Dilema guru cemerlang

Berita Harian

TANGGAPAN dan harapan terlalu tinggi pentadbiran sekolah dan ibu bapa kepada guru cemerlang menyebabkan sebahagian besar kalangan guru di negara ini enggan memohon jawatan berkenaan.

Katanya, guru cemerlang dianggap serba tahu dan mampu membantu mencatatkan keputusan cemerlang bagi subjek diajar serta memiliki kebolehan istimewa berbanding rakan mereka yang lain.

Selain itu katanya, mereka juga berada dalam dilema apabila kerap meninggalkan sekolah kerana terbabit pelbagai tugas.

"Sehubungan itu, kita melihat kewajaran pemilihan guru cemerlang diperluaskan dengan sokongan guru besar atau pengetua.

"Menerusi kaedah itu, lebih ramai guru berpeluang menjadi guru cemerlang kerana masing-masing mempunyai kelebihan tertentu dalam pengajaran mereka," katanya ketika membentangkan kertas kerja pada Konvensyen Guru Cemerlang Negeri Perak di Ipoh, baru-baru ini.

Don’t take easy way out by bribing cops, IGP tells public

The Star

Other News & Views
Compiled by BEH YUEN HUI, PAUL CHOO AND A. RAMAN

INSPECTOR-GENERAL of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has chided the public for taking the easy way out by resorting to bribing to avoid being summoned by traffic police, Utusan Malaysia reported.

He said the public should not rely on the “sympathy” of several dishonest officers by offering them bribes.

He was responding to a statement by Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity chairman Datuk Dr Wan Hashim Wan Teh that the main culprits of graft were traffic policemen.

Musa said such actions would contribute to difficulties in eradicating graft among police officers.

“I myself have been offered bribes before but declined immediately.

“Such acts must not become a regular practice if we want to uphold the nation's good name,” he said.

Kilasan: KPP baru kena serius jayakan PTPP

Berita Harian

Oleh Ibrahim Saad

KALANGAN guru tentu sekali bersyukur dengan pelantikan Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom sebagai Ketua Pengarah Pelajaran (KPP) baru menggantikan Datuk Dr Ahamad Sipon yang bersara wajib baru-baru ini. Ia melenyapkan spekulasi yang tersebar ketika kekosongan.

Di sekolah, daripada guru penolong beliau dilantik sebagai pentadbir sehinggalah ke jawatan tertinggi iaitu pengetua.

Malah beliau dianugerah Pengetua Cemerlang yang berkhidmat di Sekolah Tuanku Abd Rahman dan Maktab Melayu Kuala Kangsar sebelum dipindahkan ke Jabatan Pelajaran Perak dan Kementerian Pelajaran untuk mengetuai beberapa jabatan seperti di Bahagian Sekolah, Jabatan Pendidikan Swasta dan Jemaah Nazir.

Alimuddin bukan sekadar cemerlang dari segi profesion, tetapi juga kepemimpinan, justeru beliau mendapat keyakinan rakan sejawat mengetuai organisasi pengetua iaitu Persatuan Kebangsaan Pengetua Sekolah Menengah, bagi Perak dan peringkat persekutuan sehinggalah beliau berpindah di Jabatan Pelajaran Perak sebagai Ketua Penolong Pengarah dan Ketua Sektor.

Sebagai guru, selain bertugas sebagai guru subjek, beliau berusaha memahami pelajar dengan lebih mendalam dari segi emosi dan memperkembangkan potensi mereka.

Bagi mencapai matlamat ini beliau menceburkan diri di bidang bimbingan dan kaunseling sebagai kaunselor di samping bergerak aktif dalam kokurikulum terutama unit beruniform serta sukan dengan memperoleh kelayakan sebagai pengadil bertauliah dalam bola sepak.

Semua pengalaman itu menjadikan Alimuddin seorang tokoh guru yang boleh disimpulkan sebagai amat lengkap dan sempurna untuk menyandang jawatan KPP.

Pengalaman terhad dalam sesuatu bidang seperti teknikal saja menyebabkan jangkauan terbatas yang akhirnya tidak menjurus kepada kepimpinan Ketua Pengarah Pelajaran Malaysia yang berkesan seperti dicontohi KPP pertama dan kedua iaitu Aminuddin Baki dan Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir dan beberapa KPP lain selepas mereka.

