I,,,",,, ..~

4(01([»~)I!nghuni per$cal~ar~tinda~an MPSJ

I

Pendudukmendakwa,dalamsuratyangdikeluarkanakhirJanuarilalu,setiappemilikunitjugaperlumemohonpelekatdaripadaJabatanPerbendaharaanMPSJ,malahdikenakanbayaransebanyakRM3setahun.

. NURFARHANAABDULMANAN

SERIKEMBANGAN- Kira-kira

400 penghuni apartmen diBandar Putra Permai Blok C

di sini mempersoalkan tindak-an Maj lis Perbandaran SubangJaya (MPSJ) yang mengeluar-kan arahan bahawa hanya se-buah kereta dibenarkan di-parkir di luar kawasan pagar.

Penduduk mendakwa, da-lam surat yang dikeluarkanakhir Januari lalu, setiap pe-milik unit juga perlu memohonpelekat daripada JabatanPerbendaharaanMPSJ, malahdikenakan bayaran sebanyakRM3 setahun.

Jelaspenduduklagi,dalamsurat itu turut dinyatakan ba-hawa sebelum ini kenderaankedua milik mereka yang di-parkir di luar pagar apartmeniaitu di tepi jalan, menghalanglalu lintas dan menimbulkan

masalah.Ahli Jawatankuasa

PendudukPutra PermaiBlokC,NorehanAbdulManafber-kata, dia dimaklumkanme-lalui surat itu bahawa pen-duduk perlu menghubungiJabatan Perbendaharaan unhlkmemohon pelekat yang mem-bolehkan mereka meletakkankereta di luar.

Katanya, apa yang diper-soalkan pihaknya adalah ada-kah tindakan meletakkan ke-reta dengan membayar RM3setahun itu tid:ik menghalanglalUlintas, se.dangkankeadaanyang sarnatetapberlakuwalau-pun tilendapat kebenaran.

"Sayatidak fahammengapasebelumini MPSJ mengatakanlarangantileletakkanletJihdari-pada sebuah kereta bagi setiapunit rumah menghalang lalulintas, sedangkan jika merekamemberipelekat,perkara yangsama tetap berlaku.

"lni bermaknatempatyangsebelum ini diletakkan keretatetap akan dipenuhi dengankenderaan penduduk, malahapa yang saya ingin nyatakandi sini,pemilikkenderaantidakpemah menghalang lalu lintasdengan membuat 'double par-king' ," katanya.

Norehan menambah, se-lain itu, had sebuah kendera-an bagi setiap unit rumah yang

Norehan Abdul Manaf menunjukkan kawasan parkir di luar yangdidakwa MPSJ mengganggu lalu lintas.

boleh diparkir di luar juga ti-dak dapat memenuhi keperlu-an penduduk, di,mana ada an-tara mereka yang mempunyailebih dua kereta.

"Bagi setiap pemilik, kamihanya dibenarkan meletakkansebuah sahajakereta di dalamkawasan berpagar, manakalayang selebihnya sebelum inidiletakkan di luar.

"Tetapijika arahanterbabitdikuatkuasakan, ini bermaknakami terpaksa membayar kom-paun bagi setiapkeretayang ti-dakmemperolehpelekat,"ujar-nya.

Manakalabagi Pengawal

Keselamatan Blok apartmenterbabit, Mohd Nazri Jamhuri,sebelum ini pemilik meletak-kan kereta mereka dengan ter- I

atur di kawasan luar pagar."Saya tidak pemah melihat

ada masalah timbul berkenaanparkir kereta di luar,malahjikaada pemilik kenderaan yangmenghalang lalu lintas, kamiakan mengarahkan merekaberedar.

"Justeru, saya memohonpihak berkenaan mengkaji se-mula arahan tersebut keranabimbang ia menimbulkanmasalah kelak," jelasnya.

" ' , ,",' cc ~~riJf'

MPSJhadkanparkiruntukelaktimbul sebarangmasalah :

SUBANG JAVA -Timbalan Yang DipertuaMajlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJJ,Yusof Ghazali menegaskan tindakanmengehadkan jumlah kenderaan yang di-parkir di luar kawasan pagar perumahanpangsapuri adalah untuk mengelakkantimbulnya sebarang masalah.

Menurut beliau, arahan itu dikeluarkankepada semua pemilik rumah pangsapuri ba-wah kawasan pentadbiran MPSJ yang me-letakkan kenderaan mereka di luar.

"Kami melaksanakan tindakan ber-

kenan kerana menerima banyak aduan da-ripada masyarakat sekitar yang mendakwakenderaan diletakkan di sepanjang bahuja-Ian menghalang lalu lintas dan menyebab-kan kemalangan.

"Malah pihak kami juga mengehadkanjumlah sebuah kenderaan bagi setiap unitrumah kerana mendapati ada antara merekayang meletakkan kenderaan bukanlah pe-milik pangsapuri berkenaan," katanya.

