Notification letter and complaint letter

I have received a notification letter issued by MCA Disciplinary Council. Kindly click into thumbnails below for full size images and detailed information.

文告:透明化彻查赵明福坠楼事件

(吉隆坡17日讯) 马华署理总会长拿督斯里蔡细历医生促请警方全面及透明化彻查赵明福坠楼事件，包括定时发布调查进展，让公众及时跟进案情

他说，由于执法当局未能对赵明福事件出现的疑点及时厘清和提出解释，以致公愤延烧，因此，警方必须慎重处理此案，以专业和透明的态度全面调查各涉案单位.

“这是一场悲剧。我在此向死者的家人致以深切的慰问。”

他说，反贪污委员会在调查民联议员过程中面对公信危机。该机构有必要让公众了解整个调查过程，而且在未来也必须严明和透明地调查所有被指涉嫌舞弊的朝野议员。

此外，针对雪州反贪总部没有设置闭路电视，蔡细历认为赵明福事件也暴露了反贪委员会调查和盘结机制的缺陷，必须加以改善。

“不管是反贪委员会或警方，在调查过程中若传召证人问话，都应该摄录盘问过程，这是保障执法单位和受审人的权益，避免任何一方在事后凭空争辩。”

DAP, PAS and PKR’s Political Sandiwara

One year 4 months after the 308 election, crack seems to be appearing between DAP, PAS and PKR. In a multiracial country like ours, politicians in the government will often realize that it is a difficult act of balancing in order to govern and function effectively. To begin with, you have to balance the expectations and the needs of your own party members. In meeting their needs and expectations, you have to make sure that you do not upset your political partners. Having met all these conditions, you have to ensure that the decision that you make will not upset the political balance of the component parties and also the various races in this country. Finally, whatever decision you made should be acceptable to the majority of the various races in this country. Ideally, solution to any problem should be based on merit. In other words, in the sterile world of medicine, we say that it is ‘clinically correct’. Here, in the context of Malaysia, we say that it is ‘politically correct’.

First, we are entertained to PAS’ unity talk with UMNO that seems to provoke an outcry from DAP, PKR and also its own leader within PAS. Honestly, I don’t think this unity talk is settled within PAS. Now, it is PAS Youth that is pursuing this unity talk agenda with the UMNO Youth. UMNO Youth has decided that it will seek the views of their counterpart in BN before announcing a decision on any issues.

Then, we have in Kedah where PAS and DAP have a very high profile fallout over the demolition of the pig abattoir and purported demolition of Indian and Chinese temple. At the end, we are told that it is happy ending. Question is if the abattoir, Indian and Chinese temple are destroyed, what kind of happy ending could it be? Politically, PAS and DAP could have smoked the peace pipe but the problem remains. As I’ve written earlier, it is a crisis that will only serve to make DAP leaders in Kedah looks good. This is a case where there is a lot of political mileage with no work done. Earlier in my posting, I even congratulated the DAP state leader for his political posturing and spinning since it is a case of more to gain and nothing to lose. At the end of the day, Kedah DAP looks good, PAS is the bad boy.

Coming to the state government of Penang, we have a case of a PKR councilor been sacked for leading a boycott for the swearing in of a senior state official. After he apologized, everything seems to be normal. Then came the infamous Kg. Buah Pala incident where PKR members openly condemned the state government. Meanwhile, the state government tries to solve the problem by avoidance and starting a blame game. The state government has forgotten that they are in power and not in opposition. Whatever problem they have, it is incumbent for the power-to-be to solve the problem.

Now we have the MP Wee Choo Keong, (some calls him the ‘katak’ politician since he has switched from one party to another) accusing a DAP executive councilor of working hand in glove with the underworld. This is a serious allegation, more so coming from a MP who is also a trained lawyer. As expected, there is a round of denial by DAP leaders. Some felt it is cheap publicity, others may find it amusing, yet there are others who feel that such allegation should be investigated. If Wee Choo Keong has the evidence, then he should cooperate with the police. Otherwise, it is grossly unfair to the accused state EXCO. With no names been mentioned, your guess is as good as mine. For the sake of his credibility, he should prove that there is basis for his allegation; otherwise he will not look good with the credibility gap hanging over him.

They say politics is not for the faint hearted. If you are the type that worries easily and lose your sleep over any issue, then you should avoid politics. The politics of balancing in this country makes it harder for all politicians irrespective of their political divide to function effectively. Often, the rakyat looks at problem from their own mental box. It is a case of never stop learning if you want to be a good politician. A generous dose of common sense will do you a lot of good.

As I’ll be out of the country from Tuesday till Thursday, I will not be doing any postings.

Class Reunion Year 1973 Medical Faculty University of Malaya

This year, the class reunion was held in Cameron Highland. The crowd of fifty people was much smaller as compared to the last year’s reunion in Malacca. The hassle of transportation somehow deterred many from coming. It took me 3 ½ hours travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Tanah Rata in Cameron Highlands through Simpang Pulai. When I came down at night through the old road to Tapah, it also took me 3 ½ hours.

It is nice to meet your university mates once a year. The sad thing is every time we meet, we notice that every one of us is aging. We are more toned down in our celebration. I noticed some of us have slowed down in our movement and response. Conversation becomes less lively. Every year, God seems to have taken one of our classmates from this part of the world. As we grow older, this seems to be inevitable.

I had lunch with a group of farmers in Cameron Highlands. They were very upset that they have no security to the land tenure. Because of the insecurity of the land tenure, they are unable to commit more investments in their farm. This is of course a chicken and egg situation. Most of the farming are done on highlands, some of which obviously are unstable in the long term, causing erosion and possibility of landslide. However, the state government in not resolving the issue or taking the bull by the horn will only serve to perpetuate the problem. It has also engendered a lot of frustration and mistrust to the state government. This may explain why an independent candidate won the state seat in the 308 election. Somehow the farmers feel that supporting the opposition may help to provoke the state government into action. Meanwhile, they have met some state and central MCA leaders in the hope to resolve the land tenure problem.

Today, I read in the papers that Cameron Highlands’ 52 farmers produced a staggering of RM70million worth of fresh strawberries a year involving 30ha of land. They also produced RM18million worth of strawberries product, such as jam etc. This is highly commendable and high value-added cultivation. If we want agriculture to be an important source of revenue, then we should promote high value added cultivation. Cameron Highlands’ farmers can be a good example.

The state government should seriously look into the land problem faced by the farmers. I am given to understand that about more than about 1000 farmers are involved. Most of the cultivation is about 1 to 2 ha. In the course of my conversation, they admitted that most of them are doing well and their products are mostly exported directly to Singapore, with some for the local market.

