Subang Jaya emails to the Press (Dec 2002)

[jeffooi]

THE STAR
Tuesday, December 03, 2002

LETTER
Envoys should counter negative perceptions

THE recent spate of negative travel advisories affects our economic interest far beyond the travel and tourist industry.

As pointed out by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, it will sabotage our economy and in more ways than one. An example is our exports.

More specifically, Malaysian companies exporting technology products to the west have been affected by these advisories because typically, technology customers in the west would visit and audit the facilities and capabilities of the potential Malaysian supplier’s factory.

Because of recent events, followed by the negative advisories, many potential customers in the west are rejecting Malaysian suppliers to avoid having to visit them.

Malaysia and its embassies abroad, should be more aggressive in countering such negative perceptions.

We should arrange for key people from the foreign media to visit us and see for themselves the peaceful situation we have here.

EXPORTER,
Subang Jaya.
(via e-mail)


SOURCE:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/12/3/focus/economyx&sec=focus

[jeffooi]

THE STAR
Tuesday, December 03, 2002

Death penalty not appropriate for rape cases

RAPING a child is a heinous crime.

However, the death penalty may not be the appropriate sentence.

The child may then not be willing to testify against the rapist if the rapist is her own father or relative.

If so, the child will cause the rapist to be sentenced to death. This may cause further psychological trauma to the child.

This may also cause the child’s siblings or mother to hate the child for “causing’’ the father’s death.

Hence the child may be under tremendous pressure not to testify if the rapist is a close relative. More cases would be swept under the carpet.

Secondly, there have been several cases of “convicted rapists’’ released from prison after long prison sentences due to wrong conviction. DNA testing was used to prove their innocence.

If they had been executed for their “crime’’, the wrong sentence would have been irreversible.

Perhaps we should consider other alternatives. A lengthy prison sentence for first offenders and castration for repeat offenders may be appropriate.

CONCERNED CITIZEN,
Subang Jaya.
(via e-mail)


SOURCE:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/12/3/focus/rogolx&sec=focus

[jeffooi]

NEW STRAITS TIMES
Tuesday, December 2, 2002

Letters
KTM will clean toilets more often

Dec 3: WE refer to the letter by Teo B.Y. of Subang Jaya, “KTM toilet filthy beyond description”, (NST, Nov 22).

KTM Bhd would like to thank Teo for the feedback and apologise for the inconvenience caused. The toilet mentioned by Teo is of the portable kind rented from a company which also provides cleaning services once a day. Such toilets have been placed at four other popular Komuter halts.

However, our investigation shows the toilets are frequently misused.

KTM will increase the frequency of cleaning services. At the same time, our cleaning contractors have also been told to help with the cleaning work at portable toilets at all halts.

However, our efforts will be futile without the co-operation of the public. We urgepassengers be more responsible when using the toilets.

We hope Teo will not be deterred by the incident and will continue to use our services.

AZIZAH UJANG
for Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd


SOURCE:
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Letters/20021203085753/Article/

[jeffooi]

THE STAR Metro
Tuesday, December 03, 2002

More than mere billing

I do my shopping at TOPS Supermarket in The Weld Shopping Complex and I always look forward to the receipts with delightful surprises on the back.

A recent discovery really cheered my day. In addition to my usual favourite redemption coupons on the back of the receipt, I also found some hilarious jokes which had me in stitches!

I hope the company responsible for giving us those innovative receipts, with redemption coupons for various interesting outlets, keep up the good work, especially with the recent inclusion of some jolly good jokes.

This is refreshing as I believe this is the first time I’ve come across such unique receipts!

CLAIRE LEE,
USJ.


SOURCE:
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2002/12/claire2611.html

[jeffooi]

THE STAR
Tuesday, December 10, 2002

LETTER
Action that may be taken to curb loan sharks

I REFER to your front-page report, “Loan control”, (The Star, Dec 9).

It is rather sad that it takes the loss of another three lives, including that of an infant, after consuming the paraquat, for attention to be drawn to the issue of loan sharks.

This knee-jerk reaction has become a common tendency among the authorities in recent years and nothing seems to have changed despite the continued loss of lives.

If policy makers, politicians and others entrusted to protect the rights and interests of the people are monitoring the situation, these issues will have been addressed.

I urge the Home Ministry and the Criminal Investigations Division of Bukit Aman to immediately set up a database and toll-free line to stop this innocent loss of lives and harassment from loan sharks.

The database and complaints received from affected borrowers will certainly help identify the culprits who use criminal intimidation, harassment and rough tactics on borrowers.

