make it good abroad. This news itself can be taken positively as the two are representatives of the Malaysian diaspora who have made a name for themselves and indirectly made the country of their birth more well-known. We do obviously wonder whether they could have made the same impact locally. Nonetheless, the fact of the matter is that the host country has benefited and we can always share in the glory.

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Convert PTPTN loans to scholarships for all who achieve good results

The plea from a previous student who took up a PTPTN loan but is not eligible for the conversion to a scholarship does highlight an anomaly in the current exercise. It seems the conversion of loans into scholarships is only applicable to those who signed up before June 2006 or graduated in 2010 and beyond. What happens to those not in this category but had obtained first class degrees which is the criteria for conversion to scholarships?

The conversion to scholarships does prove that the government can afford to give free education if all the students obtained good results such as a first class degree. A scholarship means the student does not have to pay anything except maybe to be absorbed into serving the government for a certain number of years.

It does seem fine on paper but in reality there are some who do not serve the government but are let off as there are no vacancies or suitable posts for those graduates. That fact in itself is a double whammy as the student do not have to pay back for his education nor serve the government. He will be able to seek employment in the private sector and indirectly it signifies an exodus from the public sector of sorely needed talent and expertise.

The PTPTN Chairman has mentioned that education in public universities was subsidised 90 per cent by the government while only 10 per cent was borne by students through their loans. A little bit more money pumped into the education budget should be able to make public universities fully subsidised. Then the PTPTN loan is only needed for those attending private universities.

Private universities are a different animal altogether as they are a business entity and showing good returns to their investors is the their priority. The fees at private universities will be influenced by market demand and their reputation as a good and reliable institute of higher learning. The fees can be exorbitant for a middle income family and the PTPTN loan comes in handy to ease the burden.

It would be a welcome move if even those who are at private universities are given the chance to convert their loans into scholarships if they achieve a high standard in their final examinations.

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Ticket touts forever

The ticket touts at the Larkin and Pudu bus stations highlighted by a letter to the editor is symptomatic of our enforcement capabilities. The laws are there but where is the enforcement? In this case, the writer also mentioned that a Land Public Transport Commission patrol car was nearby but the touts were not in the least perturbed. I guess the writer would be blamed for not reporting to the officers on duty concerning the touts menace.

One interesting point is that the touts are not bothered at all by the presence of the officers. In that sense they are so brazen and still continue with their daily routine. It just shows how effective the presence of the authorities are to those who flaunt the law. Most probably the gains from what they do is so profitable that even if they are apprehended they will be able to recoup their losses after paying the fines.

The passengers will of course be approached by the touts when they enter the area especially those who are not familiar with how to get the tickets. Passengers want a good, fast and efficient service so the touts know they have willing customers. It does seem touts are a normal presence at transport hubs in the country. The public has in a way accepted the fact that touts will always be there. We may recall that there are even touts at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

It is such a shame that the laws are in the statutes but will remain just in the books to be read by the students as an academic interest. It might even be prudent to repeal the by-laws regarding the touts and make them a legitimate profession. At least the government can tax them and the money can be used to maintain a better system for our transport hubs.

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National service might be compulsory for secondary school leavers

The news that the National Service (NS) training programme may be made compulsory for all secondary school leavers in future can be seen as a positive move in the right direction. The current short stint has its weaknesses as it is a herculean task to meet all the objectives of the programme in that short span of time.

As we all know, the trainees come from different backgrounds and trying to gel this hodge-podge of youths is no easy matter. The main objective of instilling the spirit of patriotism and nationalism in them is not a simple task when one has been brought up in different educational environments. Schools are still the best place to instill those traits in everyone but unfortunately our current education system is in a mess.

The priorities of giving the best to all has not been achieved yet and there is still a lot to be done. One of the main complaints regarding the national school system is the perceived sub-standard education received by students who enrolled in them. That reason alone has seen a proliferation of private schools and the exodus of students joining them. We must also not discount the increasing number of students in Chinese schools which have a solid track record in producing high achievers.

Different schools with different outlooks does not make a united nation. The National Service programme will not be able to undo easily the lessons learnt for the past 17 years of someone's lives. Nationalism and patriotism are not instant values that can be inculcated in three months. There has been of course positive feedback from many trainees who enjoyed themselves during the sojourn. Some have even made friends with others from other backgrounds and continue that friendship after leaving the camps.

Shouldn't that camaraderie and esprit de corps been nurtured since they started their first year in school? We must look again and ponder whether one school for all can help without waiting until the child has reached their teens to instill those values. One school of excellence.