The state government should be pragmatic in resolving this issue. It has a duty to protect the rather fragile ecosystem of a highland area. Any over development including cultivation will destroy the beauty of Cameron Highlands. However, it has to take into consideration the livelihood of more than 1000 farmers in this area. In no way can the state government ignore their plight. Politically, it will be suicidal not to do anything. Presently, the state government is not receiving any revenue despite the land being cultivated by the farmers. The farmers are willing to pay as long as there is security to the land tenure. It is a problem that requires political solution. The environmentalist may be disturbed by the over cultivation. However, there is a need to strike a balance between the needs of the farmers and also the necessity of protecting the environment.

I have promised that I will meet them again if the problem is still not resolved after 6 months. I will not say that it is easy to resolve land problem, but if there is political will and give and take from both the government and the farmers, the problem can be resolved. We have to strike a win-win situation for all parties.

Medical Consultation and Dispensing by Pharmacists

Since the day I entered medical school, a contentious issue is that the doctor should be confined to seeing the patient, making the diagnosis and writing out the prescription, then the patient moves on to get his medications from the pharmacist. Till this day, this debate is still ongoing.

There are several issues involved here:

1) Will patient accept these arrangements, having been so used to getting all his treatment at the one-stop centre the doctor’s clinic?

2) Cost will definitely go up;

3) Inconvenience to the patient;

4) While the number of pharmacists has increased and the shortage of pharmacists is not as acute as 5 years ago, we have the problem of distribution of pharmacists since most of the pharmacists are clustered around the major town. Most pharmacies do not operate 24 hours. How is the patient going to get his medications at night?

In most medical practice, the dispenser is not a trained pharmacist. They are trained just to read the prescription and dispense the medications often with no idea about the functions and the side effects of the drug been dispensed. This may not be the most ideal condition to dispense medications. However, in the Malaysia context, it has served us well with minimum cost and hassle.

Some Malaysian pharmacists unfortunately do not function professionally. They would sell medications without a proper prescription. Most pharmacists would not even bother to tell the patient of the side effects of the drug. In fact, the patient hardly has any opportunity to interact with the pharmacists in a pharmaceutical outlet. What is worse is that some pharmacists also branch out into other healthcare activities that should be the domain of the doctors.

Hence, the present arrangement where the patient gets to see his doctor and his medications in a one-stop centre setting seems to be acceptable.

我踏入医学院那天，医学界已经在讨论一个争议性问题，认为医生的职责应限于为病人诊断和开药方，然后由病人凭药方到私人药店配药。直至今天，辩论仍持续进行中。

实行看病和配药分家制前，有几项问题必须探讨：

1) 病人既已习惯在同处看病和配药，他们能否接受新的安排？
2) 成本必定上涨
3) 对病人造成不便
4) 药剂师人数近年来不断生增加，而且多数分布在主要城镇。问题是，药店非24小时营业，那病人在晚上问诊后要到哪儿购药？


在多数情况，配药师并非经过培训的药剂师。他们只受训阅读配方和按配方开药，通常他们并不了解有关药物的功能和副作用。这并非最理想的做法。然而在马来西亚，这钟低成本和省麻烦的做法相当普遍。

不幸的是，我们发现国内一些药剂师没有专业地执行工作。他们没有根据处方售卖药物。一些药剂师甚至懒得告诉病人该药物的副作用。事实上，病人在药方买药时几乎没有机会和药剂师沟通。更糟的是，一些药剂师还兼任其他本由医生担杠的医药活动。

因此，维持目前挂号、诊病到配药一站式医疗服务似乎是最可行及被接受的做法。

Dialogue cum Dinner with Young Professionals in Royal Selangor Golf Club

I had an interesting dialogue with about 30 middle-aged professionals in the Royal Selangor Golf and Country Club 2 days ago. It was a working dinner starting from 7.45p.m. and ended at nearly 11.00p.m. There was a fruitful and frank exchange of views about the economic and political situation in the country.

It is good to see young and middle-aged professionals showing greater interest to what is happening to our own country. The young professionals have always been accused of being indifferent to events unfolding within the country and a lot don’t even bother to register as a voter.

It is obvious that there is poor dissemination of information from the government. The end result is that even the professionals know very little about what is happening to our own country. Because of this poor communication from the government to the rakyat, there seems to be lack of understanding on certain policy matters implemented by the government.

The interaction was basically focused on:

1) Teaching of Science and Maths in English;

2) The deterioration of the standards of education in the country;

3) Liberalization of economic policy announced by the PM Najib;

4) Deviation on the implementation of the government policy resulting in decision not been followed through by the public delivery system;

5) Malaysia twenty years from now;

6) Issue of minimum wage;

7) Performance of the PR state government;

8) Can politics in Malaysia be non-racial;

9) Malay’s special privileges.

Malaysia twenty years from now

During the discussion, there was general consensus that Malaysia has done well in the last 50 years as compared to a lot of ASEAN countries. However, compared to Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, we are way behind. The next twenty years will be crucial to us. We cannot be dependent on oil (there will be no oil by then) and as a low cost manufacturing country. We talked about how we should move up the value chain by upgrading the skills of our workers, by improving technology and innovation. We have to develop our service industry to become the main engine of growth.

We discussed at length about the merits and demerits of the implementation of the minimum wage for certain sectors in the country. The implementation of the minimum wage will meet a lot of resistance by the employers. A lot of political will is required to see it through. We cannot have first class infrastructure and a third class pay structure. We cannot stay competitive by depressing the wages of our workers. Raising the minimum wage will have a tremendous spin-off effect for the local economy because of the increase on the local consumption by our own local workers. Right now, foreign workers’ remittance out of the country totaled about RM18billion. With the implementation of the minimum wage, we can reduce progressively foreign workers and remittance out of the country. Imagine half of the total remittance is spent within the country, the spin off effect to the local economy will be tremendous. The minimum wage implementation will force the employers to pay more attention to skill training for workers, to invest in machineries and also to be more innovative.

Non-Racial Politics

This is what all of us should aim at. We should be issue-focus rather than ethnic-centric in resolving issues. However, I felt that it will be quite sometime before we can achieve a non-racial political system within the country. There are political parties who claimed to be non-racial, but in reality they are not. I always feel that some of the political parties have done a better job in political spinning and their public utterances are often tailored to meet the expectation of the rakyat. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The federal constitution provides for Bahasa Melayu as Bahasa Kebangsaan and special privileges for the Malays and also the rights of the non-Malays are enshrined in the constitution. Hence, there will always be a role for ethnic-based political party.

I have written on some of the topics discussed in my blog earlier, hence I will not go into detail issues that were discussed.