Jelas Yusof, selain itu, beliau menyata-kan had yang dikeluarkan adalah untuk meng-

elakkan terlalu banyak kenderaan diparkir dikawasan tepi jalan pada satu-satu masa. II, "Sebelumini, kamimendapatlaporan '

berlakunya kemalangan kerana jalan besardan mempunyai dua hala kini menjadi sem-pit akibattindakan mereka yang meletakkankereta secara tidak teratur.

"Malah sikap mereka yang letak kereta "di bahu jalan menyebabkan landskap kamirosak dan lebih merumitkan, ia menyebab-kan hakisan tanah," jelasnya ketika ditemuikelmarin.

~ tS.J\vZ. AA£1!\r-J

2 3 MAR2008

i MBtohandle, land,finance,! youthportfolios!

I

I

!

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1

t0l.l-Jf IJ

KUAlA SEIANGOR: Selangor Menten BesarTan Sri Abdul KhaJid Ibrahim said yesterdaythat he would chair the land, finance andyouthporfolios. .

He, however, did not announce the portfo-liosfor the other executivecouncilmembers. !

Khalid, who spoke after he attended a thanks-giving gathering at Bukit Badong, Ijok, addedthat they would hold their first meeting on

. Wednesday.I Earlier, at the gathering, Khalidsaid several

I

intern.

. ational bOdies.

. had offere.

d to de".. elop

progranunes and modules to train youths inentrepreneurship and tooling.

i He said 80 per cent of the country's youthslack the skills to be self-employed while only20 per cent made it to university.

He said that the progranunes would focus IIon dropouts and those who had undergone

I training but were unemployed. - Bernama --1

NEW STRAr~~R TloMESTar ikh: .....~..~ ......

MPSJbelanjaRM2jutaselenggaralandskap

1rt~4"/)'3/?

USJ-Bagi meQ.anganimasalahpokoktull1baIlgdi kawasan ba-wahpentadbir<g1Majlis -Berban4aranSqbai)g Jaya (MPSJ) ke-tika musim hujankebelakangan ini, unit'hotIine' yang ber-ful1gsiZ4jamsehati sedia menerima aduanpenduduk mengenaipetkara itu.

Ti!tibalanYangPipertuaMPSJ, YusofGhazali berkata, unitberke'o'Mnakan~e)okasi bevisiko sejurus menerill1aaduan pen-dudukuntukll1encantas.pokok yaIig bolehmendatangkan baha-yakepada oral1gtamai.

Katanya, orang ran:mibolehmenghubungi talian 03-56376545l.mtukillelaporkan sebarang aduan kecemasansekiranya ada po-kok yan&tumbang di kawasanpemmahan ataudijalan raya.

"Skuad khas ini akan mengambil tindakan segera, malahmembersihkan kawasan terbabit untuk illelancarkan kembalilalu Iintas.

"Kamimempunyai lima kontraktot yang.bettanggungjawabuQ.tukmeneriillaaduan berkaitanpenyelenggaraan landskap, ma-lah kami illengalu-alukanaduanorangramai, "ujarnya.

fMia1JlJerkatadenrikianketikamengulas langkah awalyangdiambilpihak MPSJ apabila musim hujan sering melanda kawa-san sekitar sejakkebelakangan ini.

Menumt Yusoflagi, tahun lalu sahaja, MPSJ membelanja-

kan kira-kira RMz juta untuk kerja~kerjapenyelenggaraan land- I

skapdi semuakawasanpentadbirannya. I

MINTAMPS)pantau kedaiyang menganjurkan perniagaan judimgsin di $ul1gaiBesiIndahk~rana banyak merosakkan anak-ahakmudakita.-ANA~TIMOR,SUBANGJAVA

KAMPUNGKenanganBatu13,Puchong kerap dilanda banjirsetiap kalihujan lebat. Paritdanlongkang baru sajasiap.Peruntukan banyak disalurkan tapi masih menghadapi masalahyang sarna dari dulu, bahkan keadaan banjir bertambah teruk.MintawakilrakyatN30DUNKinrarasupaya mengarnbiltindakan yang sewajarnya. Kamipenduduk kampung sudahtidaktahan lagi berhadapan dengan keadaan yang Samasetiapkali hujan lebat. Semoga pemimpin negeri peka dengan nasib ;rakyatini.-ZIK,PUCHONG ~ ~ d- '3 3

9U-.\A<Z ~It\f-J

2 3 MAR2008

- ---

~,.rMrJ.Jf:J

Badan!antarabangsabangun prog.rambeliaKUALA SELANGOR -- MenteriBesar Selangor Tan Sri Abdul KhalidIbrahim berkata hari ini beberapa ba-dan antarabangsa menyatakan minatuntukmembantumembangunkanpro-gram dan modullatihan bagi belia da-lam bidangkeusahawanandan tooling(perkakasan)di negeri ini.

