05 October 2007

30 head to UK for lessons on cluster school

NSTP
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein meeting  the first batch of 30 cluster school heads before their departure for King’s College, London, next week.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein meeting the first batch of 30 cluster school heads before their departure for King’s College, London, next week.

KUALA LUMPUR: The first batch of 30 cluster school heads will leave for the United Kingdom on Oct 13 for a two-month training at King’s College, London.

But it may come as a shock to some as the principals of several top schools, such as the Malay College Kuala Kangsar, Penang Free School and SMK St John, have been left out.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said these principals might have been excluded as they did not fulfil the stringent selection process.

“For example, they might not have more than two years of service left before retirement.”

Hishammuddin said this did not mean that the school heads would be given the marching orders.
The selection criteria included candidates being in service as heads of cluster schools or those in the ministry’s echelon list; be not less than two years away from retirement; obtained 89 points and above in their annual assessments; have clean records; passed the appraisal test; have a good command of English and Bahasa Malaysia; possess good personality and leadership qualities; and being a degree-holder.

Hishammuddin said the strict criteria were necessary to ensure that those selected were fully committed and qualified to undergo the intensive training in management and leadership, which had been tailored to meet the needs of the cluster school programme.

Earlier, at a gathering with the 30 at the Malaysian Translation Institute, Hishammuddin said some of the participants, might not be posted back to their respective schools.

“The key to the success of this project is leadership. All we want is a pool of teachers who can serve in various cluster schools.”

The teachers will receive hands-on training through visits and attachments to selected autonomous schools in the UK.

During their stint, they will be exposed to various management and leadership skills needed to run schools in terms of finance, human resource and communications, in keeping with the autonomy given them.

“You already know how to teach. Now you should know how to lead the cluster schools for other schools around the country to emulate.

“You will be on your own, dealing with the press and public when they grill you on various issues, from food poisoning to spoilt milk.

“No more relying on the ministry, (Deputy Education Minister) Datuk Hon Choon Kim, or (ministry secretary-general) Tan Sri Dr Zulkurnain Awang for answers. Are you up to it?” he asked to a spirited response from the floor.

PAC: Make govt officers careless with public funds pay

B. Suresh Ram
The Sun


The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says government officers who are careless with public funds must be made to pay a surcharge from their own pockets.

This was provided for under the Financial Procedures Act 1957, said Public Accounts Committee chairman Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad who agreed with the Auditor-General's report that action should be taken against officers involved in the direct negotiations of the Youth and Ministry's projects.

Under the act, a surcharge could be imposed on government officers found responsible for any improper payment of public money.

"It is thus important for officers to protect themselves in such direct negotiations," he said.

"We want officers to be accountable and responsible for actions and decisions," he said today after chairing a PAC meeting in Parliament House. Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang and Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Yassin Salleh appeared before the PAC.

Shahrir said direct negotiations by the Youth and Sports Ministry for construction of the National Youth Skills Training Institute (IKBN) and the supply of equipment had resulted in cost overruns.

"There was no sufficient monitoring by the ministry (Youth and Sports) and the Finance Ministry," Shahrir said.

The Auditor-General Report 2006, among others, highlighted the procurement of equipment for IKBN where the government had to fork out RM8.39 million above the market price.

The purchases included two crane towers for which the ministry paid RM5.72 million against the market price of RM2.98 million and a set of screwdrivers at RM224 a set against the market price of RM32.

"Being a direct negotiation based project, government officials should be more careful and responsible in carrying out such duties," he added.

Shahrir said if were there any problems related to the negotiation of the procurement of the equipment to the institute, such as the ceiling limit and other related matters, the Youth and Sports Ministry should have checked with Treasury officials.

"The ministry should also have ensured that it has the ability and expertise to undertake such direct negotiations. This was because initially the project was an open tender process," he said.

"In the end, see what has happened?" Shahrir added.