In all fairness, this should also include the registered moneylenders who use rough tactics instead of taking civil action to protect their own rights and interests.

I appeal to the Attorney-General to introduce more punitive actions on loan sharks. Punishments should include life imprisonment and restricted residence orders.

There should also be provisions similar to the present Dangerous Drugs Ordinance to confiscate all the assets of loan sharks.

It is pertinent to look at the present state of enforcement of consumer laws and the loopholes they contain.

For example, one glaring feature is that different ministries are enforcing different laws.

Banks and financial institutions come under the purview of Bank Negara, the Hire Purchase Act (which also involves financial institutions) comes under the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and the Housing and Local Government Ministry[/I] enforces the [B]Moneylenders Act (which also covers banks and issues of credit cards) and the Pawnbrokers Act.

With such overlapping functions and pathetic enforcement, little is done and achieved to protect consumer interests.

A single authority should be identified and empowered to enforce these laws.

DR JACOB GEORGE,
Subang Jaya.
(via e-mail)


SOURCE:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/archives/story.asp?ppath=\2002\12\10&file=/2002/12/10/focus/loanx&sec=focus

[edteam]

THE STAR Metro
Saturday, December 14, 2002

METRO MAIL
<FONT SIZE="+1">Be fair when issuing summons</font>

I am a resident of USJ and I would like to comment on MPSJ’s enforcement when it comes to parking offences.

On Nov 26, I was parked by a yellow line in Taipan (USJ10/1B), but not disrupting the traffic flow as the area was curved further in from the road. In front of me was a stretch of vehicles, also parked by the same yellow line but on the regular part of the road.

As I was waiting for my photocopying to be done at a nearby shop, I spotted two MPSJ officers writing out a summons for my car.

It was my fault so I have nothing to say about that and I would have quietly paid for if not for the following incidents.

As I was starting my car, I looked out the window and saw a lorry swerve in from the road and double-parked about 30 feet in front of the MPSJ vehicle. One of the officers was standing in front of the MPSJ vehicle at that time.

I waited to see if the officer would do something about it. Nothing happened.

From around the back of the MPSJ vehicle, another officer came, clutching a plastic bag of mangoes, presumably from the minimarket nearby. Both the officers got into their vehicle and went off, ignoring the double-parked lorry.

As I was driving away, I looked at the cars parked in front of mine.

Apart from mine and the one immediately in front, the rest of the cars were not given tickets, though they were also there when the officer was writing them out. It was 1pm.

The next day, at 2.45pm, on the very congested road in front of Maybank Finance, also in Taipan, I found an MPSJ van double-parked and an officer got down and went to the finance company.

My questions:

· If I was at fault parking at a yellow line and was issued a ticket, why weren’t the rest who were at the same yellow line given tickets too?

· If it was lunch break for the officers, and the MPSJ vehicle was double-parked, shouldn’t they be given double tickets since they are the enforcers?

· Which is a bigger offence? Parking in an unauthorised area but not at all disrupting the traffic flow or double-parking and disrupting the traffic flow?

While I accept the fact that I am at fault, I do not accept the way the officer decides who gets summoned and who doesn’t.

The same rule should be applied to everyone. And that includes the officers themselves. Even police cars have double and triple-parked in Taipan; one parked just behind the double-parked MPSJ van.

Lily Chang,
Subang Jaya.


SOURCE:
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2002/12/mcarfine2811.html

[jeffooi]

THE STAR
Friday, December 27, 2002

LETTER
Bali still reeling from October bombings

I WAS recently in Bali for a short holiday. It was a great holiday and Bali was surprisingly much nicer than I had expected.

But sadly, Bali’s tourism has been badly hit by the October bombing. The locals told me business had dropped by about 80 to 90%.

Many are either unemployed or under-employed, and the Balinese are very angry with the terrorists who had spoilt it all for them.

However, the impact of the bomb blast had caused more than just economic retardation. One could sense the prevalence of resentment for Indonesians of certain religious and geographical origin.

Out of their misfortune, we Malaysians should learn and take all necessary precautions to prevent any terrorist act from happening within our shores.

We cannot and must not allow such tragedies to ever happen because the effect is more than just physical and economic destruction.

It can have a very long-term effect that can shatter our solidarity and the fabric of our multi-racial unity.

To this end, the people must always be vigilant and the authority must put our security on a higher gear at all times and at all pertinent locations.

PATRICK TAN
(via e-mail)


SOURCE:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/12/27/focus/balix&sec=focus