Denganmengikutiprogramlatih-an ini,beliaakanmempunyaikepakarandan kemahiran bertaraf antarabangsa,dan membolehkan mereka bekeIjamalahan di luar negara, katanya ke-pada pemberita selepas majlis makankesyukuran sempena kemenanganbe-liau dalampilihan raya umum lepas diBukit Badong, di sini. '

Abdul Khalid berkata Selangorakan dapat mewujudkansatu kumpul-an kelas pertengahan berkemahiranmelalu,iprogrampembangunan beliayang akanrnel)1acu pembangunan diSelangor.

Beliau berkata pada masa ini 80peratus daripadabeliadi negara iJiiter-

KHALID IBRAHIM

pinggir dan tidak mendapat latihan ke-mahiran untilk berdikari dan selebihnyaiaitu 20peratus sahajayang berpeluangmelanjutkan pelajaran ke menara ga-ding.

Oleh itu, Abdul,Khalid berkata

3~1'J£\1<-~\Ar-'

2 3 MAR2008

beliau akan menumpukan kepadagolonganyang terpinggirini termasukyang keciciran dalam pe.lajaran untuk '

mempunyai peluang kedua.Beliau berkatajika selepas me- .

nerima latihan masih ada belia yang IgagalmeraihpendapatanRM2,000se- ibulanmerekaakan dipanggilbalikun-tuk dilatih

semula."Di Selangor ada satu setengah

juta pekeIja asing mencari makan,kalau ada lagipemuda-pemudi di

, Selangoryang tidakbekeIja saya rasa I

sedih," katanya.

I

Mengenai struktur Exco keraja-an negeri, Khalid berkata beliau akanmemegang portfolio berkaitan tanah,kewangan dan belia; tetapi beliau ti-dak pula menyebut portfolio lain.

Beliau berkata barisan Exco yangakan mengangkat sumpah Isnin ini akanbermesyuarat buat kali pertama padaRabu.

--BERNAMA

5(~)27~

Trainingschemefor youthsSelangor to teach them how tomake RM2,OOOin two yearsIJOK:The Selangor Governmentwill come up with a training sche-me to help youths gain skillsthatwill allow them to raise their in-come to RM2,000 within twoyears.

If the youths fail to reach thesalary range, they would be re-calledand retrained.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri KhalidIbrahim said although there weremany universities and collegesoffering opportunities, only 20%were able to enter them.

"About80%of the youths neverreach that level of academicachievement but they can masterspecialskillslike fittingand weld-ingthat are much soughtafter andearn well,"he told reporters afterattending a celebratory functionheld in his honour at his con-stituency here yesterday.

He said that without training,the youths often found it hard to

land jobs and even when theyfound employment the salarieswere often low.

"In a state with 1.5 million for-eign workers, the governmentwould have been deemed to havefailed if it cannot solve the prob-lem of unemployment among itsown youths," he said.

He said another reason for theskills training was to prepare aworkforce with a high level ofskills and productivity to reducedependence onJoreign labour.

Khalidsaid the executivecoun-cilwould hold its first meeting onWednesday following the swear-ing-in ceremony tomorrow.

He said he had asked thoseappointed to be forward lookingand find solutions to problemsbefore they affected the people.

In his speech earlier, he said hewould also be in-charge of theyouth, land and finance portfolios.

STARTarikh; 2 3 MAR2008.....-

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.,

Gobind Singh Deo feeding Kayaen Singh Deo. Silngeeta Kaur Sidhu holds Kayaen's twin, Keeshan, while eldest son Jaydn looks on at their BukitDamansara home.

;.~obindalready on~I he prowl in Puchong. ByAdrian Dilvld

news@nst.com.my

KllALA LUMPUR: Gobind SinghDp,o's mobile munber 019-2769888 has not stopped ringingsil1<'p,he won the Puchong parlia-llj('ntary seat on March 8.

And Gobind is not resting on hislaurels.

lIe is already on the prowl,get-ting to know his 75,000 con-stituent; with dally meet-the-peo-pip sessions at markets, shops,homes and rp,staurants.

A lawyor, Gobind, 34, hILStrad-od his legal robos for a simple 1:shirt with a small DAr rocket logon ,rim 'd above the Ip,ftpocket as

'it ]'1 ; his rfJtmds in Puchong.!IdaI' "inrara am' "eri Sp,rdang

v vnships.As I expand my free I{Jgalaid

,II~ c,ommunity services, I am re-

[IU 'eng Peng

cruiting additional assistants toget the job done.

"This is no easy task."Gobind added it was time for

him to make his presence felt as "alot of people had heard of me buthave not met me face to face".

"There is a difference betweenmeeting people and getting toknow them. I must step into theirshoes to know what state they arein, must discard protocol and be

approachable."This way, I can gain their trust

and be remembered."Asked how he was coping with

the pressnre of being an MP, alawyer and a family man, Gobindsaid he had psyched himself toface the challenges.

"I take great pleasure in servingsociety, which I have always doneas a lawyer.

"Now, I am dealing with the re-ality of being a politician withproper planning, thanks largely tomy Wife ijournalist-turned lawyerSangeeta Kaur Sidhu) and my le-gal team:," said Gobind, who wasadmitted to the Malaysian Bar in1996, a year after returning fromLincoh]'shm.

