The behaviour of unscrupulous taxi drivers is worse than the condition of toilets in
“If you ask tourists, the first thing they complain about is our taxi drivers. Their second is dirty toilets.
“(The behaviour of) our drivers is worse than the toilets,” he said yesterday.
He said such taxi drivers took advantage of tourists by refusing to use meters.
Nazri added that passengers should report such behaviour to the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CLVB) to help discipline errant drivers.
“Do not compromise because we don’t want them to be gangsters,” he said. “We want good drivers, which many of them are. Only a few bad apples behave this way, hence painting a bad image of the country.”
Nazri said there were 1,232 reports of errant taxi drivers from January to November this year.
A total of 134 cases were dealt with in November alone while 320 were under investigation.
“We have increased the taxi fare to accommodate drivers’ plight but sadly their behaviour hasn’t improved,” he said.
Earlier, Nazri witnessed the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between DRB-Hicom and taxi drivers’ associations over a special incentive and supply package to help the associations and individual drivers procure taxis.
Protectionist policies must go
your approval of 5000 permits enrich you at $20x 5000 ringgit a day is $100,000 day
SEVERAL weeks ago, a delegation from a major European company held a no-holds barred meeting with our government officials.
The discussion centred around opening up markets, free trade agreements and protectionists policies. Needless to say, this was not the first time that the company officials had dealt with our bureaucrats. But what was different this time was that the usually polite and diplomatic Europeans had no time for niceties.
The gloves came off and they made it clear that Malaysia’s flip-flopping on its protectionist policies and the culture of the "enrichment" of certain groups at the expense of fair trade and the absence of a standard trade guideline was not the way countries in the European Union (EU) did business. There is no "kautim" mentality or "special arrangements". All’s fair in capitalism.
Of course critics of the World Trade Organisation will have their own opinion on capitalists, but what this delegation was cheesed off with was the fact that our inconsistent business policies was costing them money.
It was getting expensive to do business in Malaysia because it was difficult to plan. For instance, the phasing out of the approved permits (AP) system under the National Automotive Policy is supposed to begin next year, culminating in 2015, following which we all hope imported cars will be cheaper by at least RM50,000 (current rates).
However, now we hear that the government may give in to requests from Malaysian dealers and rent seekers to extend it until 2020 to allow the creation of more millionaires. And mind you, we are not just talking about cars. Most imports, including sugar, carry APs. This invariably makes the cost of doing business in Malaysia higher than our neighbours’, which is why we are losing out to others in the region.
In his exit speech in 2007, EU ambassador to Malaysia Thierry Rommel made some remarks that did not go down well with our folks here. Rommel among others charged that some of the government’s policies were designed to practise significant protectionism of Malaysia’s own market covering the automotive sector, steel, consumer goods, agricultural products and services.
Rommel may have had his own agenda but he was merely articulating how the outside world – Europe at least – feels about doing business with us.
While trade last year was RM140 billion, Rommel’s successor Vincent Piket forecasts trade with Malaysia will drop by RM35 billion this year. We can attribute some of that to the global economic downturn. But it is during times like this that we need to up our game, call a spade a spade and be proactive in getting rid of old habits or risk having foreign investors look elsewhere to spend their money – as was the case with the European company at the beginning of this column.
You know something is not right if for a rice-growing nation, the cost of producing this staple is 30% more than other rice-producing countries. So if even Malaysians have to pay more for the rice we eat, then who’s benefiting? Certainly not the people. The sole company awarded the contract to import and distribute rice, perhaps?
In any case, to move forward the government must show its sincerity in protecting all Malaysians. Its policies must be all-encompassing and attractive to those whom we wish to do business with.
You know something is not right if for a rice-growing nation, the cost of producing this staple is 30% more than other rice-producing countries.
It is laudable that the government has abolished import duties on over 2,000 items as part of its commitment to the Asean Free Trade Area (Afta) which comes into play next year. Hence, opening up the markets may also make such items as rice cheaper as import duties for rice will also be reduced.
However, I am expecting the government to flip-flop again, especially when certain entrepreneur groups complain that Afta is hurting them. Soon before you know it, we will have more "special arrangements".