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Violence between family members

The news that a father stabbed his son over a parking spot seems the latest in family squabbles that involved violence. We can't make judgements over who is responsible until the authorities have finished their investigations but is this the current trend that any disagreement will be solved using violent means. Have we become so short-tempered that we are inclined to be violent.

I can understand if parents use the cane on their naughty children but even then it should be used sparingly and as a last resort. Using the cane has never been the most effective way to instill good behaviour among young children. In this case the son is a young adult but I digress.

I am perturbed that such violent flare ups are more common or has it always been that way but unreported? As far as I know, few cases of family quarrels involved that degree of violence a decade ago unless the parties involved went berserk. A quarrel over a parking spot seems such a minor incident but most probably it was the straw that broke the camel's back.

It is hard to believe that the parking lot was the main issue. Any outburst from anyone is usually the result of pent-up emotions just waiting for the right moment to be released. The son might not even be the target of the repressed feelings. That is one of the reasons psychiatrists coax their patients to talk. The talking sessions on the couch seen in movies and dramas is an outlet for deeper feelings kept hidden from others.

We must talk and not keep quiet. It is much better to let it all out in the open rather than wait for the anger or frustration bide its time and burst out in violence in future. It might be too late then to find a remedy for whatever issues that we face.

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Why do those not exactly swimming in money get kidnapped too?

The question in a letter to the editor is pertinent in the light of the most recent cases of kidnapping that has been in the news. The most widely publicised is of course the kidnapping of the Dutch schoolboy, Nayati Shamelin Moodliar and after him, the victim was a Datuk. The latest we presume would be a missing schoolboy in Kedah. The last paragraph of the letter encapsulates what is happening at the moment.

“It has become a trend for kidnappers to stake out international schools for children who come from rich homes. Rich tycoons are also becoming targets.”

Then the writer asked what happens to children from ordinary homes like the boy from Kedah if he is indeed kidnapped?

That is the six million dollar question that should be on our minds, the ordinary folks. We are not in the upper strata of society but kidnappings happen in our income bracket too. Why? That is for the kidnappers to answer.

We have seen movies and heard stories about children being kidnapped and sent to neighbouring countries to be beggars. Would that be the fate of the boy or any number of unsolved kidnapping victims that occurred in the past? I hope not but how will the parents face the coming days without their son.

Children has always been the most vulnerable part of our society. The younger ones would not know any better if a stranger approaches them and wants to take them for a joy ride. Some parents do emphasise to their children the golden rule of not talking to strangers but sometimes the young forget what has been thought. Some of us have become quite paranoid and would not let their children go anywhere without an adult. I guess this would come under the better safe than sorry adage.

Yes, times have certainly changed and we can't imagine just sauntering along the side walk near our homes without a care in the world. There will always be that jittery feeling that we must be alert all the time for any possible mishaps. When and where do we actually feel totally at ease?

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Malaysians must not compare our accident rates with other countries

The Malaysian Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said the high rate of accidents in the country should not be compared with other countries. He said that accidents are not limited to our country only. That is true and fine but what is the harm in comparing with others? We can learn from others, take the good and discard the bad, can't we? Or is that a treasonable act?

He mentioned that 100,000 people die on the roads in China and India compared to 6,877 motorists in the country who died in road accidents. We have a smaller population compared to those two countries and our numbers should be significantly lower. The recent deaths from bus crashes have increased the number of fatalities. We might even surpass other countries soon in term of deaths caused by road accidents.

Everyone acknowledges that Malaysian drivers are not the most law-abiding in the world as can be attested by the many horror recollections from visitors to our country. Doesn't that speak volumes on the road safety aspects here?

We have ample laws and regulations but as the hallmark of this country, implementation is not our forte. The authorities have mounted countless campaigns trying to educate the motorists but to no avail. Motorcyclists would of course be at the top of the list of the recalcitrant. This group of motorists seem hell-bent in trying the patience of other road users. There are some who abide by the law but they seem to be overwhelmed by those who ignore the rules blatantly.

We love doing things in our own way so maybe that is the reason the good minister said that we should not compare the road accident rate here with other countries. We are masters of our own destiny and we shall do it our way, the rest of the world, please take note.

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Are women their own worst enemies?

We can only speculate what actually happened when a female accomplice did not do anything when her male partner allegedly sexually assaulted a property agent. The rape case happened at a condominium unit in Mont Kiara last week.

I would like to think that the accomplice was threatened by the rapist since I just cannot imagine a woman keeping quiet while another is being sexually abused. That might not excuse her inaction but we never know ourselves when we are caught in the same situation. Choices has to be made and the woman chose to keep quiet. We have to wait until the authorities catch the culprits to find out the true story.

