Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM)-Part 1. Bad Rail or Bad Management?

“Rail Bad!” was today’s headline in the New Straits Times (NST) after the Prime Minister (PM)’s little experience with the commuter service.

He arrived at the Serdang Komuter KTM s at 8:15 a.m. but unable to get on board the first train because it was packed. The next train was 15 minutes later. He was right to express dissatisfaction over KTM performance which was obviously not up to expectation. The PM went on and pledged “I will strive for improvements. I will propose changes”. I am very certain he will be furious had he tried the Komuter service during rainy season where train service can be delayed up to an hour during peak hour.

There are indeed many changes and room for improvements in the KTM. The first change the PM should adopt is to replace Lim Ah Lek, as the chairman of KTM with someone who has no rail-road experience. He may be a successful politician, who was also a former cabinet minister, but he has proven ineffective based on KTM performances and results during his leadership. Lim Ah Lek must be answerable for the poor performances and losses of KTM.

The PM should not forget that KTM has at least 2 major safety incidents during the past four months with at least two fatalities. Why was the safety inspector not suspended? Why was no-one accountable for it? This portrays serious lack of accountability in KTM top-down, from the chairman of the board down to the operators.

As for KTM Komuter, they should provide train service at least every 10 minutes instead of 15 minutes during peak hours and should strive for every 5 minutes by 2010. If our country is fond of comparing fuel prices with countries such as Singapore, Japan, Korea and etc., we should be bold enough to measure up the train services of those countries. In Singapore, train runs at least 4 minutes during peak hours while in Moscow, Russia, train arrives every minute and sometimes every 50 seconds during peak period.

Will the PM going to walk the talk this time or just another lip service?

Propose Tapah Town Council Meeting To Be Open To Public

During the first full board town council meeting on the 28th of July, councilors were asked to decide or vote on whether the town council meetings should be open to public. However, I have requested to postpone this agenda until the next council meeting since there was no prior notice before the said meeting.

Our country's constitution under local government act of 1976 (Act 171) & subsidiary legislation part iv, 23 provide that "all meetings of local authority shall be open to the public and to the representatives of the Press unless the local authority by resolution at the meeting otherwise decides"

Unlike the previous government who lacks transparency and accountability, the present councilors encourage greater transparency and greater local participation on local matters. Moreover, public is allowed to Parliament and State Assembly proceedings on invitation.

Therefore, I will propose in the next town council meeting that Tapah town council meeting to be open to public. However, we will have to limit the number of observers due to the capacity of the meeting room. I will suggest 50% of the total observer seats to be allocated to political parties and the rest to public on first come first basis or by invitation.

24 Pakatan Rakyat Councilors Sworn in at Tapah Town Council 28th July 2008

24 Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Tapah town councilors took oath at Majlis Daerah Tapah today, 28th of July 2008. The 24 councilors who will serve up to 31st December 2008 are:

