Posts Tagged ‘Politicians’

BSC, KPI, Star Rating…nice to hear

November 17th, 2009
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Its good to hear that MIC is taking efforts to “re-“ itself. Re-invent, re-juvenate, re-energise, and so on.

They are also going into performance evaluation with use of Balance Score Card, KPIs, and Star-rating (copy from the government sector la). Perhaps they should take a step further and introduce something really innovative that others (parties and government sector) don’t have.  That’s will be awesome.

Evaluation is every three months, so expect the first reports somewhere in end of January.

The article below is full of feel-good words, so hopefully things will actually work out.

All the best!

The MIC has lunched its nationwide evaluation exercise on its leaders at all levels aimed at creating a ‘winning team’ and organizing programmes cutting across racial lines to face the next general election, said party president S Samy Vellu.

He said MIC was determined to “reinvent and re-energize’ the party to remain relevant and wrest back the six parliamentary and 12 state seats it lost in the last general election.

He said the evaluation process would be done through a high-level Balanced Score Card (BSC), Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and Star-Rating “that will now steer the party’s direction towards a people centric party through its internal transformations and reforms”.

Speaking to reporters after launching a workshop on ‘A Sense of Urgency’ for the party’s 150 divisional leaders in Kuala Lumpur, Samy Vellu said the three evaluation initiatives marked another milestone in MIC’s effort to remain relevant and to reinvent itself as a progressive, caring and innovative party.

“After the last general election, MIC has undergone various and numerous changes to reconnect with the people and the community by engaging in re-branding exercises, introducing new and young blood into the party as well as bringing about party liberalisation reforms to attract new members into the party,” he said.

He said the BSC would consist of six perspectives encompassing various areas of paramount importance such as internal party efficiency, developing a creative delivery system, engaging with the people through timely and need-based programmes and assistance, winning back and attracting new members, gauging people’s satisfaction and the 1Malaysia perspective.

He said the members’ perspective would focus on sustaining current members, attracting new members, win over members and conversion of members who are non voters to legitimate voters while the people’s perspective would consist of outreach programmes, economic well being initiatives, education and business ventures.

In line with the national agenda of 1Malaysia, Samy Vellu said the MIC has included the concept in the BSC to undertake programmes that would strengthen unity and understanding among the various races.

He said a committee has been set-up to implement the three initiatives (BSC, KPI and Star-Rating) and evaluate the party leaders every three months.

“With this initiative, the MIC has elevated its seriousness and commitment to reach out to every Indian in Malaysia utilising its proven system and structure nationwide.

“Indeed, it is expected to position MIC as a dynamic, caring and as a people centric party by making all its grassroots leaders more responsible and accountable to the community as well as the party,” he said.

More allegations on the Kampar bridge tragedy

November 15th, 2009
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A four-hour public inquiry held by the PR investigation committee produced more shocks. Malaysiakini reported that about 50 people. mainly parents,  attended the inquiry.

One of the victim’s father said:

Lorry driver T Nathan, 44, who lost his 11-year-old daughter Dina Deve in the incident, demanded for the camp’s closure.

The visibly distraught father said he did not want the same fate to befall other parents.

“The lives of my daughter and her friends were sacrificed needlessly in the name of the 1Malaysia concept of (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) which is a political stunt to fool Malaysians.

“My daughter would be still alive if not for the 1Malaysia concept camp,” he added.

Nathan cited seven reasons as to why the camp should be closed. They were:

1. There is a durian tree inside the compound of camp and there is a danger of the fruits falling on the children and killing them.

2. There is a six feet deep pond filled with greenish smelly water located in the compound which participants cross over using ropes.

3. There is a one-foot high broken wire squared maze on the ground where the children have to jump from one square to another to reach the other end of the maze. There is a danger that the children might hurt themselves in jumping from these broken wire squares.

4. The area of the 1Malaysia camp across the river is too small to accommodate the 298 pupils.
5. The area of the present camp is a former Orang Asli burial ground.

6. There is no proper water supply to the camp and the children had to break the closed water pipe to quench their thirst. [wah! this is serious!!!]

7. There is no proper lighting for the camping area.

Met later, Nathan told Malaysiakini that when he went looking for his daughter on the other side of the river on that fateful night, he saw that the camp tents were only about five feet from the edge of the river bank.

According to him, the camp authorities quickly dismantled the tents located near the river after the bridge collapsed.

More serious is the comment by some of the children:

Meanwhile, some of the children who attended the camp told the inquiry that they were the ones who threw the life-jackets to the 19 pupils who fell into the water and not the teachers as reported in the media.

They added that the life-jackets were kept in a storeroom away from the bridge.

Committee chairman assemblyman Sivakumar said that the contractor did not get permission from the relevant authorities with regards to building the bridge and the main reason it collapsed was because the foundation was weak.