He also added that the PAC was not happy with the prices quoted by some of the companies in supplying the equipment to the institutes.

"Not happy with some of the pricing … some prices were quoted with a profit margin of 50%," he said.

He advised ministries and agencies to look into the profit margin of companies supplying equipment or providing services, to ensure that it is within the appropriate level.

"If not, the project price would not be respected … and it is public funds," he said, adding that the PAC wants the government to opt for open tenders for all public projects instead of direct negotiations and through turnkey.

The government should resort to implementing projects through direct negotiations only when it is of specialised nature, said Shahrir.

"Direct negotiations should be limited to projects involving consultancy of specialised nature … most other projects anyone can do," he added.

He said open tenders would make local businesses and contractors more professional and improve competitiveness.

"In our experience we found that all problems related to project implementation were due to direct negotiations and implementation of such projects in a turnkey manner," he said.

Shahrir, who is Johor Baru MP, said PAC had asked the Finance Ministry to furnish it with a list of Eighth Malaysia Plan projects which were carried out via direct negotiations and turnkey manner.

He said ministries and agencies often resorted to direct negotiations when delays prevented projects from being implemented via the open tender system.

Shahrir said the PAC will visit the Port Klang Free Zone on Oct 18 to inspect its progress and development. This would be a follow up on two previous meetings the select committee had conducted on the issue.

Hold events at Putrajaya

The Star

SEREMBAN: Ministries and government bodies must now hold their events at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan, in a directive posted on his website, said secretaries-generals, heads of federal departments and chief executives of federal statutory bodies must take note of this.

He said the RM700mil centre had world-class facilities and it was only right that government departments and agencies supported it.

“The government built the PICC so that government departments, agencies and the public would have access to a modern convention centre.

“It is my hope that the public sector will make full use of this facility for these reasons,” he added.

The centre opened in September 2003 and has facilities on par with international conference centres in London, Tokyo and Paris.

The Plenary Hall can seat up to 2,800 people, while thePerdana Hall can accommodate a maximum of 2,000 people.

The centre's communication facilities include infokiosks, a wireless network, provision for television broadcast and video conferencing systems.

Feedback from the public

The Star

PENANG: The people will have their say in the evaluation of local authorities for the star rating system.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the 144 local authorities would be given marks based on various factors.

Good governance would account for 20% of the marks, financial

management and revenue (10%), capacity building and human resource development (20%), implementation of law, government

policy and guidelines (25%), services to the community and clients (10% each), and implementation of ICT programmes and webpages (5%).

A five-star rating will be given to those getting 90 to 100 marks followed by four stars (75 to 89 marks), three stars (60 to 74 marks), two stars (46 to 59 marks) and one star (45 marks and below).

Ong said the independent panel grading the local authorities would seek views from resident associations and other parties to find out the level of satisfaction among the people.

He said the relationship and rapport the local authorities had with the public would also be taken into account.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced on Monday that a star rating system would be used to evaluate the overall performance of local authorities.

He said an independent panel comprising people of high integrity would be grading the local authorities, with the assessment to be done every two years.

Ong said the star rating was aimed at improving the performances of local authorities and their delivery system.

“We will monitor local authorities with low star ratings and suggest ways for them to improve,” he told newsmen in Paya Terubong yesterday.

He said the ministry had formed a central inspectorate to implement the system with assistance from the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit and the National Integrity Institute.

Ong said the rating system would start with the evaluation of 11 city councils and city halls in the first quarter of next year.

04 October 2007

Civil service: Knock the apathy out of them

NSTP

HAVE some simpleMY suggestions for improving the working of the civil service:

• Have fixed times for employees to go to the canteen, say 10.30am to 11am for coffee/tea breaks, 1pm to 2pm for lunch and 3pm to 3.30pm for tea break.

Close the canteen in the office blocks should be closed at all other times. The Staff should be strictly prohibited from going to the nearby warong or coffee-shop during office hours.