Gobind said he had learnt a lotfrom his mentor, father andprominent DAP lawym' KarpalSingh.

"Dad has done it over the years,proving that it is not impossible tomanage your business and be aparliamentarian,

"In fact, politics has become myhobby now. It complements my le-gal practice and kills themonotony (of being a lawyer),"said Gobind, DAP's national legalbureau secretary.

On his role in parliament, Gob-ind said he would speak up on is-sues affecting not only his con-stituents but allMalaysians.

At a glance, Gobind not onlybears an uncanny resemblance toKarpal,68, but sounds like him.

Wheelchair-bound Karpal, whowas involved in a road accident inearly 2005, retained his Bukit Gel-ugor parliamentary seat.

Another of Karpal's sons,JagdeepSinghDeo, won theDatukKeramat stale seat.

Constituents still on Lau's mindKUALA LUMPUR: It's back to the

grind for "vanquished" PuchongMP Lau Yeng Peng of the Gerakan.

Lau, who was MP since 1994

until he lost to DAP's Gobind SinghDeo in the recent general electionby 11,882votes. .

Although Lau will now spendmore time in his business, which

, includes computer software andconstruction, he said he would not

neglect his supporters."My political work will still con-

tinue as there is still some unfin-ished work in my constituency,"he said.

On his defeat, Lau said it was thedecision of the people.

"The polls were conducted in ademocratic, fair and transparentmanner.

"My defeat does not reflect on

NEW STRAITS TIMES

Tarikh: ...2'J.M~.~...~.......

the concerted efforts put in by meand my team.

"Rather, it reflects national sen-timents . ,Uld protest votes castagainst the Barisan Nasional ow-ing to various factors, includingthe apathy and arrogance of someleaders. "

Lau said regardless of howcredible the BN candidate was,the seat would still have been lost.

hJ'<,I ~(.\I

9iJ. ~~h

PilihanrayaPBT periukajianteliti?engundianpilih Yang Dipenua kerajaan tempatan dikhuatiri cetus kerenah politiko1ehZiaUddfnSharUctdin

~ ELEPASPilihan Raya Umnm Ke-12,~ 1Jartipembangkang, terutama DAP~ Dersama Parti Keadilan Rakyat

IpKR) elengan suam lebih besar eli Par-limen, Ulenghidupkan kembali idea me-ngaelakan pilihan raya kel'ajaan tempa-w-Ahli Parillnen Cheras, Tan KokWai,elari

DAP yang empat tahnn lalu mengetuaijawatankuasa pusat parti itu untuk meng-ilidup an pilihan raya kerajaan tempatanbersuara lantang snpaya Datuk BandaI'KualaLumpur dipilih melalni pilihan raya;Ian bukan dilantik oleh Kementerian Wi-iayah Perselmtuan.

Pengerusi DAP Kuala Lumpur. Dr TanSeng Giaw,yang juga Ahli Parlimen Ke-cong, melihat sekarang masa sesnai su-paya jawatan Datuk Bandar dan YangDipertna pihak berkuasa tempatan(PBT) lain kembali ke sistem asal pada1963.

PersoaJannya sekarang bolehlmh pili-han raya itu diadakan? Profesor Dr AbdulAziz Bari, dari Kuliyyah Undang-UndangUniversiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia,herpendapat sukar untu~ mengadakan se-mula pilihan raya Itu.

E ,tanya, walaupun ada ruang untukmengadakan pilihan raya itu, PeraturanDanu'at 1965membolehkan tindakan itndicabar di mahkamah.

"rara terbaik jika mana-mana plhakmahu memulihkan semula pilihan raya~erajaan tempatan ialah meminda un-dang-nndangberkaitan," katanya.

!iekangan nndang-undang disedari olehr.2dua-dnaAhli Pal'limen DAP itu. SelagiDAP PKR dan Pas maslh berstatus pem-0.11;kang di Parlimen, kemungkinan me-minda unelang-nndangitu tidak mungl,inmenjadi kenyataan.

Tidak ramai yang mengingati kali ter-alu,ir pilihan raya j;-'rajaan tempatan di-adakan.

~ebahagian besar rakyat hanya mem-punyai pengalaman elalam pilihan rayaUl1nundan sesekali pilihan raya kecil ke-rana kali temkhir piiihan raya kerajaan" -.'~tandiaelakan adalah pada 1963..Iika diandaikan hanya kanak-kanak

oerusia 10 tahun dapat mengingati per-1O(iwaJampau. maka hanya mereka yangsek,,"mg bel'nsia .55tahun dapat mengi-1, I ~[jihan r,wa kali terald!ir itu.