20年后的马来西亚

经济竞争力

在一项讨论会中，与会者一致认同，在过去50年马来西亚的发展确比许多东协国家表现卓越。然而，与新加坡、香港、韩国、台湾相比，我们仍远远落后。未来20年是关键期，我们不能一味仰赖石油（石油终会取竭），也不能一直成为低制造成本国家。我们必须提高经济价值链，加强员工技能，提高科技和创新。我们必须发展本地服务行业，让它成为国家成长的主要动力。

我们也详细讨论了在特定领域设定最低薪金的优点缺点。我预见许多雇主将反对最低薪金制度，所以需要很大的政治意愿支持以落实。我们不能有一流的基建设施，却有三流的薪金结构。持续压低工人的薪酬无法保持我国的竞争力。相反的，提高最低薪金额会刺激本地消费，为国内经济带来积极且巨大的效应。目前，国内工作的外国人共赚走了180亿令吉。若实施最低薪金，就可以逐渐减少聘请外籍工人及外汇流失。试想把这笔流失的汇款注入国内消费市场，绝对可发挥超强的经济效应。而且，最低薪金的政策也将促使雇主更加重视雇员们的技能培训、仪器机械的投资，以及注重创新。

非种族政治

这是我们大家应该朝向的目标，针对课题加解决问题并去种族化。然而，要达致非种族政治的目标，我认为我国尚需要一些时间。一些政党宣称非种族政党，但现实中却非如此。我经常认为，一些政党的政治妆术非常了得，他们的言论也是为满足人民的期望而特别设定。不过，空话不如实践。

联邦宪法阐明马来文为过家国语及马来人享有特权，非马来人也享有宪法规定的权利。因此，种族政党依然有他们的角色的功能。

关于上述论点，我也已多次在部落格中评述。

Teaching Maths and Science in English

I have been told that the government has reverted to using Bahasa Melayu to teach Maths and Science in national schools and mother tongue in vernacular schools. At the same time, the Ministry of Education would strengthen the teaching of English, both in primary and secondary schools.

Of course we welcome the decision, which is what MCA and a lot of Chinese parents hope for. Of course parents in the urban area may be disappointed since they want to continue to use English in the teaching of Maths and Science.

With this decision, we hope that the Ministry of Education and parents should then move forward in ensuring that their children do not neglect Bahasa Melayu and English. All Malaysians should be multilingual. We should not be a monolingual race knowing only one language. In a highly competitive world, command of languages is an added advantage. English is today an international language. The Ministry of Education should meanwhile improve the teaching infrastructure of English in both primary and secondary schools. Steps should be taken to overcome the shortage of qualified English and Mandarin teachers. One of the solutions is to employ contract teachers who are trained to teach English and Mandarin.

Since the new policy will be implemented in 2012, I hope that the scrapping of the policy would not affect the students and their studies.

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拿督斯里蔡细历医生文告

（吉隆坡8日）马华署理总会长拿督斯里蔡细历医生欢迎政府恢复母语教授数理科，但也希望这项政策不会成为国人学习和掌握多种语文的障碍。

他说，母语教育固然重要，但也不能忽略英语和国语的掌握。目前，大部分华校生面对英语和国语掌握差强人意的问题，而削弱他们的就业和竞争条件。

蔡细历今日发表文告说，以母语教授数理是马华长期以来的要求，也是马华向来的立场。

他说，在城市地区的一些父母或许感到失望，因为他们都支持、也希望继续推行英文教数理。

“这也证明政府重视和愿听取众议和要求。教育部长丹斯里慕尤丁早前也公开接受各造的意见，加以研讨才向内阁寻求定案。”

蔡细历强调，长远之计，教育部、校方和父母要重视孩子多种语文的学习和掌握。因为激烈的全球自由化市场重用多语人才，而我国人民身长在多元化的国家，应该要善用此有利条件，学习以精通多语，而非成为单一语文的族群。

他说，与此同时，教育部必须采取步骤，包括考虑增聘合约英文和中文老师，以解决国内英文和中文师资不足的问题。

他补充，由于政府在2012年才恢复使用母语教授数理科，当局必须确保在过度阶段的现有学生不会受到影响。

Is it Difficult to Say “NO” to Plastic Bags?

While the awareness on ‘say no to plastic bags’ are on the rise, there is still so much to be done. Every year, an estimated 4 billion plastic bags end up as litter in worldwide. These plastic bags are not biodegradable and therefore, they will remain for up to 1000 years before it could be properly decomposed.

One can easily find in any supermarkets and shopping malls reusable bags to replace plastic bags. In one shopping mall, one can expect to pay for the plastic bags they need to put their purchased items. This is done to save on plastic bags and encourage consumers to bring their own reusable bags. I don’t see much complaint on this implementation if everyone cooperates. I remember that when I was young, open burning is a normal practice in the neighbourhood in the evenings to repel the mosquitoes without knowing the consequences and it is harmful to the environment. Today, the awareness to love the environment increases among the younger generation but to older generation, there is still the perception that nothing is wrong with open burning and that that little burning would not do much harm to the environment.

In Malaysia, no laws are yet to be imposed on those who abuse the usage of plastic bags. On the other hand, no rewards are given to those who use reusable bags instead of plastic bags. Malaysians have the tendency to use plastic bags as garbage bags to dispose their rubbish. There was once where I saw a lady using her reusable bag to store her groceries but during check out at the counter, she took a handful of plastic bags and put it in her reusable bag. She then said, “This is perfect to contain my rubbish at home. I am running out of plastic bags”. This makes me wonder on how successful is the 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycling) campaign. The people are not being properly educated on the meaning of reducing usage on plastic bags and the implication of it. The people just grab the plastic bags at their convenience since it is so light and easy to store.

Maybe the time has come for the government to impose some rules to consumers and it could start from supermarket where plastic bags are most used in Malaysia. In Ireland, the Irish government passed a plastic bag tax in year 2002 and it was followed by some advertising awareness campaign. Within weeks, it showed results of 94 percent drop in plastic bag use and within a year, almost everyone bought reusable bags and brought them to buy groceries. A plastic bag in Ireland costs 22 euro cents (RM1.00) and Irish rarely buy plastic bags. Maybe the government should start considering imposing plastic bag tax in the near future, thus reducing pollution to earth in mind.

