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Archive for category Penang

Dear Chief Minister, Bear Some Responsibility

Sep 26

Posted by khensthoth in Government, Penang, Toot! | No Comments

Dear Chief Minister, Mr. Lim Guan Eng:

Sorry to bother you, but it’s me again. Yea, the one who asked you to give a verifiable source to the data you quoted. Thanks to a reader, Leong JT, I now know the data first surfaced in Business Times. Crucially, it was the Transport Ministry’s special maritime adviser, Datuk Captain Abdul Rahim Abd Aziz who made the mistake in the data.

Obaid Mansor, PPSB General Manager of Containers Strategic Business Unit, clarified that they have notified the Ministry of Transport about the error, but it was not widely reported. He was being gentlemanly, compared to the Managing Director, in saying that perhaps “nobody saw that” and he believed you have “picked up the wrong report.”

Now that all that is sorted out, everything is fine and dandy – except for this. Sure, you are only quoting the figures from the ministry, and we all know he made an honest mistake. However, we also know you relied on the figures without verifying it first with PPSB. Perhaps the state government’s relationship with PPSB is less than friendly. In that case, you could have relied on  the data provided by SERI.

We are not blaming you for relying on a wrong report. After all, it was wrong, and it’s not really your fault. We are, however, holding you accountable for making inaccurate conclusions without seeking clarifications. You did say “if there is anything wrong in the report, the person concerned should take the responsibility to correct it.” Therefore, we should hold you to the same standard you espouse, and you should take some responsibility for making the report that the cargo traffic dropped 24%.

Commentators from various websites seem to agree:

You cannot pass the ball back to the person preparing the report. You are the one reading it and therefore has to be 100% responsible for its accuracy. You are suppose to be the CEO of Penang and not a copy speech writer of Penang. I am not happy that each time after you have made a statement, and if someone points out to you of an error, straight away, you go into defensive gear and blame somebody for providing you the information. Ridiculous! (by concerned, 26/09/09, TheMalaysianInsider)

Its worrying when important figures like the CM of Penang can get his facts wrong! What message is this sending us! (by Dzurina Razuan, 24/9/09, TheEdge)

I do have to wonder – is it so hard to take responsibility for it, even partially? It is, after all, just your honest mistake. This is not even the first time you relied on false information, and for that you admitted your mistake and apologised in the State Assembly of Penang. What changed this time? By not admitting it was partially your fault, you appear to be playing the blame game and shirk responsibility. By apologising, you appear  courteous and gentlemanly, and you show that you, like the 6.2 billion or so human in this world, are just human who sometimes do make mistakes.

So, Chief Minister, please do try to verify your information with various sources next time, and when you do make an honest mistake, please be responsible by admitting it. That is what Competency and Accountability is all about.

Sincerely,
WhatTheToot!

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Dear Chief Minister, Citation Needed

Sep 24

Posted by khensthoth in Government, Penang, Toot! | 5 Comments

Dear Chief Minister of Penang, Mr. Lim Guan Eng:

How are you? I hope you are doing well and has recovered from your flu. Recently you published in your blog that the traffic at Penang Port, managed by Penang Port Sdn. Bhd., has declined sharply. Specifically, you said that the twenty-foot equivalent unit at said port has declined by 24% in the second quarter of 2009, compared to the first quarter. You proceeded to show following table, and quoted the source of “Ports, Marine Department”:

Your blog post generated quite some news, and unlike all the news reports, I tried to verify the data you have given. I went to the website of the Marine Department of Malaysia as well as the Department of Statistics Malaysia, but I couldn’t find the aforementioned table. It might be that my searching skill or my information source is not as great as yours. However, without you actually providing a verifiable data source or link, you reminded me a well known XKCD comic:

Then, this news surfaced, and followed by this. The Managing Director of Penang Port, Datuk Ahmad Ibnihajar, lambasted you for quoting the wrong figure. Admittedly, his reaction is overly excessive, and his statement that your figures will tarnish the port and cause quite some financial implication is, in my opinion, a little exaggerated.  He even called you a “clown”, as the Chinese daily reported, which is highly out of place.

He, however, does have a point. You see, I remembered a small research institution in Penang called SERI – the Socio-economical and Environmental Research Institute. In fact, SERI, which describe itself as the “Think Tank for the State of Penang”, has some prominent and re-nown researchers, and in fact is established by the State of Penang – the Penang State Government.

More importantly, SERI publishes important monthly research articles since 2003 and compiles quarterly statistics about Penang since 1999. On Page 22 of their latest statistical report for the second quater of 2009, this table is included:

cargo

If you calculated the figures, you would notice that the second quarter TEU traffic actually increased from 199391 to 255322. An increase of 25931 TEU, which is 13% – not a drop of 24%.

I don’t really know why you didn’t refer to the figure given by the SERI report – maybe you didn’t know it existed. Well, this is me informing you about the existence of SERI and their wonderful reports and research articles. Seriously, they have some good information and ideas there. Moreover, you could have just given the Penang Port Sdn. Bhd. a call, and I assume they would have cleared your doubts about the declining cargo traffic.

Thus, Chief Minister, please do try to verify your data, and give a verifiable data source next time in accordance to your governing mantra of Competency, Accountability and Transparency. More importantly, please read the various publications by SERI. I’m sure you will greatly benefit from it, and you will govern the state even better.

Sincerely,
WhatTheToot!

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Safety Last

Mar 11

Posted by khensthoth in Malaysia, Penang, Toot! | No Comments

I was watching a TEDTalk the other day, and a talk by Mike Rowe (of Dirty Jobs, Discovery Channel) touched on his experience on one particular job and the new perspectives he gained. One of these insights is the notion that safety might come second or third in a job, in spite of the constant call of “Safety First” in virtually every workplace.

