My-Daybreak.org

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks ( Perhilitan) appreciates the concerns highlighted by S.M. Mohd Idris of Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) in his letter ” A danger to keep them as pets” ( NST,  Dec 24)

The Department, together with the Ministry of National Resources and Environment, is in the midst of amending the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972 ( Act 76), which will focus more on the protection, conservation and management of the local species within Peninsular Malaysia, following the consideration of all major recommendations and suggestions from the public and non-governmental organisations, either through dialogues or workshops conducted by the department or through written submissions.

The department would like to take this opportunity to invite NGOs, public institutions and the public to cooperate in creating awareness on keeping wildlife as pets.

The department would also like to thank Idris for his positive feed- back and for supporting Perhilitan in safeguarding biodiversity in Peninsular malaysia.

Should any clarification be needed, please do not hesitate to contact DWNP at pakp@wildlife.gov.my.

Yamuna Perimalu for Secretary-
General Ministry of Natural Resources and Envirronment Putrajaya

New Straits Times

My nephew, who is a doctor, has just returned after attending an induction course held from Dec 19 to 24 at the Bayu Beach Resort in Port Dickson. He is very upset and extremely disappointed.

The first four days of the programme was conducted by officials from the Ministry of Health and they were very professional in their approach and methodology. However, the sessions during the next two days conducted by the NAtional Civics Bureau (BTN) were so downright racist, sickening and was nothing more than an exercise to divide Malaysian, instil hatred and discord.

Although my son is a Muslim and a Malay, and was not the target of the BTN instructors, he and his other Muslim friends were upset that their non- muslim brothers and sister were constantly labelled as ‘ Pendatang” and the Malaysian Indians were hounded in regard to the actions of the now outlawed Hindraf movement.

One BTN instructor even had the temerity to say ; ” No need to attend BTN course if you think we are racists ‘ and ” we warn you not to report what happens here to the press or anyone  else.”

No need to attend ? Can the chief secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan please confirm that the attendance in the programme is voluntary and participants can indeed choose not to attend without the fear of being reprimanded and blacklisted later ?

Can  we make police reports against the BTN for warning and threatening these young and intelligent doctor?

So much has been aid about the BTN programme over the last few months and many of out federal minister had defended it. the truth is, either the ministers are ignorant or they have been given the wrong information.

D.R.H.S.

Alor Star
( New Straits Times)

Some time in April, after an accident involving a double-decker bus that left six people dead, the federal traffic police chief said : ” This is the worst road accident this year.”

I remember saying to myself, ” I hope so”. Well, the dubious record of ” the worst accident of the year” has been broken by latest accident involving yet another double-ducker bus that took 10 lives.

In the accident in April in Rawang, the bus was driven by a driver who had eight out-standing summonses for speeding. In the latest accident near Ipoh, the bus driver had a clean record but he fell asleep at the wheel.

In both cases, we can see that the human factor played a pivotal role.

I always believe that accidents can be avoided if drivers and motorists have the right mindset,  practise defensive driving, keep alert and are disciplined.

All punitive measures, like fines and blacklisting of bad drivers, will come to naught if we continue to be indifferent to potential hazards on the road ; worse, if we are aware but insist on tempting fate.

I have friends who have been driving for 20 to 30 years and have maintained a clean record. It is not mere luck. They respect the rights of other road users and obey traffic rules.

You and I can help reduce, if not stop altogether, the carnage on our roads. Admittedly, bad road and weather conditions increase the element of risk but if the mind is tuned to danger, the level of risk is markedly reduced. You are the one in control, the person behind the wheel.

If we follow rules, respect other road users, are patient and check our vehicles regularly, we can contribute positively to a reduction of unnecessary loss of lives and limbs.

Tam Yong Yuee
Muar

They had return from their honeymoon and now, it’s time to make some adjustment as a family.
As money is a sensitive topic, many couples keep its discussion out of their relationship. Below are some pointers for all newlyweds to consider:

1. Your financial plan has to move from being an individual to shared one
2. Decide how to handle rountine bills, paying for the family and children’s well being, house hold budget, as well as saving & investment
3. It may be wise to have at least three bank account – ” Mine”, ” yours” and ” ours”. This would enable each spouseto have some autonomy over their own finances while still able to meet common expense from their shared account.
4. Like you individual financial plan, as a couple, you need to put a side an emergency fund.
5. Talk about each other’s investment style, including your risk appetite and preferences. It is wise to have a common investment portfolio to meet future goals.
6. You may need to review your insurance coverage as well , especially if you spouse isn’t working or there are children.