1. Mohd. Yunus, Ayer Kuning. H/p: 016-454 4680


2. Lau Foon, Bidor. H/p: 012-510 0592


3. John Woodworth, Bidor. H/p: 019-564 9991


4. Thana, Bidor. H/p: 016-518 2231


5. Liew You Wuu,Bidor. H/p: 014-604 3401


6. Ramani, Bidor. H/p: 012-278 2062


7. Ng How Chong, Kuala Bikam. H/p: 019-513 6907


8. Tan Seng Tin, Sungkai. H/p: 012-505 2048


9. Rostam, Sungkai. H/p: 016-5454 268


10. Mooken, Sungkai. H/p: 016-319 8684


11. Mary Thomas, Tapah. H/p: 016-5326538


12. Apalasamy, Tapah. H/p: 017-507 2195


13. Ramu/ Krishnan, Tapah. H/p: 016-596 4248


14. Loh Peng Lam, Tapah. H/p: 012-377 8838


15. Ahmad Razi, Tapah (Jln. Bidor). H/p: 019-508 4755


16. Ridzuan, Tapah (Jln. Pahang). H/p: 012-512 4881


17. Manikam, Tapah (Jln. Pahang). H/p: 012-528 1887


18. Lt. Nathan, Tapah (Tmn Bunga Raya). H/p: 012-362 3490


19. Chow Chai Woh, Tapah (Tmn Kenari). H/p: 017-5516780


20. Pajand Singh, Tapah (Tmn Saga). H/p: 012-661 7108


21. Kalthum, Temoh. H/p: 016-530 5399


22. Mohd Yusof, Temoh. H/p: 013-529 9164


23. Ikram (Tmn Dato Kamaruddin). H/p: 012-573 1073


24. Yang DiPertua (TDP) Dato' Md. Damiri.
    

These are the first batch of PR's councilors for Tapah.

During the first full board meeting, the council has approved the financial statement for fiscal year 2007 and endorsed allowance increment for town councilors in accordance to the matrix system set by the state government.

Dinner with Lim Kit Siang at Tapah, Sunday 10th of August 2008

DAP Tapah branch dinner at Dewan Orang Ramai Bukit Pagar, Tapah on the 10th of August, 7:30 pm.

Special Guests:
Lim Kit Siang, Kulasegaran, Sivanesan, Ngeh Koo Ham, Nga Kor Ming, Sivanesan, Chen Fook Chye

Responsiblities of District Town Councilors in Malaysia

My former schoolmate from ACS, Ipoh, who is now residing in Singapore dropped me a note last week. In her email, she asked about the role of town councilors in Malaysia.

Malaysian administrations consist of the federal government, the state government and the local government. The district town councilors are part of the local government.

Most local government comes under the jurisdiction of the state government and is the lowest level of government under the Malaysian government system. KL/W.P., Labuan and Putrajaya is managed by the federal government.

The responsibilities of the local government include:

1. General policies that involve planning, upgrading and usage of land and buildings.
2. Town planning
3. Effective and systematic governing of a specific area
4. Infrastructure upgrades and development.
5. Provide recreational and services to the locals.

The local government also performs:

1. By-laws or subsidiary law—"undang-undang kecil". The by-laws are only applicable for the specific district or city. Examples of such laws include advertisement, business, industry and profession, car park, etc.
2. Collect land tax and property assessment tax.
3. Various licensing such as business license, grave yard license, hawker license, entertainment license, animal license, pasar malam, various rentals, etc.
4. Rubbish and drainage.
5. Collective local government funds "Kumpulan Wang Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan".
6. Government contract, prosecution and own properties.
7. Name for streets.
8. Traffic lights & bus stop

Fire Victim at Jalan Pahang, Tapah

(At Jalan Pahang, Tapah)









(Photo from today's Sin Chew Jit Poh)



Visited fire victims on Friday, 25th July 2008 at Jalan Pahang along with Perak State Exco and Keranji Assemblyman, Chen Fook Chye. The Perak state government and the DAP will assist the fire victim.

Appointment as Tapah Town Councilor

(Courtesy of Sin Chew Jit Poh)




The appointment of Tapah town councilors took place today at the Perak State Assembly on the 18th of July 2008. 24 councilors were appointed for Tapah.

Being a "Tapah-boy" who has received education at St. Mary's Kindergarten, Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan (1) or SRK 1 and subsequently Sekolah Menengah Buyong Adil (SMBA), I hope to contribute back to Tapah and the people of Tapah. Tapah has always been close to heart and mind.

Previous town councilors, except for the late Zakaria’s family members who sat in the Klang municipal council were never make known the the public. As such, these councilors lack accountability or perhaps no accountability at all. As a change, Tapah councilors will be make known to the public, so that they will know who to go after if we do not perform.

In the coming months as Tapah town councilors which expires 31st of December 2008, my plans are:

1. To donated ALL my first pay-check or allowance to a welfare organisation or charity within Tapah area.
2. Systematic visit to various towns or villages within Tapah district and to make know Pakatan Rakyat (PR)'s councilors to the locals.
3. To publish my meetings attendance record to the public.
4. Encourage greater local participation on local council matters.

While I may not extend my appointment after 31st of December 2008, I will initiate efforts to bring in foreign or local investors to Tapah.