This incident reminds me of previous news items on the ordeal of daughters being raped by their own fathers with the mothers' knowledge. In those cases, the mothers did acknowledge that they were also subjected to the abusive husband and father. We still live in a society that demands complete obedience from the women towards the men in the family. This attitude is ingrained from childhood with clear examples from other women who still return to their husbands or lovers despite the repeated psychological, emotional and physical abuses they receive.

Power over someone else and in these cases women seem an aphrodisiac to some men. Some of them get into a state of ecstasy when they are more abusive and heightened by more pain inflicted on the women. They get pleasure in seeing the women in pain. In other words they are sick and need lots of help.

I hope the man who raped the property agent will get caught soon as the CCTV images that captured his face is clear. Then we can hear his side of the story.

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The police, the neighbour, the alarm system

My sincere hope that the incident mentioned in the letter to the editor today does not happen again. The letter writer thanked the good Samaritan who informed him of the burglary, the police who responded promptly as well as the alarm company for their quick action.

I do want to believe that there are many more unreported cases of quick and prompt action taken by the police whenever emergencies arise and the public needs their help. My worry is that I might be wrong and all this good news is just a flash in the pan and rare.
I do see more police personnel in town but not as many in the housing estates. I'm unsure how they are deployed and which area gets the priority but I'm glad that they respond accordingly as mentioned in the letter.
The other point touched on in the letter is the fact that there still exist caring neighbours in our midst. In this day and age the friendly neighbour is a dying species. Most of us keep a distance from the neighbours as we are concerned that we will be known as a busybody. The most neighbourly gesture nowadays might be a greeting when we see them at the door before and after going out of the house.
Not many would take the trouble to find out whether the neighbour is all right or needs any assistance. How could we know anything about our neighbour when we see the door is always closed shut once we reach home? In urban centres with many high rises, the only opportunity to know your neighbour better might be during the residents meetings.
Sometimes we are closer to work colleagues and know them better as we spent almost the whole day with them. The time spent with neighbours is only at night after work and during the holidays. Unfortunately many are not at home even during the holidays as many want to escape the routine of everyday life and use the weekend for a break.
The police and your neighbours have to be cultivated as two major components in the effort to minimise the probability of a crime being committed in our homes. Easier said than done of course.

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Kalau tak ada duit, jangan haraplah dapat masuk hospital swasta

Benar kata penulis surat kepada ruangan Forun Utusan Malaysia bertarikh 16 Mei 2012 bahawa memang sukar mendapat rawatan di hospital swasta jika tidak berduit.. Bermula di kaunter pertanyaan itu sendiri kita akan berdepan dengan pelbagai soalan dan permintaan. Wang cagaran adalah wajib jika hendak maju selangkah lagi dan mendapatkan rawatan. Syarat wajib ini bukanlah sesuatu yang boleh diberi kelonggaran walaupun orang yang datang meminta bantuan berada pada tahap genting antara hidup dan mati.


Kita mungkin mempersoalkan sama ada perkara seperti ini benar-benar berlaku. Setakat ini belum ada bukti yang sahih bahawa hospital swasta menghalang sesiapa yang tidak mempunyai wang cagaran daripada menerima rawatan di situ. Kita hanya sering mendengar kisah sedih ini tentang orang lain dan bukan yang melibatkan kaum keluarga atau sahabat yang rapat.


Akibatnya semua yang telah ditolak daripada menerima rawatan di hospital swasta beralih arah ke hospital kerajaan. Padanlah perkhidmatan dan layanan di hospital kerajaan rata-rata masih di tahap lama akibat banjiran orang ramai yang mahu mendapatkan rawatan. Hospital kerajaan seperti yang kita sedia maklum amat kekurangan daripada segi kakitangan dan ruang. Ramai pula para doktor di situ yang menunggu sahaja peluang beralih tempat dan menjadi doktor pakar yang disegani di sektor swasta. Berterusanlah hospital kerajaan kekurangan tenaga mahir untuk merawat majoriti rakyat yang tidak berpendapatan tinggi.


Wajibkah hospital swatsa menerima pelbagai jenis rupa dan perangai manausia tanpa wang cagaran? Nama pun hospital swasta bukan, jadi sudah tentu wang ringgit menjadi keutamaan. Tidak salah mengaut kuntungan jika kena gayanya. Terfikir pula, tidakkah ada garis panduan yang menyatakan bahawa hospital swasta wajib memberi rawatan serta-merta apabila ada kes-kes kecemasan yang melibatkan hidup atau matinya seseorang?