Bagaimanapun tidak dinafikan ada beberapa KPP yang kurang berkesan malah sesetengahnya mencalarkan perasaan guru.

Justeru, pelantikan Alimuddin disifatkan Pengerusi Yayasan Guru Malaysia, Datuk Salleh Hussin sebagai ‘Ikan pulang ke lubuk, pinang pulang ke tampuk dan sirih pulang ke gagang’.

Katanya, pelantikan Alimuddin sudah pasti akan menyemarakkan semula semangat dan daya juang guru bagi memartabatkan lagi profesionalisme keguruan di negara ini di samping akan memberi perhatian lebih dari segi peningkatan profesionalisme dan kebajikan guru. Semuanya akan menjadikan pengajaran dan pembelajaran (P&P) dapat dilaksanakan dengan inovatif di samping meminimumkan keterlanjuran guru dari segi disiplin seperti beberapa kes yang berlaku baru-baru ini.

Bagi orang ramai, kita boleh mengharapkan banyak inovasi pelajaran dalam memastikan dasar pelajaran kebangsaan ditafsir dan dilaksanakan secara maksimum ketika beliau menjadi KPP.

Bagi Aminuddin tidak ada toleransi dari segi P&P. Pengalaman beliau sebagai Ketua Nazir membolehkan keupayaan pemantauan yang tidak perlu dipertikaikan.

Malah beliau memperkenalkan banyak kaedah pencerapan dan pemerhatian untuk dilaksanakan anggota jemaah nazir ketika menjadi Ketua Jemaah Nazir. Malah persepsi guru terhadap nazir berjaya diubah daripada mencari kesalahan guru kepada berkongsi pengalaman.

Bagi pendidikan swasta, kedua-dua elemen utama diberi perhatian Aminuddin ketika beliau mengetuai jabatan itu, iaitu perkembangan dan mutu.

Dari segi perkembangan pengamal pendidikan swasta tidak menghadapi kesukaran untuk menubuhkan dan memperkembangkan institusi pendidikan swasta. Ia sejajar dengan usaha kerajaan untuk menjadikan Malaysia sebagai hab pendidikan rantau ini. Bagaimanapun dengan keupayaan yang ada beliau memastikan mutu pendidikan terpelihara dengan tidak ragu-ragu mengenakan tindakan kepada mana-mana institusi yang yang tidak menepati kriteria seperti dijanjikan.

Kedua-dua perkara ini perlu diseimbangkan bagi memastikan pertumbuhan dan melahirkan modal insan yang diperlukan untuk pembangunan negara.

Kita percaya pengalaman beliau akan menjadikan pendidikan swasta dapat mencapai matlamat yang akhirnya memberi manfaat kepada pengamal dan pelajar, bukan oleh di sebelah pihak saja untuk meraih keuntungan.

Bagaimanapun kita percaya, selain kriteria di atas, pemilihan Alimuddin ke jawatan itu juga kerana keyakinan kerajaan mengenai kemampuannya untuk membantu meningkatkan kecemerlangan pendidikan negara ini secara keseluruhan terutama dalam menjayakan dasar penting yang dipertanggungjawabkan kepada kementerian.

Ini termasuklah bagi menjayakan semua matlamat untuk membangunkan pelajaran seperti yang digariskan dalam Pelan Tindakan Pembangunan Pendidikan (PTPP).

Beliau dilihat sebagai orang yang paling sesuai dalam membantu Menteri Pelajaran menjayakan PTPP itu.

Sebagai seorang yang terbabit secara langsung dalam merangka strategi PTPP, sudah tentu Alimuddin akan memberi perhatian serius dan bersungguh-sungguh dalam menjayakan PTPP.

Malah kita beranggapan jawatan beliau akan dilanjutkan apabila sampai waktu bersara wajib, kerana pengalamannya yang diperlukan negara.

Pegawai perlu maklumat tani terkini

Berita Harian

SERDANG: Pegawai Jabatan Pertanian perlu sentiasa melengkapkan diri dengan pengetahuan terkini bagi membolehkan mereka melaksanakan kegiatan pengembangan pertanian lebih berkesan kepada golongan sasaran terutama petani luar bandar.

