theSun | TUESDAY MAY 12 2009 TELLING IT AS IT IS 11

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Better for the people to decide

Scene: Dome, KLCC
CHONG: What a show that was?
Mohan: What show?
Chong: The Perak state assembly
lah. Its opening sitting on Thursday.
The Regent of Perak, Raja Nazrin, had
to wait for close to six hours before he
could read his opening speech. Until
he was escorted into the legislative
assembly chamber at about 3pm, it
could not be described as the august
chamber or the august house. It was
not august at all.
Azman: True. It was complete chaos
and confusion from morning till just
before Raja Nazrin walked in. Indeed,
the royalties had to suffer the long
wait. But at least they were sheltered
from the indelicate behaviour of the
first among equals in Perak.
Mohan: What happened meantime?
Azman: Like what the newspapers
said. Non-stop shouting. Some scuf-
fling. Someone stood on the desk.
Countless unparliamentary words
were used.
Chong: Cikgu, how would you
describe what happened in the
chamber?
Zain: I never thought I’d see the day.
For many years we thought such
things only happened elsewhere. For
one thing it teaches us not to laugh at
other people.
Chong: But how would you describe
what happened in the assembly on
Thursday when 59 also make sexist remarks. them to talk about something else, the disorderly way of Thursday. Surely as
adults behaved like And their esteem began environment maybe. YBs and as the first among equals we
schoolchildren? plunging after many of Mohan: Well, the teachers can the poor rakyat expect them to have
Zain: The house ran them became known to be explain that the yang berhormat of found a better way or to behave bet-
amok. Bedlam. A pretty corrupt. Many are corrupt Perak were participating in a highly ter. Is resorting to the courts a good
kettle of fish. Harum and some are more cor- interesting and exciting debate. And way Mohan?
scarum. A rough house. rupt than the rest. Some they got carried away. Mohan: Well they have. They have
Topsyturvydom. Melee. have become so calloused Azman: And the guy standing on the gone from court to court these past
Jungle. Babel. Pande- that they are beginning to desk ... three months. Nothing conclusive
monium. regard the bribe paid to Zain: Well, they can explain that the yet. You know at one point the long
Chong: Thanks, Cikgu. them as “rezeki” or God’s guy was just trying to get attention, to suffering people of Perak had two
Anyone of them or WhatTheySay bounty. get himself heard above the tumult. mentris besar, two speakers and two
all of them described Azman: In so far as the Chong: It will not wash. sets of executive councillors.
what happened in the by Zainon Ahmad use of unparliamentary Zain: Well, the teachers must try. Chong: Maybe they still have.
Perak state assembly on words or language or re- Otherwise the pupils would snigger Azman: Maybe they all should meet
Thursday. You agree Azman? sorting to unparliamentary behaviour and make snide remarks whenever in a hall somewhere and not leave
Azman: Absolutely. that you have heard about so far, they the YBs are in school. And whenever until they have settled the problem.
Zain: And Chong… are nothing compared to the amount their teachers shout for order in the Or maybe they’ll settle it by trial of
Chong: Yes, Cikgu. of unparliamentary words uttered class or ask them not to make so much strength like they did long ago. Like
Zain: Don’t compare the behaviour and the extent of unparliamentary noise, these pupils might respond by Rustam and Shohrub of old Persia for
of the 51 adults on Thursday to behaviour seen on Thursday in the saying “relax lah sir, even our YBs instance.
schoolchildren. You are insulting Perak state assembly. didn’t care for order, and they were Zain: Maybe allow the rakyat to
the schoolchildren. The children Zain: Behaviour unbecoming of our even involved in a shouting match decide. I think that’s the best way.
are better behaved even on a worst honourable members or ahli ahli using the most unparliamentary After all it was they who elected the
occasion. yang berhormat. language.” present squabbling 59. Let them give
Azman: I agree with you. Chong: Exactly, Cikgu. Chong: Yes, the YBs certainly did not another assembly and this time with
Zain: Of course you should know. Zain: My only concern now is how set a good example for our school- one group decisively dominant over
You were there. are our teachers going to explain all children. the other. That way no more squab-
Azman: Lucky you were not there, this to their pupils so that they do Mohan: Maybe it is a good example bling.
Cikgu. Otherwise you’d have been not laugh at any of our elected rep- for standing up for what you think is Mohan: Expensive lah. To save
disturbed to see how low the esteem resentatives when they see them in right. There are two groups of YBs. cost why not just let the people of
of our yang berhormat have sunk. I their schools or elsewhere. They are Both groups – the 28 Barisan Nasional Changkat Jering, Behrang and Jela-
am not exaggerating if I say that it often invited by the schools to give a YBs plus three Independent YBs and pang decide whether they want their
would be traumatic for you. speech or give away prizes. the 28 Pakatan Rakyat YBs – think present representatives or elect new
Zain: But I already know that some Chong: Maybe they should not be they are right. So they fight it out in ones. After all it is their status that is
of our MPs have been using unpar- allowed to speak about good behav- the assembly. causing all this mess.
liamentary words occasionally. They iour whenever they are invited. Ask Zain: But surely not the noisy and Chong: Just flip a coin lah.

letters
letters@thesundaily.com
Eateries must tighten security
WE have in Malaysia an overwhelming identify a snatch thief suspect among the to hold belongings such as handbags or