Memanglah wang ringgit merupakan matlamat utama penubuhan sesebuah hospital swasta tetapi ruang untuk bertimbangrasa dan berperikemanusiaan mesti wujud kerana tugas mereka adalah merawat mereka yang memerlukan.


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If you have something good to say then say it

The Chief Minister of Sarawak Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud might not be in everyone's good books but his rebuke of Metro Ahad for its report which alleged that certain Penan group in upper Baram was practising incest is timely and should be applauded. Metro Ahad itself has issued a statement of apology and retraction of the said article.

I find it refreshing that the Chief Minister was quoted as saying that, “If you have something good to say then say it. But if you don’t have anything good to say just keep quiet”. That should be everyone's position as well but we should temper that statement with the fact that we must expose any wrong doing if we have evidence to support our suspicions. A news item should be checked and rechecked for accuracy and any inadvertent mistakes before it is published. This is most important especially when it involves a hot topic such as incest.

As it is, the news which was featured on the front page of the paper has gone round the world countless times since it was first featured on Sunday. An apology and retraction might seem adequate but the damage has been done. A group's reputation has been tarnished.

The Chief Minister may have issued his statement for political expediency and some may doubt his sincerity. Nevertheless, the fact that he rebuked the paper is a milestone of sorts as the Penans have always been highlighted in a bad light during their protests over encroachments to their settlements. This is a new beginning for everyone involved.

We do hope that minority groups will not be treated in the same manner in future. They have the same rights as other Malaysians to be treated fairly and without prejudice. Those who want to make a scoop must think twice or even thrice before putting pen to paper. Research and due diligence must be the order of the day. We would not want others to continue propagating shoddy journalism.

As it is, the mainstream media have lost many readers and this latest episode would certainly make others read the papers with more caution.

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Compassion for unwed mothers should be a priority

The heading of the letter to the editor “Compassion the right way to go” says it all. The letter reiterates that unwed mothers need compassion not legal action. The fine or jail term or both do not help the unwed mothers to cope with what they have done.

The unwed mothers are at a most vulnerable stage of their lives after they dumped their baby. They have been through a traumatic experience involving not just themselves but another live. They did not know who to turn to when they found out that they were carrying another life inside their body. The partner meanwhile will usually abscond from sharing the responsibility and the girl is left to her own devices.

In the end, she is punished when what the girl needs most is compassion. We know that she did something wrong. However heinous her action, does it justify the punishment meted out? Will the sentence really reform her or be a deterrent to other unwed mothers or reduce the incidences of baby dumping?

A psychological assessment of the unwed mother must be done in order to ascertain what actually triggered her actions. That should be the basis to bring her back into society and be a more responsible adult. Punishing her is not a guarantee that she would be a model citizen once the ordeal is over. Anything can happen as we do not know the state of her mind before, during and after her actions.

We have not been through what an unwed mother felt throughout the period from the point of discovering that she is carrying a child until the time that she decided to abandon the baby. That girl needs compassion, lots of it.

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The Malaysian sun is fair to all

It was heartening to read what the Malaysian Prime Minister said in London that "There is room under the Malaysian sun for all our countrymen and women, whoever they are and however they choose to contribute. Everyone has a part to play; everyone can make a difference and everyone can grow and prosper."

He also said that "The most important job of government today is not just to listen, but to truly hear the people's voice... and that means yours as well."

He also acknowledged the sad truth that Malaysians overseas had felt ignored for far too long.

The speech must have been well accepted by every Malaysian who long to contribute to the nation's success in whatever way they can especially those who are abroad. Unfortunately sometimes the good intentions may not translate into reality. We do have the current incentives to lure Malaysians abroad to come back home. I doubt there would be droves of them coming back immediately as the reasons for leaving the country are varied and not necessarily because of the higher standard of living in their new homes.

Each person has his own dreams and ambitions which may not find space and encouragement in this country. The push and pull factor might be of equal weight but quite often we hear that the main reason for leaving is for the children's future. Opportunities to grow and realising your true potential is abundant abroad despite the many obstacles one may face.

They leave knowing that there is a window of opportunity available in their new destination. That opportunity combined with hard work and diligence will get them somewhere. We have not reached that stage yet and until we face the facts that some fundamentals in our governance and policy implementation needs to be changed, Malaysians abroad who will embrace the call to home would remain a trickle.

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If a police officer can be a victim of snatch thieves, where do the public stand?

The news that a senior police officer lost his handgun to a snatch thieves is worrying to say the least. The news seems contrary to recent pronouncements that the crime rate in Malaysia has gone down since last year. Where do we, ordinary citizens stand when a senior officer becomes a victim of snatch thieves?

Does this incident indicate that everyone must be on alert wherever they go and be vigilant 24 hours a day?