Speaking to reporters later, Sivakumar said that the committee could not meet up with the director of the Perak state education co-curriculum centre situated in Pangkor Island as the state education director, the Kinta Selatan district education officer and the co-curriculum director were urgently called up by the Education Ministry to Putrajaya on Friday.

Manoharan unhappy

November 13th, 2009
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Interesting to read the article below. While some may choose to brand Manoharan as being racist or narrow-minded, I have to say one thing – when issues involving Indians arise, there seems to be very little noise from the PR side (only Manikavasagam always create some ruckus). So, can the public be blamed if they think the PR coalition doesn’t care that much?

DAP assemblyperson M Manoharan today described Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor as no different than the previous government run by Barisan Nasional.

In his 20-minute Selangor 2010 debate debut, the former ISA detainee and Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson said the Pakatan government should have rewarded the Indians the most. His reasoning was that ‘they are the ones who contributed to the coalition’s huge win in the last general elections’.

Manoharan also chided Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim for only having one Indian exco in the government leadership lineup.

“The government is supposed to appoint two Indian excos. Instead, they only gave one (to Dr Xavier Jayakumar). [so, who made the agreement to have two EXCOs and why only got one now?]

He asked why Bukit Melawati assemblyperson M Muthiah wasn’t appointed as well. Manoharan said that as Muthiah is an engineer, he would be qualified to be an exco. [Good question. How many others are equally or more qualified than Muthiah in terms of academic/professional qualification?]

Manoharan also attacked the menteri besar for giving a ‘less-important’ porfolio to Jayakumar, a dentist. The latter was tasked with the health, estate workers, poverty and caring government portfolio. [it also depends on the person on the seat to make use of his portfolio and help people. What are the things being done for estate people? What are the funds available for poor people? All these come under Xavier.]

“If a dentist from Umno (Dr Mohd Khir Toyo) could be made a menteri besar, why isn’t a dentist in Pakatan given a more important portfolio?” said Manoharan.

Manoharan said the menteri besar should not have commented on a case sub judice (under judgement) when Khalid rebutted the accusation that Umno was involved in the infamous ‘cow-head’ protest last August.

Last Tuesday, Khalid defended Umno over the recent protests against the relocation of a Hindu temple in Section 23. Though he admitted that the protestors were from Umno, he stopped short of accusing the party of orchestrating the protest.

Continuing his tirade, Manoharan said the budget presented by the state government should have addressed more plights among the Indian community.

“Selangor still does not make Indians as its priority. I hope they will come up with their own think-tank so that they would not lose the Indian support in the next election,” he said. He cited Hindraf’s think-tank as a deciding factor in Pakatan’s win in the last election.

At this juncture, PKR rep Azmin Ali (Bukit Antarabangsa) interjected, saying that any Pakatan assemblyperson should champion every race, rather than focusing only on one race.

“I am a Malay, but I don’t champion my own race. I am concerned about the Indians and the Chinese too,” said Azmin (left). [But I can’t remember him commenting on any issues related to Indians so far. Anyone can help out here?]

He also said that the menteri besar, although he did not come out with specific programmes for the Indian community in the budget, still allocated RM4 million to Indian vernacular schools. [Yeah, this is one good thing, but the other schools (chinese, missionary, and agama) also got RM4 million each. But more importantly, how many schools have received their own lands?]

Azmin also said that Khalid had allocated RM2 million to estate workers’ children who were mostly from Indian families. [this is a good thing too, hope its an annual thing, and similar help should be given to the pribumis as well]

“I can assure you that throughout the time we have governed the state, the state government is always concerned about the Indian community and other races as well,” added Azmin.

However, Manoharan remained unconvinced, saying that such arguments were also made by BN previously.

SJKT Ladang Bukit Jalil still waiting for building

November 10th, 2009
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DPM Muhyidin came and went. 2 million promised (and reported by all major newspapers). Building to be ready in time for 2011 intake (another 13 months left). And forget to mention that there’s no field, no place for expansion.

Last cabinet committee on Indian community saw news that funds allocated were not enough, and the MIC requested for extra RM85 million or so. So, what’s the fate of this school?

Uthayakumar’s Human Rights Party organised a protest at the site:

One of the PIBG committee members, V.Shanthi, said that the committee were kept is dark by the Education Ministry, DBKL and the Wilayah Minister on the supposed extension building to be build at present school site.

At the proposed new site:-

1) With One acre only it is insufficient for future expansion.[this is normal. No thought is even given for future use. Typical planning (in)capability]

2) The classrooms are much smaller then the standard size. [this is serious accusation!]

3) There is no space for school field.

4) There is a future plan to build a LRT station nearby. This will cause a massive traffic jam and it is unsafe for the children.

5) There is no proper planning by DBKL because it involves a Tamil School. But when come to Malay and Chinese schools they will take into consideration the future expansion. These are the injustices that we are against.