Sejarah pilihan I'aya I,erajaan tempatan.11'" ama, iaitn seawal1857 apabila tiga

rlaripada lima ahli majlis PBT pertaman tni, GC'Orgetowll,dipilih melaluipro;es pilil1anraya. Bagaimanapun, hayat

i, j tidak lama. Sistem pe-dl~m1l1mr. :!engan peJantikan

.0:elOwn €l ,!J!agi mencata.t sejarahIS British memperkenalkan se-

un'uk memilih sem--I, 'C ,hI' m,jli,Q perbandaran

IS laripada 18ahliF.uala uumpur elipilih',< '0'

,mIl . cr,oton me11([;,tmIui dari;; r m" Perb>l1dal'an\[ "",,,2 mem-

n[ iT. 'mah!ill I "

.'~U.:liIII

. Pilihan raya kerajaan tempatanmemerlukan pindaan undang-undang dan selagi DAp, PKRdan Pas berstatus pembang-kang pindaan tidak mung kinjadi kenyataan.

. Pilihan raya kerajaan tempatandikhuatiri menyebabkan ter-I,alubanyak aktiviti politik yangbukan lagi pada peringkatatas, tetapi akarumbi dan me-nyebabkan lebih banyak ma-salah yang merugikan rakyat.

C' Pilihan raya kerajaan tempatantidak menjamin semua kere-nan PST akan lenyap begitusaja dan meningkatkan keupa-yaan PSTkerana jika pilihanraya diadal<an 10 kali pun, kea-daan tetap sama jika merekay,ang memegang jawatan ti-dak menunaikan kewajipan.

. Usahapenambahbaikan PSTsentiasa dibua! termasukmemperkenalkan penilaianmengikut bintang untuk me-mantau prestasi dan keceka-pan PST,

Paela pilihan raya yang diadakan se-bagai susnlan Perjanjian Persekutuan Ta-nah MeJayu1948,Pertubuhan KebangsaanMelayu Bersatu (Ulllno)dan Persatuan Ci-na Tanah Melayu (MCA)memenangi sem-bilan daripada 12 kerusi dipertanding-kan.

Kalangan sejarawan berpandangan ba-hawa kelllenangan itu membnlm jalan ke-pada penubuhan Perikatan yang kemu-dian diseliai MlC.

Ketiga-tiga parti memenangi 51 dari 52kerusi yang dipertandingkan dalam pi-lihan raya umum pertaJna negara pada19.55.

Pilihan raya kerajaan tempatan men-catat kemajnan apabila pada 1956,Geo-rgetown muncnl sebagai perbandaran per-lama yang semua aMi majlis dipilih me-lalui pilihan raya. G H Goh dari Perikatandipilih sebagai Presiden pertama.

Era awal tahun 1960-a.nmenyaksikanPerikatan hilang penguasaan di kebanya-kan perbandaran. Konfrontasi oleh Indo-nesia terhadap Malaysia menyebabkan pi-lihan raya kerajaan tempatan yang se-patutnya diadakan pada 1965 dan 1966,dimansuhkan melalui Peraturan Darurat1965,undang-nndang yang dibuat lllelaluiPerisvtiharan Darurat 1964.

Bagaimanapun. Suruhanjaya Diraja di-kemai Tan Sri Athi Nahappan, yang di-tubuhkan untuk mengkaji PBT. menea-dangkan pilihan raya kerajaan tempatandihidupkan semnla. Di sebalik cadanganitu, pilil!an raya kerajaan tempatan di-mansuhkan sepenuhnya melalni Akta Ke-

rajaan Tempatan 1976.Persoalan lain yangtimbnl dalam isu ini

ialah kenapa perlu menghidupkan semnlapilihan raya kerajaan tempatan? Alasanpembangkang ialah supaya Datuk Bandar,Yang Dipertua dan ahli majJis PBT JebihbertaJlggungjawab kepaill\ pembayar cu-kal dan telus dalam setiap tindak1!l1.

Sistem sedia ada didakwa tidak mem-pedulikan rungutan dan masalall orangramai kerana mereka yang dilantik tidakkhuatir dibuang walaupun prestasi kerjaburuk,

Dari satu segi, dakwaan ini ada ke-benal'annya kerana Ketua Audit Negara,Tan Sri Ambrin Buang, dua tahun lalumendedahkan kewujudan penyelewe-ngan serius oleh PBT membabitkan pro-ses pengagihan tender pelbagai kontrakkecil.

Katanya, penyeJewengan berJaku kera-na PBT tidak telus apabila pengagihankontrak kecil diserahkan terus kepadakontraktor tanpa bidaan.

Pihak yang tidak bersetuju pnla me-nyanggah dengan alasan piJihan raya ke-rajaan tempatan hanya akan menyebab-kan terJalu banyak aktiviti politik yangbukan Jagipada peringkat atas, tetapi akarumbi.

Bayangkan kehangatan pilihan rayaumum yang membabitkan 222 kawasanParlinlen dan 505kawasan Dewan Unda-ngan Negeri (DUN). Mahu ditambah de-ngan 144PBT?

Kebimbangan yang timbul ialah ke-renah politik hanya menyebabkan pen-tadbiran PBT menghadapi lebih banyakmasalah yang akhirnya merugtkan rak-yat.

