theSun | WEDNESDAY APRIL 1 2009 TELLING IT AS IT IS 11

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No politics in school please

Working with the ONE suggestion that came out of the
last day of the Umno general assembly
disciplinary action is to be taken against
him especially if the party that he is a
ers who belong to PAS, DAP, Gerakan,
MCA, PBB, PBS and MIC must also be

Penang govt for change was to allow teachers to take part in

THE Penang Forum comprises
about 150 representatives of
NGOs and community groups,
as well as individuals who
came together in April last year
to encourage a constructive
partnership between the state
government and the people of
Penang.
The outcome of the forum
was the establishment of eleven
working groups covering local
government, labour, women,
persons with disabilities, youth
and students, goodwill initia-
tives, health, environment, the
arts, heritage and transport.
Each working group has written
a report containing a number of
recommendations, and these
reports have been compiled into
the Penang Forum Report.
Representatives of the
Penang Forum have had two
recent meetings with Penang
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng,
together with some members of
his state exco. At the first meet-
ing we presented our report,
and expressed our hope that
the state government would
seriously consider and adopt the
report. We also stated our wider
hope that this state government
would open up the processes of
government, by proactively tak-
ing steps to be more inclusive,
participatory and consultative.
We welcomed the fact that
each state exco member was
given a copy of our report and
asked to respond to our recom-
mendations, which they did in
the second meeting. This was a
positive indication of the govern-
ment’s readiness to respond. We
had a good exchange of views
and we look forward to many
more such consultations and
actions to help move forward
the agenda of openness, trans-
parency and inclusivity.
Corruption, cronyism and
incompetence continue to
plague the country and drain
politics. It is hoped that the government
will not give serious thought to it even
member of is the ruling party.
Even with the present bar against
teachers participating in politics, there
allowed too. And if only Group A teach-
ers – headmasters and graduates – are
allowed there is no certainty that they
its resources. The state govern- though it is made by an influential and are signs that some political influence will not damage the already fragile and
ment’s efforts to reduce these still dominant member of the ruling has crept into the schools mainly delicate situation in the schools. At
are commendable. We recog- coalition. It is not the same as allowing through parents who openly discuss that time it is not certain that teachers
nise that things have become teachers to vote as they, like everyone party politics in front of their children. would continue to be shy about disclos-
so ingrained in the practices of who is above 21 in this country, are Schools must be kept free of politics ing their party affiliations to their pupils
government that it will need a already voting. But to allow them to at all times and where elements of or encourage them to form little Umno,
radical overhaul of administra- participate in politics like holding posts politics have managed to creep into PAS, DAP, Gerakan, MCA, MIC, PBB and
tion and governance before in political parties is something else. schools they should be expunged. This PBS clubs in their schools. The polarisa-
anything fundamental changes. For certain, many parents must is important for our children to play to- tion by race – which the government
Having an open and transparent have cringed at the very idea when it gether and learn together without being is doing all it can to break down – will
system of awarding contracts is was brought up on Saturday. There is cantonised into groups sympathetic to now lead to polarisation according to
one such step. already too much politics in the country this or that party. Even without the influ- party lines.
We support the state govern- and it has crept into almost all sectors, ence of politics, our children in school Surely there are other better ways
ment in its efforts to get rid of, all institutions and all agencies of the are already polarised. Allowing teachers to reward those in the teaching profes-
for example, illegal structures, government and the private sector. A to participate in politics will, thus, make sion to make them feel important and
hawkers and businesses on junior officer who is a branch or divi- integration even far more difficult. recognised as professionals just like
the Batu Ferringhi beach in an sion leader of a party cannot be totally The intention is probably to reward members of other professions. The
attempt to build a cleaner and ignored by his superiors in an office teachers who belong to Umno. But if government needs to think hard on
more attractive Penang. and it becomes even more difficult if the suggestion is adopted, surely teach- this one.
We continue to encourage the
state government to be resilient
and consistent in their approach
on hill-slope development, ille-
gal buildings, illegal parking, the
problem with swiftlet nests and
so on. Positive initiatives from
our state government could also
include for example, organising
a public consultation on the
Penang Hill cable car project,
and the recently proposed tiger
park. It should also ensure a full
and open public consultation
process for the local plan which
will be displayed soon.
It is our fervent hope that
the state government will work
together with civil society to
ensure a CAT (competent, ac-
countable and transparent)
policy for Penang. But we know
that the state government can-
not do it alone; it is obvious they
need help and support to make
this happen. And so we call
upon all Penangites to support
positive initiatives and come up
with constructive actions for the
betterment of Penang and its
people. We have a shared re-
sponsibility to make that change
we voted for a reality.
Penang Forum Steering
Committee

Target equitable
health care for all
HEALTH-CARE tourism has
raised concerns over its growth
and the government’s policy
direction. When health care is
commercialised; packaged and
promoted in the form of tourism
packages, it is essentially creating
and promoting a demand-driven
system that strays away from
needs-based priorities, diverting
from the fundamental principles
of health rights and equity.
It could substantially erode
the once equitable health-care
system that we have. The
growth of health tourism could
also worsen the exodus of senior
doctors, when the more lucra-
tive private market expands.
Instead of focusing on expand-
ing the private health-care sec-
tor through health tourism, the
Health Ministry should instead
strive to optimise its resources to
improve the public health care
as its main priority. As the cost
of health care continues to esca-
late, coupled with the crippling
impact of the global financial
turmoil, the people’s depend-
ence on public health care will
be undoubtedly greater; when
livelihoods are increasingly dif-
ficult and many are falling back
to the public health care sector
for their medical needs. During
challenging times like this, the
government should be ever
more vigilant to fulfil its basic
obligations and responsibilities
to the rakyat in providing health
care to not just the poor, but also
struggling middle-income earn-
ers and those uninsured.
The indications are emerging
that Malaysia’s once equitable
health-care system may disap-
pear. We are witnessing the
privatisation of various areas in
the public health-care system,
with the recent being the estab-
lishment of private wings. Priva-
tisation will deny a majority of
the population access to health
care. As a developing nation, we
should be heading towards bet-
ter wealth distribution by pro-
viding equitable health care for
the people; not regressing into a
neo-liberal health care structure
that is based on the ability to pay
rather than the basis of need.
Cheah Chee Ho
Fomca Policy and
Research Manager