Form the budget (see table), Adam and Aida have a healthy surplus of Rm3,000/-per month. With this saving amount, they figured they should be able to afford a home of their own.

Adam & Aida Income & Expenses

As a rule of thumb, we can allocate up to one third of our monthly take-home pay towards all our loan commitments. with a loan tenure of 30 years and an assumed avarage interest rate of 7% they should limited their home loan to not more than RM300,000. However, they should also have about Rm 30,000/- car for down payment and another Rm10,000/- more or less for other incidental costs such as stamp duties and legals fees.

There are 2 reasosns why Adam & Aida felt that buying a home is better than renting.
Firstly, they can increase their net worth over time while servicing their loan.
Secondly, Owning a home will give their family a greater sense of security.

However, buyer should do their homework! The Golden rule of any property incvestment is Location, location and Location! more Tips:

1. Drive around the neighbourhood at different times of day and week to see what your potential neighbours are like.
2. Check the infrastrutures in the area that can add value to the house, such as schools, shops, park/playground, public transport and business. Watch out for conditions and any future development that may make the area economically disadvantaged.
3. Check the properties is on free hold or Leasehold land. The market value of the house on freehold land is usually higher than if it is leasehold Land.
4. Talk to experts who can advise about the market, locations or types of properties such as apartment, condominiums or landed properties.
5. Shop around for the best home loan package in town.

You must be able to afford to buy and pay for your house. Otherwise, your dream home will turn into a finacial nightmare !

I refer to the full-page advertisement in the New Straits Times regarding a ‘ Dolphins & Sea Lions Show” at Sunway Pyramid with an accompanying caption which read ” First time in Malaysia”.

I was working for Plaza Phoenix Shopping Centre in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur when the management and a local event organiser co-hosted a ” dolphins & Sea Lions” show in 1997. The show was brought here from Jakarta. It was opened by Datuk Sabaruddin Chik, then tourism minister.

The show went on for two weeks and the opening programme  was televised by RTM and TV3, apart from being widely reported in all the major dailies.

While I applaud the Sunway Pyramid management for organising such an event, the claim that it’s a first in Malaysia is inaccurate.

Ismail Jantan
Kuala Lumpur

New Straits Times

I have been staying in a rented apartment in Kuala Lumpur for the last couple of years ever since I was posted from Ipoh. I have been trying to purchase a suitable apartment unit within my budget and closer to my budget and closer to my workplace. early this year, I noticed earthworks had commenced to build two blocks of condominiums close to the Titiwangsa terminal (LRT/Bus) and Vistana Hotel.

I immediately set out to book a unit at the developer’s office close to the construction site.

I was shocked to learn from the clerks that all units have been booked or sold. I asked them how this could have happened when it has yet to be officially opened for booking. They told me that it is only for preferred and selected customers.

Who are these selected and preferred customers? Are they paying an undisclosed special premium? How can the authorities allow the developer to adopt such discriminative practices?

Can housing developers offer the units for sale and booking before the official launch? If so, how do the authorities ensure that the developers are fair to the general public with no manipulation to cater for a selected few?

I was disgusted to learn that well-connected local and foreign individuals and investors have snapped up many of the units for speculative purposes.

i recently noticed a that about 60 per cent of the construction has been completed and we have not heard or read about any launch date. i call upon the authorities to investigate and ensure that the public, especially the middle income group, are given an equal opportunity to own an affordable decent apartment in the city.

I am not against developers wanting to make a profit , but they should not forget their social responsibilities to the public.

S. Param

Ipoh

New Straits Times

Do viewers have a choice as far as Astro is concerned? Astro is the only satellite station available in Malaysia. It will be good to see efforts being made to encourage alternative cable network stations.

There have been numerous occasions when viewers were left frustrated over Astro’s breakdowns.

The least Astro can do is to average out the hours of such ‘ unavoidable breakdowns’ and offer a rebate to its customers on the charges.

And being a responsible service provider, it should also make every effort, within a given time frame, to upgrade its existing system to overcome defects due to rainstorms.

We understand that changes to the packages offered is presumably at Astro’s discretion.

The costs of programmes being purchased is really not supposed to be our business.

However, a case in point is our purchase of the BBCE package as our choice provided in its original offer.

This particular programme had recently been replaced with the BIO ( Asian) channel, which is neither an equivalent nor a Bristish TV production programme.