“Pegawai Pengembangan mesti tahu membezakan cara penyampaian teknologi kepada petani mengikut tahap pendidikan. Contohnya petani tidak berpendidikan tinggi, sudah berumur dan dengan petani moden yang mempunyai kelulusan tinggi.

“Tahap ilmu pengetahuan pegawai pertanian hendaklah sentiasa terkini dan mantap berbanding golongan sasar,” katanya pada majlis pelancaran Hari Qualiti Jabatan Pertanian 2007 di Serdang, di sini semalam.

Beliau berkata, tanggapan orang ramai bahawa pertanian bidang yang sangat mudah tidak benar kerana pertanian memerlukan ilmu dan pengusaha lebih mudah berjaya jika menjadi petani moden berpengetahuan.

‘Keputusan lantik hakim di tangan Abdullah’

Berita Harian

KUALA LUMPUR: Perdana Menteri tidak terikat dengan sebarang keputusan, pandangan atau kehendak Majlis Raja-Raja berhubung pelantikan jawatan Hakim Besar Malaya, kata Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

“Keputusan muktamad siapa yang akan dilantik menjadi hakim atau Hakim Besar Malaya terletak pada Perdana Menteri dan terpulang kepada Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi untuk memilih calon paling sesuai.

“Perdana Menteri sekadar berunding dengan Majlis Raja-Raja mengenai calon itu. Keputusannya tidak dipengaruhi Majlis Raja-Raja dan Perdana Menteri juga tidak terikat dengan pandangan mereka,” katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.

Beliau mengulas pelbagai spekulasi mengenai kekosongan jawatan Hakim Besar Malaya sejak Januari lalu, termasuk laporan Majlis Raja-Raja menolak calon pilihan Perdana Menteri sebelum ini.

Mengulas perkembangan sama, Nazri berkata, Abdullah sudah memilih calon bagi mengisi jawatan itu dan akan mengumumkannya tidak lama lagi.

Mengenai cadangan Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Musa Hassan, supaya mengkaji semula Seksyen 113 Akta Keterangan 1950 berikutan peningkatan kes jenayah termasuk rogol membabitkan kanak-kanak, Nazri berkata, saranan itu wajar diteliti berdasarkan perkembangan dan perubahan semasa.

Hospitals told to get accredited

The Star

By TEH ENG HOCK

BATU PAHAT: Hospitals should strive towards obtaining accreditation to gain public confidence on its quality of patient care and safety.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said accreditation was also important to develop health tourism in the country as it would boost the brands of the hospitals and medical services.

He said there are currently 56 government hospitals and 17 private hospitals which have been accredited under the local MSQH Hospital Accreditation Programme. There are 131 government hospitals and 227 private hospitals nationwide.

Dr Chua also encouraged hospitals to go for the more established US-based JCI International Accreditation Programme, which none of our hospitals are under yet.

While the MSQH Hospital Accreditation is regionally accepted, the JCI is recognised internationally.

Dr Chua said, the Ministry had decided that the National Health Institute and the Selayang Hospital would be the first hospitals to work towards obtaining the JCI accreditation. The important thing is patient care and patient safety, he said, adding that he hoped private hospitals would follow suit.

Dr Chua said that getting accreditation is a tedious process and he recently stopped government hospitals from pursuing ISOs as they were less relevant to the healthcare industry.

Doctors were always too busy attending ISO meetings. ISO is more important for management, and not as important to clinical services.

For clinical services, getting accreditation is more important, he told reporters after launching the Pantai Hospital here.

He added that getting the JCI International Accreditation would prove that our hospitals are on par with other hospitals worldwide in terms of standards and this would boost health tourism efforts.

He said some of the problems faced in the health tourism sector include a lack of confidence by foreigners in patient care, no continuity in promotions, no coordination between private hospitals, tour agencies and the Ministry, and a lack of health tourism packages.

Dr Chua added that accreditation would be a criteria for the renewal of hospital licences in the future.

