10 TELLING IT AS IT IS theSun | TUESDAY MAY 19 2009

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letters
letters@thesundaily.com

Of mayors and presidents

LATELY, there was
some interesting news
about mayors and
presidents of local au-
thorities.
In Penang Island,
municipal secretary
Tan Cheng Chui
was appointed act-
ing president of the
municipal council to
replace Datuk Zainal LocalCounsel
Rahim Seman who is
now the Penang state by Goh Ban Lee
secretary. This is the
first time a tenure-track officer of
the council has been appointed to
the pinnacle position.
It is still not certain whether
Tan will be confirmed or if he
wants to be. The job of a local
authority head honcho is the most
difficult in the country, consider-
ing the responsibilities and the
environment he has to work in.
In Ipoh, Datuk Roshidi Hashim
was sworn in for a second term as
the mayor. It was commendable of
him to clearly state that he served
everyone. “They are all our tax-
payers and we want to serve them
without consideration of what
their race is or what religion they
practise or what their political af-
filiations are” (The Star, May 15).
But his pledge “to serve the
government of the day” was mis-
placed although it may be a clever
thing to say in an environment
where the state government was
and still is uncertain.
Roshidi’s job is not to serve the
state government. He is the head
of a government, which is the Ipoh
City Council. He is not the head of
a department of the state govern-
ment.
The laws only require that
he and the council abide by the
general policies laid down by the
state government and the plan-
ning policies of the state
planning committee
chaired by the mentri
besar.
Unfortunately, this
is often not understood
by many quarters.
The power to appoint
mayors or presidents
and councillors has led
many state leaders to
believe that they can
order their appointees
to do things, including
going against good
governance, such as not taking
action against illegal hawkers or
handing out licences and contracts
to unqualified persons.
Terence Fernandez’s article
(May 15) about the queues of
people with “support letters” out-
side Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk
Ahmad Fuad Ismail’s office proves
the point.
State or federal leaders must
not ask mayors and presidents
to do anything that is antithesis
to good governance. If municipal
leaders can bend or break the law
to help the state or federal leaders,
it is very easy to do the same to
please themselves.
Unlike heads of federal gov-
ernment and state governments
who appoint the cabinet minis-
ters and state executive council
members respectively, mayors
and presidents have to work with
24 councillors not of their own
choices. Their relationships with
the councillors are not hierarchi-
cal and as such cannot direct them
to do anything they do not want.
Generally, councillors want to
work closely with their mayors or
presidents, knowing full well that
they can be more effective this
way. But there are those who can
be difficult and are willing to show
the world their feelings.
As Kajang president Datuk
Hasan Nawawi Abd Rahman found
out, some councillors have gone
to the press calling for his sacking
for not holding a “long-scheduled”
meeting with some residents. He
also experienced having 16 out 19
councillors walking out of a meet-
ing when he denied them taking
a vote.
Such confrontational relation-
ships with the councillors are
injurious to good governance.
In Selayang, president Datuk
Zainal Abidin Azim is in some
trouble. He postponed a full coun-
cil meeting to make a trip to Kuala
Terengganu with some officers
(The Star, May 6). Scheduled coun-
cil meetings should be postponed
only with very good reasons.
But for him to take a trip spon-
sored by the parking concession-
aire is clearly unethical even if it
was to discuss parking matters.
The 144 mayors and presidents
should be appreciative of their
posts. They are probably the only
group of government servants
who are heads of government,
albeit the third tier, in democratic
countries.
They are often criticised,
sometimes unfairly. But the prime
minister and mentris besar or
chief ministers have to beg the
people for votes periodically and
are scolded and jeered at.
The criticisms come with the
job. They should be thankful that
they are given the opportunity to
improve the quality of life of mil-
lions of Malaysians. This alone
should make them strive as if
there is no tomorrow.
Goh Ban Lee is a retired academic
interested in urban governance,
housing and urban planning. Com-
ments: letters@thesundaily.com.
Overhaul public
transport system
THE bus system in most states is deplorable. Some of our
buses are way past their lifetime.
In Penang, non-roadworthy mini-buses and unidentifiable
stage buses (buses that have no operator) are seen on the
roads. The buses are filthy and the drivers are not trained to
be professionals. The safety and security features in the buses
are non-existent.
The supporting infrastructure system is poor. Take a look
at our bus shelters. Connectivity is bad and most operators
choose to serve only the “profitable” routes. Frequency is
terrible and the waiting time stretches one’s patience to the
limit.
RapidKL and Rapid Penang are a boon but limited to the
Klang Valley and Penang. Kuala Lumpur is also served by LRT,
Monorail and KTMB Komuter. What about the other states?
The irony is despite the many weaknesses in the public
transport system we encourage people to use buses.
The poor taxi and limousine services continue to amuse
Steel locals and tourists alike. The taxis in Penang are the worse of
demand the lot where the meter ruling remains a farce. Half the drivers
lack manners and present a poor image. Undeniably, there is
likely to
very poor enforcement.
improve The background of tour and express drivers is not properly
in H2 screened and a number have warrants of arrest and sum-
monses in their name. Working hours of drivers are not properly
pg 16
regulated resulting in many fatal accidents linked to fatigued
and tired drivers. The ticketing system is equally bad with many
“touts” continuing to fleece members of the public.
Many tour and express buses have no proper safety and
security features and come with curtains despite a ruling that
all glass panels must not be covered. These buses have no
proper designated parking sites unlike public bus depots and
it is common to see these vehicles parked by the roadside in
housing estates.
Factory and school buses are as bad as express buses.
Lorries are just as bad or worse. Most of these heavy
vehicles have no proper safety and security features. Lorry
drivers are experienced but lack the necessary training and
re-training courses. Many are seen driving seated on makeshift
seats, without safety precautions. It is common to see them
unloading during the rush hour further slowing down traffic.
Vans and other commercial vehicles are not properly regu-
lated. Some have their brand wrapped around the vehicles,
some are air-brushed and some have installed gimmicks. A
good number are not roadworthy and have been modified
beyond recognition. Van drivers often lack knowledge of traffic
laws.
The government must act immediately to stop the rot and
overhaul the public transport system. It must start with the
Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB).
A good public transport system should be spearheaded
by an effective public transport council. All developed nations
start their long journey of development by first investing heav-
ily in a good public transport system.