Meanwhile at the present site, there is around 26 acres of reserved land and it is in a safe place for children away from main roads. Why can’t the UMNO government give 6 acres out of the 26 acres land to this Bukit Jalil Tamil School? They will have enough places to build a school field, an assembly hall for children and for future expansion.

Going back to history, when Bukit Jalil was slated to build a mega Sports Complex there RM Billions was for Commonwealth Games in 1998. During that time the UMNO government spent Billions building the Stadium, sports complexes, apartments, schools and etc but when it comes to this 80 year old Tamil school UMNO did not bother to upgrade as they had done for the Malay schools.

The Indian settlement in Kg Pandan KL will also be developed and majority of the residents are to be shifted to Puchong. Another big load of students will be coming in. How is SJKT Bukit Jalil going to cope with the sudden increase? Or would the students be pushed into national type schools?

The school was embroiled in controversies since last 2 years – flooding, relocation to cemetery plot, etc. (Just search in this blog). The parents and PIBG have done alot, putting to shame those in power. Even hired own contractors to fix proper drainage!

Today, The Star reported that the school is in the dark and no communication from the relevant government agencies.

THE SJK (Tamil) Bukit Jalil Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), School Board and Residents Committee members are in the dark over a proposed new Tamil school.

School Board chairman K. Venkata Ramani said when Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhiyiddin Yassin visited the school in April, he gave an assurance of an allocation of RM2 million for the new school, which would have additional facilities.

“Tan Sri Muhiyiddin added that the proposed new school would be ready by 2011. There is now a signboard for a proposed SJK (Tamil) Bukit Jalil Tambahan about 1.1km from the existing school.

“We want the new school to have a field and more classrooms.

“We also want the existing school to remain here as it has been here for the last 80 years and has rich history,” said Venkata, who queried why the Education Ministry had not informed the PTA nor sought its suggestions on the project, although they had sent a letter to Muhiyiddin, the Education Ministry and Public Works Department last month. [because of inaction from the officers, the Minister is in a tight spot.]

“Our present committee wants to settle this before the next committee takes over,” he said.

SJK (Tamil) Bukit Jalil school board treasurer Gunasingam Veerasingam said that the school had 114 pupils and 15 small classrooms which could accommodate 10 to 15 pupils each. It has only a badminton court for the pupils to play sports and the grounds are hit by frequent flash floods.

SJK (Tamil) Bukit Jalil PTA chairman Balakrishnan Sadaian added that Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan had said 200 Indian families from the Kampung Pandan Indian settlement would be shifting to Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s People’s Housing Project (PPR) Kampung Muhibbah flats next to school soon.

“The existing school won’t be able to cope with the influx,” he said.

The SJK (Tamil) Bukit Jalil PTA, School Board and Residents Committee members want a detailed report on the proposed new school.

So, who is going to do the fire-fighting this time? The Deputy Minister for KL, Saravanan? Maybe ask the parents and schools to look at the “bigger picture!”  🙂

Its this kind of news that erodes the faith of the community on the government and its leaders. Promises not fulfilled. Or promise something that is stop-gap measure. No long-term solution. Regardless of which coalition, the problem still remains.

Anyway, I did suggest that in 10MP, a project is created to convert about 30 schools a year from partially-aided to fully-aided status. Within 5 years, at least 150 schools will be converted, which is nearly  half of the total number of partially-aided schools. Let’s see if any action is take this time, or more empty talks only.

Buying over debts?

November 10th, 2009
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I’m not sure what the action means. Is Buying over debt same as bailout or not? Can someone explain?  Is the state government paying Rm392 million to the debtors, and will later collect the money from Talam?

The Selangor assembly has approved a supplementary budget awarding a grant of RM392 million to Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) for a debt recovery exercise.

The state assembly reshuffled its schedule to table the supplementary budget today, while the 2010 budget will be tabled tomorrow.

Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said the purpose of the grant is to allow MBI to ‘buy up’ debts amounting to RM392 million owed by property developer Talam Group Corporation (Talam).

The group, over the decade, has accumulated debts with various state subsidiaries and agencies like Unisel, the Darul Ehsan Group and Selangor Education Foundation.

“We are realising those debts,” said Khalid, explaining that MBI now has the right to collect on the ‘purchased’ debts.

He explained that the process has taken a long and circuitous route because of the need to adhere to treasury guidelines.

“Before you take money out of the state treasury, you have to have it approved in a motion,” he said, adding that several procedures have to be followed before the grant is released to MBI.

“MBI will ensure that public-listed Talam fulfills its obligations. The recovered money will be injected into the state government’s consolidated funds. Talam has three months to settle its debts,” said Khalid.

Khalid, who is also the Ijok assemblyperson, said that there have been other cases of companies owing money to state subsidiaries.

“The MBI is setting the procedures down, so that we may do it again,” said Khalid, signalling that there may be efforts by the state to go after these errant debtors.

“There are a lot more resources that the state can unlock and recover,” he added.