Jika pengalaman pilihan raya kerajaantempatan laln diambil kira, kemungkinansenario yangberIaku ialah kerajaan negeridan PBT dikuasai parti berbeza. Begitujnga dengan keadaan sekal'ang, PBT dibawah kerajaan negeri yang dikuasai pem-bangkang, manakala Kerajaan Pusat dibawah Barisan Nasional (EN).

PBT atau kerajaan negeri yang mem-punyai hasil pendapatan kukuh mnng:kin tidak menghadapi banyak masaJahdari segi kewangan, tetapi bagaimanadengan nasib kebanyakan PBT yang ber-gantung kepada peruntukan KerajaanPusat?

Bukan rahsia ada PBT,termasuk di ne-geri yang dilabelkan sebagai maju tidakmampu membiayai kos pelupusan sisa pe-pejal dan pembersihan awam. Apa punyang berlaku, rakyat tidak seharus men-jadi mangsa kerana pertelagahan akibatperbezaan fahaman polittk.

Walaupun Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12memperlihatkan arall aliran pengundi Me-layu mengundi DAP dan pengundi Cinamemberi undi kepada Pas, adakah ini ber-makna politik berasaskan kaum di negaraini terhakis?

Jilm jawapannya adalah ya, ini suatuperkembangan yang baik untuk sebuahnegara berbilang kaum seperti Malaysia.

Berdasarkan komposisikaum yangmen-corakkan kebanyakan kawasml Parlimendan DUN,PBT boleh dikuasai kaum ter-tentu.

Ini menyebabkan Ahli Parlimen Titi-wangsa, DrLo' Lo' MoM Ghazali, dm'iPas,

'BERITA HAR~NTarikh....~)..~~ ~

berpendapat bahawa tidak semua jawatanDewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur yang ki-ni dilantik perlu diubah sepenuhnya ke-pada pemilihan melalui pilihan raya.

Beliau berpendapat lebih baik hanyajawatan tertentu dipilih melalui pilihanraya, manakala jawatan lain dilantik olehkerajaan untuk mewujudkan keseimba-ngan di kalangan PBT serta memastikanbahawa bahawa setiap kaum mempunyaiwakil.

Idea untnk mengadakan semnla pilihanraya kerajaan tempatan perlu ditanganisecara bjjaksana dan adiLAdakah melaluipilihan raya majlis tempatan akan men-jamin PBT menjadi lebih cekap, telus danbertanggungjawab?

Walaupun tidak menafikan kebaikan-nya, tidak ada jaminan bahawa semuakerenah PBT akan lenyap begitu saja. Pre-siden lnstitut Integriti Malaysia, Datnk DrMoM Tap Salleh, berkata bukan pilihanraya kerajaan tempatan yang akan me-nentukan sesebuah PBTmenjadi lebih ce-kap, bertanggungjawab dan telus.

Katanya, sistem sedia ada sudah men-cukupi dan baik kerana setiap kakitanganPBT mengangkat sumpah untuk melaku-kan yang terbaik.

"Persoalan yang mungkin timbnl ialahdari segi pelaksanaan. Bagaimanapun, inijuga tidak sepatut berlaku kerana dalamagensi kerajaan, tindakan boleh diambilterhaill\p mereka yang tidak menjalankantugas dengan batk," kataIiya.

"Peraturan sudah ada dan ketuajabatanperIu bertindak!" katanya.

BeHauberkata, tidak timbnl bahawa pi-lihan raya kerajaan tempatan menentukankeupayaan PBT kerana jika pilihan rayadiadakan 10kali pun, keadaan tetap sarnajika mereka yang memegangjawatan tidakmenunalkan kewajipan.

Untuk berlaku adil, ada PBTyang cekapdm-isegi kutipan hasil, perkhidmatan ke-pada pembayar cukai dan ketelusan dalampengurusan.

PBT juga secara berterusan melaksa-nakan langkah penambahbaikan dalamkualiti perkhidmatan, termasuk melaksa-nakan Pengukur Petunjuk prestasi Utama(KPDbagi 31prosedur kerja clanmenerimapensjjilan seperti MS ISO9001:2000.

Ketua Setiausaha Negara, Tan Sri MoMSidek Hassan sendiri berikrar memper-tingkatkan sistem penyampalan, terma-snk memperkenalkan penilaian mengikntbilltang terhadap PBT mnlai bnlan iniuntuk memantau prestasi dan kecekapanPBT.

Pada masa sama untuk menolak sepe-nulmya hasrat rakyat ymlg mahu melihatperubahan dalam PBT tidak boleh dike-tepikan begitu saja.

Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri,Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, yang dipertanggung-jawabkan menjaga perundangml, selaintugas berat melakukan perubahan dalamsistem kehakiman, wajar meneliti aspekundang-undang berkaitan pilihan raya ke-rajaan tempatan.

Ini tidak bermakna mesti mengemba-likan pilihan raya itu seperti keadamlasal,tetapi hasil akhirnya adalah meningkat-kan kecekapan, ketelllsan dan sikap ber-tanggungjawab PBT serta memberi pelu-ang kepada rakyat mempunyai suara.