Having said that, there are still many people out there who are not aware of the types of waste they generate in their home that can cause tremendous haze to the environment. With the hectic lifestyle in urban areas, there is reduction in organic and kitchen waste but increase in mixed plastics and paper waste due to the packaging materials. City folks are too busy to cook; hence, the easy way out is to buy packed food or takeaway. The packaging for packed food and take away generates a lot of plastics and paper waste. With the amount of plastic bags generated, it could fill one’s home in no time. An average Malaysian generates about 1kg per day of solid waste. This mountain of solid waste, in time to come, will be a great disposal problem. The only way out is for city folks to change their lifestyle and eat in more often rather than eat out. They could also use their own tupperware to store food rather than using plastic bags.

With the ongoing campaigns in shopping malls and some NGOs as well as the government, I hope that the rakyat could be more aware of their litters and the amount of plastic bags they produce each day and make a difference to it by reducing or saying no to plastic bags.

Demolishing Pig Abattoir, Temples and Kuils

In a multiracial society like ours, pig abattoir, temples, kuils, surau and masjid are highly sensitive issues. Often, it has to be managed well; otherwise it will be exploited to the fullest by vested interest group. This calls for experience, be sensitive to other races’ needs and managing people’s sensitivity and emotion. This is something that wakil rakyat have to learn the hard way, what we call the school of hard knocks. To an outsider, they may say that we are much ado about nothing. In a clinical manner, some of the pig abattoirs, temples, kuils and surau are no longer in the right place because of development.

Because it is highly sensitive, there is political mileage; hence a lot of political parties would want to champion the cause. Some would want the pig abattoir or the temple/kuil/surau to make way for development. Others would defend it at all costs. For the wakil rakyat where the subject matter is located, it is often a nightmare. Inability to prevent its demolition will signal that the wakil rakyat is politically impotent and has no clout to influence the administration. If the subject matter is prevented from demolition, it will sure boost up the image of the wakil rakyat. When the subject matter becomes highly controversial because of publicity, then it becomes a do and die for the wakil rakyat.

In the early stages of our country’s development, temples, kuils, surau and pig abattoirs were often built without consideration to the local development plan. To be fair, there was then no local development plan. Over a period of time and because of development plus the intermingling of the various races as a result of development, what was once an area dominated by one race suddenly become multiracial. This is when an innocent looking pig abattoir, temple/kuil/surau becomes highly sensitive to the local community.

If we do not allow emotions to be in control, then problem can be resolved in a very professional manner. However, while our country has developed physically, our political system is still stuck with race and religious consideration. What is a straightforward problem becomes one that is delicate and calls for some administrative and political acumen.

Demolition of all these sensitive premises sounds easy. It is finding the alternative location that presents the biggest headache to the power to be, especially at the state level. Because of the publicity generated, residents of the proposed site will invariably oppose. This only serves to complicate the matter. How to persuade residents to accept a new pig abattoir within their vicinity is never an easy problem. When I was an EXCO in Johor for 3 terms, I only had 2 incidents involving pig abattoir. One was successfully demolished since it generated a lot of problems to the surrounding residents because of the noise, pollution and the smell that finally, the abattoir had to go. There was no replacement for the abattoir since there was already a newly built abattoir. In the other incident, I managed to persuade the residents to accept a very old pig abattoir near the vicinity of the housing estate. I am not too sure whether the pig abattoir is still standing.

As for the demolition of temples and relocation, I must give credit to the Johor administration for adopting a fairly liberal attitude to what we call illegal temples and kuils. Most of them are allowed to exist as they have existed years ago. Demolition is hardly done. The Johor administration chooses relocation. In my 5 terms as wakil rakyat in Johor, I have yet to encounter a Chinese temple been demolished because of development. I dealt with 2 cases of kuil, which initially was supposed to be relocated and demolished. Since we are unable to find suitable alternative site, the developer was forced to accept the kuil in-situ and the development plan took into consideration the presence of the kuil. Of course the kuil was downsized since the number of Indians have correspondingly dropped considerably because of the development.

There is always this suspicion that the government is very restrictive in the construction of Chinese temples. It cannot be denied that the construction of new temples or extension of existing temples has to go through a very tedious process of red tape. I must admit that when I was an EXCO in Johor, I failed to address this issue. Often it becomes a fire fighting method of solving problems where by I have to bring the problem directly to the MB or to bring up at the EXCO meeting every Wednesday. Of course I am aware that this is not the best method of resolving issues.

Many years ago, I did a survey with some Chinese NGOs about the distribution of Chinese temples in the district of Batu Pahat. This survey revealed that there are more than 350 temples in Batu Pahat. It came as quite a shock to me. Batu Pahat district then had about 300,000 people of which about 40% are Chinese. This means there are 350 temples serving a Chinese community of 120,000 people. In short, one temple for about 350 people. At least in Batu Pahat district, there are more than adequate temples to serve the needs of the Chinese community.

在我国多元种族社会里，宰猪场、寺庙、祈祷所及回教堂被列为高度敏感的事项，必须谨慎处理。否则，容易被有心的利益集团利用制造课题。所以，这考验了我们的经验、对各族人民需求的敏感度以及人民感受和情绪的管理。这也是人民代议士必须苦学之道，唯有从现实吸取经验，甫在逆境中锤炼成才。外局人或认为我们小题大做、无事生非。但实际上，因为地方发展，许多宰猪场、寺庙以及祈祷所的坐落点已经不合适了。

由于课题性质高度敏感，因而具有政治效应，所以许多政党争相维护。有人支持拆除宰猪场或寺庙或祈祷所让路予地方发展，有人誓死捍卫保全。这种局面，有如当地代议士的梦魇。若无力阻止拆除行动，将显示该议员的政治无能，在政府没有影响力。相反的，若阻止成功该议员的形象和声誉将即刻大增。

在我国发展初期，寺庙、兴都庙、祈祷所及宰猪场的建立一般上未考虑到地方发展计划。事实上，当时也没有所谓的地方发展计划。经过一段时间后，不断的开发和发展让不同族群交集一起，使本由单一种族主导的地区，突然变成一个多元种族社区，也让那些“无辜”的宰猪场、寺庙/兴都庙/祈祷所顿时成为高度敏感的地方课题。

其实，只要不感情用事，就能理智而专业地解决问题。然而，虽然我国在发展领域已取得具体的成果，惟其政治体系还停留在种族和宗教的框架，使一项简单的问题变得复杂脆弱，处理时需要政治的敏锐感。

要拆除这些被指敏感的场所很容易，但要寻找替代地点却让有关当局，特别是地方政府伤脑筋。基于事件被广泛宣传，建议中的替代地点居民必极力反对，而使问题更复杂。要说服居民接受在他们家附近建新宰猪场犹如登天。我担任3届州行政议员期间，曾处理过两宗宰猪场事件。第一宗，该宰猪场因严重的噪音、污染和臭味问题被关闭和拆除。由于已有一所新宰猪场，被拆除的宰猪场未获迁移至替代地点。在另一事件中，我成功说服居民接受一家久远经营的宰猪场迁移至此。不过，我不确定该宰猪场至今是否还存在。