"We should be looking towards this in the future. I will be meeting the Private Hospitals Association next week to discuss standards of care," he said, adding that no time line had been set yet on the implementation of the criteria.

Foundation cites JPJ officers for alleged negligence

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Favouritism and buses that are not checked for roadworthiness are some reasons for the Social Action Initiative Foundation to act against the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

Its chairman Tan Sri Robert Phang said he would file a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency for alleged malpractices by nine JPJ officers, including deputy director-general Solah Mat Hassan, who was the former enforcement chief.

“I am not saying that they are corrupt. I don’t have any evidence for that.

“But I do have evidence of malpractice. They have not carried out the minimal standard operating procedures which resulted in buses not meeting the requirement for roadworthiness,” Phang said yesterday.

At a press conference on Monday, Phang claimed that JPJ and Puspakom had not been competent enough in carrying out their duties.

Citing the recent Bukit Gantang express bus accident, which claimed 22 lives, Phang said the answer lay with government agencies that regulate public vehicles.

“JPJ has the responsibility to ensure that buses are designed to international safety standards and driven by drivers who are properly trained, while Puspakom’s role is to inspect and certify that the vehicles are fit for the road,” he said.

Phang said police records showed that an average of 17.2 persons die in road accidents every day.

“The question is, who is responsible?” he said.

English Teachers: We need to boost their numbers

NSTP

I REFER to the letter by A.U. of Kuala Lumpur ("Increase English content in schools" — NST, Aug 15). While agreeing with A.U. about the resolution by the Tanjung Malim Umno division to revert to English in schools, I believe the basic necessity is being ignored where teaching and learning of the language is concerned.

In the first place, are there enough qualified English teachers?

The answer is no. Though by ratio it might seem compatible, in reality we need more English teachers.

Five lessons per week, consisting of 40 minutes each, is not enough to teach all the components of the English language syllabus for secondary schools.

A secondary school English teacher has to teach literature, comprehension, composition, summary, grammar and conduct the school-based oral within a limited time.
Furthermore, these teachers must teach up to 25 to 30 lessons, equivalent to five or six classes per week.

Imagine the workload a teacher has to endure when it is time to mark books. Marking an essay, comprehension and summary is not an easy task for any teacher. It takes hours and alertness to be fair to students.

To top it off, English teachers must conduct the school-based oral at least twice a year and conduct in-house training for English, math and science students.

To be rational, the Education Ministry must increase the number of qualified English teachers and in tandem increase the number of contact hours for teaching and learning English.

At the same time, English teachers should not be burdened with too many classes. They should be asked to teach 15 to 20 hours of English while given other non-marking subjects. Oral examinations should be reviewed and reverted to the old format.

Tak isytihar harta, tidak naik pangkat

Berita Harian

Oleh Jalal Ali Abdul Rahim

Ketua Pengarah JPA beri amaran kakitangan awam

KUALA LUMPUR: Kakitangan kerajaan yang gagal mengisytiharkan harta, tidak akan diberi kenaikan pangkat atau kenaikan pangkat mereka ditangguhkan, kata Ketua Pengarah Perkhidmatan Awam, Tan Sri Ismail Adam.

“Jika mereka gagal isytihar harta masing-masing kita akan tangguhkan atau tidak beri langsung kenaikan pangkat yang sepatutnya mereka terima.

“Kita bukan bercakap saja, tindakan ini sudah pun kita ambil, selain tindakan tatatertib lain kepada yang gagal berbuat demikian melebihi tempoh munasabah,” katanya ketika dihubungi Berita Harian di sini, semalam.

Beliau diminta mengulas arahan Ketua Setiausaha Negara, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, semalam supaya kira-kira 11,400 kakitangan kerajaan yang dikenal pasti belum membuat perisytiharan harta sejak tahun lalu, segera berbuat demikian bagi mengelak dikenakan tindakan tatatertib.

Kakitangan awam terbabit perlu tampil mengemukakan maklumat mengenai perkara itu sebelum akhir tahun ini.

Sejak 2002, tujuh kakitangan kerajaan sudah dikenakan tindakan tatatertib kerana gagal mengisytihar harta masing-masing dengan tepat atau wujud keraguan dalam maklumat yang mereka berikan.

