My-Daybreak.org

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

I agree with Confucion Privates Secondary School principal Goh Kean Seng that Chinese schools are just stuffing the brains of students with knowledge.

It is also happening in national schools. The difference is that Chinese schools do it with greater intensity.

I agree with Goh that what our education system should strive for is not the acquisition of knowledge, but the ability to apply them.

Dr Philip Tan

Kuala Lumpur

New Straits Times

No one else dialed the telephone to call the prostitutes but the men.

Will infidelity stop if women stayed at home and cooked? Husband have affairs even when the wives are at home taking care of the children.

What about husbands who don’t work?

What about husbands who abuse their wives?

Manisa Nor

Ampang
New Straits Times

In my opinion, mutual trust and understanding are keys to a happy and long-lasting marriage.

Husbands and wives must establish a faithful relationship early on in their marriage, especially in this fast- paced and competitive working environment.

More and more married women opt to work to lead a comfortable life. Previously, husbands were the breadwinners and the income was sufficient to support a family. But now a dual-income family is common.

I think that the both husband and wife have to be blamed for the husband’s infidelity. The wife has to understand the needs of the husbands.

Also, the husband has to think about the consequences of his actions. If he is  a respondsible husband and father, he will not seek prostitutes to fulfil his sexual needs because this will cause his family to suffer.

Husbands and wives have to sit down, discuss and agree about how thier individual needs  can be fulfilled.

Time management is the main proplem. Husbands and wives need to establish a peaceful and fulfilling family life.

Angeline
Kuala Lumpur

New Straits Times

I refer to the letter ” Security issues  that need attention” ( NST, Nov 12)

the quenstion of whether the Department of Immigration has implemented a biometric system to document foreign workers, migrants and citizens for facial and fingerprint recognition was highlighted in the letter.

Foreign workers are fingerprinted at Immigration checkpoints once they enter the country and then again when their applications to work there have been approved and the iKads have been issued. This data will be kept for enforcement purposes.

foreign domestic helpers who have been blacklisted by the department for offences under the Immigration Act will be listed as prohibited immigrants and will not be allowed to enter Malaysia.

Mahd Shariri Mohd Sani for Department of  Immigration Putrajaya