No Excuses 

Don't Give Any Excuses, says PM

No Power to Act

The Department of Environment says they are powerless to act against operators of seven illegal toxic waste dumpsites in Johor.

"We cannot take action against those who bury scheduled toxic waste within their property," DOE director general Datuk Rosnani Ibarahim said today.

"There is nothing in our present legislation which empowers us to do so... we can only monitor.“

"We can only take action for illegal dumping... once it’s buried outside one’s property," she said.

Last week, the New Straits Times reported that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) was investigating the manner in which several DOE personnel were enforcing laws, and also looking into allegations that toxic waste was being smuggled into the country. These investigations could enable authorities to unravel the mystery behind the death of environment officer Rumie Azzan Mahlie in Kuching, Sarawak, on Sept 17 last year. He was alleged to have fallen to his death from the ninth floor of the State DOE office in Kuching. Rumie’s family believes he was killed because he stumbled onto information relating to the smuggling and disposal of toxic waste. It was standing-room-only at the 60-minute Press conference, where Sothinathan had to answer questions on the ACA investigation, Rumie’s death, and the circumstances of a lorry being released after it was seized in a raid on an illegal toxic waste storage facility in Perak on March 29.

Today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi retorted that Ministries and government departments have been told to amend laws and administrative procedures that hinder effective action. PM said weaknesses in the law should not be an excuse for not taking action, and that laws and regulations that impeded progress must be amended promptly.

“To say that no action can be taken because of the legislation is not right."

“There are many laws in our country. Some of them are no longer relevant to the present times. It's our duty and responsibility to see to it that any hindrance is removed,” the PM told reporters after opening the Malaysian Trust Fund Week at the Seremban Municipal Council hall here yesterday.

$2.4 BILLION ECONOMIC BOOSTER PRIMER

$2.4 billion Economic Booster

Sir, why is it that you have taken more than one year to realise the economy had shrinked to this appaling state of affair -where everyone (contractors, consultants, and manufacturers) are contracting and dying slowly and steadily.

Now, the government had realise that the economy is shrinking fast and contracting at a pace that could result in another economic crisis. So, as damage control, 26 new development projects which was slated for the 9MP had to be fast-forwarded to revitalise the sluggish construction industry, which is the economic engine driver. These projects will cost the Government an additional RM2.4bil and are scheduled to be announced in the next few days. They are expected to commence from the middle of this year.

But is it too small to boost the economic engine? Will it heal the economy and prevent the coming crisis? Can three drops of water wet the desert? It may wet the lips, but may not quenched the thirst, Sir!

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Government hoped this move would stimulate the industry that had contracted by 1.9% last year, and was expected to continue shrinking this year.

“These projects will be implemented through open tender to ensure competitive pricing." (Please keep your words Mr PM and tell your 2nd Finance Minister not to screw-up again). Jangan Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin.

“To benefit more contractors, the bigger projects that involve very high costs will be divided into packages and tendered separately,” he said when opening the 2006 Budget Consultation at the Finance Ministry yesterday.

Aside from that, the Government had also allocated RM500mil to finance maintenance works on existing infrastructures nationwide.These jobs would be allocated to F-class contractors, he added.

Of that, he said, RM250mil had already been channelled to the Implementation and Coordination Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department for maintenance works that would be carried out at state level.

These involved 8,471 projects, and 2,567 contractors had been awarded tenders to carry them out, he said.

Would the Government please publish the beneficiaries of these RM250 million projects? This way, we can see clearly how many Class F contractors are benefiting. Similarly, we hope the RM2.4 billion projects will go to a larger pool of contractors, apart from those cronies and hot shots.

BIASES AGAINST MALAY GRADUATES?

Bias against Malay graduates

19th. April 2005, The Star, Page 10, Nation

No Proof of biases against Malay graduates

There is no proof that certain companies are discriminating against employing local Malay graduates on the grounds that they lack the necessary skills,said Deputy Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

“We do not want to make the assumption that there is racial discrimination, but we also ask why the entry of graduates into certain companies tend to be those from a particular race,” he said.