Ismail berkata, beliau memberi peringatan kepada kakitangan awam bahawa mereka bukan saja perlu mengisytiharkan tambahan harta, malah harta yang dikurangkan termasuk dijual juga wajib diisytiharkan kepada JPA.

“Sebenarnya, kurangkan harta pun kena isytihar juga. Mereka kena nyatakan harta itu dijual kepada siapa,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, JPA yakin masalah 11,400 kakitangan kerajaan yang belum mengisytiharkan harta itu terdiri daripada kakitangan yang masih baru berkhidmat dalam kerajaan.

Perisytiharan harta semua kakitangan awam itu perlu dibuat selaras peruntukan dalam Pekeliling 3, 2002 Pemilikan dan Perisytiharan Harta Peraturan-Peraturan Pegawai Awam (Kelakuan dan Tatatertib) 1993.

Mengikut pekeliling itu, semua kakitangan awam wajib mengisytiharkan harta mereka apabila dilantik ke dalam jawatan atau setiap kali membuat pemilikan baru untuk memastikan rekodnya sentiasa dikemas kini.

Mereka yang tidak membuat pemilikan harta baru juga masih diwajibkan berbuat demikian setiap lima tahun sekali, bagi memastikan maklumat mengenai perkara itu sentiasa diperbaharui serta tidak menimbulkan masalah pada masa depan.

Kakitangan kerajaan yang ingkar arahan itu atau enggan berbuat demikian dalam tempoh yang sudah ditetapkan, boleh dianggap mengingkari perintah dan dikenakan amaran atau tindakan tatatertib.

Segera lulus Unit Pendakwaan LPKP: Khaled

Berita Harian

PUTRAJAYA: Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi (MEDC) mahu Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) segera meluluskan penubuhan Unit Pendakwaan menerusi Lembaga Pelesenan Kenderaan Perdagangan (LPKP) bagi memudahkan agensi itu mendakwa pihak yang mengingkari Akta LPKP 1987.

Menteri Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi, Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin, berkata permohonan menubuhkan Unit Pendakwaan LPKP sudah dikemukakan beberapa kali sejak 2004 namun belum ada maklum balas positif diterima dari JPA.

"Saya tidak minta pegawai penguatkuasa kerana pegawai penguatkuasa kita (LPKP) sudah ada. Yang kita minta ialah pegawai pendakwa kerana macam mana tegas pun undang-undang yang ada, tetapi orang tidak akan takut jika kita tidak mendakwa mereka.

"Sebab itulah kita hendak wujudkan Unit Pendakwaan bawah LPKP supaya kita boleh mendakwa mereka yang melanggar peraturan dan syarat mengikut Akta LPKP," katanya selepas menghadiri majlis perhimpunan khas sempena sambutan bulan kemerdekaan dan perhimpunan bulanan MEDC di sini, semalam.

Gaji swasta lebih tinggi

Utusan Online

KUALA LUMPUR 20 Ogos – Gaji pekerja sektor swasta yang hampir dua kali ganda lebih tinggi berbanding kakitangan sektor kerajaan menjadi faktor utama kaum Cina memilih untuk bekerja dalam sektor berkenaan.

Tinjauan Utusan Malaysia di sekitar ibu kota hari ini mendapati kebanyakan masyarakat Cina amat mementingkan aspek gaji yang menjadi faktor utama dalam pemilihan sesuatu pekerjaan.

Seorang eksekutif bank, Low Meng Kian, 34, berkata, faedah sampingan yang ditawarkan majikan swasta seperti elaun yang tinggi juga menyebabkan kaum Cina tidak berminat untuk menyertai sektor kerajaan.

Tambahnya, walaupun gaji kakitangan kerajaan sudah dinaikkan Julai lalu, ia masih tidak dapat menarik minatnya untuk berkhidmat dengan sektor kerajaan.

“Gaji yang ditawarkan majikan sektor swasta 50 peratus lebih tinggi daripada gaji dalam sektor kerajaan. Apabila ditawarkan gaji tinggi, sudah tentu kita hendak bekerja dalam sektor itu,” katanya di sini hari ini.