Spoilt new kids on the block PT System

Penang

WHEN the new administra-

tion kicked into gear a month
after coming into power,
complaints started surfac-
ing of little, and even big,
Napoleons throwing their
weight around. This did not
only extend to ordering loyal
and competent government
servants around. Some of
these party stringers and
hangers-on had not set foot
Down2Earth
into the hallowed grounds
of Putrajaya but like an un- by Terence Fernandez
ruly kid in Disneyland were
already running through the hallways
creating havoc at every corner.
With their own masters attaining
ministerial or deputy ministers’ posi-
tions, they felt that they had “arrived”
and were not above making demands
ranging from dishing out contracts to
friends and relatives, demanding of-
fice space to getting rid of loyal staff by
putting in their own people who know
little regarding the ministry or the work
at hand.
Lately, new faces at certain ministries
have started defiling the Najib adminis-
tration with at least one demand made
for a contract to replace sports equipment
at a government-run sports complex.
It has also come to my attention that
several local authorities are faced with
the dilemma of fast-tracking “propos-
als” such as budget hotels by relatives of
those in the administration. Of course,
as far as we know, this wheeling and
dealing was done behind the backs of
those in the cabinet.
It is inevitable that with every new
administration, there will
be changes made down the
pecking order. But how are
these changes made? Are
those who come in with the
new order there on merit or
because they happened to
massage or scratch the right
backs?
Worse, are they there
for their own gains or to
genuinely help their political
masters keep to their elec-
tion promises to serve the
rakyat?
I have come across many officers
who do nothing other than embarrass
their bosses. They do not fall under the
government scale, so their salaries are
paid by some supporter who runs a legal
firm or a college.
At least this is better than a former
minister who defied the Public Services
Department regulations and overstaffed
her office with a posse of bag carriers
who were paid by a ministry subsidi-
ary.
Their work is to walk next to their
bosses looking important and not having
a clue as to the issues at hand – respond-
ing with blank looks when a minister
looks towards them for assistance when
faced with a question from the media,
for instance – which brings us to the
booming consultation industry.
Taxpayers are being doubled-billed
for PR jobs – paying the salaries of gov-
ernment public relations or corporate
communications officers and settling the
hefty bills of consultants who are hired
to do the jobs of these government offic-
ers in the first place.
These consultants too have suspect
qualifications and further digging, in-
cluding a RM15 online search on the
Companies Commission of Malaysia’s
website, will reveal the links of these
characters to those who had embedded
themselves in the administration.
At a time when the new prime
minister is trying to win the hearts
and minds of the people in the delivery
system, these people are not doing him
any favours with their own agenda of
enriching themselves and their friends.
The rot will not end if some serious
house-cleaning is not done by those
at the top. Many of our ministers and
deputy ministers are not aware of what
is happening within their own organisa-
tions as they are kept out of the loop by
certain civil servants who are comfort-
able with the old way of doing things as
well as the very personnel whom they
brought along to assist them in their
duties.
It is imperative that our YBs in
government take a long hard look at
the people whom they have trusted
enough to bring into their inner sanctum
because as far as previous and current
observations go, they could very well be
the “musuh dalam selimut” who will
cause their downfall.
Terence has met enough media and spe-
cial officers to know that not all of them
are there to serve the rakyat. He is deputy
editor (special reports & investigations) at
theSun and can be reached at terence@
thesundaily.com
Longer wait for train
to Batang Kali
I REFER to “KTMB doing the best it can” (Letters, May 18).
Yes, people are amused seeing these trains hitched up behind
a diesel locomotive. But this is nothing new, its been going on
since last year.
These diesel trains were used to service the Rawang-Kuala
Kubu Baru route, but are now used on the main commuter
routes. Though these trains were slow, until late last year they
ferried us to Batang Kali at half hour intervals.
We, the commuters travelling from Rawang to Kuala Kubu
Baru are suffering. We now have to wait one hour for our train
back home. Most of the time we have to wait at the station,
not knowing when the next train will arrive. Most of the time no
announcements are made. A few times, I had to knock on the
office door to enquire about the next train to Batang Kali. And
the answer was “satu jam satu lah. Train tak cukup.”
Johari, a KTMB officer at level 4, KL Sentral, replied to my
query: “Train tak cukup.”
Where is the money from the daily collection going to. Don’t
tell me it’s not enough to cover the cost. Trains are always
packed to the brink.
KTMB is badly in need of funds to upgrade its fleet. The old
trains have to make way for new ones. Staffing must also be
reviewed. Take a look at Rawang station, so many of its staff
are idling away. Buck up KTMB, look at Japan and Singapore.
A month ago a cable broke at the Batang Kali station. There
were about ten workers on the job. Two of them were on top of
their wagon tending to the cables while the rest were standing
and watching. Why the need for so many hands?
Also, the new Q-system at KL Sentral is not working. Com-
muters dutifully line up in their respective lanes but once a
train arrives, they break ranks and rush to get in.
For how long does this have to go on. People are suffering.
Investment from the government is badly needed.
Jas
Batang Kali