Youth chief Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said companies could no longer use their “1,001 excuses” for not hiring local Malay graduates as Pintar would provide graduates with the skills necessary to gain employment. However, he believed that a lot also depended on the graduates' ability to convince the companies to hire them.

Hishammuddin and Khairy were responding to a question on whether other races were being favoured over local Malay graduates in the hiring process.

Pintar is a two-month internship programme where the best bumiputra students from six public and private universities in the Klang Valley are selected to be placed in top corporations for on-the-job training. The programme’s 28 partners include MNCs, GLCs, & premier PLCs.

Asked why only students with a CGPA of 3.5 and above were being selected for the programme, Khairy said it was wrong to assume that students with a high CGPA could easily gain employment.

ANALYSIS:

Why is this question constantly nagging the representors of Malays? Is it that they are paranoid, or are they playing the tune of racial discrimination?

The question of employability and being employable in corporate sectors has much to do with corporate decision-making based on the needs and strategic fit of individuals meeting the organizational criteria and objectives. The basic philosophy of business entities is largely grounded in their goal setting - that is, PROFIT & GROWTH!

So, the question to be posed should have been: "Why is the corporation choosing Ah Chong instead of Ah Mad? Is it because of the skin? Nay! Is it because of the fact that he is a Malay graduate? Nay! Then what?

The likely answer will be: "It doesn't matter whether he is Ah Chong or AhMad or Muthu, or George Bitch". What matters is: does that person fit the corporate needs and is he able to perform to bring in the business that generates the profit and continually do it such that the company will extract his efforts to generate profits.

There are many Ah Chongs, Ah Bengs, Maniam and Samy who are also unemployed - JOBLESS GRADUATES!

So, if the UMNO youth leaders which also represents the whole Malaysian spectrums are pondering, it should include all unemployed graduates and should not insinuate the racial divide and biases.

Paradoxically, if we take a hard look on the employment of graduates to civil services, it is undoubted that the employment policies is inclined towards Southward racial polarity. PERIOD!

Being a Malaysian, by birth, it saddens me that the racial divide is constantly be propagated by the sectorial political masters and political representors. Instead of striving to seek harmony and integration of the population as a whole, as as Malaysians in general, the sectorial representors are continually harping on racial biases of Malays, which paradoxically sould have been the other direction. PERIOD! How true it is that when one points a finger at others, the other four fingers are pointing back at the propagator.

So, what is the problem of those unemployed graduates? The fundamental issue is: we are now producing graduates with the same mould and machine as 20 years ago - ARCHIAC AND ANCIENT. The Universities are not keeping up with time and changes. The global economy is evolving, and the needs of corporations are HUMAN CAPITAL. Did the universities produce Human Capital or Human Resources?

If we take a good look at the graduates, you will find that they are lacking... they can't communicate, they can't take stress, they won't work long hours, they want managerial positions, they want high salary and good renumerations and benefits and paid-holidays.

WHY? Because they had been spoon-fed and breast-feed all those years of their lives in schools and colleges. They were paid to study (Scholarship holders). They were taught to learn by rote. They were assisted to pass the exam. They were special and pampered.

Now, upon graduation, they are out in the open - facing the warth of the commercial world. The cultural shock began. They won't be pampered anymore. They had to strive and produce results to justify the the salary paid to them. They have to meet clients; convince clients of their products or services. But, many can't communicate clearly and tactfully. Many still behave as if the world owes them a living; that should the corporations fails to pamper them, UMNO Youth is there to help them and punish those corporations. In the end, we scare away foreign investors, including local investors. It is as though every corporation must accomodate incompetencies and mediocrity and to provide subsidies....

Whose fault is it? Do we go on threatening corporations so as to derive subsidies?

These problematic gradutes are not Malays only. They include Chinese and Indians too. Basically, they were those childrens whose parents have pampered them by giving them too much monies to entice them to go to college. Colleges and Universities also played a big part in moulding them to be what they are - unemployable. They were taught to learn by rote, they were assisted to pass exams, they were given notes and research papers. They were provided with almost anything they need for the 3-4 years in Universities. So, they need not spent time in research and surveys; and they graduated as automatons with puerile mindset, and with a strong conviction that the world owes them a living - ie, thats their rights and privilege.