Well, here in Penang, you do not have to wonder – because safety do come last.

Fire exit? What fire exit?

Fire exit? What fire exit?

In a newly opened shopping mall, they built a perfectly functional fire escape only to lock it from the inside and stuff the walkway with boxes and other shit. In the typical “tak apa” (nonchalant) attitude of Penang, safety does come last. It really makes me wonder how this place got it’s Occpancy Certificate.* Malaysia Boleh!

* In fact I don’t think they ever did. There’s a HUGE pile of soil just dumped on the adjacent land. It’s not that hard to figure out where mall this is.

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Stupid Quotes

Nov 23

Posted by khensthoth in Government, Malaysia, Penang, Religion, Toot! | No Comments

Let’s talk about some stupid quotes by some politicians, and generally, people in power in Malaysia.

Stupid Idiot

Stupid Idiot

The original news piece can be read in full here. If anyone wants any clarification, here’s the quote:

You should not use these at your whim and fancy.Are you qualified to speak about the caliph? Even the phrase “amar ma’ruf nahi mungkar” has been used in your posters all over the place.It has not been ascertained if you or even Professor P. Ramasamy is qualified to use them.The matter should be referred for clarification with the mufti who has to determine if you can use the caliph’s name and the phrase, - Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya (Teluk Bahang-BN)

Who the heck gave Muslims or anyone the monopoly to talk about a single caliph or any Arabic verses. No doubt, it’s from the Quran, but it’s just like any verse in any language. So is the caliph’s name. Anyone has the right to use it, at one’s “whim and fancy”. Just like when I used Dr. Hilmi Yahaya’s name by calling him a stupid idiot.

Next up, another politician. This time, he is from the ruling party:

An assemblymen has urged the state to impose a RM10 tax on each foreign tourist visiting Penang to help improve public facilities which would lure more tourists to the state. “This proposal would help the state increase its earnings by RM10mil a year if a million foreign tourists visited Penang,’’ he said when debating the Budget 2009.

I know Penang is tight on money, but this is just ridiculous. Firstly, who constitute a foreign tourist? If Lau Keng Ee (DAP – Pengkalan Kota) meant international tourist, their numbers are estimated to be 1.4 million yearly. That’s just RM 14 million annually, provided that such stupid plans do not reduce the number of tourist. The whole state of Penang has a budget of over RM300 million, and RM14 million just does not seem significant anymore. Furthermore, who wants to visit Penang if it has an “entry fee”, and it’s perpetually dirty?

Finally, a fatwa has been issued on yoga, after one was issued on tomboy recently. This is the worst of all.

Only the physical aspect of yoga without the mantras and elements of worshipping outwardly was not wrong (in Islam). However, yoga was not to be encouraged among Muslims for fear that it could erode their Islamic faith since the physical part was a component of yoga practice as a whole.  – Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin, Chairman of National Fatwa Council of Malaysia

Fark. Fark on so many levels! I guess they fail to realise most yoga centres just teach the physical exercise without any mantras. Next, how are they going to implement it? Raid yoga centres, raid private homes? Prevent muslims from buying yoga books? Fark! If a Muslim’s faith can so be eroded so easily, clearly he doesn’t deserve to be one.

Sometimes I do wonder about the intellectual capabilities of the politicians in Malaysia, ruling or not.

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Of Triplets and Aids

Jul 19

Posted by khensthoth in Government, Malaysia, Penang, Site, Technology, Toot! | No Comments

WARNING: This post may induce uncontrollable urge to write angry emails and to “flame” me.
WARNING: This post may also be controversial. If you are uncomfortable, DO NOT continue reading.

I was reading the news again, when I came across this and this. While most people will feel love and warmth when they read the news, I on the other hand, think otherwise.

Triplets bring joy and hardship

Triplets bring joy and hardship

The first report was dated 18th July. It brings to the attention a couple with five children, including a triplets, and talks about how hard life is going to be now that they have the new triplets.

To the aid of the triplets' parents

The second report is dated today, and it talks about the people feeling good about themselves donating to this couple, and how are different people trying to help them differently. Heck, another Chinese Daily has also reported that three Australians, Melbournians to be exact has decided to support the expenses of the triplets by wiring at least RM350 into the account of the father monthly. They will also encourage their friends and family to donate when they are back in Melbourne.

While I will not dwell with the issue of the age difference between the man and wife, which really is a non-issue here, I really have to comment on their financial planning. A family of four earning a combined household income of RM1500 really has NO BUSINESS reproducing. In fact, I am not even sure the monthly income will be enough to sustain the two older kids through primary, secondary and even tertiary education. We also have to consider that the father is of “retirement age”. How long can he keep up with the same income? How can he cope with rising living expenses?

Haven’t the family heard about proper financial planning, proper family planning, and contraception? They can have all the bodily pleasure they want, but considering their income, they really should not be trying for any more children. People will refute me by saying it’s their right to reproduce, and I will agree completely. However, it’s also their rights and responsibility to make sure they have the income to support any addition to the family.

And what’s with the amount of charity and donation the couple is receiving? What kind of message are we sending here – that if you are poor you can have all the kids you want and people will take care of them for you? If the parents have no means of raising the children, then they should let them go, and let them be adopted. How can one be sure that they will not spend all the donations and aids in one go? When should the aid stop? In fact, what if the aid stops coming suddenly – what next?

That said, I hope the government start thinking seriously about providing family planning session to the people, particularly towards families who are prone to reproduce excessively without considering their financial situation. One of the reasons of poverty is the lack of financial and family planning. Education is the answer to poverty – NOT aid.

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