Thursday, May 29, 2008

Breakdown of National Service expenses

Jenis Perkhdimatan/ aktiviti

2004

2005

2006

2007

Emolumen

8,436,233.50

Bayaran Tuntutan perjalanan kakitangan PLKN, pengangkutan barang-barang dan perhubungan

4,424,008.97

5,096,220.59

4,600,766.27

5,158,928.83

Bayaran sewaan (kem ruang pejabat, pengangkutan pelatih, peralatan latihan dll)

15,674,558.16

38,902,113.05

282,373,528.29

244,174,533.19

Bekalan latihan PLKN (uniform, peralatan latihan, peralatan pejabat dll)

65,796,668.96

81,090,208.36

53,953,950.40

67,044,647.28

Kerja-kerja penyelenggaraan di kem-kem PLKN dan JLKN

6,078,198.26

1,810,534.63

891,112.74

395,629.69

Perkhidmatan ikhtisas (elaun pelatih, jurulatih, kakitangan sambilan, khidmat consultan, promosi, pameran dll)

505,147,383.32

476,168,222.49

246,423,158.24

238,706,132.95

Aset PLKN (Kenderaan, perabot, dll)

11,490,342.67

1,770,347.25

-

1,091,161.91

JUMLAH BESAR (RM)

608,611,160.34

604,837,646.37

588,242,515.94

565,007,267.35

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Thursday, May 15, 2008

RM2.37 Billion Spent For National Service Since 2004-2007


May 15, 2008 14:45 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- A total of RM2.37 billion has been spent on the National Service (NS) programme since its launch in 2004 up till 2007, the Dewan Rakyat was told Thursday.

Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said for 2004, RM608.6 million was spent, 2005 (RM604.8 million), 2006 (RM588.2 million) and 2007 (RM565 million).

"As of now, the government is very satisfied with its achievements and it has met the objectives set," Abu Seman said in reply to Loke Siew Fook (DAP-Rasah) during the Dewan Rakyat sitting here Thursday.

He said studies on the programme's effectiveness showed a positive response where success in instilling patriotism was 82 per cent, building confidence and leadership (88.3 per cent) and nurturing the spirit of community integration (86.7 per cent).

He said the government was also conducting studies on the training modules and if any aspect needed to be improved, appropriate action would be taken.

-- BERNAMA

In my supplementary question, I raised up a few points:

1) I wanted to get the detail answer of how the expenditures were spent; on what items, who got the contracts and the value of each contract?

The Deputy Minister promised to give a written reply on this..let's see whether he will keep his words.

2) The Defense Minister has said before the implementation of the program in 2004 that National Service in Malaysia will not incorporate any military-type training. I said there are M16 shooting exercice and other heavy physical training in the program. Is this suitable for our youth whom some may not be fit to undergo those training?

The Deputy Minister said "The rifle-shooting training module has been able to instil discipline among the NS trainees,"... i wonder how?

3) I also stressed that due to all the controversies surrounding the program, the high costs involved, the 16 death cases and the many complaints, why don't the government consider to change the approach of the program like doing community service and incorporate it in our education system or the Rakan Muda program?

The Deputy Minister was silent on this matter. Anyway, the Minister of Defence who is also the DPM has stated yesterday that the government wanted to continue with the program as it is "becoming more popular".

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Meritocracy ala Malaysia - Comparing orange with apple



I have asked the Minister of Higher Education to state whether the Ministry will replace the 2 university entry examination systems namely the STPM and matriculation with one single examination system for all Malaysian students who wish to further their study at public institutions. The question is slotted for today (14th May) but it was listed as Question 24 in the Order Paper which means there was no chance to be answered orally in the one and a half hour Q&A session. The answer is given in a written reply;

"Kementerian Penggajian Tinggi tidak bercadang untuk mengadakan peperiksaan yang sama untuk kemasukan ke universiti kerana sistem meritokrasi dan kepelbagaian kemasukan ke universiti yang diamalkan oleh Kementerian Penggajian Tinggi sekarang mampu menghasilkan graduan yang berkualiti. Ini kerana program STPM dan Matrikulasi mempunyai kandungan khusus dan hasil pembelajaran (learning outcomes) yang setara iaitu untuk menyediakan pelajar bagi memperoleh pengetahuan asas yang cukup sebelum memasuki program pengajian Ijazah Pertama"

There have been many debates on the subject in the past few years but the government refused to hear the many valid arguments. To say STPM and matriculation are of the same standard is like comparing an orange with an apple. I am sure everyone who have gone through the STPM route to further our studies in public universities will share my feeling on this matter. It is downright unfair! This is one factor that hinder genuine national unity among our citizens.