But for many of the Chinese and Indians, who weren't scholarship holders, do not have parents who are rich, and those that had scholarships have to sent back some of those monies (derived from scholarship allowances) to assist their parents to make ends meet - they know that they had to graduate and be employable. They cannot disappoint their parents who had high hopes rested upon them. They know, they had to graduate and get a good job and pay packet to survive and at the same time, contribute to the family expenses plus the educational and financial needs of their younger siblings. They will take any job that brings in the monies, no matter how tough and stressful it may be.... and they were employed!!!!!

Would those unemployed look within themselves and search their own weaknesses? Would those political masters do the same too? How many people have parents like Khairy who can afford to sent their children to Oxford and Cambridge; and how many daughters does Pak Lah have to generate rich son-in-laws? Khairy is a lucky and blessed person; but many others won't be that lucky!!!!!

SINGAPORE TO HAVE 2 CASINOS

S'Pore Twin Casinos

Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong revealed that the city state will allow construction and operation of two casinos to boost its economy and juice up its staid image. But critics fear that the casinos may drag Singaporean residents to succumb to vice.

PM Lee warned that Singapore could become an Asian “backwater'' unless it competed with its neighbouring countries like China, Malaysia, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan who had reinvented themselves with world class transportation, unique cultural environments and with many other development projects to generate a strong economy.

“In Asia, Shanghai is full of drive and energy. Hong Kong is opening its Disneyland; Hong Kong is also talking about opening a casino to compete with Macau,'' PM Lee said. “Will Singapore be part of this new world, or will we be bypassed and left behind?” said Lee. “We want Singapore to have the X-factor, that buzz that you get in London, Paris or New York.”

Lee said one casino will be built as part of a resort with other attractions on the island of Sentosa, and the other will be at Marina Bay on Singapore's main island. Both projects, worth a total of S$5bil (RM11.4bil), will be five minutes by car from the central business district.

Many Singaporeans lay down bets on racehorses and fork out cash at parlours with slot machines and sports wagers. But the prospect of a large, Las Vegas-style casino alarmed many who think Singapore's strict social controls are its main asset.

Singapore hopes that billions spent on casinos with theme parks and hotels will boost its S$184bil (RM422bil) domestic economy, attract high-spending tourists and create thousands of jobs.

Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew admitted recently that not building a Formula 1 race track in Singapore was a mistake. Under-estimating the power of pop culture was the other mistake. “My colleagues in Parliament and I said: ‘Oh, It’s bad. It’ll teach our drivers to be reckless. Better not.’ “But that was a stupid decision because everybody wants to be F1 and they put their names on it and millions of eyes are watching F1,” KY Lee said.

Lee also said that there would be “trouble” if there were casinos, but there would be “more trouble” if there was none.

In the time of great change, it is applauding that Singapore is prepared to change and reinvent themselves so as to stay relevant. It takes great pain for former PM KY Lee to admit his mistakes, which during his time as prime minister, was not a mistake. They did not blame others for their weakness. They did not blame Genting and Macau for their outflow of revenues and for stifling their economy. They took it upon themselves to re-engineer their economy. Casinos was previously considered sinful for Singapore. Formula 1 and pop music would introduce a bad culture; it was thought. Now, they are seeing things in a different perspective.

Is Singapore not concerned over the social problems that will arise as a result of this decision? I believe they do; but they would make great effort to see that it won't destroy the social fabrics of the great city state. They would work hard to make sure that the benefits outweighs the risks. They don't shout 'Singapore Boleh' but they silently and honestly ensure the Bolehs!!!

Building Competencies in Civil Services

Mandatory Training

The Star, Front page, 11th. April 2005

A great step forward move by Public Service Department

Now, the ministry is going to ensure that it is mandatory for all civil servants to attend courses that will enhance their knowledge, skills, and attitudes to build competencies and to ensure life-long learning process is a culture within the organization which will emphasize on continuous improvement. In short, PSD is building a learning organization.

