12
speak up!
letters
letters@thesundaily.com
Screen all
migrant
workers
I BEG the Health Ministry to
take the letter, “Follow the
trail of malaria carriers” (Oct
31), regarding migrant workers
seriously.
I am a hasher from the Klang
Valley and know too well of the
pathogens these workers bring
into the country.
We had six hashers contract
elephantiasis from a cemetery
in Nilai some years ago but
when they asked their doctors
to report it, they were told to
“keep quiet”. What a ridiculous
attitude!
Many of my friends have
fallen sick from what the doc-
tors believe is chikungunya.
We already have our hands
full coping with dengue (and
now a resurgence of malaria),
allowing more viruses to enter
the country is criminal and the
government should take these
threats to our health far more
seriously.
All foreigners entering the
country must be screened. We
have to find the sources and
deal with them.
And there should be no
excuses about finding the car-
riers. They are in clear sight.
The workers’ huts are never far
away from construction sites.
If the ministry needs help to
find the illegal workers hiding
out in the estates and jungle,
just ask the Hash House Har-
riers.
No more excuses.
Joanna Yoong
Kuala Lumpur
Real race
relations
I THINK ordinary Malaysians
can teach politicians a thing or
two about race relations.
Last Saturday as my sister
and I got into our car after load-
ing it with purchases from Giant
Hypermarket, USJ, a Chinese
gentleman knocked on my car
door to tell me that the left rear
tyre was punctured.
I panicked as I didn’t know
what to do. I tried asking a hy-
permarket worker for help but
he was at a loss. The Chinese
gentleman then came over to
help. Then another Chinese
gentleman walking by with his
wife decided to help as well.
Being “hopeless” as far as
anything mechanical is con-
cerned, I didn’t know the tool
box in my car was incomplete.
The second gentleman was
kind enough to use the tools
in his car.
I have never been more
grateful in my life for the
kindness of the two helpful
Malaysians.
I didn’t get their names but
to the two gentlemen I wish
to say “terima kasih” from the
bottom of my heart, you made
my day.
A.M. Noran
Subang Jaya
Authorities and social
responsibility
THERE have been
calls to businesses
to practise social
responsibility for
sometime. The recent
melamine tainted milk
and related scandals in
China only add to the
urgency.
It is, therefore,
timely that the
Malaysian Associations
of Standards Users is
LocalCounsel
holding a seminar and by Goh Ban Lee
workshop to discuss
the challenges and implications
of an International Standard on
guidelines for social responsibility
in Petaling Jaya yesterday and
today. The event is supported
by the Department of Standards
Malaysia, Science, Technology
and Innovation Ministry.
A draft Guidance for Social
Responsibility known as ISO
26000 has been developed by the
International Organisation for
Standardisation (ISO) with inputs
from many countries, including
Malaysia. The final document is
expected to be published in 2010.
While the calls to embrace
social responsibility are often
directed at private businesses,
they are also applicable to
governments, including the local
authorities as they are responsible
for important services which
affect the basic needs of the people
and the environment. The local
authorities also need to improve
their organisational governance,
meaning the system by which
they make and implement
Not everything is what it seems
THE perils of being a
journalist are aplenty.
From lawsuits to
bullets and then mere
denials, in an attempt
to discredit the reporter
and the publication
he writes for. All the
reports that you have
read in this paper,
especially the exclusive
ones represent a
Down2Earth
fraction of stories we
have in hand. Most of by Terence Fernandez and lawyers breathing
them are good to go
– the accuracy of each hovering
between 90 and 99%.
However, due to that nagging
1-10%, they have been held over
for further checks, which is why
the stories that are deemed fit
to publish are those which have
been checked for mistakes and
inaccuracies, to give the readers
an as-accurate-as-possible report
as well as to ensure that they do
not get the paper into trouble
with the keepers and enforcers
of our defamation and sedition
regulations.
There have been several
occasions when some stories
have slipped through the cracks,
resulting in an embarrassing
retraction or correction.
decisions, which is also
a subject of ISO 26000.
At first glance, it
does seem superfluous
to call on governments
to embrace social
responsibility.
Governments, by
definition, especially
those democratically
elected, are supposed
to be socially
responsible. They are,
in the famous words
of Abraham Lincoln,
“Government of the people, by the
people and for the people”.
Unfortunately, like the word
“love”, “democracy” is another
much abused word in the English
language. Some countries with
“democratic” enshrined in their
names have the most tyrannical
governments in the world.
In Malaysia, while it is fair to
say that the federal government
and state governments are “of the
people and by the people”; the
“for the people” part seems to be
missing or at least is questionable.
Indeed, for the local authorities,
even the “of the people and by the
people” component is untenable.
The councillors and presidents
or mayors are appointed, albeit
by elected state governments. For
Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and
Labuan, the leaders of the local
authorities are appointed by the
federal government.