Beliau mengulas pendedahan yang dibuat oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi semalam bahawa iklan pengambilan pegawai baru kerajaan baru-baru ini tidak mendapat sebarang permohonan daripada orang Cina.

Dalam pada itu, seorang pengurus komunikasi dan pemasaran di sebuah syarikat swasta, Jade Tan Gaiu Bee, 26, berkata, sikap masyarakat Cina yang gemar bekerja dalam syarikat milik keluarga menyebabkan ramai yang memilih untuk bekerja sendiri.

Katanya, mereka lebih berminat bekerja dengan syarikat milik keluarga untuk mendapatkan pendapatan yang tinggi selain memudahkan operasi syarikat kerana ia dikendalikan oleh anggota keluarga.

‘‘Apabila anggota keluarga mempunyai syarikat sendiri maka lebih baik mereka membantu memajukan syarikat keluarga masing-masing,’’ ujarnya.

Seorang pemandu teksi, Shee Chee Keong, 36, berkata, kaum Cina tidak selesa untuk bekerja dalam sektor awam kerana merasakan kebebasan mereka terhad apabila perlu bekerja mengikut arahan tertentu.

“Sektor awam dilihat terlalu mengongkong pekerjanya dengan banyak syarat dan peraturan tertentu yang perlu dipatuhi berbanding majikan sektor swasta yang lebih longgar,” jelasnya.

Seorang lagi pekerja swasta, Hui Jen Chian, 29, berkata, kemudahan teknologi dalam sesebuah syarikat juga memainkan peranan penting dalam pemilihan pekerjaan.

“Kebiasaannya teknologi yang digunakan di kebanyakan majikan sektor swasta jauh lebih canggih berbanding sektor awam,” ujarnya.

IRB: Scam didn’t involve ex-officers

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: No former Inland Revenue Board (IRB) officers were involved in a stamp duty scam involving hundreds of millions of ringgit as alleged, clarified IRB chief executive officer Hasmah Abdullah.

“We have conducted our own checks and found that those involved were ex-runners for law firms and not our former staff,” she said at a press conference here yesterday.

Hasmah was commenting on a newspaper report yesterday that an ex-IRB officer allegedly masterminded a stamp duty scam, which involved business deal agreements worth hundreds of millions of ringgit.

According to the report, Federal Commercial Crimes Investigations Department officers uncovered the syndicate’s activities last week, and some of the agreements belonged to law firms, financial institutions and individuals.

Employees of statutory bodies can now head them

The Star

SEREMBAN: Employees in statutory bodies like the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and the Social Security Organisation (Socso) can now be appointed as chief executives of the same agency, said Public Service director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam.

Previously, deputy chief executives in these bodies could not be promoted permanently to the post.

“We want to improve the method of filling the post of the chief executive. From now on, we will allow employees in the same organisation to be promoted,” Ismail said in a circular.

Some of the bigger statutory bodies in the country include the EPF, Socso, the Pilgrims Management Fund Board, Mara, Armed Forces Superannuation Fund and Bank Simpanan Nasional.

The ruling takes effect immediately.

Ismail said previously, there were three ways to fill the top post in the statutory bodies. These were:

·Officers from the same agency were allowed to fill the post but on a temporary basis;

·Officers from other government agencies were sent on attachment; and

·Government retirees or individuals from the private sector were offered the post on a contract basis.

“But those promoted from the same agency now must fulfil the necessary requirements to be considered.

“If the individual has yet to fill certain conditions for promotion, he or she can still fill the post on an acting basis,” he said.

There are 75 federal and 110 state statutory bodies, employing 94,623 and 14,195 people respectively.

Retirees: A sheer waste of valuable human capital

NSTP

THE suggestion by K.T. of Mentakab to give retirees tax exemptions ("Give them exemption from taxes" — NST, Aug 13), and your report "More than a third of retirees need to work again," (NST, Aug 9) reflect the sorry state our retirees are in.

Unlike countries such as Australia and others in Europe, where workers retire at 60 and above, Malaysian employees, save for politicians, lecturers and bankers, retire at the still zestful age of 55 or 56.

This has resulted in many able-bodied and healthy Malaysians being thrown into a life of idling and doing practically nothing useful but watching television, reading papers, tending to their grandchildren or gardens or just whiling away time among themselves.

