LOS TEROPONG

Los Teropong (Teropong means binoculars) comments on current issues in Malaysia, and sometimes the world, and put forth another opinion and perspective. BY THE WAY - THEY HUNG THE WRONG GUY ...

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Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Hah .. Caught Unprepared ..
The STAR - 27 Feb 2007 - Bus firms expect big losseskasturidewi@thestar.

PENANG: Existing bus companies are expecting to suffer heavy losses when RapidPenang starts operating in August.

KGN-Hin Bus Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Hamid Araby Md Salih said this was because RapidPenang – a subsidiary of RapidKL, which is owned by Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd – was more financially secure. “We cannot compete with them as RapidKL is government-backed and they can afford to buy these new buses while we have to manage with the ones we have.

“It's a case of placing a cucumber next to a durian with all its thorns,” he said. He added that running a bus company was not a lucrative business and with RapidPenang joining the fray the existing companies would find it difficult to stay afloat. Hamid was commenting on newspaper reports that 150 RapidPenang buses would be plying the streets here by August.

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop was reported to have said that RapidPenang would service all main and feeder roads to complement existing bus services. Hamid added that KGN-Hin directors would meet in two weeks to decide on the next course of action.

Hmmm .. this is nothing more than a case of getting caught with your pants down ... Hey .. stop whinning as if you didn't know the name of the game (ABBA, hehehehe, for those who know ..). What were you expecting?? Should have done a futures' scenario planning for what may lie ahead .. what if, after we have been giving mediocre service to the public; someone might come to take over the operations, public might boycott your transport or whatever ..

Is it really about old buses? Was the service excellent even with old buses? Were the drivers and conductors extremely courteous to the customers? Were the routes well covered for the public's convenience? I mean, are these the reasons that the BIG boys are stepping in; the fact that you have been doing such a splendid job and going all out to please the public.. ? Wah .. and then suddenly there is talk about the durian and cucumber .. must be the fruit season, hahahahaha ...well, actually IT IS the fruit season now, with mango, cempedak, rambutan, mata kucing, dokong, jambul air, jambu batu, pomeloes, longan, aplenty ... aiyaaa, tak tau lah ...




posted by Rozhan @ 2/27/2007 03:44:00 PM   0 comments
Monday, February 26, 2007
Product of Universities
NST - 25 Feb '07 - SpotLight: Universities should ‘advertise’ new research


ONE reason why Malaysian companies are reluctant to try new inventions is the lack of continuous promotional efforts by universities.

The universities must "advertise" their research and development (R&D) results and that they are ready for commercialisation, said Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) past president Datuk Mustafa Mansur.

Universities, he said, were not active in carrying out continuous promotion to inform the Malaysian public, in particular the manufacturing sector, of their R&D findings. "While it is true that the manufacturing sector should also seek out technologies, the exposure of Malaysian entrepreneurs to new technologies are through publications, word-of-mouth and through their contacts with existing service providers for testing services."

Mustafa said in the early 1990s, FMM had carried out visits to universities to view R&D facilities and capabilities. He said FMM had also offered its newsletter to universities and research institutions to publicise findings which were ready for commercialisation.

"Unfortunately, there was no response except for Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (Sirim), which had publicised one finding and quickly found industry collaboration. Since then, no other findings were sent to the FMM for publication to its members."

The R&D is carried out on laboratory scale and further research will be required. "Under such circumstances, it is costly for many Malaysian companies, in particular small and medium enterprises, to take up such projects because of lack of funds and resources to carry out further research, or to fund the public research institution to do it."

Aiyaa .. coming from a university, this is an old, old, old story .. and the funny thing is, we are still talking about it. This is not new .. WHY are we still talking about the same thing. We can talk about it 10 years down the road and it will still be the same. Are we to expect a different scanario if we harp on the same issues. Hey .. change something to get something new.

Straight up, universities want to see research commercialised? Do it yourself. Plain and simple. If you believe and trust in your finding, fund it, build it, sell it. That's it. No one else is interested. Start prioritising .. not enough money? but we have money to build car sheds, new pavements etc. Do a proper audit. Channel to a focus area. Must I tell everything? Aiyaaa .. tak tau lah ...

posted by Rozhan @ 2/26/2007 12:19:00 AM   1 comments
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Way to go Teachers ...