What's the role of an MP?Among the hot topics during campaigning in the last general election was the role of our electedrepresentatives. Are they supposed to look into miCro issues like street lighting ,and clogged drains?

By RASHVINJEET S.BEDIf(' 'tn' .co. .n

THE American Heritage NewDictionary of Cultural Literacyddines parliament as an assemIJly

qf representatives, uS~lally of an entirenation, that makes laws. In Malaysia,this definition l)1ight not hold water, assome members of parliament (MP) areso involved in their constituency thatthey are attending to micro issues suchas fixing of potholes and damaged light-ing.

One Barisan Nasional MP was even

labelled the "longkang (drain) MP"byher Opposition rivals during the fero-cious campaigning before the recentlyconcluded general election.

So what are the roles of elected repre-sentatives, whether they are stateassemblymen or parliamentarians?

"Not looking at drains and potholes,"is newly--elected Bukit Gasing assembly-man Edward Lee's immediate response.

"But we will oblige residents if theycome to us for help," adds Edward.

Writing ,in getanmp.blolispo(;conl,lawlecturer Azmi Sharo1)1says that the roleof MPs and state assemblymen are simi-lar in the fact that they are the lawmak-ers.

"In order to fulfil this role, their pri-mary duty therefore is to debate andvote on the proposed laws (known asBills) that are put to them. The debatingof Bills is an essential one because onlythrough intelligent discussions are thebest possible laws made," writes Azm!.

There are 222 parliamentarians and576 state assemblymen in Malaysia.

Azmi adds that Parliament and theState Legislative Assemblies playa roleof check and balance to the powers ofthe Cabinet, which is the Executivewingof government

"They do this by questioning theMinisters about their activities duringquestion time. In this way Ministers areunder constant public scrutiny," writesAzmi.

S.K. Devamany, who was elected toparliament for a second term asCameron Highlands MP. agrees withAzm!.

"We should be a pressure group toenhance the delivery system and toensure there is,no abuse of power forthe well-being of the rakyat (people ),"he says.

In his t1rst term as MP, Devamany wasinvolved in the Select Committee of thePenal Code and Criminal ProcedureCode. As a member of the committee, hewent around the country getting feed-back on subjects peltaining to snatchL,]dt 'errOlism, rape and arrest He alsowent to Australia and New Zealand to

"pl-input on the relevant laws in thoseDlllltrip'~he npnal ':ode went through some

Idmt nt,. 'ler getting the approval

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.Jobof the councils: Issuessuchas street lighting,landdevelopment,roadconditionanddrainageshouldrightfullybethe responsibility of the local authority.

debate, to fight for your cause," writesAmbrose.

However, the elected representativesin Malaysia seem to be bogged down byminor issues.

"Unfortunately, most people think thisis the primary function of the elected.Why this happens,lthink it's because offrustrations of not being attended to bylocal government offid,Hs," says Lee,adding that the assemblymen shouldempower constituents by giving themphone numbers and contact details ofauthorities to call when they face suchproblems.

"Only after they have tried (calling thelocal authorities) but there are noresults, should they let us know," addsLee.

Devamany admits that almost 70% ofthe constituents come to see him forissues ranging from securing scholar-ships to helping them with their welfare.

"We can't run away from these issuesbecause people's expectations are 'there," he says.

Lee has been involved in issues ofcivil society since 1995 and worked on,among others, the re-gazetting of BukitGasing and the relocation of thePuchong incinerator. He describes whathe is doing now as an extension to his

Azmi: 'The primary duty of pa~lia-mentarians is to debate and vote onthe proposed laws'

of Parliament in September 2007.Several new laws on offences relating toterrorism w<;re also passed-

Azmi is adamant that local authoritieshave to take care of local environmentalmatters, Ih:ensing of activities, publichealth, the cleanliness of public areas,public amenities, social services andland use planning.

"Issues such as street lighting, landdevelopment, road condition, drainage,etc are the responsibility of the Local

Devamany: 'Roles of MPs are whatthey are because of the ineffective-ness of the delivery system'

Authority. They are not the responsibili-ty of Members of Parliament and StateAssemblymen," stresses Azm!.

The getanmp blog moderator,Ambrose Poh, 44, echoes Azmi's senti-ments and expects Parliamentarians toserve the people in upholding the con-stitution.

"Your MP has a national-level role to

play. He/she makes sure your values arerepresented inthe highest law-makingoffice in the land. He/she is expected to

> TURN TO PAGE 20

STARTndkb: 2 3 MAR2008'''.'' ... """'"11::::::1

r\~1Psshould pla~rpartIin educating the people

> FROM.PAGE 19

~I duties before."One of my primary goals is to actively pro-

mote a new culture df respon$il;>iIity,respectfor good and high performance by local gov-ernment," says Lee, a reluctant politician who

1-.1

only entered politics because he thought theI country needed change.