Astro should not overlook the fact that viewers have paid for a  programme of their preference in the first place.

Although the decision may be Astro’s prerogative, it should at least offer an equal or better programme if a change needs to be made.

Finally, I think it’s time for Astro to include a complimentary channel on selective ” live sports” to encourage sporting actvities in Malaysia.

R.H.H.K.

Kuala Lumpur

New Straits Times

On Nov 16, my sister, her wheelchair-bound daughter( cerebral palsy), 14-year-old son (cerebral palsy), 2-year-old niece and maid were stopped from boarding Firefly flight FY2066 departing from Subang Airport for Kota Baru at 2.40pm.

My sister said that when she went through the normal check-in procedures at Subang, she informed the check-in staff that her party included a wheelchair-bound 12 year-old.

At the point of entry into the plane, a staff member stopped my sister when she noticed that my niece was not able to walk by herself from the wheelchair to board the plane. She said it was the airline’s policy not to accept anybody unable to walk on their own to their seat.

My sister told her that her daughter is totally wheelchair-bound and needed to be carried from the wheelchair to the seat.

My sister stressed that she could carry her daughter herself. However, the staff member insisted that my niece would not allowed to board the plane.

My sister explained to the crew that she had informed check-in officials about her wheelchair-bound daughter, but the staff member accused her of making a false declaration. Then the ground manager arrived to talk my sister out of boarding the plane.

After 40 minutes of negotiation, the crew finally allowed my sister and entourage to board the flight with a strong warning that would be ” the first and the last time” they allowed her wheelchair-bound daughter to board.

My sister was scheduled to fly back to Kuala Lumpur with Firefly flight FY2063  on Dec 6.  But after the embarassing encounter at Subang, she decided to fly  back on another budget airline.

Aziyah Omar
Kuala Lumpur

New Straits Times

This year, we celebrated World Town Planning Day with the theme ” Sustainable Development : People First”.

The Department of Town and Country Planning’s main goal is to create a sustainable environment that provides economic benefits to people under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

According to the department, Malaysia’s urbanisation rate is expected to rise to 75 per cent by 2020.

This will result in traffic congestion, crime, pollution and natural disasters, such as floods and landslides, that must be addressed in an integrated manner.

The development and management of urban centres is a major challege of our time as well as a complex task for our society.

The concentration of development and human activities in cities and towns has enormous implications for the urban environment physically, psychologically and socially taxing.

Urban issues relating to globalisation, environment, urban poverty, urban sustainability, urban governance and how to improve the quality of urban life need to be addressed effectively.

With such complex issues arising from urbanisation, it is time for the government to set up an Institute for Urban Governance to serve as a national resource and training centre for urban governance and development.

The proposed institute will facilitate research to provide support to academicians and individuals to undertake research and provide consultancy services on urban issues.

It can also provide support and policy advice to the government in urban governance, development and management.

The institute– which can be established with the expertise from institutions of higher learning, research organisations and government agencies– will conduct accademic programmes in urban planning for local government officials and officials and others to better manage our crities and towns.

urbanisation should lead to community spirit-building.

Where new urban centres are built , efforts must be taken to build a sense of community and belonging among the multi-ethnic residents. This will benefit our multiracial  country in term of generating goodwill, togetherness and unity.

Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye

KL

New Straits Times

I was shocked to read what a reader wrote about his niece’s experience when she attended a National Civics Bureau (BTN) course( ” It’s a great move on BTN course, but after reading the letter, I felt I was better off for it, as it might provike unwelcomed thoughts that would have eroded my patriotism.

I am sure that the majority of Malaysians love Malaysia despite frustrations over the implementation of government policies.

Our residents’ committee is totally committed to the Rukun Tetangga, Rakancop and Community Policing programmes as we see the benefits of a good working relationship with our law enforcers in promoting a peaceful environment for the people.

I sincerely hope the term kaum pendatang used to refer to citizens not of Bumi status is not an official term in the BTN sylabus but just the personal interpretation of one misguided lecturer.

The government should vet its personnel – who are charged with the responsibility of advocating unity and harmony – with extra vigilance. Irresponsible officials will just end up sowing seeds of discord.

The revamp of the BTN must be done with the purpose of building bridges and not walls.

The people charged with conducting the courses must have a genuine respect for the diverse cultures and religions of the country and be fully committed to nurturing a populace living in harmony and mutual respect.

Tam Yong Yuee
Muar
New Straits Times