This move does not mean that PSD had not been training their people, but that the previous training are arranged at random, selective and elective mode.

The 850,000 civil servants throughout the country will now have to attend mandatory courses every year. The courses selected are to equip the civil servants with the right attitude, skills and knowledge which are necessary to inculcate the lifelong learning culture that provides the process of continuous improvement amongst government employees.

For this purpose, government ministries and departments are now required to set aside at least 1% of their yearly allocation for the annual training. Every ministry secretary-general or department head must also make sure that staff at all levels attend the courses for at least seven days annually. These are among the measures implemented under a new human resources training policy announced by Public Services Department director-general Tan Sri Jamaluddin Ahmad Damanhuri last week.

“Considering the importance of human resources development in the public sector, the policy calls for every civil servant to equip himself with the right attitude, skills and knowledge via a planned programme based on the upgrading of competency and lifelong learning,” Tan Sri Jamaluddin Ahmad Damanhuri said in a circular announcing the decision. “All ministry secretary-generals and heads of departments will be given the power to decide on the planning and identification of training needs in their respective agencies, decide on the courses and the candidates, and ensure that all money spent for the purpose is in order. They must also make sure that candidates submit a report of their courses upon completion, and that all participation is noted in the employee's service record,” he said.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Although this initiative is the right move forward, the question arise as to how PSD and the various ministries, its secretary-generals and heads of department are going to decide on the "Right" courses and the "Right" candidates for each courses, to ensure that the objectives and goals are met.

Fundamental to this question will be the process under which these leaders will be able to identify those needs. It may end up that the process may identify the "Wants and desires" but not the "real Needs".

What is paramount in order to make this initiative a success, is the planned development of the processes to identify those courses that are necessary to correct the "weaknesses or shortcomings of the system", how these training could mould the candidates 'knoweldge and skill gaps' such that they will become an asset that adds value to the system; and whether those trainers have the ability and competency to "Change" and "Motivate" the participants to be "Desirous of the Change" or will we be having the same learning by rote.

At the end of each course, how could the benefits and improvements be measured - that is, does the departments have a set of performance measuring tools? Maybe, the 6-sigma system may come in handy to evaluate the progress of system improvement.

I hope the PSD is not "Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin". The legislature and the executives are always good at forwarding creative plans and initiatives but lacks the spirit of implementation and the systems in place are unable to sustain the momentum.

The Wisdom From CIDB

CIDB Clarion

April 9, 2005, NST Business Times, page 1

CIDB Call to Builders - Go Abroad Now!

It is a necessity and the time is now - GO ABROAD,” says CIDB CEO Datuk Hamzah Hasan. According to Hamzah, going abroad is the effective way of countering job losses locally and competition posed by foreign players in the name of globalization.

It was reported that CIDB’s Construction Business Development division senior manager Ahmad Asri Abdul Hamid who had just returned from India armed with a basketful of job opportunities, adequate for big and small construction players to diversify their earning base.

Ahmad Asri felt that apart from the need to build capacity, Malaysian contractors must change their mindset and strategise when going abroad. “Overseas is the way … but it is not easy.

The CIDB is at the same time concerned with the quality and ability of Malaysian companies to perform without tarnishing their image abroad. CIDB is currently looking at putting in place a process and mechanism to accredit contractors especially those involved in the overseas market.”

Ask the contractors why they are not going abroad?

The answer is simple. "Kalau tak boleh cari makan di sini, mana ada kemampuan untuk melabur seberang laut?

The first criteria of investment abroad is .....CAPITAL...MONEY... A LOT OF MONEY!!!!! To many of the local contractors, making ends meet is the current problem. Everyone will want to invest overseas, if they had the capacity and SEED CAPITAL. Those who are currently investing abroad, they are either Public Listed Companies (PLCs) or Extremely Rich Businessmen. PLCs can do it as they can seek financial fundings from banks or investment Bankers. Private Limited Companies... you need to come up with million dollars of collateral to get bank to approve any loans. And to tender a foreign project, just to pay for the Tender Bond, put tak Larat-lah!!!!