The police and the public have been cooperating hand in hand trying to bring the crime rate down but when incidents such as this is in the news, we are quite disheartened. This case might be the odd one out of many but it might give the wrong impression to those who want to embark on a life of crime. The would be criminal would gain more confidence that crime does pay as even a senior police officer can be a potential victim.

Would this lead to more gated communities? Once upon a time we had the Rukun Tetangga scheme which I thought was a good idea not just in making sure that our neighbourhood was safe but indirectly fostering closer bonds among us. There was a sense of shared responsibility that all of us have a stake making sure that our home and family are safe from the criminals. We realise that we cannot depend on the police force alone.

I'm unsure whether the scheme would still work today as more people are living in high rises and just depend on the security provided to safeguard their homes. There is also the increasing time spent with our latest electronic gadgets that we do not even talk to each other at the dining table but instead sms, tweet or use whatsapp to communicate with the person in front of us.

What shall we do?

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Is Malaysian education system on par with those in developed nations?

I am confused by today's news item that quoted the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that it will take another 10 to 15 years for the country’s education system to be on par or better than that of developed nations. I recall another news report which mentioned that Malaysian children received better education than those in advanced countries based on the World Economic Forum's global competitiveness report.

Have I misinterpreted the news published or is one of them not correct? Oh, maybe developed nations and advanced countries are not the same as there was no mention of which developed nations we were comparing ourselves to and the example of advanced countries were the United States, Britain and Germany.

I would like to believe that the World Economic Forum's global competitiveness report is correct which ranked Malaysia 14th among 142 countries in quality of education and second in the ASEAN region. The high ranking would mean we are already on par with the advanced nations or even better than some of them. The other nations are the ones that need another 10 to 15 years to catch up with us, right?

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Pet owners must be more responsible

The points raised in the letter to the editor titled “There are no bad dogs, only bad owners” are relevant and applicable to other pets as well such as cats and birds. As the writer said, people should be taught how to choose a dog, how to care for it and know when to call in a professional when pets exhibit problems. The same can be said about those who want to have cats.

Quite often we tolerate cats in this country because the majority of us are more acceptable to them due to our religious beliefs. Nevertheless cats that are let loose to do their business in neighbours' compounds are one of the consequences having owners who could not care less about their pets. These owners love their cats but when it comes to the nitty-gritty, they do not want to take responsibility over the mess that their cats has made in others' backyards.

Living in high rises has its own side effects if your neighbours have cats. The smell permeates to your area and most often than not, the owners do not realise that our noses have been subject to the unpleasant aroma. The owners do not realise the effect it has on others. They persist on having those cats even though high rises are not the most suitable habitat for them. Pets such as dogs and cats need their space. Some people just do not want to accept the fact that keeping a pet enclosed in a small area is a sure sign of potential danger. The pet longs for walks and romps but have to repress that desire. Once given a window of opportunity, they will of course roam free and savour that moment as much as possible.

Man, the supposedly intelligent species on this planet is stubborn and think they know what is best for their pets. The pets are a different species, not homo sapiens and follow a different path towards their happiness. Once upon a time they were wild animals and men tamed them. We tend to forget, however tame they are, that animal instinct is still intact. They are unique in their own way and should be respected as such. The pet owners must realise they must be responsible for whatever their pets outside their homes. This means the pet owners should also respect their neighbours rights to have a peaceful and safe environment to live.

Always remember, the pets are dependent on the owners for guidance. Pets highlighted in the news in a bad light reflect the fact that they have bad owners, not the other way round.

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Unwed teenage mothers need compassion and understanding

More people should read this particular letter to the editor titled “Unwed mums need compassion”. The main point of the letter is how we must help the teenage girls and their babies while trying to rectify the underlying problems.

The current solution of punishing the unwed mothers does not prevent cases of girls getting pregnant from occurring in future. Most probably girls who realise they are pregnant will hide the fact and even try to abort the baby. They do not have the support system necessary to cope with the pregnancy. The parents may not even be bothered with their daughter's life as many are pre-occupied with the daily struggle to make a living. The girl would be left to her own devices and the quickest way to get rid of the evidence would be to dump the baby.

When the decision to sever ties with the baby in that way, she has crossed into a different territory. It is doubtful whether any girl who dumped their baby escapes the condemnation of society over her act. She committed a wrong and must be punished, so says the law but do we care why it happened.

The reasons behind the act is the catalyst that brought the girl to that stage. Punishment alone is not going to solve the problem but a more holistic approach is needed so others do not succumb to the same drastic act. This needs everyone's help especially the parents. As the letter mentioned, reducing teenage pregnancies can only be done by concerted measures to provide sex education and offer openness to dialogue and to discuss issues. Parents in general have failed their children in this respect.