Emerging markets in Southeast Asia are giving us a run for our money. The only advantage we have over them is that English is widely spoken here – but even this is being threatened by politicians with hare-brained ideas of compelling the private sector to use the national language to enhance the usage of Bahasa Malaysia.
Such myopic views do not augur well for us and the future for a nation that aims to be a global player but is bogged down by decades’ old thinking and selfish priorities which will only succeed in reducing our competitiveness internationally.
Terence says first and foremost we have to improve our broadband quality . He is deputy editor (special reports & investigations) and can be reached at terence@thesundaily.com .
During the earlier trial, it was revealed that the Special Branch tried to convince Anwar to “take action” but that Anwar refused, until pressed further by the Director who said it was “for the sake of national security” before Anwar agreed that action be taken.
In a new twist to the Anwar Saga, it was revealed that Ummi Hafilda Ali was the architect behind the accusation that Anwar had sodomised Azizan Abu Bakar. And, for this, she was disowned by her father just months before he died of a broken heart.
Christopher Fernando told the
What is most interesting by this revelation is that:
1. Said Awang went to meet Azmin BEFORE he met Anwar. Therefore, the allegation that Anwar had abused his position by summoning the Special Branch, and that he asked them to force Ummi and Azizan to withdraw the sodomy allegation, is a fallacy. In fact, it was not Anwar who summoned Said Awang to see him, but the Special Branch Director who took the initiative to meet Anwar.
2. The idea to persuade Ummi and Azizan to retract the sodomy allegation came from the Special Branch and not Anwar. During the earlier trial, it was revealed that the Special Branch tried to convince Anwar to “take action” but that Anwar refused, until pressed further by the Director who said it was “for the sake of national security” before Anwar agreed that action be taken.
3. The Special Branch was fully aware that it was Ummi who was behind the sodomy allegation and that Azizan was merely the instrument to the whole thing. That was why they wanted Azmin, her brother, to try to persuade Ummi to retract the allegation.
This sheds light on the previous day’s proceedings where Fernando revealed that Azizan testified three times, under oath, that Anwar never sodomised him – an admission that took even the trial judge aback.
Fernando related how Said went to meet Azmin to request a meeting with Anwar Ibrahim. In the meeting with Azmin, Said asked him whether Ummi is his sister and Azmin confirmed so.
Said Awang then asked Azmin whether he was able to persuade his sister to withdraw the sodomy allegation against Anwar but Azmin replied that would be impossible as he no longer talked to his sister since the allegation surfaced.
The Special Branch was aware that Ummi was behind the accusation and was, in fact, the plotter of the whole thing. And, the period when this discussion with Azmin was going on, the Special Branch had not met Anwar yet.
Azmin then called the family together to discuss the issue. In all, three meetings were held that included Ummi herself.
Ummi at first denied she had written the letter to the Prime Minister accusing Anwar of sodomy. Azmin then advised his sister to steer clear of the conspiracy, and that was when she admitted this would be impossible to do as she had been promised money and contracts for her role and, in fact, money had already changed hands.
Ummi later confessed to her father her involvement in the conspiracy and that it was actually she who had written the letter to the Prime Minister. The father, a religious teacher, then disowned her and, soon after, died of a broken heart, never forgiving his daughter for what she had done.
It was clear, from the testimony in court, that Azizan’s letter to the Prime Minister had been written by Ummi. Ummi had confessed to this. Azizan, in turn, during the course of the trial, admitted that Anwar did not sodomise him.
However, when the defence tried to bring up this very crucial bit of evidence during the trial, the trial judge disallowed it. The judge refused to allow the letter to be admitted as evidence or to allow Ummi to be called to court to testify.
Ummi’s role in this whole thing was clear and indisputable. The fact the sodomy accusation against Anwar was false was apparent. Just before he died, Ummi’s father wrote an open letter to Harakah, an opposition newspaper, explaining the whole matter and, in no uncertain terms, accused his daughter of involvement in the conspiracy to frame Anwar and of being the person who wrote the letter to the Prime Minister.
Had the judge allowed this crucial bit of evidence to be admitted, argued Fernando, it would have changed the entire complexion of the case and the judge would have been hard-pressed to find Anwar guilty.