•The office telephone should be operated by an operator. The current norm of “press one for Bahasa Malaysia, two for English, etc” is not customer-friendly at all. You end up waiting without anyone picking up the call in spite of the long ringing tone. The phone rings for a long time ages without any one picking up and in the end the line goes dead. It is really frustrating, not to speak of the money wasted.

• Schedule all departmental meetings for Friday afternoons. From my observation, not much work is done on Friday afternoons.
If an appointment is fixed, for a certain day and time, the officer-in-charge should be present. to attend to the person going to meet the officer. There should be Accept no excuses like the officer is “busy/having a meeting with the boss”, “gone out on some urgent personal business”, etc.

• A tabulated record of “medical leave”, “emergency leave”, “annual leave” and “absent without leave” etc, taken by each member of theall staff, including the head of department, should be displayed prominently.

• Anyone member of the staff going out of the office on official duty or field work should be required to must enter the time of leaving and expected time of return in a logbook.

kept at the counter.

• The award of titles, medals etc. for serving officers should be given only during the last year of service. This way we can avoid the embarrassment of a `Tan Sri’ or `Datuk’ being charged for criminal offences or being declared bankrupt, or committed to imprisonment.

• Promotions should be based on factors such as performance, dedication, responsibility, work attitude, diligence and not on seniority or other considerations.

• The disciplinary procedures involving government servants is cumbersome and archaic. Something like the one established in the private sector — warning letters, show-cause letters, holding a domestic inquiry followed by punishments such as suspension without pay, downgrading, stoppage of annual increment, denial of he annual bonus, if any, and ultimately dismissal, if found guilty would certainly be very effective. Transferring a problem staff from one department to another or from one station to another is not disciplinary action. It is really a form of vindictive action.

03 October 2007

Orang juling berhak ikuti kursus pendidik

Berita Harian

SELEPAS membaca surat bertajuk 'Si Juling dihalang ikuti kursus guru' yang disiarkan di dalam ruangan ini baru-baru ini, saya kesal kerana insan cemerlang seperti 'Si Juling Kecewa' itu diberikan layanan diskriminasi.

Ini adalah ketidakadilan yang dilakukan oleh pihak tidak bertanggungjawab. Patutkah hanya kerana matanya juling, maka hak beliau dinafikan. Kecacatannya bukan kecacatan besar yang boleh menggagalkan fungsi seorang pendidik.

Malah, kecacatan bermata juling ini tidak harus dikategorikan sebagai orang kurang upaya (OKU). Hakikat ini wajar dinilai pihak terbabit. Hingga kini saya tidak nampak apa relevannya alasan kononnya orang bermata juling tidak layak menduduki Ujian Kelayakan Malaysia Educators Selection Inventory (MEdSI). Ini adalah penafian hak yang amat tragis.

Walaupun mungkin ada pihak yang mendakwa kredibilitinya sebagai guru bakal terjejas kerana bermata juling, alasan itu terlalu dangkal. Jika ini alasan yang paling munasabah, maka pihak kementerian wajar memberhentikan guru yang berkepala botak, pendek, perut boroi dan gigi jongang.

Bukankah kelompok ini juga ada ciri-ciri yang boleh menjejaskan kredibiliti mereka sebagai guru. Malah, segelintir guru yang gagal berbahasa Melayu dan Inggeris dengan baik juga wajar diberhentikan.

Jika inilah alasan yang diketengahkan, bukan saja ia menjatuhkan maruah 'Si Juling Kecewa' malah keseluruhan institusi perguruan. Bukan niat saya untuk menghentam kementerian atau individu terbabit.

Namun, saya percaya tindakan segelintir pihak ini bakal menjejaskan keseluruhan reputasi institusi terbabit malah seluruh negara umumnya, seolah-olah rakyat yang ada sedikit kecacatan tidak boleh berkerja di bumi tercinta ini.