. He'saysissues that affectthe larger com-munity, such as safety, security, the well-being of citizens and rights (h\.imanand legal)should be given paramount importance. Andbeing an assemblyman, he believes that he isable to contribute to forging tl1ese Ghanges.

"I can present my views and opinionsacross on an equal footing to the appropriateparties and authorities. Hopefully I can getmy message across effectively to them," saysLee who admits he has an uphill task

Dr Tan Seng Giaw, the Kepong MP, says theparliament is a scrutiny of the public services,which spends public funds of up to RMI00bilper year.

"For instance, we keep an eye on the1.2milIion civil servants who are paid tens ofbillion (RM)per year," says Tan.

According to Tan, parliamentarians alsoarticulate the implications and consequencesof issues ranging from the economic down-turn in America, immigration or the use ofInformation Technology.

Tan believes that MPs should play theirpart in imparting education to the people.

I 'They can givetalks based onfacts, figuresand the truth at public gatherings, forinstance," he says. .

However, just like the other MPs, he esti-mates that almost 80%to 90%of the problems

,that come to him are not within his purview,although he tries his best to deal with them.

"Politics means people or the managementof man," explains Tan who has been aMember of Parliament since 1976.

Among the problems people come to seehim for a.re regarding citizenship and poortreatment at government offices.

But dealing with these problems also giveshim a chance to meet his constituents, hesays.

Edward Lee: Hopes to promote a newcultureQfresponsibility .

Devamany, however, reckons that it willnot be easy to undo a system that has deeproots in place.

"When we talk about the Western model ofan MP, it is a little different. Here, the roles ofMPs are what they are because of the ineffec-tiveness of the delivery system. It will taketime (to reach that Western stage).Developing nations will go through thisprocess," he says.

At the end ofthe day, the general publicshould also be more empowered.

"People should empower themselves withknowledge of law and be proactive as theycan, within their means. This would allowelected representatives to concentrate onwhat they a.re supposed to do," opinesEdward.

Starting tomorrow, The Star' will featuresnapshots of MPs and ADUNs elected in the 12thgeneral election. Readers will get insights intobroad areas like their education, family and phi-losophy and also personal issues like theirfavourite movies. songs and IT gadgets. MPs willbe featured in Star 2 and ADUNs in our respec-tive,Metro seaiQn5.

STARTarikb: 2 3 MAR-"..".. ......

I ~~Psshould pia; partI in educating the people.!> FROM PAGE 19c. duties before.

"One of my primary goals is to actively pro-mote.a new culture of reSpon$il;>iIity,respectfor good and high performance by local gov-

. ernmeIit," says Lee, a reluctant politician who

1

1,

'

1

only entered politics because he thought theI country needed change.

He 'says issues that affect the larger com-munity, such as safety, security, the well-being of citizens and rights (human and legal)should be given paramount importance. Andbeing an assemblyman, he believes that he is

III able to contribute tQ forging tl1ese changes."I can present my views and opinions

across on an equal footing to the appropriateparties and authorities. Hopefully I can getmy message across effectively to them," saysLee who admits he has an uphill task

Dr Tan Seng Giaw, the Kepong MP, says theparliament is a scrutiny of the public services,which spends public funds of up to RM100bilper year.

"For instance, we keep an eye on the1.2million civil servants who are paid tens ofbillion (RM)per year," says Tan.

According to Tan, parliamentarians alsoarticulate the implications and consequencesof issues ranging from the economic down-turn in America, immigration or the use ofInformation Technology.

Tan believes that MPs should play theirpart in imparting education to the people.

I 'Theycangivetalksbasedonfacts,figuresand the truth at public gatherings, forinstance," he says. .

However, just like the other MPs, he esti-mates that almost 80%to 90%of the problems

,that come to him are not within his purview,although he tries his best to deal with them.

"Politics means people or the managementof man," explains Tan who has been aMember of Parliament since 1976.

Among the problems people come to seehim for are regarding citizenship and poortreatment at government offices.

But dealing with these problems also giveshim a chance to meet his constituents, hesays.

Edward Lee: Hopes to promote a newcultureQfresponsibility .

Devamany, however, reckons that it willnot be easy to undo a system that has deeproots in place.

"When we talk about the Western model ofan MP, it is a little different. Here, the roles ofMPs are what they are because of the ineffec-tiveness of the delivery system. It will taketime (to reach that Western stage).Developing nations will go through thisprocess," he says.

At the end of the day, the general publicshould also be more empowered.

"People should empower themselves withknowledge of law and be proactive as theycan, within their means. This would allowelected representatives to concentrate onwhat they are supposed to do," opinesEdward.

Starting tomorrow, The Star' will featuresnapshots of MPs and ADUNs elected in the 12thgeneral election. Readers will get insights intobroad areas like their education. family and phi-losophy and also personal issues like theirfavourite movies. songs and IT gadgets. MPs willbe featured in Star 2 and ADUNs in our respec-tive,Metro seaiQn5.

STARTarikb: 2 3 MAR-" ......