在拆除和搬迁庙宇行动中，我必须赞扬柔佛州政府合理和开明对待那些列为“非法”的寺庙和兴都庙，因为大部分仍获准继续存在或搬迁。我当了5届议员，都没有出现因发展而被拆除的华人寺庙。曾有两间兴都庙面临搬迁后再拆除，但鉴于有关当局无法寻得适合的新地点，发展上被迫接受该庙在原位立存，还把该庙列入当地的发展计划中。当然，由于不少印裔居民因发展而逐渐搬离该区，这间兴都庙也因信徒人数减少而缩小规模。 人们总有这般迷思，认为政府百般限制建设华人庙宇。建造新寺庙或扩展现有庙宇都必须经过非常繁琐繁文缛节，这一点则无可否认。我承认担任州行政议员期间，也无法纠正这项弱点，以致我们常以灭火式途径来解决相关问题。通常我会直接上传州务大臣，或在每周州行政议会中提出。当然，我了解这不是最好的解决方案。

多年前，我对一些华裔非政府组织进行巴株峇辖区内的华人庙宇分布调查。调查结果显示，单单在巴株峇辖就有350间华人庙宇，让我震惊不已。目前，巴株峇辖人口约30万人，华人占40％。12万人和350间寺庙的比例，意味着一间寺庙只有350位信徒。这表示，巴株峇辖拥有足够的华人庙宇应付和满足信徒的需求。

PR State Government Sharing the Fruits of Labour

During the 308 general election, PAS, PKR and DAP grouped together to face the general election. This was to ensure that during the general election, in both state and federal level, it would be a one PR against one BN candidate. This strategy was effective and explained the enormous success achieved by PR. It was the charisma and the leadership of Anwar that was able to hold these 3 parties to work together. PR won big, both at the state and federal level, but the acid test is how to administer the states under PR. In politics, the real acid test is not just facing the election, but how after victory; they can sit down and cooperate in the sharing of power, what we call the fruits of their labour. The world is full of examples of countries thrown into turmoil where coalition partners cannot agree how to share their newly acquired power.

In the recent forum where I was invited as the panel speaker, I said that if PR comes to power at the federal government, PAS leaders would claim that they should be the Prime Minister. This is logical considering that it has resources, membership and an organization that are far more superior to that of DAP or PKR. In the general election, PAS will contest more seats. If they win more seats at the federal level, then it is only logical that they want to claim the Prime Ministership. Nik Aziz, the MB of Kelantan is the most senior and the most respected within the party. If we think out of the box, Nik Aziz can always claim the Prime Ministership.

Malaysiakini wrote that during the forum, a Chinese audience stood up and said that he supported Nik Aziz. This was the same man who criticized me for not fulfilling some of the promises I made as the Health Minister. This was enough to stir the audience who reacted immediately by yelling at him not to raise personal issues in the Question and Answer session during the forum. I found out later that this gentleman is one of the most active members of the PAS’ Supporters club and his job is to attend all forums so that during the Q and A session, he can promote PAS. I raise this to show how PAS is committed in its propaganda war compared to all other parties. No wonder PAS never stop doing ceramah since the general election. You can see PAS leaders crisscrossing the whole country doing ceramah all the time. I wonder how they find the time to do administrative work if they happen to be EXCO members or for that matter MP.

Kedah DAP decided to be politically correct by threatening to quit the coalition. I must congratulate the Kedah DAP state chairman that politically, he has nothing to lose and more to gain by quitting. After all, DAP has no EXCO in the Kedah government and staging this political drama will boost up DAP’s image in Kedah without at the same time causing the fall of the state government since they only have one DAP ADUN. The PAS Kedah MB had stuck to his gun on the 50% quota for bumiputras in housing development. Tearing down the pig abattoir became the proverbial last straw that broke the DAP’s back. To survive politically, DAP needs to quit, at least for a short while. Nothing to lose, more to gain, politically. Congratulations to the leadership of Kedah DAP.

Coming to Penang, I fail to understand why Guan Eng or any of the senior Penang leaders refused to meet with the residents of Kampung Buah Pala village. This will only give them more ammunition to condemn Penang state government. Not meeting them and not doing anything in a case like this will not do. It will be a great PR disaster to the state government. Blaming the previous state administration will not resolve the issue.

Malaysia: The Epicenter of H1N1 in Asean?

I’ve read in the papers today that till date, we have 196 cases of H1N1. I’ve met a few doctors over the last weekend and one of the topics for discussion was H1N1 in our country. I predicted then to my colleagues that I will not be surprised that the number of cases will go up to 200-300 cases in the next two weeks. The reason is that it is difficult to contain a disease that spread so easily.

Earlier, you will notice of nearly 200 cases, most of it are imported cases. That means we have to be more stringent at the entry point. I wrote in the blog earlier that the temperature of incoming travelers should be taken when they land at our airport and before disembarkation. This is to ensure effective quarantine and contact tracing of people who have come into contact with the H1N1 patient. Whether or not they quarantine themselves according to book, we do not know. As long as there is fever in the plane, then that patient is a suspect until proven otherwise. Passengers around him will have to be strictly quarantined and the quarantine will only be lifted if the suspect turns out to be negative of H1N1 virus. Presently, by the time the suspect disembarks and be sent to hospital, he would have come into more contact with other people. It is difficult to do contact tracing of people who have come into contact with the suspected patient, since it is difficult to remember exactly people you have come into contact with and it may not necessarily be the people known to you.

Presently, we practice home quarantine. To be effective, we need the cooperation of the affected victims that they really stayed in the house without coming into contact with outsiders. Visitors are banned. Hence, it requires 100 percent cooperation and self imposed discipline for members of the family who are affected by the quarantine. At any rate, who is to enforce that members of the family do not break this quarantine? At the moment, it is self-imposed quarantine on those who have just returned from H1N1 affected countries. Whether or not they quarantine themselves, we do not know. There is no stringent guideline or enforcement carried out on those who had just returned from overseas. At the same time, I was told that some passengers who returned from overseas complained that no adequate measures were taken at our airport where there were no hand sanitizing dispensers and some of the health authorities did not wear any face mask or gloves.

However, although the H1N1 virus is highly contagious, it does not have high mortality rate (about 0.44% as of June 26) as compared to SARS that has terribly swarmed the world with mortality rate ranging from 15 to 19 percent. It is true that we have to be very careful and sensitive towards the H1N1 outbreak, but at the same time, we must know how to prevent it the right way. Panicking and overreacting to the H1N1 does not help to prevent the virus from spreading.