NST - 24 Feb 2007 - 'Keep top posts for teachers' by Koh Lay Chin


KUALA LUMPUR: Teachers do not want administrative diplomatic officers (ADO) occupying many senior positions in state education departments.

The National Union of the Teaching Profession wants teachers to hold such posts as the experience was vital. Secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said the Education Ministry’s recent restructuring of state education departments would see fewer opportunities for teachers to move up the ranks. She said delegates at a recent NUTP conference raised objections to this and other aspects of the restructuring exercise.

Lok said the ADO officers were trained at the National Institute of Public Administration and were not educationists. "They should only assist and not head any management sector. We have no objection to their presence but any effort to take over higher posts which are meant for teachers will not go down well."

Hmmm .. this is new. The teachers are speaking up .. and about time too. These PTD officers are a nuisance .... eyeing top post as their reward before retiring. As rightly pointed out, they are NOT educationists and sit pretty in their air-cond offices. I am intrigued to see how this thing will develop.... aiyaa.. tak tau lah ...
posted by Rozhan @ 2/24/2007 06:58:00 PM   0 comments
Friday, February 23, 2007
Nisa Games Ahead ...

NST - 23 Feb 2007 - Barring men from Nisa' Games a 'wrong move' by Sonia Ramachandran


KUALA LUMPUR: The National Women Sports Nisa’ Games 2007 in Kelantan was a good thing, but barring males from being officials and spectators was not.

That seems to be the general view of some women leaders. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said said the ministry was happy if any organisation, whether political or non-political, wants to organise sporting events.

Azalina said having a sports culture was important and anyone wanting to organise a sports event would have her encouragement. She said women were allowed to dress the way they wanted in games organised by the government. "Even in the Nisa’ Games, some of the participants were not wearing tudung, so it’s no different from other games."

Aiyoo, among fellow women you do not have to cover up fully like you with a non-muhrim. Perhaps a visit to a religious class or text book would be beneficial!!

The Nisa’ Games, only for women, was organised by the Kelantan Pas government through its Nisa’ Club and was held on Feb 17 and 18. It had five events: Futsal, badminton, volleyball, netball and bowling. But male spectators, even relatives and male members of the Press, were not allowed. Azalina said it was unfortunate that male spectators were not allowed at the Nisa’ Games.

I would like to congratulate the organisers of the NISA GAMES and hope that it will be held EVERY YEAR, and this time on a nationwide basis.

Shame on the women leaders who did not support and their objection and reasoning is short of myopic and revealed their lack of wisdom in the matter. There is only one reason for this .. they themselves are NOT covering their 'aurat' and are therefore unable to experience the feeling of having a male in the crowd. TO THEM IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT COVERED!!! Actually, opening their mouths was the wrong move .. Perhaps a Minister or leader that cover her 'aurat' would be a better choice in the future ... Aiyaa .. tak tau lah ...

posted by Rozhan @ 2/23/2007 11:24:00 PM   1 comments
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Malaysians fleece Malaysians ...
NST - 18 Feb '07 - Cross-country: Last-minute passengers fleeced


JOHOR BARU: People buying bus tickets at the last minute for the balik kampung rush for the Chinese New Year holidays are being preyed on by ticketing agents trying to make a fast buck.

Housewife S. Thanapakiam said she had a shock yesterday when she found out that tickets for the Johor Baru-Kuala Lumpur express bus, normally sold at RM22, were priced at RM55, at the Larkin bus terminal here.

Checks at the Larkin bus terminal showed there were also several illegal bus services operating there using factory and schoolbuses.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia student Khairul Nizam Wahid said he was shocked when he was approached by agents selling seats at RM60 for a trip to Kuala Lumpur using the illegal bus service. "They are doing it so openly. I don’t understand why the authorities are not taking any action against them, although this happens every holiday season."

There were also complaints from passengers that illegal taxis were operating at Larkin, offering to take passengers to Kuala Lumpur at RM75 per head.