Compassion is not a popular word in this parts and when it comes to the teenage girls it is much easier to condemn and punish them. We need to change our mindset radically so as to help these girls and prevent cases of teenage pregnancies from increasing in the future. Prevention is always better than cure.

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Another English test before you can be a flight attendant

I do agree to a certain extent the sentiments in the letter to the editor today regarding the move by Air Asia to make it compulsory for flight attendants to sit for the Test of English for International Communication. It is as the letter said, a most timely, courageous and relevant move.

I do wonder however, whether this means that those who pass their English exams at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level are not up to standard. It does seem so if Air Asia needs them to sit for another test. Another test even though the applicant has passed his English at the SPM level does indicate in a sense that the examination standards are low, unreliable and untrustworthy. The employer has assumed that six years of primary and five years of secondary level learning the English language at school may be not enough to make one competent to be hired with the company. The company has put doubts on the language competency of the applicants and in an oft handed way, the examinations board.

This move to have another test should be a wake up call to the examinations board to look again at the standards of the current English language syllabus and whether those who passed are really capable of handling themselves in the real world in that language. We have to face the facts that reality demands potential employees to have attained a certain level in the command of the language before they are deemed to be capable of handling a job. Those who failed the test will have to abandon their ambitions and dreams in their chosen career. They have to improve themselves first before trying again at a future date.

I'm sure it is quite a let down to be told that you are ineligible for the job even though your certificate shows a pass in the language. Eleven years of studying the language has come to nought and the applicant has to take a step backward and rethink whether he really wants the job. If he does feel that another period of studying the language is worth his time then he will of course put in the effort. Otherwise, he will find other jobs that do not have standards as stringent as Air Asia.

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The police is still needed despite high end security measures

I am also in shock when I read the letter to the editor today regarding the fact that gated high-end condominiums with 24-hour security and CCTV where one needs access cards to get in are also not exempt from robberies. He himself who loves in Taman Maluri, Cheras had been a robbery victim twice in the space of a year.

What recourse do ordinary folks who live in nondescript housing areas have in terms of safety to their person and property? The police of course and their presence is still not felt that much in certain areas. They may have their public relations exercise with residents but as the letter writer said, people feeling safe would be the stimulus in the relations between the men in blue and the ordinary folks. The main crux of the matter is many still feel unsafe even with the good results shown by the national crime index which has fallen 11.1 percent in 2011.

The Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar earlier this year said 157,891 cases were reported last year, down from 177,520 in 2010. I do wonder whether the drop is really because of a reduction in the number of crimes or the victims did not report them. Are there any statistics that can show the number of unreported cases? That would make interesting reading, indeed.

In the meantime, we are still left with the issue of safety in our daily lives. Yes, we do see more policemen making their rounds but only in certain areas. There are still inadequate numbers to go around the whole neighbourhood as they have other pressing matters to attend to as well besides keeping the peace. Cyber crime is on the increase and that seems to be very lucrative to those with the skills and mindset. The theft and robbery that occur in our neighbourhood pales in comparison even though lives and property are at a stake too.

We look to the police for the answers as the majority of us are not living in a well secured area, replete with CCTV and other modern crime prevention devices. The increasing number of gated communities has not solved the problem as we still need the police to at least make their rounds. Their presence is always welcome to residents and potential robbers might think twice before committing any crimes.

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Is mother's unconditional love what it is hyped to be

I will always get a lump in the throat reading anything that touches on a mother's love and sacrifice for her children and today's letter to the editor is no exception. The mother mentioned in the letter seems the epitome of all mothers, selfless, putting the child's welfare before her own and doing all she can to ensure that he has a better future. Can you imagine that she even let him off for stealing some coins of hers? She only scared him by saying that God would make the person who stole the coins blind without pointing the finger at her son. The son was worried but since he did not get blind, he continued his wayward ways.

Fortunately he grew up to be a very responsible adult who managed to look after his mother during her advanced years. A poignant true story indeed.

Unfortunately there are cases I know of some mothers who would never be nominated in the running for the accolade of mother of the year. It is of course unfair to generalise as each case is different. They are after all human and have their own good and bad traits. We might overlook this group of mothers in our overall praise for mothers. Maybe these mothers deserve a second look. I doubt their failing, if we can call that, as mothers are inborn. There must have been mitigating factors that made them such and further studies and research is needed to ascertain what actually happened.