Maybe the time has come for us to take rational steps to battle the H1N1 and not overreact to it by closing down shops or even buildings when someone is infected with H1N1 virus. It is highly infectious, yes but not all H1N1 cases bring about mortality. We must ensure that the basic public health hygiene is carried out properly. Cleanliness in public facilities is important. In Hong Kong, all public lifts is sanitized daily and the owner is responsible for maintaining this routine. Proper hand wash with soaps, no sneezing without covering your mouth in public places and the wearing of the right masks are some basic steps to prevent H1N1. The surgical masks will not protect the user adequately from the H1N1. The minimum mask protection will be the N-95 mask. I am given to understand that many people are still not aware how H1N1 spreads.

More could be done by the government to improve on public health and safety. The government should rightly educate the public on the awareness of H1N1 so that they would be conscious about H1N1 and prevent it the correct way. In America, there are detailed advices to members of a family on how to take care of a patient of H1N1 and how to prevent the spread of the virus to the rest of family members. I hope that the public and the government could work together to ensure that this H1N1 be curbed soonest possible.

截至目前，我国A（H1N1）型流感的确诊病例已高达196宗。我预测在未来两周内，国内的确诊宗数将增加到200至300宗。原因是要控制易扩散的疾病并不容易。

目前的近22宗病例当中，绝大部分为进口感染。这表示我们必须加强入境关口的检测程序。我曾在部落格中强调，所有航空搭客抵达降陆后，必须在下机前接受体温测量。这么做是确保有效隔离和追踪曾与A（H1N1）流感病人接触的人士。因为我们无法确定有关人士是否根据程序完成自我隔离。因此，航班中若有人发烧，将被视为疑似病例而须接受隔离检验，曾与发烧病患接触的搭客也须被严格隔离，直到报告证实呈阴性为止。目前，所有疑似病患下机后，将被送往医院进行隔离和检验，病人在整个过程中或与许多单位接触，而使当局的追踪工作趋难。

此外，当局也实行居家隔离。我们需要相关病人及家人的充分合作，在隔离期间居家不出，谢绝访客，以免让其他人感染。这样，居家隔离措施才能奏效。还说回头，我们要如何确保有关病人和其家人严格遵守有关措施呢？谁由执行监督？截至目前，我们尚未有完整的隔离及执法指南，予从国外回国的人士。与此同时，我被告知一些搭客投诉我国机场的防疫措施不足，例如没有洗手液及一些卫生官员没有戴口罩和手套。尽管H1N1型流感能迅速传染，然而其的死亡率仍偏低，截至6月24日只有0.44% 。当年肆虐全球的非典型肺炎死亡率高达15％至19％。在这关键时刻，我们需谨慎面对H1N1型流感，更重要的使要懂得正确的防范方法。

也许我们应采取更理智的步骤控疫，而非反应过敏地将每一间出现感染病例的商店甚至整座大厦关闭。H1N1型流感能传染人，但并非所有病例能致命。我们首先要确保基本的公共卫生，公共场所厕所的清洁卫生最为重要。在香港，多有大厦业主将负责和维持大厦内的公共电梯每日进行消毒。

使用肥皂或其洗手液清洗双手、勿在公共场所张口打喷嚏以及戴对的口罩，是基本的防疫措施。要严防感染H1N1病毒，必须要使用N－95口罩。手术用途的一般口罩无法发挥上述功能。我所了解的是，很多人至今尚未意识H1N1病毒的传播途径。

政府应该提高公共卫生和安全，包括加强H1N1流感的教育及提高公民意识，让他们掌握正确的防疫方法。例如美国，当局甚至为人民提供照顾H1N1流感病人以及防控疫情传播给家人的详细劝告。我希望我国人民及政府当局能携手合作，尽早把疫情控制。

文告:吸引各族人才 检讨官联公司表现

（吉隆坡1日讯）继政府宣布一系列的市场自由化政策后，马华署理总会长拿督斯里蔡细历医生认为，政府应检讨官联公司的人力资源表现，以强化有关公司的国际竞争条件。

他说，目前，只有少数的大马官联公司具备国际竞争条件。大部分的官联公司只能与本地注册公司及土著公司竞争。

“政府早前为官联公司设定关键绩效指标，以监督这些公司的表现。但我认为，要加强官联公司的竞争条件，当局应吸引国内的各族人才，以及招揽海外专才就业。”

蔡细历也是国阵总协调。他今日发表文告说，首相拿督斯里纳吉刚宣布的一系列吸引外资政策正合时宜，相信能改善我国的经济现状，更重要的是有助于吸引国内外投资者。

他指出，《马新社》引述国际贸易及工业部声明时指出，我国在2008年的外商直接投资（FDI）增长了120亿9千美元（460亿令吉），比2007年的84亿美元（300亿令吉）增长了53.4%。虽然2008年外商直接投资大量增加，联合国贸易与发展会议（UNCTAD）预测，由于受到目前的金融风暴影响，有关领域的表现明年将进一步下降。基于这一点，我国不能停驻于过去的成就和荣耀。

他也说，大马不能持续依赖外劳廉价劳工，也不能继续依赖石油出口为国家的主要收入来源。相反的，我国要朝高附加值经济体趋进，才能实现高收入的经济模式，以及达致逐年6％的增长率。

“根据目前的经济形势，我国在吸引外国直接投资面对激烈的竞争。目前，全球经济萎缩将促使外资目光趋向低生产和投资成本的投资。”

“因此，我希望新的政策能吸引本地和外国投资者寻求在马来西亚交易所上市，把大马交易所推上国际投资舞台，并通过构建一个开放、亲商、稳定和可预测的投资环境，促进我国证券交易活动。”

蔡细历认为，与其讲求土著的股权拥有，政府更应该重视土著在经济活动的参与。换言之，政府应正视土著同胞在宏观经济层面的参与。

他强调，政府需要制定新的关键绩效指标来监督这一系列的新措施。否则，政策虽好但小拿破仑办事不力，执行偏差，则会引发民怨。

“首相的宣布证明了他改革政府的决心。他必须言出必行，才能建立人民对他管理国家的信心。希望这一系列的政策是良好的开端，政府在未来会革兴及推行更多利民政策，让全民受惠。”

我们必须确保没有一个族群受宪法保障的权利被剥夺并同享国家的成果，才能实现“一个马来西亚”愿景。

Liberalization of Investment Policy

The announcement on liberalization of investment policy made by PM Najib came at the right time. This will improve the current economic situation and to attract more local and foreign investors to Malaysia.