State Unity, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Datuk K.S. Balakrishnan said it was an offence for bus companies or their agents to sell bus tickets at higher prices than the price printed on the ticket. "Our enforcement officers have been deployed to check on the hiking of bus ticket prices." Balakrishnan said his officers would also check out the complaints at the Larkin bus terminal - hahahahahahahahahaha ... maaaaan ...... I could die laughing .. hahahahahahaha .. same bull ....aiyaa... tak tau lah


posted by Rozhan @ 2/18/2007 07:39:00 PM   0 comments
Chinese NY2007
NST - 18 Feb '07 - PENANG: Chinese New Year reunion dinners have always been extra special for 75-year-old Loo Hong Bee.

She gets to celebrate them in true muhibah spirit at her home in Taman Sri Nibong in Sungai Nibong here.

Her youngest daughter Chan Poh Leng, 40, is married to Yazid Misnan, 40, while her eldest Poh Yin, 50, is married to R. Balasingam, 54.

Yazid, an industrial relations manager, who stays in nearby Sungai Ara, came with a cake and on it was the Chinese character ’fu’ (meaning prosperity) for the occasion. Balasingam, a project manager who lives in Taiping, was also there.

“Yazid’s children study in Chinese schools so they speak to me in either Mandarin or Cantonese. As for Balasingam’s children, they speak fairly good Cantonese,” she said.

On food preparation, Loo said each family brings a variety of fishballs and other steamboat favourites like crabsticks and stuffed tau kua. No beef or pork is served.

“I am proud to have a muhibah family and feel happy celebrating with them,” said Loo.

This is nice to see. Kong Hee Fatt Choy .. Gong Xi Fa Chai ...

posted by Rozhan @ 2/18/2007 07:33:00 PM   0 comments
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Stand-in Malaysian ..
I was at the eASIA2007 Conference in Putrajaya from 6-8 February 2007 as one of the Invited Speakers. My presentation was scheduled for the third and final day (the before lunch session). This is not about me. Second Day - digital learning track - first session of the day, at 9.30 am - and it happened!! This particulay Deputy Vice Chancellor from a local university stood at the podium as the first speaker of the morning. He went on to proudly announce that he was just a stand-in for the original speaker. He went on to detail that he got a call from the original presenter asking him to do the speaker a favour by delivering a presentation in his spot. So the stand-in related that the original speaker had a prior engagement.

Sigh .. I can't stand this kind of behaviour. It is pathetic. You don't really have to tell that you are a stand-in as it is a bad reflection on the original speaker. It also shows how much respect we pay to the organising party who have taken the trouble to invite us. It is also a bad reflection on Malaysia, as it was an International Conference. When exactly did the original speaker know he had a prior engagement?? It just goes to show our attitude, the classical Malaysian attitude.

This is also the same for bosses who like to pass the meeting file at the last minute to the stand-in who will say at the meeting that he doesn't actually know what is going on as he just got the file this morning. Pathetic!! ... aiyaaa .. tak tau lah ...

posted by Rozhan @ 2/11/2007 09:20:00 PM   0 comments
Friday, February 09, 2007
23 Malaysian Musketeers
NST, 8 Feb '07 - Delivery time: Task force to speed up reform, boost growth by Eileen Ng


After months of expressing frustration at the lethargic pace of reforms, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday named a high-powered 23-member task force to promote faster reform in the delivery system.
THE TASK: Overhaul archaic procedures and unnecessary bureaucratic red-tape.
THE OBJECTIVE: Enhance economic activity.

KUALA LUMPUR: A high-powered 23-member task force, handpicked from the public and private sectors, was set up yesterday to promote faster reform in the country’s delivery system and enhance economic activity.

After months of expressing frustration at the lethargic pace of reforms, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday named the task force — which reports directly to him — to facilitate business and overhaul archaic and unnecessary licensing and bureaucratic procedures.

The task force will be jointly headed by chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan and, from the private sector, by Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president, Datuk Yong Poh Kon.

