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speak up!
Scene: Paya Serai, PJ Hilton.
AZMAN: Do you thing our civil
service is still OK? I get the feeling
that things are not quite what they
used to be. I remember reading or
hearing many years ago that our
civil service was one of the best in
the world.
Mohan: It may not be among
the best in the world but I think it
is still OK. It must be. Our prime
minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak,
is depending a lot on the service to
implement many of the things he
said he was going to do – and al-
ready started doing – for the people
and the country.
Azman: Do you think morale is
high among the thousands of men
and women in the service? I ask
because happy people work better
than unhappy people.
Chong: What is there to be
happy about? As workers they just
do their job, and do what they are
told to do. And at the end of the
month they get their salaries. That’s
all there is to it. I think it is the same
for those at the top – from the heads
of departments and the district
officers to secretaries-general of
ministries, the chief secretary and
the ambassadors.
Azman: If their morale is low
their performance may be affected.
Chong: You think so?
Azman: Absolutely. I would be
unhappy if after slogging for years,
I don’t get appreciated for instance.
letters
letters@thesundaily.com
The Negri Umno dilemma
THE Bagan Pinang by-election in Negri
Sembilan will mark the watershed
in Umno’s efforts at redeeming the
party’s badly-battered image and
reforming itself.
In the run-up to the general assem-
bly in October the party seems to be
in first gear for change. Big pronounce-
ments have been made by party
leaders to reform the party electoral
system which will see major changes
in the constitution. Malaysians wait
with bated breath to see how much
change will occur at the policy level.
More importantly, we want to
see how these reforms will translate
themselves in the day-to-day deci-
sions of the party hierarchy – from
the top leadership right down to the
grassroots. This will decide whether
Umno will regain the support that is
crucial for its survival.
If eradicating money politics is
Umno’s most serious reform agenda,
the actions and decisions of its leaders
must show and do just this.
If the party is serious about cleaning
up its image and regaining its flailing
dignity, the calls by the party president
and deputy president must be echoed
by the branch and division heads to
reverberate among their grassroots
supporters.
There’s no point talking about
eradicating corruption at the supreme
Use bacteria to beat dengue
I REFER to the increase in dengue
cases among Malaysians. Fogging
appears not to have had the desired
results in effectively checking the
relentless spread of dengue.
Some countries facing similar
dengue outbreaks have resorted to
the use of a bacteria – Bti (Bacillus
thuringiensis israelensis) for mosquito
control with encouraging results.
Bti is a naturally occurring bacteria
that is specific to mosquitoes and
black flies. This means that it is non-
toxic and safe to use around humans,
pets, wildlife and other insects. Bti is a
Not quite what they used to be
When it comes to as-
sessment I never seem
to get the rate I deserve.
And because of that I
don’t get the appropriate
rewards or promotions.
And because I don’t
toady to anyone but just
do my work as diligently
as possible I am often
by-passed for the plum
jobs or postings. Know- WhatTheySay portant and need a little
ing that I am not appre-
ciated, why should I go by Zainon Ahmad
the extra mile anymore.
And so I just mark time.
Chong: You think it is happen-
ing in our civil service?
Azman: Who knows?
Mohan: Could be, Chong. For
instance, the recent spate of service
extensions could have annoyed or
disappointed many people. When
the services of those people at the
top are extended and extended
well past their retirement age
– sometimes again and again
– those below them will continue
to remain where they are. It may be
that they will retire first while their
bosses – several years their senior
– continue to serve. No chance of
council level when members revert
to the status quo as soon as the
meetings are over. There will be no
change if branch and division leaders
continue to promote their selfish,
parochial agendas and pass on the
same outmoded ideas on the excuse
that they are promoting the Malay
cause; that they are sincere in helping
the people.
There is no room for even the
smallest margin of stuttering in
Umno’s discourse and stumbling in
its steps. Not only are the opposition
parties on the lookout for the party’s
errors and the leaders’ failings in order
to slander them, ordinary Malaysians
honestly want to see the changes that
are promised.
