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Who you gonna call over policy flip-flops? – Saleh Mohammed

February 27, 2016

A remark and question posed by Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam in an article a few days ago says it all.

"As a former senior civil servant I am perplexed and politely ask – what has become of our national management of foreign workers and the consultation by and coordination in government, please? We obviously need to consult the public."

He also used the words "repeated mistakes" and "blunders".

Well, that was on the foreign labour issue.

Let us have a look at one simple issue.

Unknown to many, the stage bus services in greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley were reorganised. The aim was to reduce waiting time for commuters during peak hours, foster better integration with other public transport modes and improve "first and last mile" connectivity.

Upon its implementation in December last year, there were grouses from doctors, nurses and patients at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). The direct bus service from Kuala Lumpur to the hospital was taken away. Concern heightened when doctors started noticing patients coming in with accelerated heart rates and high blood pressure readings.

The noble aim to reduce waiting time was dashed. The additional journey had inconvenienced many and is costing people going to UMMC more in terms of time and money.

Following complaints, SPAD said they would look into the concerns of the hospital staff and patients and further discussions would be held by SPAD and Rapid KL.

Another classic case of no or poor consultation by and coordination in government department/agencies and no consultation with the public/other stakeholders.

Have a look at another case.

But before that, please consider this proposal – let us close Jalan Chow Kit at certain times to allow drug dealers to peddle their trade there.

Interestingly, there was a proposal (not discussed and finalised yet) to close certain roads in Kuala Lumpur to allow motorcycle races by "mat rempits".

Now, which of the two proposals would you support? Aren’t both illegal?

With due respect to some politicians, were they aware, as commented by professor Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, "Malaysia as a country that has committed towards the achievement of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, all initiatives must have safer roads as the aspired outcomes."

Just look at the response from ordinary Malaysians.

Luckily, the IGP did not get excited and he plans to meet the person who made the proposal.

On that score, hopefully we can also talk to people first before suggesting higher fines to reduce road accidents or threatening ordinary folk with arrests, treason investigations and the like.

There are many other flip-flops you can source from the Internet.

I think all Malaysians would like these "policy flip-flops" to be minimised and prevent the ordinary citizens from getting confused or maybe afraid. A developed nation cannot afford having a majority of its citizens a confused lot.

Surely there is someone or somebody who could help put things in order.

That reminds me of the lyrics of the song "Ghostbuster".

"If there's something strange in your neighbourhood
Who you gonna call? ..........
If there's something weird and it don't look good
Who you gonna call? .........."

Even though we are afraid of these things happening around us, I guess it is not the Ghostbusters that we gonna call but Pemandu.

I am quite sure Malaysians would like to hear comments from Pemandu and its GTP programmes in this area. If there is, would Pemandu take a stick to the errant parties? If not, can Pemandu come up with some guidelines? I wish to avoid saying KPI since there have been too many acronyms being freely used.

Can we do it?

Hmmm... now how would the world look at Malaysia... Malaysia still boleh... or Malaysia forever boleh? – February 27, 2016.

* Saleh Mohammed reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.