So, thank you for your kind wisdom, Mr CIDB!

For CIDB's information, almost all contractors knows (including any stupid ones) that going abroad is a right move which will expand the boundaries of business opportunities, but, can you go abroad with your underpants and singlets and tell the foreign client, "PLEASE TRUST ME, I CAN DO A GOOD JOB; I JUST HAVE NO MONEY; JUST GIVE ME A CHANCE PLUS 15% ADVANCE PAYMENT & I WILL PROVE TO YOU SAYA BOLEH DAN MALAYSIA SEMUA BOLEH?"

Why is it that the Koreans and Japanese are successful in investing abroad in the last 30 years? Firstly, it is their Government's policy and effort with strong encouragement and proactive actions from the authorities such as Works Ministry, Construction Development Board, Govt-owned Industrial Banks, etc. Their government had initiated and directed the Industrial Development Banks & Export-Import (EXIM) Banks to fund all contractors who could secure overseas Federal Government-funded projects. Those who could show a letter of award from government-sponsored project overseas, they would be given total fundings. All they do is assigned their payment certificate as collaterals to the EXIM Banks or Industrial Development Banks, and they will receive the cash flows to pay for the project expenses.

Can CIDB do the same for the local contractors, particularly, Bumiputra Contractors and would CIDB KINDLY arrange with the Govt to provide the fundings to Bumiputra Contractors? AND, PLEASE ....Is there any under-table fees?

RTD Management Don't Know The Law

RTD Wrong

The Road Transport Department should not have refused to renew the road tax for a taxi without issuing a show-cause letter to the driver, the High Court ruled today.

It also should not have revoked a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence belonging to the driver Ismail Mahmud. Judge Datuk Datuk Azmel Ma'mor said Ismail was not asked to show cause before the RTD denied him the permits.

"The defendants failed to prove, on the balance of probability, that the plaintiff was served with a show- cause letter," he said in allowing an application by Ismail to declare RTD's action null and void. Azmel also awarded damages for loss of earnings, interest and costs to Ismail.

In his statement of claim, he said he was the driver of the taxi registration number HW 9119, and on Nov 16, 1994, the RTD rejected his application to renew the road tax without giving any reason. Ismail said the RTD, in a letter dated Jan 9, 1995, also revoked his PSV licence and ordered the permit be surrendered within seven days. As a result of RTD's action, Ismail said he was unable to drive the vehicle and it was taken back by the owner, Boardline Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd.

Meanwhile, when contacted, RTD director-general Datuk Emran Kadir said the agency accepted the ruling. "I am eager to obtain a copy of the judgment to know the principles advocated by the judge in arriving at his decision."

Asked why the RTD did not issue a show-cause letter to Ismail, Emran said he would have to look into the case. "It happened before I took over the job. I cannot comment more on this before getting all the details," he said.

So, Why doesn't RTD do the right thing? The D-G says he is new and have to look into the case. So, does it mean the previous management don't know what they are doing were the wrong things that was made right by their ego? Is it that the management were NEVER provided with the knowledge of law and that there is entirely no legal advisors at RTD to advice their officers?

What about the KPI that Pak Lah talks about? Is it that it doesn't apply to RTD?

There is no excuse that RTD senior management don't know the law! This is not something new. There are ample case laws to refer to!!!

Criminal Evidence Went Missing?

60000 Pills Missing

Friday April 8, 2005; The Star

How could it happen? Anyway, it did happened.

At the High Court, the Prosecution was tendering evidence of more than 60,000 psychotropic pills, but as chemist Zurina Ramli began unwrapping the boxes before Judge Datuk Muhamad Ideres Muhammad Rapee, their plans awry.

The first box was empty! They quickly opened up the other two more boxes. Again, they found nothing inside. The prosecution team was left white-eyed and corked-mouthed when all three boxes proved nothing inside except the aluminium foil that was used to contain the Nimetazepam pills and powdered samples.

The vital evidence in the drug trafficking case had gone missing right under the nose of the police.

Zurina told the court the Chemistry Department’s wax seals on the boxes had been tampered with. The boxes are believed to have been stored in the police evidence room at the district police headquarters.