In general, mothers are the foundation that built our society. They nurture future leaders and some say devils too. Their love has no equal and despite their faults, they deserve to be loved in return. They can be irritating, quarrelsome, unreasonable and perpetually poking their fingers into the children's lives but it is all done for the love of their offspring. Good intentions but sometimes not quite good methods are used. They are trying their best. That we are quite certain.

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Peaceful demonstrations are allowed

I am so relieved that the Malaysian National Fatwa Committee has decided that it is haram for Muslims to participate in any gathering or demonstration that is unproductive, against the law or causes disturbance in the country.

The corollary would be it is halal for Muslims to participate in any gathering or demonstration that is productive, supports the law or brings peace to the country, right?

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Multi-tasking, the Swiss Army knife of life

The last paragraph in the article “Declutter and Focus” which says “We do not need to know everything. Or do everything. Only the important things that matter to us. The sooner we realise that, the better we can truly focus.” is so true. We have to acknowledge that to some us, everything seems important and they must always be in the thick of things or else their lives would seem so mundane.

What exactly is important to each person depends on the circumstance that he is in at a certain point of his life. It changes with time. When you are a toddler, we are quite certain that food would be the most important object of desire. As he grows older, the many wants start to build up and make quite a long list. The priorities in life shifts accordingly. The teenage years might see him saving up to buy a toy. If it is beyond his student allowance, he might start asking his parents to buy those desirables so as not to be the odd one out among his peer group.

Then the multi-tasking comes in and takes hold of his life. A gadget is essential so that he can be on his toes and constantly updated with all the latest news. He eats, sleeps and rests all at the same time. Multi-tasking to the max, that seems to be the norm among so many of us. We feel so left out if we do not occupy all the minutes with something “useful” or “important”.

I guess doing one task at a time is so last century. Time is precious and everyone is in a hurry to cram in as much as they can in the precious minutes that are ticking along. Once gone, it can never be recovered. What a waste isn't it that we did not multi-task so as to achieve so many things at one go. Is that really so?

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The good Malaysian civil servant is still rare

I love it when there are letters that highlight the pleasant experiences we have when we encounter officialdom. In this case it is the efficient and cordial manner of the personnel at the Immigration Department. What a difference it makes when we encounter such incidences. We are not only pleasantly surprised but hope this would not be a flash in the pan occurrence.

I guess we have become so jaded with the many bad experiences whenever the public sector is mentioned that any news that is against that perception is such a welcome breath of fresh air. I know it is unfair to countless public sector employees who are dedicated in their jobs to be lumped together with those who could not care less about the public. Unfortunately, the bad experiences are the ones that sticks in our minds and they are supported by other horror stories from acquaintances and strangers. Some might be one sided versions of what really happened but even if only half is true, it is still a major concern and a blemish on the public sector image.

I've always wondered why do we, the public put up with bad service from some civil servants. I guess the answer would be that the public are not well versed with their rights in dealings with the civil servants. When the public is not given a civil service, we just shrug and accept it as if it is a norm whereas we should put our foot down whenever that happens. Alas, how many of us would even dare speak out against any mistreatment we receive at the hands of a public service employee.

The civil servant has so much power that they can approve or even delay a simple process like filling up an application form. Some of them do not have the patience to deal with the public who want to seek their help. That is when the designation, civil servant changes to uncivil not your servant personnel. We are not asking them to bend backwards especially for us, but some courtesy and politeness would be most welcome.

So we shall keep highlighting the public sector employee who embody the good side of the civil service and chastise those who are uncivil.

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Job security no longer exists

The last sentence in today's letter to the editor says it all, “Be prepared for all eventualities as no job is secure in this globalised world that we live in today.” To reiterate, no one is indispensable unless if I'm not mistaken he works as a civil servant. I have not heard of any lay-offs from the public sector. The ones that have been dismissed from their jobs in the public sector have done something so terrible that their transgression could not be overlooked and out of the door they go.

Unfortunately for the rest of us who work in the private sector, we have to be on our toes all the time. We may be exemplary workers, dedicated to the company, putting in extra hours and efforts to make it a success but when it comes to the bottom line, the ringgit and cents, if we are unwanted, nothing can be done. Sayonara!!!

So what do we do? Follow the Scout motto, be prepared and we should at least not be too shocked if we are asked to leave. Keep your ears and eyes open for any news or even rumours on your company's future direction. It might be a target for a merger or acquisition and be prepared for bad news. Those most vulnerable would be the ones in their 40s as they have reached a certain age of experience and drawing quite a big amount in salary. Would the new management retain or replace them when the time comes?

However nice or sympathetic your current management might be, they could be powerless in making decisions in the new set-up. There will always be new ideas and systems to implement once the takeover becomes a reality, so it might be best for everyone concerned if the affected employee moves on to another company. No hard feelings of course. It is just a practical solution.