Those still loyal to the party’s
original cause want to be able to hold
their heads high in speaking up for it
even at the expense of being branded
archaic.
The choice of candidate for the
Bagan Pinang by-election is important
not only for the integrity of the Negri
Sembilan Umno leadership but for the
party as a whole. To put up a candidate
who is certain of getting the majority
votes is undoubtedly the main consid-
eration in any election.
To have a popular figure as candi-
date will stave off some of the incur-
sions made by the opposition. Granted
spore forming bacteria that produces
a protein crystal which is toxic when
ingested by mosquitoes and black
flies.
Bti is applied directly to the water in
which the mosquito larvae are devel-
oping so it is readily ingested by them.
Mosquito larvae that have ingested
the bacteria and its protein crystals
stop feeding within hours and will die
within days. Bti remains effective in
treated areas for some time.
Perhaps the authorities could carry
out research and try out the effective-
ness of Bti on a small scale. If it is more
TELLING IT AS IT IS
Managing Editor: Chong Cheng Hai
Consultant Editor: Zainon Ahmad
Executive Editor: Lee Boon Siew
Deputy Editor: Patrick Choo (Production),
Editor: R. Nadeswaran (Special Reporting and Investiga-
tions)
serving as the Number
One in a ministry, of the
civil service or even as
the top cop for them.
Azman: Well for
their services to be ex-
tended again and again
they must be really good,
indispensable. Probably
they are in the midst of
doing something im-
more time.
Zain: We learnt that
the services of former
Port Klang Authority general man-
ager O. C. Phang was extended four
times. Of course there are others.
Chong: I agree with you Cikgu,
there are others.
Mohan: Hope it is not a culture
yet.
Azman: Hope not.
Zain: If it becomes a trend then
it is a reflection of poor planning on
the part of the service. Surely you
know when a person is retiring. OK,
so he has a special skill. But surely
there are others who can do the job.
They could have been groomed and
given a chance to understudy the
incumbent. Come on man, surely
Umno and Barisan Nasional cannot af-
ford to lose another by-election having
lost all but one recently.
However, the choice of a candi-
date who was suspended for party
misdeeds is hardly the way to go if
you want to restore your credibility.
Besides confirming the public per-
ception that Umno is all talk and no
walk, it will provide bitter ammuni-
tion for character attacks which will
tarnish the private and public image
further.
Of course Tan Sri Isa Samad has
nothing to lose. He is a veteran politi-
cian whose prowess has been tested
as the state mentri besar for more than
twenty years and as a federal minister
later. His loyalty to the Negri Sembilan
Umno and to the Malay cause they
represent is indisputable. Indeed he
has done more than his share of good
work.
However, if the greater good of
Umno and the Malays constitutes part
of his political vision he must surely be
humble enough to step aside and sup-
port a less controversial candidate. For
Umno’s sake sacrifices must be made.
So what if it loses another by-election!
At least it would have tried to maintain
party honour and Malay dignity.
Halimah Mohd Said
Kuala Lumpur
effective than fogging, seed bacteria of
Bti could be obtained and cultivated in
our laboratories and used on a larger
scale.
Perhaps it could also have the
potential to check the spread of other
mosquito-borne diseases such as
chikungunya and malaria. A review of
published reports of the experience
of its use in other countries validated
by our own research and investigation
will reveal its true potential.
M.G.D
Kuala Lumpur
theSun
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this can be done. Surely over the
years the service has been recruiting
all kinds of capable people with all
kinds of skills and expertise. Surely
they can be properly positioned to
gain the necessary experience. Only
the good ones among them reach
the top. And they are moved to the
appropriate positions once they are
vacated by those retiring. Cannot
this be done?
Chong: I am sure you know,
Cikgu, that some of our civil serv-
ants are like politicians. What do
you say to that?
Zain: No comment.