DPP Datin Nik Sarina Lugman Hashim told the court the investigation officer for the case had been summoned and would be present in court tomorrow to offer an explanation.

In the case, 61-year-old Tua Bit faces two charges of trafficking the Nimetazepam pills in 2002. The first charge involves 10,000 pills at a unit in Baiduri Condominium, Bandar Tasik Kesuma, Beranang on Nov 25 and the second involves 51,750 pills at a house in Taman Puteri, Cheras, on the same day.

Both charges fall under Section 39(b) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death sentence if convicted.

INUL DARATISTA PASed

INUL DARATISTA

Tuesday, April 5, 2005; The Star, page 16, Nation

Religious perception and belief will overrule the rights of individual....

PAS Youth has threatened to kick up a storm over a proposed concert by Indonesian dangdut queen Inul Daratista here on May 1.

“We will send a letter to the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry asking it to ban the concert. If the ministry refuses, we will take other action to protest,” the movement's information chief Mazlan Aliman said.

He, however, refused to state what kind of protest the movement was planning to take.

Mazlan said PAS Youth was against the concert because of the way Inul performed the so-called goyang gerudi, which was sexually suggestive.

“Inul is not a singer famous for her voice. She is popular because of the way she dances, which is inspired by sex,” he added.

Inul has shot to fame in Indonesia for the way she gyrates her hip, when singing dangdut numbers. She has said that her dancing was energetic and not meant to be erotic.

What Your MPs Do In Parliamentary Debates

What's Your MPs Doing

Rakyat should know what their MPs are doing in Parliament. Todays Sunday Star reported on the MPs deliberation on sexy remarks that sparks the battle of the sexes.

Other than these sexy remarks, home making, husband and wife issues, polygamy, I don't know why our MPs seems not concern over the various other problems like unemployment, economic issues, inflation, problems of our schools in teaching English, Rule of Law, etc. They are spending time in triivial issues when we have national priorities to manage.

Lets read what they are talking about:

SundayStar, Page 20, Nation, April 3, 2005

IT WAS the second week of the debate on the royal address and MPs were trying hard to get the attention of the Chair to be allowed to speak.

Those who got the opportunity spoke on issues ranging from local interests to international matters.

However, the informative but calm week ended in a battle of the sexes.

It all started when Wong Nai Chee (BN – Kota Melaka), late on Wednesday evening, spoke on the rising number of divorce cases in the country.

Wong, a divorce lawyer by profession, said women were now more financially independent than in the old days.

Being more financially independent, they now were able to “move on,” he said.

At this point, Fong Po Kuan (DAP – Batu Gajah) interrupted Wong to ask if he was implying that women stayed in marriages nowadays for financial reasons and asked if he was discriminating against the fairer sex.

Wong replied that he was only stating the trend these days and comparing it with the old days.

Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin (BN – Jerai) then stood up to seek clarification from Wong.

“Which type of man will last with someone like the Batu Gajah MP?” he asked.

Fong immediately stood up to protest and demanded that the Jerai MP retract his statement.

A heated argument ensued and the House was in uproar as both Barisan and Opposition MPs hurled words and shouted at one another.

The next day, Fong asked for a ruling from Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib on the matter before allowing Wong to proceed with his debate.

When Ramli asked Badruddin if he would apologise, the Jerai MP said he had not intended to attack Fong’s character with his remarks.

However, when Fong insisted that he apologised, Badruddin conceded, saying that he was sorry if the Batu Gajah MP was offended.

Discussion on the gender issue continued when Tan Lian Hoe (BN – Bukit Gantang) debated on matters concerning women, saying that men liked to blame women for family crises.

She said men should play their role in building a happy family.

Her remarks drew immediate response from the male MPs, several of whom got up to interrupt.

The chance to clarify, however, went to Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN – Kalabakan) who said Tan had made a hasty allegation against men in general.

“Surely you mean some men, and not all men,” he pointed out.

She also said that during Prophet Muhammad’s days, men practised polygamy in order to protect widows who had lost their husbands in the war.