Those who retire with a pension are not too badly off as they can at least take care of their own needs. But those retirees without pensions suffer badly.

Without much funds at their disposal and bored with no purposeful activity, many of these retirees quickly succumb to illness. Some become very sensitive and burdensome to their family and society.
It is really a shame because many of these retirees are willing to contribute more to society, given the chance.

Our prime minister and other leaders have often emphasised the need to improve human capital, the most valuable asset in our effort to achieve Vision 2020.

This asset is already available at our disposal. All that is needed is to utilise the retirees. The retirees certainly have the benefit of experience, knowledge and, more importantly, ample time and the sincerity and willingness to contribute to society.

The best place to train in all areas of law

NSTP

KUALA LUMPUR: The best medical training is said to be had in government hospitals, owing to the sheer volume of patients and variety of illnesses.
The same could be said for legal training.

The best basic training ground for lawyers must be at the biggest "law firm" in the country, the public prosecutor’s office at the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

With a total of 220 prosecutors, the A-G’s Chambers outstrips the largest private law firm in the country, which has about 130 lawyers.

With seven divisions (prosecution, civil, drafting, law revision and reform, advisory, international affairs and management) at the headquarters and legal adviserships at the state- level and ministries, a lawyer would be spoilt for choice of what to work on in an entire career.

Indeed, the best lawyers could be the ones who have served time in all areas and have gone on to specialise in some of them .
In addition to hands-on training, the A-G’s Chambers spends millions on training staff.

French and English language tutors are brought in every week to teach basic and legal communication in these languages.

The A-G’s Chambers also enhances its prosecutors’ knowledge by sending them for further studies.

In co-operation with the University of Wollongong, the chambers runs a Graduate Certificate in Prosecutions courses or LLM (prosecutions).

Deputy public prosecutors (DPPs) gain their degrees by doing intensive programmes locally. These are conducted by local lecturers and those from the University of Wollongong.

"We have 49 officers doing the course now, with another 30 expected to take it up next year," said Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

The chambers is also sending four officers to Nottingham Law School for a one-year advocacy course next year.

Even without doing these extended courses, a DPP’s learning schedule can be full and fulfilling, just by attending the various short training courses provided by the chambers and the Legal and Judicial Training Institute.

Training is also provided by various ministries and departments on topics as diverse as advocacy skills, DNA profiling, expert witness, impeachment proceedings, hostile witness, and conviction of sexual offences without corroborative evidence.

In addition, in 2005, there were 92 short seminars, conferences, talks, workshops, and courses held for officers on varied topics.

These included combating human trafficking in Asia, arms smuggling, intellectual property law, international arbitration, world ethics and integrity, bio-weapons, advocacy in criminal trials, sustainable utilisation of biodiversity and related issues on biosafety in an Islamic perspective, multilateral diplomacy and the role of forensic science in civil and criminal cases.

However, not everyone can join the A-G’s Chambers. The chambers won’t consider applicants with less than a Second Class Upper Honours degree.

To further improve the quality of prosecutors, the chambers is trying to recruit more experienced lawyers.

"I have reserved quite a number of L44 and L48 posts to get private practitioners to join us," said Gani. "So far, we have more than 200 applications."

L44 is a posting for lawyers with a minimum of five years’ experience and L48 is for lawyers with a minimum of seven years’ experience.

An L44 officer gets between RM3,019 and RM5,496 a month while the L48 post is worth between RM4,391 and RM6,374.

Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan says the A-G’s Chambers provides the best learning environment. "But if salary is the issue, then the civil service cannot compete."

A fresh law graduate earns about RM2,000 as a private practitioner, with annual increments of RM300-RM500, or more.

After 10 years, a good lawyer will be made a partner, and earn a minimum of RM10,000 a month, excluding profits.

A salaried partner gets between RM8,000 and RM15,000. In big firms, a lawyer who performs could get seven months’ bonus. After 20 years, a good lawyer would be earning between RM700,000 and RM1.5 million a year.