Mohan: Ha, ha. Said like a poli-
tician. A politician’s two favourite
words.
Zain: Not really. I think a
politician has three favourite words,
“don’t get caught.” Anyway why do
you say that Chong?
Chong: An example. A minister
visits a district office where he
addresses an assembly of village
heads. At the end of the assembly
the district officer presents the min-
ister with a souvenir. Sometimes it
is a local product, say a bird cage.
But sometimes it is something
expensive. The minister will, of
National schools hold
the key to unity
I REFER to “A barrier to one Malaysia”
(Sept 11). I concur with the writer’s
view. American English created one
American society, irrespective of the
citizen’s origin, colour, creed and race.
As acknowledged, this occurred over
time.
Similarly, Bahasa Malaysia should
be positioned to create one Malaysian
society that everybody in the country
wishes to realise. This process requires
sacrifice from all quarters. This has to
begin with a revamp of the education
system especially primary schools
where the desired societal values are
inculcated. From young the children
should be taught to mix freely. Other-
wise it will be a difficult process once
they are adults.
It is high time the government
introduces a one language school
system for all students. The vernacular
languages should not be taught within
the mainstream education system
but at community level, supported
strongly by the government in view of
promoting multi-culturalism. Similarly,
religious education should be moved
to community level.
Plagiarism a serious
offence in academia
I REFER to “UPM duo in plagiarism
scandal” (Sept 14) and find it un-
believable that no action seems to
have been taken by the university
a year after the plagiarism was
uncovered.
Plagiarism is considered to be
a very serious cheating offence in
academia. Someone who commits
the offence is also likely to com-
mit fraud in their research work.
In most western and world-class
universities, lecturers and even
students have been expelled for
committing either plagiarism or
fraud in their research work or
publications.
Universiti Putra Malaysia’s
intention to “severely reprimand”
| TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15 2009
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course, remember. Or if a foreign
minister visits one of our embassies
or high commissions abroad and
the ambassador or high commis-
sioner concerned gives him an
expensive souvenir, surely he will
not forget. The more expensive the
gift the more he will remember.
Mohan: If the DO or the ambas-
sador pays for the gift from his own
pocket, OK lah, but if he charges it
to the district office or embassy ac-
count – which he has no business to
do – then it is we the taxpayers who
are paying for the gift.
Zain: To me all this gift or
souvenir giving is unnecessary. At
one time we talked about ending
the practice. But it is still here. Why
should a minister get a gift or sou-
venir for his visit. Isn’t it his job?
Chong: What about a com-
pany placing an ad in a newspaper
thanking a minister for gracing its
function?
Zain: Same thing. Why thank
him that way. Why not the company
give the thousands spent on the ad
to a charity and then inform the
minister that it had donated to his
favourite charity. Don’t you think it
is better that way?
The irony is that the policymak-
ers and development practitioners,
as well as Tamil language advocates
especially in the Indian community,
mostly if not all, send their children to
national schools. It is simply because
they want to give the best education
and exposure to their children.
They also know that many Tamil
schools are in rural areas, have small
enrolments, and are ill-equipped. It
is those in the lower rung of society
who are forced by societal pressure
to preserve their vernacular languages
and compelled to send their children
to such schools.
But, these parents fail to recognise
that their children are losing out on the
long run especially when their children
find it difficult to cope with multicul-
tural and multi-linguistic environment
beginning with secondary schools.
Once a student loses out on the
medium of instruction and main-
stream communication, he or she is
more likely to drop out.
Ex-Tamil School
Kajang
them will no doubt send the wrong
message to the other lecturers and
students who may think that they
can get away with “light sentences”
for committing such offences.
It also sends a subtle message
that this offence may be more
widespread than that exposed by
the media.
The Higher Education Ministry
should set up a task force and
investigate the matter in greater
detail to stop this disgraceful act.
Action should be taken against the
management of the university if
there has been a cover-up.
Zahar
Kuala Lumpur