Who are they?
PUBLIC SECTOR:
• Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam;
• Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Izzuddin Dali;
• PM’s Department Implementation Co-ordination Unit director- general Tan Sri Khalid Ramli;
• International Trade and Industry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Mamat;
• Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu) director-general Datuk Yaacob Hussin;
• Natural Resources and Environment Ministry secretary-general Datuk Suboh Mohd Yasin;
• Housing and Local Government Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail;
• Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Thomas George M.S. George;
• Federal Territories Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Pheisal Talib;
• Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) director- general Datuk R. Karunakaran;
• Small-Medium Industries Development Corporation (Smidec) chief executive Hafsah Hashim;
• Local Government Department director-general Datin Arpah Abdul Razak.
PRIVATE SECTOR:
• American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce past president Datuk Nicholas S. Zeffreys;
• Malaysian Employers Federation president Datuk Azman Shah Harun;
• Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mike Krishnan;
• National Council of Commerce and Industry deputy president Pardip Kumar Kukreja;
• Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers board member Dr Andy Seo;
• Symphony House Group Bhd chief executive Datuk Azman Yahya;
• Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd deputy executive chairman Datuk Seri Wan Zaki Wan Muda;
• Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce Economic Research Unit head Chua Tia Guan;
• Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam, executive chairman of the Kelang Multi Terminal Sdn Bhd (which operates Westports in Port Klang).

Hmmmm ... would be nice if they can share with us what's the problem and what steps they are going to take. After all they are the experienced ones, ones who went through the system and found that nobody cared about what's happening. They were the ones who were given the run around and they also had the experience of doors shut in their faces.

They too had to hang on the phone for so long and found out that the officer in charge was on holiday. They were told too many times that the application was in the pipeline and would be attended as soon as possible. Further to that, they had to resubmit a few times because the initial application could not be found ... ok, guys .... give those guilty party a kick in the **** ... yehaa .. can't wait ...
aiyaa ... tak tau lah ...


posted by Rozhan @ 2/09/2007 11:40:00 PM   0 comments
Monday, February 05, 2007
Lessons Learnt .. Really??
NST, 05 Feb '07 - Incompetent contractors, delays, cost overruns, failed projects: Lessons learnt - by Farrah Naz Karim

PUTRAJAYA: The government has put in place mechanisms to avoid delays in project completion and ensure cost effectiveness. Referring to the New Sunday Times report yesterday on cost overruns in projects due to the incompetence of contractors and consultants, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi said the mechanisms would ensure only competent contractors were given government jobs. He said the government had drawn valuable lessons from case studies of failed projects, as well as the successful ones.

“We have put in place new initiatives to streamline our procurement processes and to ensure projects are delivered efficiently and cost effectively.”

These, he said, included:
• Ensuring projects are awarded to competent contractors; and,
• Installing systems to monitor projects on near real-time basis to spot any delivery problems early and resolve problems immediately.



This, Effendi said, should ensure significant improvements in the execution of projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP). The report quoted Deputy Auditor-General Anwari Suri as saying that some tenders for government projects had been given to those who were incompetent or did not have sufficient financial means to complete the work.

Anwari had said that these were among the reasons for shoddy work and delays in project completion. Effendi assured that the government had put in place a more stringent project procurement process.

Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry is considering setting up a central database system to prevent contractors from "hoarding" projects and sub-contracting them. Parliamentary secretary Datuk Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the issue of sub-contracting needed to be addressed immediately.

At present, he said, only consultants undertaking projects worth over RM50 million were registered with the government. "We need a central system to monitor projects awarded to contractors, even those at the district level," said Hilmi. Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said his ministry had put in place an "A-to-Z" monitoring system to ensure there were no hiccups in the implementation of projects. A strict vetting process for engaging contractors, he said, was in place to ensure that contractors who were already engaged in several other government projects were not awarded contracts by his ministry. This, he said, would mean the contractors concerned would be able to give priority to his ministry’s projects.

Holy ravioli, is this really some kind of a joke. Did they read this before deciding to publish it?? This would be my thoughts or perhaps any layman's as the article is read;
  • How was the contact awarded in the first place if they knew that some tenders for government projects had been given to those who were incompetent or did not have sufficient financial means to complete the work - why give it to them??
  • Was there no QC or QA measures ?? - huh? this is 2007, not 1957!! - how were all other previous projects monitored??
  • Only project of more than RM50 million registered with the Government!! Whose money is it if it were less than RM50 million ?? Private money or government money??
  • There is no central system?? Heard of ICT?? Computers??
  • Can contractors 'hoard' projects?? - bet they had some help or backup!!
I can bet that the public is not going to buy these rather lame excuses. Come on .. we are not idiots ... aiyyaa .. tak tau lah ...

posted by Rozhan @ 2/05/2007 07:05:00 PM   0 comments
Shirt and Blouse ...
I just noticed something while ironing my shirt and the wife's blouse. There is something about the position of the buttone on the shirt and blouse. Has anyone noticed it? Men's shirt will have the buttons sewn on the right hand side while the buttons on the blouse are on the left!!

