Shortcomings of the state

You have a visit johor year, and thats the time you dig up almost the entire city centre to re-do the drainage, set up pedestrian walkways, get rid of much needed street parking, and cause massive inconveniences to the public as well as the business community. Even the Jalan Tan Hiok Nee walkway has yet to be completed after many many months of closure. Now, the State Exco member has the cheek to blame TNB for the delays of works at Jalan Meldrum. So much for proper planning before approvals are granted for development works. And so typical of pointing fingers when things go wrong. So typical of the Malaysian way of not knowing the meaning of accountability.

At one time, every other piece of state land, was privatised for one form of redevelopment. Naturally, the moment the approvals were granted, the companies were sold and quick profits realised. No prizes to guess who were the people to gain. It would indeed be enlightening to know the list of state lands that have been given such approvals, and the people behind these schemes.

We had the KPRJ semi govt. body supposedly in existence to provide infrastructural works such as roads and mosques in rural areas, which was fair enough. But then, this body was given state lands which they charge to the commercial banks. And the monies used for infrastructural works, which doesnt generate money to repay the loans. And theres no need to mention about the money spent lavishly to set up this organisation. Some people up there conveniently forgot the existence of JKR and the Johor Corporation (SEDC) to provide such development works.

Then we have the Johor Education Foundation (YPJ) which was also given vast tracts of lands for setting up of oil palm plantations etc. And they too couldnt resist the temptation of entering into property investments in the hotel business amongst others.

Johor Corporation made millions getting State land and developing industrial estates. Land cleared and provided with infrastructure such as roads, drains, water and electricity supplies. Naturally you would make money in the good years. But then, theyre amongst the biggest debtors in the country. Big numbers of companies within the group doing badly.

We had the unit trust issue a few years back. The head had the cheek to say the state's shares in big listed companies were to be given to these unit trusts for the sole purpose of inflating the unit trust prices. I guess, they again conveniently forgot that the unit trusts were owned by a small group of people, not the entire population the state.

Can we have an audit to reveal publicly the extent of help the government had given previously, and the failures of these bodies?

No one noticed that the number of non-Malays within the abovementioned state owned bodies is miniscule, perhaps 1%? or less? I digress perhaps, but then its a fact thats undeniable.

If its one major weakness in the entire governance system, its the refusal to accept the fact that the government is there to manage the assets of the country, the general public. Unfortunately, what we have is a system where those governing is more interested to enrich themselves and their friends/families.

Once, i commented to a civil servant on how the civil service seem to wantonly spend millions on functions, opening/closing ceremonies, speeches and functions at posh places; monies that belong to the public. Not surprisingly the response i got was, the civil servant strongly defended saying even the public sector was lavishly spending money for such purposes. Sad to say, it didnt cross the person's mind that the private sector spends money that it earns. It doesnt spend public money. It seems that citizens pay taxes so that civil servants can have a good time.

Instead of spending money to improve infrastructure and provide more facilities, for the past few months much money has gone into landscaping works all over the town. Carpet grass everywhere with flowering plants at every imaginable road junctions! Not to mention decorative lamp posts that supposedly cost RM20,000 each or thereabout! The only ones laughing to the bank would be the suppliers/contractors and most definitely those approving such works.

Water rates have gone up. Supposedly to finance infrastructural expenditure. Me thinks its more to fill up wallets. They couldnt even write the notice to subscribers in decent english.

Parking coupons in the state is divided into 2 zones. Northern and southern johor. Today the state says theyre looking into having one standard coupon and company managing the entire state. They couldnt standardize it now? Why not just leave the ticketing to the local authorities and let them make all the money.

The MPPJ signboard issue which was highlighted by The Sun papers recently was perhaps the tip of the iceberg. One wonders whats the situation in the other state local authorities.

Are we investor friendly? Hardly. We seem to have policies that go against national policies at times. Remember the FIC guidelines issue previously? The state required further payments for such approvals. Recently they even amended the state law and said the penalty for foreign purchases was RM100,000 i think, instead of the normal RM10,000 previously. Naturally when the issue was blown up by the papers, the state defended that it was a typographical error (yeah, i believe that...yeah rite)

If only things are done for the good of the State and country. And not for individual self interests or ulterior motives.

Its a nice place to stay. Its where i am born. Yes, its my home. I only wish they run it better.

Oh yes... Visit Johor! Its Visit Johor Year!