Although there is no change in the policy yet, i hope the debate will go on to press for changes and hopefully in the near future our children will not have to be differentiated to go to different examination halls just because their skin colours are different!


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Monday, May 12, 2008

No new policy to uplift the socio-economic status of Malaysian Indians


I have asked the PM whether his government will formulate any new policies to uplift the socio-economic status of Malaysian Indians:

Soalan:
Tuan Loke Siew Fook (Rasah) minta PERDANA MENTERI menyatakan apakah dasar baru yang dirangka oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk membantu dan meningkatkan taraf sosioekonomi masyarakat kaum India di Malaysia yang terpinggir.

Jawapan:

Bagi memastikan tiada rakyat terpinggir daripada menikmati faedah pembangunan, Kerajaan terus melaksanakan strategi pertumbuhan dengan pengagihan yang menjadi tunjang dasar pembangunan negara untuk menghapuskan ketidaksamaan sosioekonomi antara etnik yang tercicir daripada arus perdana pembangunan. Dasar pengagihan telah dikekalkan di bawah teras ketiga Misi Nasional merupakan dasar baru yang diperkenalkan Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK9) iaitu menangani masalah ketidakseimbangan sosio ekonomi yang berterusan secara membina dan produktif. Antara strategi utama ialah:

- membasmi kemiskinan tegar tanpa mengira kaum menjelang akhir tahun 2010 di samping mengurangkan kemiskinan keseluruhan;

- memajukan wilayah kurang membangun menerusi pusat pembangunan wilayah;

- menangani jurang antara dan dalam kumpulan etnik termasuk masyarakat India dengan menambah pendapatan melalui peningkatan kemahiran dan kebolehan.

Bagi menjamin pengekalan pencapaian ekonomi masyarakat India, Kerajaan telah menyalurkan untuk menganjur latihan kemahiran dan usahawan di pelbagai pusat latihan awam dan swasta yang disertai oleh belia India dari golongan keluarga miskin. Sehingga akhir April 2008 seramai 6320 belia India telah mengikuti latihan tersebut yang antara lain bertujuan meningkatkan taraf ekonomi keluarga India yang terpinggir. Di samping itu, kerajaan menyediakan peruntukan bagi menggalakkan usahawan India yang layak untuk bergiat dalam perniagaan dan menaiktaraf Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil di bawah RMK-9.


There is nothing exciting in the answer except that the government agreed with my statement there are Indians who are marginalized in Malaysia. BN has not learnt its lessons from the election results. The massive swing of votes to the opposition among Malaysian Indians are due to the fact that the BN government has failed to uplift their socio-economic status despite their undivided loyalty to BN in the last 50 years or so.

To MIC and Samy Vellu - it's time for you guys to say "poh da" to BN and UMNO! Wake up!




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Thursday, May 8, 2008

Breakdown of university students in Malaysia


The Higher Education Minister answered my question through written reply on the numbers of undergraduates in local public universities in breakdown according to the different races :

Total undergraduates (2007) : 382,997

Bumiputra - 79.7%
Chinese - 12%
Indian - 3.2%
International - 3.7%

Is this a real reflection of the country's population? The government stressed that all admissions to public universities are based on meritocracy but the fact is we still have different type of examinations for students who applied to public universities. Most non-Bumi students have to go through STPM which is 100% exam-orientated system while 90% of the places in matriculation programs are reserved for Bumi students. Matriculation is a semester-based system and is relatively easier to pass and score good grades.
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RM500,000 for every Parliamentary constituency

I have asked the Prime Minister about annual allocation to each constituency and how will it be managed in opposition-held constituencies. Answer as follows:

"Peruntukan kepada kawasan Parlimen ini adalah merupakan peruntukan khas YAB PM untuk kawasan Parlimen dan disalurkan kepada semua kawasan Parlimen melalui Pejabat Pembangunan Negeri di negeri masing-masing. Selepas Pilihanraya Umum ke-12 tahun 2008, peruntukan yang disalurkan untuk setiap kawasan Parlimen adalah RM500,000. Semua YB Ahli Parlimen boleh mencadangkan kepada PPN projek-projek yang bersesuaian untuk dilaksanakan menggunakan peruntukan berkenaan. PPN akan mempertimbangkan cadangan tersebut berdasarkan kepada garis panduan dan peraturan-peraturan kewangan yang sedia ada. "

The answer showed that there is no change in the way these fund are handled. We can give proposals but it means nothing as we have no say whatsoever on how the funds should be utilised. This is most unfair and dampen our efforts to solve basic infrastructure problems in our respective areas.

Would like to hear your feedback.
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