“How many men today want to marry widows? They always look for young and beautiful girls,” she said.

Her remarks drew even more reaction from her male counterparts, with many getting up to seek clarification.

Baharum Mohamed (BN – Sekijang) said it was not fair for Tan to blame only one party, pointing out that there were more women than men in Malaysia.

“Is it not good that even older women get to marry later on?” he asked.

Tan stressed on the importance of love in a marriage and urged men to stay faithful to one spouse.

Several other MPs taunted Tan with more questions but she stood steady and warned that women would rather stay single than marry an unfaithful man.

Her comments continued to spark discussions at the lobby and canteen.

One remark in particular stood out: “Ramainya yang makan cili (There are so many who have eaten chilli).”

Pope John Paul II Dies

Pope Dies

A large bell at Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral rang out 84 times Saturday night in homage to the late Pope John Paul II _ once for each year of his life.

Pope John Paul II, the Polish pontiff who led the Roman Catholic Church for more than 25 years, died Saturday in his Vatican apartment. He was 84.

Mourners flooded the streets of Warsaw on Saturday night carrying flowers and lighting candles for Pope John Paul II in an outpouring of grief and admiration that was repeated around the world.

People from every continent and of many faiths found something in the life of the pope to praise _ his inspiration for the resistance to communism in his Polish homeland, support for better relations with Muslims and Jews, or championing the cause of the poor.

In Paris, the bells of Notre Dame Cathedral sounded 84 times _ once for each year of the pontiff's life.

At Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral, worshippers dropped to their knees and wept when news of the death was announced as hundreds of candles flickered.

President George W. Bush led the United States in mourning Pope John Paul II on Saturday, saying his quarter century as head of the Roman Catholic Church and his lifetime of dedication to freedom and values made him a "hero for the ages.''

Prime Minister Tony Blair praised the late Pope John Paul II Saturday as a heroic religious leader whose bravery inspired people of all faiths. "John Paul never wavered, never flinched, in the struggle for what he thought was good and right."


World leaders echoed their citizens' admiration. "Pope John Paul II wrote history," German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said. "Through his work, and through his impressive personality he changed our world."

French President Jacques Chirac said history "will retain the imprint and the memory of this exceptional sovereign pontiff.''

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe immediately declared a period of national mourning and ordered flags across the country to fly at half staff.

In Cuba, Fidel Castro's Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque hastily called a news conference to express "profound sorrow'' and fondly recall the pope's visit to the island seven years ago.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said the pope will be remembered "as a distinguished religious figure, who devoted his life to defending the values of peace, freedom and equality."

God Bless the Pope!

TNB Cost Cutting Measures

TNB Cost Cutting

INSTEAD of trimming its workforce, as was carried out by Telekom Malaysia, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) decided to initiated a Business Process Re-Engineering by involving a major COST MANAGEMENT exercise to rev up productivity and efficiency levels.

This, if fully implemented, TNB believes that it would result in cost savings of over RM700mil for the first year.

The exercise, which was introduced in January, entailed seven measures that came in tandem with key performance indices (KPIs) for Tenaga's executives.

The measures involved reduction in:

General office expenses by RM100mil;
Insurance premiums by RM30mil; and
Overtime costs by 10% to save RM25mil.

Medical expenses were also contained.

Other measures include minimising theft of electricity as well as transmission and distribution losses; increasing collection and turning around Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), an 80%-owned unit of TNB.

“These initiatives require us to change the way we do things to extract value,’’ TNB chief executive officer Datuk Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said in an e-mailed response to queries from StarBiz.

“As a utility, we have an obligation to our consumers to provide electricity efficiently and this requires us to ensure that technical efficiency is at the optimal price,’’ he said.

Why can't Telekom do the same, instead of resorting to retrenchment exercise? Is it because they had more deadwoods within, that flushing out the deadwoods was an imminent measure to revamp the system? Only Wahid, the new CEO could explain.

I am definitely agreeable with Khalib's initiative as compared with Wahid, unless, Wahid's action is to flush out the deadwood syndrome that had existed in Telekom's management under the previous management.