In the A-G’s Chambers, a person in the top post earns a fraction of that

PSD should have control over VSS exercise

The Star

COMMENT BY V.K.CHIN

Government servants should get used to the idea that nobody owes them a living. If they wish to be paid for their services, they would have to work for it.

This is the case in both the private and public sectors. Comm-ercial enterprises will not tolerate anyone not prepared to contribute to the success of their operations.

Without making a profit, shareholders will have to make a tough decision either to reduce workers or close shop. Therefore, those who cannot perform will be fired.

With the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) proposal, the Government has realised that it is time it took action to address the issue of under-performing staff or those with severe disciplinary problems.

Those with a bad attitude will not only be unproductive but could have a negative effect on their colleagues’ performance, too.

Presently, such workers are merely barred from promotion but this situation cannot continue as their presence could create a distraction to others.

Something more drastic is called for to get them out of the way. The presence of such destructive elements could affect morale and productivity in the section or department.

While VSS makes sense, implementing it may be a bit tricky. First, these unhelpful workers will have to be reported before the Public Service Department (PSD) can act. But the question is: How many are prepared to be the bad guys?

They may not like to have such people in their midst, but are they prepared to be responsible for getting someone dismissed? Since civil servants tend to stick together, they may be prepared to live with the shortcomings of such colleagues.

Therefore, if no reports are made, no action can be taken. The PSD can only act if the bad behaviour is out in the open, such as complaints by members of the public especially in the media.

If the Government is keen to jettison such misfits, perhaps it should not refer to the VSS scheme as voluntary but selective. In this way, it will have some control over the exercise.

Otherwise, they might refuse to bite since the scheme was voluntary. The objective is to reject the bad apples and retain the good. It will be disastrous if the good ones should use the scheme to leave while the deadwood will still be around.

This will only make things worse. Sometimes, it may not be necessary to take any action at all. For example, if civil servants know that they can be dismissed if they don't perform, this may change their attitude.

An example is in the disciplining of children. The father only needs to have a cane in the house and the children will know that if they misbehaved they will be punished. The threat alone is sufficient deterrence.

While the public may welcome the latest move to deal with civil servants, it is also hoped that there would be no discrimination or witch-hunting in implementing this mechanism.

Musa mahu BPR turut awasi agensi kerajaan lain

Berita Harian

Oleh Khairunnisa Kamarudin

KUALA LUMPUR: Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Musa Hassan mempertahankan kredibiliti pasukannya yang selama ini sering dilabel dengan pelbagai salah laku termasuk amalan rasuah.

Beliau berkata, kegiatan rasuah bukan saja berlaku di kalangan pegawai dan anggota polis, agensi kerajaan lain turut berhadapan dengan masalah sama.

“Oleh itu, Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) sepatutnya bersikap lebih adil dan tidak hanya memberi tumpuan kepada pegawai dan anggota Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) untuk membanteras rasuah, sebaliknya perhatian sama turut diberi kepada agensi kerajaan lain,” katanya selepas merasmikan Majlis Sambutan Bulan Kemerdekaan ke-50 bersama PDRM di sini, malam tadi.

Beliau berkata demikian sebagai mengulas kenyataan bekas Ketua Polis Negara, Tun Hanif Omar dalam akhbar berbahasa Inggeris, baru-baru ini yang mendedahkan hampir 40 peratus pegawai dan anggota polis terbabit dalam gejala rasuah.

Musa berkata, PDRM mempunyai peraturan sendiri dalam usaha mengesan pegawai dan anggotanya hidup lebih daripada kemampuan dengan mewajibkan mereka mengisytiharkan aset mereka setiap enam bulan sekali.

“Mereka yang ingin membeli aset lebih daripada RM5,000 juga diwajib mengisytiharkan harta mereka.

“Saya sendiri akan mengambil tindakan ke atas pegawai atau anggota yang terbabit dalam amalan tidak sihat ini dalam mempertingkatkan mutu perkhidmatan PDRM,” katanya.

Mengulas khidmatnya disambung dua tahun lagi, Musa berjanji menggunakan peluang dan kepercayaan yang diberikan kerajaan kepadanya itu bagi memantapkan lagi kualiti perkhidmatan PDRM dan mengeratkan lagi hubungan polis dengan masyarakat dalam usaha menangani jenayah.