Hmm .. is there a reason for this??

posted by Rozhan @ 2/05/2007 12:08:00 AM   0 comments
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Islam, Malays and Chinese ...
NST, 4 February 07 - It’s the faith that matters, not race by Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin - The Mufti of Perlis, Malaysia.

THIS IS THE WHOLE ARTICLE ...DANG, IT'S GOOD ...


IN my observations, among the serious misunderstandings involving religion is the use of the term "Malay" as synonymous with Islam and "Chinese" with infidel.

There are Malays who describe a new Muslim convert as masuk Melayu (becoming Malay) or sometimes say that he is "not Muslim but Chinese!" For them, the Chinese represent the infidels and Malays embody the Muslims. To make matters worse, some Malays label the converted Chinese as mualaf and, more disparagingly in the northern Peninsula dialect, Mat Loh.

Malays assume they are the only pure Muslims, although Chinese Muslims may have stronger faith. To some Malays, Chinese Muslims are not authentic and are seen merely as hitchhikers.

However, many Chinese who have converted to Islam are more pious, while many Muslim-born Malays are of questionable devotion. Malay attire such as kain pelikat, baju melayu and samping are not the garments worn by the Prophet.

But Malays perceive their clothing as Islamic because it is from Malay culture.

Islam does not impede a culture which is not against its teachings. In the past, Malays perceived the use of chopsticks as wrong because it was associated with Chinese culture. Actually, there is no difference between eating with one’s fingers or using cutlery, or chopsticks. The Prophet called on Muslims to invoke Allah’s name, use their right hand and only eat permissible food.

The Prophet once told a young Umar Abi Salamah when the latter was about to eat: "Dear child, say Allah’s name, eat with your right hand and consume what is close to you." (Hadith of al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Malays will normally ask Chinese Muslims to change to Arabic names, as if the name Ah Chong, Ah Seng, Lim or Koh would mean they were unIslamic. Maybe because such names do not sound Arabic, the Malays feel awkward about them.

Sadly, the Malays do not feel the same way about names such as Awang, Leman, Seman and others which are not Arabic either. In reality, there are many Malay names which do not have any meaning in Arabic and some have bad meanings if they are translated. Still, it is all right for the Malays because they are, after all, Malay names. Again, are Malays Islam and Islam Malays? The Prophet did not ask those who embraced Islam to change their names as long as they did not have bad meanings.

For instance, the name Umar was used during the pre-Islamic Jahiliyyah period and remained when the person became a Muslim.

I do not stop any Chinese Muslim from changing his name, especially if the new name will make him feel closer to the Muslim community. Still, they must be given the choice to do so. If the changed names only make non-Muslim Chinese afraid of embracing Islam and fearful that their families will disown them, is it wrong for them to maintain their Chinese names?

If Awang can keep his name, why not Ah Chong?

An assumption that Islam mirrors Malay characteristics has dire consequences in many areas, especially when some Malays themselves act against the teachings of Islam. Fortunately, most Malays still adhere to the teachings of Islam. A strong faith is the saving grace in the hereafter. However, we cannot ignore the fact that many Malays practice syirik (polytheism) and ridicule Allah’s commandments and the Sunnah (teachings of the Prophet). These Malays are only Muslim in name.

From the perspective of history, the majority of the Chinese in Malaysia are non-Muslims. The call of Islam does not seem to reach them. Perhaps this is because the Malays have not effectively imparted the correct form of dakwah (missionary work). Instead, many Malays portray an attitude that is against Islam.