According to a Bernama report, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry has announced an increase of 53.4% growth in FDI in 2008 with an amount of US$12.9 billion (RM46 billion) as compared to US$8.4 billion (RM30billion) in 2007. Although there is tremendous increase of FDI is 2008, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) predicts that there will be a further drop in FDI in year 2009 due to the current global financial crisis. With this in mind, we cannot dwell on our past achievements.

Malaysia can no longer depend on foreign workers as cheap labour. We cannot continue to depend on the export of oil as the main source of the nation’s revenue. We have to move up the value added chain, then only can we achieve a high income economic model and a respectable economic growth of a minimum growth of 6% annually.

Based on the current economic situation, there is intense competition in attracting FDI. The current economic slowdown will push foreign investors to seek for lower production and investment costs. According to UNCTAD World Investment Prospects Survey 2007 - 2009, there are three main motives for companies to internationalize their production: market seeking, resource seeking and efficiency seeking. The major factor that affects foreign investors' decision to invest in other countries, however depends on the size of the local market, meaning large economies such as China and the United States are the most popular markets for investments. Therefore, China who is a rising star in the global economy will likely to benefit from FDI. Last year, China recorded a 10.6% increase in FDI. We have to ensure that we are still in the race to compete with huge potential market like China.

Since the 30% bumiputra quota requirement for companies seeking to be public listed on Bursa Saham Malaysia is now scrapped, it is hoped that this policy will be able to attract both local and foreign companies to seek listing in Bursa Malaysia. Lets hope it will put Bursa Malaysia on the radar screen of the international investment community. Through an open, pro-business and stable and predictable investment climate, we hope to promote a more vibrant stock exchange.

Meanwhile, PM Najib has also announced that the Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) is 'no longer exist' because it did not serve its purpose well. The FIC was first established to monitor the 30% ownership rule in Malaysia but it did not manage to sustain the RM54bil in shares allocated to bumiputra. There are only RM2bilion of shares left in the hands of bumiputra. The government should look at economic participation by the bumiputra rather than just the equity participation. The government should not micro-manage the economy. It should look at the economic participation of the bumiputra at the macro level.

It is time that the government also look at the Government Linked Company (GLC). Only a few GLCs can compete at the international level. Within the country, it only serves to compete with locally incorporated companies, including bumiputras. The government has set KPI for the GLC and it is time to open up the GLC so that it will attract talented people of all races, including overseas talent.

The government needs to monitor all the new measures as announced be implemented according to the books. Often, it’s the deviation of implementation by the ‘Little Napoleons and Little Josephines’ that the rakyat is upset with the government. Hence, there is a need for a new KPI whether these policies are implemented accordingly.

PM Najib’s announcement proves that he’s committed to change and reform the government. He has to walk the talk. Then only people have confidence in the new administration. Lets hope these policies changes is just the beginning of many more good policies to come that will bring benefit to all races. Then only can we achieve a ‘Satu Malaysia’ where no race is denied of his constitutional rights to enjoy the fruits of the nation’s development.

首相拿督斯里纳吉刚宣布的一系列吸引外资政策正合时宜，相信能改善我国的经济现状，更重要的是有助于吸引国内外投资者。

《马新社》引述国际贸易及工业部声明时指出，我国在2008年的外商直接投资（FDI）增长了120亿9千美元（460亿令吉），比2007年的84亿美元（300亿令吉）增长了53.4%。虽然2008年外商直接投资大量增加，联合国贸易与发展会议（UNCTAD）预测，由于受到目前的金融风暴影响，有关领域的表现明年将进一步下降。基于这一点，我国不能停驻于过去的成就和荣耀。

大马不能持续依赖外劳廉价劳工，也不能继续依赖石油出口为国家的主要收入来源。相反的，我国要朝高附加值经济体，才能实现高收入的经济模式，以及达致逐年6％的增长率。

根据目前的经济形势，我国在吸引外国直接投资面对激烈的竞争。目前，全球经济萎缩将促使外资目光趋向低生产和投资成本的投资。

继政府废除上市公司30％的土著股权固打，我希望新的政策能吸引本地和外国投资者寻求在马来西亚交易所上市，把大马交易所推上国际投资舞台，并通过构建一个开放、亲商、稳定和可预测的投资环境，促进我国证券交易活动。

与此同时，首相纳吉也宣布撤除外资委员会的限制条例。政府当初成立外资委员会是为了监执30％股权的条例。然而，该委员会却无法维持高达540亿令吉的土著股权。与其讲求土著的股权拥有，政府更应该重视土著在经济活动的参与。换言之，政府应正视土著同胞在宏观经济层面的参与。

政府是时候检讨官联公司的表现。目前，只有少数的大马官联公司能在国际市场上竞争，其他的只能与本地注册公司及土著公司竞争。政府早前也为官联公司设定关键绩效指标，以监督这些公司的表现。但当局应该更开放以吸引国内的各族人才，及及招揽海外专才就业。


政府需要制定新的关键绩效指标来监督这一系列的新措施。否则，政策虽好但小拿破仑办事不力，执行偏差，则会引发民怨。

纳吉的宣布证明了他改革政府的决心。他必须言出必行，才能建立人民对他管理国家的信心。希望这一系列的政策是良好的开端，政府在未来会革兴及推行更多利民政策，让全民受惠。

我们必须确保没有一个族群受宪法保障的权利被剥夺并同享国家的成果，才能实现“一个马来西亚”愿景。

MCA Divisional Annual General Meeting

I have read in the papers that Datuk Chua Jui Meng was shocked and sad over a purported allegation by me in my blog that in the general election, there was sabotage in Bakri constituency by Datuk Chua Jui Meng. I hope Jui Meng read what I posted in my blog on 23rd June and I re-quote: “The general feeling is when the incumbent in Bakri was replaced after having served 5 terms, some of the MCA members and supporters were not happy. This is the problem that BN faces when a long serving candidate is replaced with a new face. The incumbents always feel that they have many more years to go before they retire. Hence, in a lot of constituencies, when a long serving incumbent is replaced, there is non-cooperation and what is worst sabotage”. Anyone reading this will know that this is a general statement and that the meaning of it should not be twisted.

I have also read in the papers that in the Bakri AGM, out of 392 divisional delegates, only 150 of them attended the AGM. I hope that the division and other divisions with poor turnout of delegates in their AGMs could take this opportunity to re-evaluate the cause or the root of the problem within their divisions. Blaming and pointing fingers at others will not resolve any problem. It will only cause more damage to the division and to the party.