Mail your number of immigrants from Indonesia,

Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan,
India and China.
crowd because they are better dressed and
look like “angels”.
The cuprits will stalk their victim until it
laptops and notebooks. And, an additional
cloth is provided to cover the items inside.
All these provisions should protect the

cheques, We also know that many managed to

think again!
IN FEBRUARY, I mailed two cheques in two enve-
lopes provided by my credit card banks to pay my
credit card expenses. I deposited the two enve-
lopes into a postbox by the roadside in Kepong.
About two weeks later when I checked to see if
the cheques were cleared, I was shocked that they
were cleared at much higher amounts! I checked
with the credit card banks and was informed that
they had not received my cheques.
I suspected that the postman must have
stolen my cheques. I reported to my cheque-is-
suing bank and was shown the images of my two
cheques cleared and credited to one person with
two bank accounts. Officers at my bank told me
about a “liquid” which could erase the writing on
my cheques and how the culprit had then written
over my cheques.
I found it hard to believe and requested to see
the original but was told that only Bank Negara had
access to them. I went to Bank Negara and was
told that I was not the only victim and that they
were investigating the complaints.
I had to go to three police stations to make
reports and to give my statement. Then I got a
call from the investigating officer of the last police
station I visited asking me whether I was a retiree
from the private sector or government. When I
informed him I had retired from the private sector,
he said the case was under 420 (cheating) and
that it involved a lot of work. Thereafter, whenever
I called him, I was told he was on medical leave,
off or attending courses. The last time I called him,
he told me that he had to wait for Bank Negara’s
approval to arrest the thief.
Although all the banks involved have investi-
gated my case and refunded my money in full, I do
not know if the culprit has been caught.
So I would like to share this experience with
the unsuspecting public. Please do not send your
cheques by mail especially in envelopes supplied
by the credit card banks. It will save you a lot of
anxiety and hassle.
Tan
Kepong
come into the country through the back
door and some might have found ways to
get documents needed to get jobs, etc.
It is time for the government to take a
firmer stand on this issue and do something
to reduce the influx of foreigners who live
and work here, legally or otherwise.
Of late, we see many crimes daily na-
tionwide, such as snatch thefts, robberies,
burglaries, murders and extortions.
Due to the global financial meltdown,
many people have lost their jobs and are
finding it hard to make ends meet, espe-
cially if they have many “mouths” to feed.
And, some opt for easy money and
become snatch thieves.
So, that’s why today, the public can’t
Detailed EIAs no small matter
LAND can be used for forest reserves,
forests, housing, plantation, light in-
dustry, heavy industry and many other
needs. The conversion from one use to
another must be done accordingly and
there is a need to conduct a Detailed
Environment Impact Assessment
(DEIA).
Development of any sort covering
more than 50ha or involving a class 3
hill slope needs a study. This, however,
is not applicable any more because
any kind of land use change may have
an impact not only on the environment
but humans as well.
In a dialogue with the Department
of Environment (DOE) recently, the land
use conversion issue was discussed
in detail. It was put forward that land
use conversion of any area must go
through a proper environment impact
study. If such a conversion is near an
environmentally sensitive area, it must
go through the full DEIA process.
The local authorities must also ga-
zette land use appropriately and they
should complement the DOE’s move.
There are many cases of housing
lands encroaching closer to gazetted
is safe to attack. Often the victim is caught
by surprise and is shocked to find a wolf in
sheep’s clothing.
The rise in snatch theft, robbery and
burglary cases in Malaysia is causing much
concern to people regarding safety and
security in public places.
So, diners watch your bag when you
are out having your lunch or dinner. These
“vultures” might be around too and looking
for easy prey.
Several restaurants in Singapore are
giving their customers peace of mind while
they dine at their establishments by provid-
ing them with foldable bag holders to place
their belongings.
These bags are fastened to a metal
structure with cloth pockets big enough
heavy industry areas. In some cases,
the houses are just a few hundred
metres from the factories or worst
right at the back yard.
With reducing natural forest cover
and increasing development, wise
decisions must be made for every
project approved. Malaysia being one
of the 13 most bio-diversified coun-
tries in the world must have proper
and functional laws to protect the
environment.
There are incidences recorded by
Fomca of forest near water catchment
areas being logged. Disturbances to
forest reserves and water catchment
boundaries will definitely affect the
source of water. The same goes to
land use.
Change in land use will impact not
only the environment but humans as
well.
We urge the local authorities, state
governments and federal government
to take note of the seriousness of los-
ing natural forest cover.
S. Piarapakaranmaniam
Fomca
diners’ belongings from being taken away
by thieves right under their noses or when
they least expect it.
Other options or methods include get-
ting employees to patrol the premises and
reminding customers to keep their bags
safe or to add extra surveillance cameras
in strategic locations.
Restaurants with such safety features
will help make it safer for people to dine
and have peace of mind.
Restaurants in Malaysia should follow
suit. The association of restaurant op-
erators must push its members to tighten
security. Flip
Lau Bing
side
Singapore of flu
name
pg 13
Say ‘no’ to
clearing forests
I READ with dismay news reports last week
about the Kelantan government approving
1,000ha of land in the Gunung Stong tourist
belt for oil palm cultivation.
The state officials declined to disclose the
location or whether the area is a forest or not,
but I have a feeling that it is a forested area. If
indeed it is, I would like to urge the Kelantan
government to re-consider its decision.
We have often read how soya oil producers
have accused the palm oil industry of unsus-
tainable cultivation. And we have responded
by saying that their allegations are untrue; that
we do practise sustainable palm oil production;
and we do not rape our forests.
Well, here we are – caught red-handed.
But I am less concerned about the opinions
of foreign lobbyists than with the unhealthy
practice of states whittling down our forest
reserves in the name of development.
Malaysia is blessed with a diversity of plant
and animal species and ancient rainforests. It
is the most precious thing that we can pass to
our future generations.
Pierre Lim
Malacca