Although the Malays can discuss many things with the Chinese, including the political party they should vote for, the Malays do not seem capable of presenting the greatness of Islam and inviting the Chinese to follow their religion. Since many Malays contradict the teachings of Islam, the majority of the Chinese have misconceptions about Islam or abhor the idea of embracing Islam.

Islam is against negative traits such as laziness, apathy, envy and the like. Unfortunately, many Malays possess such attributes.

For instance, many Malay students are left behind in their studies. If they are set against the Chinese, either at school or university, many of the Malays will lag. Also, most Malays are not interested in acquiring true Islamic knowledge. They would rather listen to Israiliyyat stories (derived from the Bible and Jewish folklore, used to help "fill in" the details especially when the passage is a narrative piece, which were traditionally deemed helpful or at least not harmful but could cloud the meanings of the Quran), fables and advice which are not founded in the Quran and Sunnah.

They prefer easy instruction without research and thought. At public libraries, the number of Malays using these facilities is still small. Chinese students diligently acquire knowledge, whereas many of their Malay counterparts are distracted by other things.

Some Malay parents will seek out blessed raisins and water for their children just before sitting for examinations to bring on good results. In the end, only those who study hard will excel, not the ones relying on blessed raisins and water. The non-Muslim Chinese will reject Islam when they witness the Malays’ dependence on such practices but still fail to do well in their examinations.

Academically strong Muslims will not rely on water that was blessed with the Surah Yassin (one of the most important chapters in the Quran). Previous generations excelled because they stressed the importance of knowledge and were sincere in their efforts to acquire it. They were not merely focused on getting a certificate. Such qualities led to the creation of a powerful civilisation of knowledge in Islam.

Sometimes we as Muslims should praise the Chinese. Their children can still do well in their undertakings with neither high education nor paper qualifications. They either inherited the skills from their parents or from practical learning. Many successful Chinese businessmen are masters in their respective fields without having official paper qualifications. This trait is highly regarded by Islam. The religion urges its followers to rely on Allah and to increase their knowledge. In Surah Taha (verse 113) God says: "(Say Muhammad) Oh Lord, increase my knowledge."

Based on what I have mentioned above, how can the Malays bring the non-Muslim Chinese closer to Islam and convince them that Islam has shaped the Malays to become noble human beings? The Chinese businessmen are better managers and portray strong positive traits compared with their Malay counterparts — to the extent that many Malays have more confidence in Chinese businessmen than their own. Where are people like Abd al-Rahman bin Auf, a Muslim role model of doing business? Maybe the Chinese, the majority of whom are non-Muslims, have a keener insight into Abd al-Rahman’s business acumen than the Malays.

There is much else that I can say, to the point that I am inclined to think that if the Malays were not Muslim, there would be little else they can be proud of. If the Chinese can receive Islam in its true form, they will have much to offer.

posted by Rozhan @ 2/04/2007 07:10:00 PM   1 comments
Malaysian Taxis ..
In the space of the last 40 days, I had the opportunity for various reasons to be in Singapore, Hong Kong as well as Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. In each of the cities, I aslo had the opportunity to take a ride (paying .. of course) in their taxi plying the city. In all the cities, I found the taxi that I was in clean, very orderly, the driver dressed smartly, very courteous and all used meters that was officially sealed. In all, they looked pretty professional to me as a tourist, say.

Sad to say, when I took a Malaysian taxi from the Airport to return to my house in Minden Heights, Penang, it was disheartening to see and eventually feel what a tourist coming to Malaysia would experience and feel. My taxi was acceptable though a bit smelly, but the taxi the wife was in was grotty, including the driver, dressed shabbily, had a bag of vegetables on the passenger side and something that looked like the laundry in the back. Aiyaaa, tak tau lah ...

I think we need a change, a drastic change. Our taxi driver saga is getting ridiculous. Although there may be good ones, the not so good ones are the general representatives. What if we have a taxi company that hire GRADUATES as drivers . .. hmmm .. at leat they can converse well, carry themselves well, are well mannered. They should dress smartly and have an extremely well kept taxi (with a uniform company logo). I do not think that it would be demeaning for a graduate to earn a living driving a taxi. It is a job, an honest job and can be a good Malaysian ambassador to the tourist or even locals
posted by Rozhan @ 2/04/2007 01:16:00 AM   2 comments
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