This might be the opportune time to expand your horizons and discover something new. There may be pleasant surprises in store at your new place but of course it might come out worse too. At least you tried.

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Can Kuala Lumpur age gracefully?

Today's letter to the editor would like to see Kuala Lumpur age gracefully. I wonder whether anyone in authority or the town planners would notice the last sentence in the letter “Old is gold! Let’s not replace it with contemporary architecture”. As far as we notice, any new planned development in the city would picture spanking new, ultra modern buildings. The older parts of the city is left to decay as can be seen by the many abandoned shop houses in Petaling Street or Jalan Bandar.

The last time I remembered when there was any spruce up to the buildings in the area was when Kuala Lumpur became host to the Commonwealth Games. That is more than ten years ago. The paint has peeled off and the exterior looks run down. We could even see plants and creepers taking over some of the abandoned buildings. Whenever we walked past a row of these old shop houses, at least one of them would stand out as a sore thumb.

Unkempt, derelict, left to its own devices, exposed to the vagaries of our weather and eventually it might be torn down as it would be unsafe for occupation. Once gone, the likelihood a modern building taking its place is there as it is not worth the effort and time for the owners to maintain the old structure. It makes much better business and practical sense to demolish the crumbling structure.

We cannot expect the owners to preserve their buildings if there are no incentives for them. It is an expensive effort to maintain such buildings with all the old wiring and plumbing within the premises. A make over is needed and that need lots of cash. Most often than not, the financial help is not forthcoming unless the building can generate good returns. That is the choice facing the owners. Do they really want to keep the building as it is or tear it down and build something new in its place.

The new structure would definitely be incongruous in the area but do they have other options?

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Cycling is dangerous on Malaysian roads

I totally agree with the sentiments in today's letter to the editor with the headline “Bicycle lanes are sorely needed”. As the letter mentioned, it is pointless for the Tourism Ministry to promote cycling as a tourism product that does not come with the infrastructure. The last sentence in the letter says it all, cycling on our roads is dangerous.

The increasing popularity of cycling as evident by the number of bicycle shops with their different types of bicycles should spur the authorities to do their part in providing the necessary infrastructure to cater to the needs of this group of enthusiasts. We can see groups of cyclists on the road during weekends and even week days while some of them prefer the more challenging off road events. Either way, they are becoming a big community and their needs should be considered.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, bicycles were quite a common mode of transport for the public. As we progressed, we changed and upgraded ourselves by buying motorcycles and cars. The motorised vehicles has its uses and during the same period, bicycles were relegated to just a kid's toy.

Now we realised that the bicycle has its purpose too, a recreational and even an alternative mode of transport in the urban sprawl that keeps expanding by the day. The grid lock that we face whenever we have to go from point A to B in our daily lives does not augur well for our health. It wastes time and petrol, limited resources that are not renewable. Once used, gone forever.

If the bicycle is truly to play a better role in our lives even for the weekend, an urgent revamp of the master plan of our cities and towns need to be put in place. Town planners have to take into account the practicalities of having bicycle lanes as the current usage of motorcycle lanes for bicycles does not quite solve the problem of safety for the cyclists. That should be uppermost when ever we decide to modernise our landscape. The safety of its inhabitants.

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Frugal living - Is that possible?

The call to frugal living might bring relief in certain areas of our lives but I'm not so sure when it comes to the internet. We can try and choose generic items when it comes to buying household goods but what do we do when the behemoth of the personal computer industry, Microsoft upgrades the system that comes bundled in a lot of the hardware that we use.

The most frequent problem I encounter is the difficulty in reading a document that has been prepared in the latest version of excel or word whereas my own system still uses the old version. My personal computer is ancient in terms of system specifications and as has been advised by experts, ie, the dealers and salesmen at Low Yat et al, I should upgrade to the latest brand new model. That will definitely cost more and I just do not see myself spending a few thousand ringgit every year upgrading to a newer system.

The changes in the computer industry is at a break neck speed and I'm breathless just catching up with what has happened during the last month or so, what more the latest innovations and enhancements. I do understand that all these improvements will enhance my enjoyment of what the cyber world has to offer and supposedly increase my productivity. I'm unsure whether it is necessary or can I just live and let live with what I have at present.

That will mean slower access to so many wonderful videos on youtube and other websites that require a new version installed in my computer. Opensource is an option but when Microsoft is ever present, it is quite a task to be the odd man out. I guess I'll postpone the upgrading as late as possible so as to stick to my aim to live frugally as best as I can.

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