I commented on this levy thingy at monsterblog.com.my and I decided to share them. Here it goes:

I don't see how it can be implemented effectively before taking action on the following:

1. Our public transportation is at the worst state. So we need to improve the service and quality. Put more bus stops and only allow clean buses and taxis in and out of the city.

2. Improve the LRT system by introducing one card system. Currently, only passengers using TouchAndGo and monthly pass enjoying the convenience of entering and exiting the LRT Stations. The rest? We have to queue and buy tickets upon entering. Add more routes and stations along the existing route for public convenience. Also, introduce trains with more coaches especially for KL Monorail and Putra LRT during peak hours like STAR LRT does. For all cars parked at LRT car park areas must not be charged more than RM1 a day. And expand all the car park areas to encourage the public to use LRT.

3. Make sure all taxis are in good conditions and not more than 10 years old. And all taxi drivers have to use meter to charge their passengers. And those who use coupons, the taxis must be different from the normal ones so that the public knows which one to use. And all taxi drivers must be less than 60 years old and go through medical check-up annually to ensure of their health. All taxi drivers must know ample knowledge about Klang Valley routes.

4. Put more bus and taxi stops (with ample roof to cover from heavy, crazy rain) at strategic places especially at the RapidKL hub stations. All buses and taxis cannot wait for their passengers at these stops; they can only wait at the terminals or hub stations.

5. Merge all car park operators under one roof and introduce standard parking fee for all open car park in KL (Day fee instead of hourly fee).

Please go to Singapore and learn about their public transportation system. If we can follow suit, then I believe that our traffic congestion issue can be solved or improved tremendously.

What I've gone through working with young lecturers:

1. They don't have industrial experience.
They took their Masters degree right after their first degree graduation while working as tutors. And right after their Masters graduation, they will be "promoted" to lecturers.

2. All they know is the theory part regardless it's just a theory or proven theory. And they would carry on what their supervisor have done. And at the same time, they are given opportunity to pursus their PhDs. So they will be "drowned" in theories. They could do research of course, but to prove it? It will take longer time and it just remains as one line in their resume.

3. This is the key point -> Most, indeed, are weak in English. It's all due to the syllabus - where they were taught in Malay. For example, an IT lecturer was taught in Malay during his/her campus days and when they are thrown into the industry for their practical training (3 months???), there will be "clashes" as most private IT companies use English as communication medium.

So it's high time for the government to rectify this problem. I don't want to send my children to universities where these lecturers work.

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First, lecturers must speak English well
18 Dec 2006
Sheridan Mahavera

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KOTA BARU: It’s back to school again for varsity lecturers to brush up on their English.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed has ordered it as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen English proficiency at university level.

He said his ministry was concerned about the level of English mastery among public university students. This has been attributed to the lack of proficiency of their lecturers.

Mustapa said preliminary findings of a recent ministry study found that the level of command among students and lecturers had to be improved to produce graduates capable of meeting the challenges of a highly competitive global environment.

"Since lecturers are the ones teaching and influencing the students, they need to be equally comfortable speaking in the medium. This is important since mathematics and science courses are already being taught in English.

"In general, we find that the level of proficiency among lecturers is satisfactory, but there are those whose mastery is sub-par. We want to improve it so that all lecturers will be equally proficient," he said yesterday.

He said a study showed that varsity students from urban backgrounds were more conversant in English compared to those from rural areas.

"So, it’s not really fair for rural students when they go into the job market and find that they cannot get good jobs because of their weak command of English."

Mentaliti subsidi pasti lemahkan kekuatan bangsa - UM 16.12.2006

KENAIKAN tol bagi lima laluan lebuh raya di dalam dan di luar Kuala Lumpur meskipun tidak popular, pada saya harus dilihat dalam perspektif yang lebih luas.

Perbahasan di Dewan Rakyat baru-baru ini misalnya menyentuh tentang hampir 11 bilion ringgit wang rakyat terpaksa digunakan untuk menyelamatkan syarikat-syarikat strategik negara hasil dasar penswastaan.

Ini menunjukkan betapa mentaliti subsidi begitu sinonim kepada individu, organisasi mahu pun institusi di Malaysia. Apakah tanpa subsidi ekonomi negara dan penghidupan rakyat umumnya akan musnah?

Inilah persoalan asas yang tidak pernah mahu dirungkai oleh semua pihak. Sebab itu sering kali isu subsidi dijadikan modal sama ada oleh pengundi mahupun pemerintah untuk melakukan proses tawar-menawar dalam menuntut hak mereka.

Tidakkah kita berfikir bahawa subsidi menjadikan kita kurang berdaya saing, kurang inovatif dan sentiasa berada dalam keadaan selesa?

Tidakkah kita pernah terfikir, elemen subsidi adalah faktor yang mendorong bangsa dan negara ini menjadi masyarakat yang malas sifatnya? Tidak mahu berdikari, kurang yakin dengan kemampuan diri sendiri, selain bersikap meminta-minta.

Apabila kesemua elemen jati diri negatif bersarang dalam minda dan menjadi ciri dominan budaya hidup kita hasil pengaruh subsidi, maka akan jadilah kita ‘masyarakat berjiwa hamba’, yang mudah dibeli atau digula-gulakan dengan elemen subsidi.

Sebagai sebuah masyarakat yang matang, kita sebenarnya harus punyai kekuatan kendiri. Jika menjadi usahawan, biar dengan niat, usaha gigih dan perancangan teliti kita berjaya tanpa perlu dibantu, diselamatkan atau disuntik modal oleh kerajaan.

Sebagai individu, biarlah kita bersusah payah menyediakan misalnya kelengkapan dan biaya pendidikan sendiri. Kita bangga memperoleh segulung ijazah tanpa biasiswa kerajaan atau pinjaman PTPTN.

Sebagai petani janganlah kita terlalu mengharapkan subsidi baja dan subsidi harga untuk mengeluarkan padi dan beras yang tinggi mutunya.

Kekuatan semangat diri tanpa bergantung kepada elemen subsidi akan menjadikan kita bangsa yang lebih mulia, bermaruah dan lebih hebat daya juangnya.

– SOBRI SUDIN,

Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.