Apart from that, in one newspaper, Jui Meng claimed that the BN lost of Bakri and Bentayan seats was because Dr. Chua had influenced party members to go against him. I find this hard to believe, as we should now be strategizing on how to win back all lost seats and regain rakyat’s confidence. By just blaming others will not help at all. It will only provoke more emotions. Do not think that those who disagree with you have a personal agenda. I have said many times that MCA must show unity and do not treat party members as enemies, otherwise we will be wiped away come the next general election. Having said that, I wish to rest my case. I have no intention to engage in a media war with anyone.

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我从报章上获知，蔡锐明不满我在部落格中指控他于全国大选在峇吉里国席一战中扯后腿，并对有关指责感到震惊。我希望蔡锐明到我的部落格，阅读刊载于6月23日的文章。我在此摘录其中一段：

“...峇吉里国席向来是国阵的堡垒选区之一，然而却在2008年大选中沦陷。一般的印象是，由于蝉联了5届的原任议员被撤换，引起一些党员和支持者不满。每当国阵以新人取代在位已久的议员出任候选人，都会面对类似问题。”

“原任者经常认为距离退休自己还有很长的任期。因此，在许多选区，一旦在位已久的原任者被取代，便出现不合作甚至是恶意破坏的局面.....”

阅读本文的读者都清楚，这是一般情况的概述，其内容的含义不容扭曲。

我也从报章中得知，在刚举行的峇吉里区会代表大会，总数392位支会代表当中，只有150人出席大会。我希望，任何无法在本身代表大会取得理想出席率的区会，能借此机会重新自我检讨，找出问题和区会内部分歧的根源。互相指责或归咎所谓的“外力”，并不能解决问题，只会为区会和党造成更大的破坏。

另外，根据一家英文报章报道，蔡锐明指我影响党员和他对抗，导致国阵输掉峇吉里国席和文打烟州席。真荒谬！我们现在不是该谋略如何赢回失去的席位，重挽人民的信任？一味怨责他人无济于事，只会挑起更多情绪。那些不认同你的人不代表都有个人议程。

我也多次声明，马华必须表现团结一面，以及停止敌视自己的党员。否则马华在下届大选将彻底消失。

对于以上的事件，我言止与此。我不会、更不打算与任何人在媒体上掀口舌之争。

No Indonesian Domestic Maids

Finally, the Indonesia government reacted by banning Indonesian maids to work in Malaysia. Individually, Indonesians can on their own apply to Malaysian employer on a direct basis to work in Malaysia. Hence, how effective this government ban will be, only time will tell. Many unemployed Indonesian ladies would work to circumvent this official ban. After all, there are many illegal Indonesians working in Malaysia. In fact, illegal Indonesians constitute the largest group of illegal workers in this country. The ban may only be good on paper.

With the Indonesia government facing an election year trying to be popular, decision made can puzzle the outsiders. This ban on Indonesian maids to work in Malaysia is one classical example. All right thinking Malaysians condemns employers who abused their maid. The abusive employer is to be found in every part of the world, not just among Malaysians. The ban would only serve Indonesian maids finding its way to work in Malaysia illegally. Then, when the employer becomes abusive, the illegal maid will be at the mercy of the abusive employer. The maid will then have to choose to report to the police and at the same time having its status of being an illegal worker be exposed. In short, the abusive employer may go scot-free since the employer is aware that the illegal maid may not seek legal recourse.

Indonesia media enjoy Malaysia bashing. Apparently, this is popular among the rakyat in Indonesia. On the other hand, the Malaysia media have been rather professional in their reporting of the countless crime committed by Indonesian workers in this country. It is the Malaysia media who should be doing Indonesia bashing considering the countless suffering inflicted on Malaysians by Indonesian criminals in Malaysia.

Any rational Malaysian would want to see a cordial relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia. Malaysia subscribes to the concept of prosper-thy-neighbour. When our neighbours are doing well, we gain by investments, by trade and by the inflow of tourists. When they have problem, we inherit part of the problem. The annual haze that we are subjected to because of the open burning in Indonesia is a classical example. It is the same with hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants coming from Indonesia because of the poor employment prospect in their own country. In general, no Malaysians look down on the Indonesian workers. In fact, most Malaysians have a lot of sympathy and understanding of Indonesians working in our country. It is a few bad Indonesian apples and a small group of abusive Malaysian employers that served to strain an otherwise cordial relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Malaysian employers may have to look to other alternative sources for their household maids. Maybe the government should introduce minimum wage for Malaysian maids working in Malaysia. This may partially solve the problem of homegrown domestic maids.

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印尼政府宣布终于发出声明，禁止输出印尼女佣来马。尽管如此，该国女佣还是可以个别向大马雇主直接申请，以来马工作。所以，印尼政府的禁令是否有效，时间将会说明一切。相信该国许多失业的女性将设法规避官方禁令，别忘了还有很多印尼外劳非法逗留在大马。事实上，在我国的非法外劳当中，印尼非法外劳的人数最庞大。

随着印尼即将面对全国大选，该政府试图讨人民欢心而作出一些外人困惑难解的决定，禁止印尼女佣来马工作就是一个典型的例子。虐待女佣的大马雇主都面对众人严厉谴责。但事实上，除了大马，世界各国都有虐待女佣的坏雇主。印尼政府的禁令只会迫使让印尼女佣非法入境来马工作。非法工作的女佣一旦遭到虐待，一般上都会受制于雇主，选择向警方举报的话等于自揭非法入境罪行。由于非法女佣不敢诉诸法律，最终，这些坏心的雇主将继续逍遥法外。

印尼的媒体都喜欢攻击大马，这种手法也显然深受印尼人民欢迎。相反的，大马媒体很专业地报道印尼劳工在我国的罪案事件。其实，鉴于印尼劳工引发罪案频频，造成无数大马人民受苦，大马媒体更应该严厉声讨对方。

理智的大马人民都希望马印有友好的关系。马大赞同诸邻国繁荣昌盛利于我国的概念，邻国成就非凡，我国也能从投资、经贸和旅游活动中受惠。反之，若它们面对问题，我们也深受牵连。印尼公开焚烧活动导致烟霾每年狂袭大马就是最佳的例子；该国不明朗的就业前景导致数以万计的印尼非法移民涌入我国是另一个例子。

大马人没有轻视印尼工人。事实上，大多数大马人都很同情及体谅在我国工作的印尼人。只是少数的印尼害群之马，以及小撮可恶的大马雇主坏了规矩，造成大马和印尼向来友好的关系紧张。

与此同时，大马的雇主们有必要考虑以其他女佣代替印尼女佣了。也许政府应落实最低工资政策，为本地女佣设定最低基薪，不但保障本地家庭女工的基本利益，这有助本缓和甚至解决他们所面对的部分问题。