Attempt after attempt was made to frame Anwar of sexual misconduct charges; and Pak Lah is involved too
“There was an evil plot to secure a conviction through devious means,” said Christopher Fernando on the second day of Anwar’s appeal hearing in the
Fernando then told the court that attempt after attempt was made to frame Anwar on sexual misconduct charges.
One such case was Dr. Munawar Ahmad Anees, then one of Anwar’s speech writers, who was arrested and subjected to physical and mental torture to force him to admit he had a homosexual relationship with Anwar.
Fernando then took the court through the lengthy Affidavit signed by Dr Munawar on 7 November 1998 that detailed the experience he went through at the hands of the Malaysian police.
The torture he endured finally broke him and he admitted to the ‘crime’, which he later retracted in his Affidavit.
Fernando then brought the court’s attention back to the Manjeet Singh Dhillon matter that was raised in court yesterday to emphasis his point of yet another attempt to frame Anwar.
At this point, Fernando called upon the court to recommend a Royal Commission of Inquiry be established to investigate Manjit Singh Dhillon's serious allegation against Abdul Gani Patail and Azhar Mohamad as this is a most serious matter affecting the administration of justice and the rule of law.
"If they are found not to be involved in extorting fabricated evidence, then their names will be cleared," said Fernando. "It will be to their benefit."
"If they are involved, then they ought to be brought to justice. That is the only way to resolve this pressing problem and to restore public confidence."
Clearly there was a concerted effort to frame Anwar. But these attempts were not confined to
“We are trying to show a pattern, how witnesses were approached to give fabricated evidence and these efforts extended beyond the shores of
Jamal is an American citizen of Arab descent who operates a limousine service in
In September 1998, soon after Anwar’s dismissal and subsequent arrest, a Malaysian Diplomat, Mustapha Ong, asked Jamal to declare that he had procured women and young boys for Anwar.
Mr Anwar was charged with sodomy in August last year, just before he was re-elected to office, in a case which centres on allegations by a 23 year old former aide, who alleges he had sex with Mr Anwar on a number of occasions last year at a Kuala Lumpur apartment.Sodomy is a criminal offence in Muslim-dominated Malaysia, and if found guilty, Mr Anwar faces a 20 year jail sentence.Mr Anwar says due process must be followed, and he's told Radio Australia's Connect Asia program he will appeal.
"We understand the difficulties in the process, but we will at least show the Malaysian public that we will exhaust all avenues," he said.
"We don't have the confidence. They have enough evidence to suggest that there is blatant corruption in the judiciary involving the highest judicial officers, so why do then use this process and exhaust avenues? Because we want to show the Malaysian public notwithstanding all the limitations that we have to endure and face, we will have then to still respect the process."
Mr Anwar was charged with sodomy more than a decade ago and served time in jail, but the charges were ultimately quashed.
And he says whatever the outcome this time, he believes Malaysians are more able to differentiate between truth and falsehoods spread against him.
"In 1998, when I was convicted and jailed, badly assaulted, it brought about a new awareness and a groundswell," he said.
"I'm not necessarily keen to go through that process, but I think knowing, accepting the fact that we're working under such an authoritarian system, with no media access and a compliant judiciary, we would attempt to do our best, but prepare for the worst.
"But again, I would reiterate the point that Malaysians in 2009 are more aware of their rights, are more critical and would not readily accept the draconian and repressive measures."
Mr Anwar maintains the charges against him are politically motivated, coming as his Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition gains ground on the government, with wins in six out of 14 states and territories in last year's elections.
And he's dismissed talks of infighting within the coalition, over the inclusions of a highly-conservative Muslim party and its platform, which includes the establishment of Sharia law.
"The media, because it is controlled by the ruling establishment, would then exaggerate whatever little problem they we encounter, but we have proven that we are sustainable, we have cemented relations, we have now more regular meetings at the leadership level," he said.
"It's virtually every week and we are moving towards a major convention, to identify and hopefully, we can succeed by mid-December to clarify on the specific economic, social, religious, educational programmes and agenda
No comments:
Post a Comment