More importantly, many local
authorities have failed to take care
of the basic needs of ratepayers
– a neglect of their rights. These
So far, we have
managed to limit
our apologies to the
erroneous attribution
of quotes and
misstating of time and
place – cardinal sins in
journalism though, yet
not crucial enough for
us to lose the public
trust.
While other
reporters have editors
down their necks, the
special reports and investigative
team of which I am one-half of,
is subjected to the scrutiny of
internal auditors who keep track
of our exploits.
Which is why I take offence
to a letter from A.Vigian for
Pemudah (“Pemudah sets it
right”, Nov 2), representing
the secretary-general of the
International Trade and Industry
Ministry which basically calls me
a liar in reference to the article
“Defiant KL Mayor’s days are
numbered” (Oct 31).
He states that the report
among others is “… unwarranted,
highly speculative and not at all
grounded in fact”.
He states that “Pemudah does
theSun | TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4 2008
authorities seem unable or
unwilling to take action against
those who commit the numerous
cases of non-compliance with
municipal rules. Usually the
people responsible for the inaction
are not known.
Therefore, it is beneficial
to the ratepayers for the local
authorities to embrace ISO 26000.
Besides, as it is not a management
system standard, there will be no
certification purposes that can
be used to create trade barriers
or impede participation in
include a safe city, proper international activities.
walkways, adequate gardens and There are, of course, some
parks and a clean environment. worries. There have been
They have also largely failed to complaints that ISO 14000
ensure sustainable development, (Environmental Management
hygienic food handling and Standards in production
preparation, efficient and effective environment) was misused as
solid waste management and a trade barrier. Will ISO 26000
pleasant neighbourhoods. be misused as an “unofficial”
The local authorities whip? Furthermore, nothing is
certainly need to improve their cast in stone. The subjects that
governance. The lack make up social
of accountability in responsibility are
the absence of local
At first glance, ever-changing.
government elections it does seem Overall,
is compounded by superfluous to call on despite some
lack of transparency. governments to embrace concerns, ISO
Almost all meetings 26000 is a big
social responsibility. step in the right
are held behind
closed doors, leaving Governments, by direction. Despite
the ratepayers in definition, especially its non-binding
the dark as to why those democratically nature, Malaysia
certain things are elected, are supposed to will most
done or not done. likely declare
There is also
be socially responsible. its adoption
poor financial They are, in the famous officially.
management. words of Abraham Meanwhile,
Cases of give- Lincoln, “Government of it is advisable
away contracts the people, by the people for the senior
officers,
and rent-seeking
procedures at the and for the people”. councillors and
expense of the public presidents or
and questionable expenditures mayors of the local authorities
are common features in the to be familiar with ISO 26000
newspapers. For example, it is and make it part of their mission
difficult to figure how the reported statement. There is no need to
expenditure of about RM1.5 wait till 2010.
million by Kuala Lumpur Mayor
Datuk Abd Hakim Borhan’s 11
trips to 15 cities overseas (theSun Dr Goh Ban Lee is a retired
online Oct 21) since taking office academic interested in urban
last year could help make Kuala governance, housing and urban
Lumpur “a world-class city”. planning. Comments: feedback@
Most glaring of all, the local thesundaily.com.
not intervene in the selection and The letter seems to me a public
appointment of civil servants, relations exercise to conform to
including the KL Mayor”. protocol and etiquette.
That may be purely academic, Suffice to say readers, not
but what Vigian fails to tell us everything is what it seems
is that Pemudah – the Special and not all information trickles
Task Force to Facilitate Business down a straight and narrow path
– which adopted Kuala Lumpur conveniently into one’s lap.
City Hall last month I am not going to
is headed by the go into details of how
chief secretary to
While other the report came about
the government and reporters have to protect my sources.
includes the director- editors and lawyers And I do not wish to
general of the Public breathing down drag the members
Services Department. their necks, the of Pemudah into this
So his argument that argument, especially
it does not intervene special reports and Mohd Sidek who
in the appointment investigative team of has had it tough in
of civil servants is which I am one-half trying to convert his
flawed. of, is subjected good intentions into
Yes, Pemudah results.
may not “intervene”
to the scrutiny of He has had many
in the appointment internal auditors successes, though in
of the mayor which who keep track of his own words it is
is the prerogative of our exploits. still a long road; but
the prime minister, he has had and will
but the task force continue to enjoy the
does report directly to the PM and support of this paper in realising
is allowed to have its say. his goals.
Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan
may be the head of Pemudah but
he has put on his chief secretary’s Terence is deputy editor, special
hat to demote and transfer staff, reports and investigative desk.
so in effect Vigian’s arguments Feedback: terence@thesundaily.
are purely academic. com.