INSAN PRIHATIN,
Kota Kemuning, Selangor.

Orang juling berhak ikuti kursus pendidik

Berita Harian

SELEPAS membaca surat bertajuk 'Si Juling dihalang ikuti kursus guru' yang disiarkan di dalam ruangan ini baru-baru ini, saya kesal kerana insan cemerlang seperti 'Si Juling Kecewa' itu diberikan layanan diskriminasi.

Ini adalah ketidakadilan yang dilakukan oleh pihak tidak bertanggungjawab. Patutkah hanya kerana matanya juling, maka hak beliau dinafikan. Kecacatannya bukan kecacatan besar yang boleh menggagalkan fungsi seorang pendidik.

Malah, kecacatan bermata juling ini tidak harus dikategorikan sebagai orang kurang upaya (OKU). Hakikat ini wajar dinilai pihak terbabit. Hingga kini saya tidak nampak apa relevannya alasan kononnya orang bermata juling tidak layak menduduki Ujian Kelayakan Malaysia Educators Selection Inventory (MEdSI). Ini adalah penafian hak yang amat tragis.

Walaupun mungkin ada pihak yang mendakwa kredibilitinya sebagai guru bakal terjejas kerana bermata juling, alasan itu terlalu dangkal. Jika ini alasan yang paling munasabah, maka pihak kementerian wajar memberhentikan guru yang berkepala botak, pendek, perut boroi dan gigi jongang.

Bukankah kelompok ini juga ada ciri-ciri yang boleh menjejaskan kredibiliti mereka sebagai guru. Malah, segelintir guru yang gagal berbahasa Melayu dan Inggeris dengan baik juga wajar diberhentikan.

Jika inilah alasan yang diketengahkan, bukan saja ia menjatuhkan maruah 'Si Juling Kecewa' malah keseluruhan institusi perguruan. Bukan niat saya untuk menghentam kementerian atau individu terbabit.

Namun, saya percaya tindakan segelintir pihak ini bakal menjejaskan keseluruhan reputasi institusi terbabit malah seluruh negara umumnya, seolah-olah rakyat yang ada sedikit kecacatan tidak boleh berkerja di bumi tercinta ini.

INSAN PRIHATIN,
Kota Kemuning, Selangor.

Single-session schools: Compensate teachers

NSTP

I WELCOME the prime minister's call for more protection for schoolchildren (NST, Sept 25). He has suggested that schooling hours be extended to 4pm.

As a teacher, I have no qualms about this but then, what do we get in return?

Are the teachers going to be given extra pay for becoming the new “amahs” (nannies)? It is only fair that we be given some kind of gratification. A pay increase or some sort of extra allowance should be considered because our working hours are going to be increased quite significantly.

There is no logic for the government to increase our workload but pay us the same.

In fact, we need a better, revamped scheme for we are the worst treated and lowest paid among the lot in the professional group.
We started as teachers knowing very well the demands and heavy responsibilities that come with it. Our job does not end at 1.30pm or 2pm.

Many positive things could be achieved by extending the schooling hours, especially when it comes to extra classes, homework, co-curricular activities and, of course, the safety of the pupils.

To be more effective, I would suggest that the working hours of parents be streamlined according to schooling hours.

What is the point of starting school at 7.30am when parents only go to work at 8am or 9am?

School will finish at 4pm but parents will still be at work, whether government servants or in the private sector.

This will definitely defeat the purpose when our main agenda is the safety of the children.

Who is going to take care of the children from 4pm till the time the parents come to fetch them? Teachers, again?

Besides considering the extension of schooling hours, also consider that teachers are also human beings with families just like other working parents.

We also have children waiting at home for our attention and love.

BPR perjelas status hadiah perayaan

Berita Harian

Oleh Norfatimah Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR: Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) menubuhkan Pusat Khidmat Nasihat Pemberian/Penerimaan Hadiah untuk memberi khidmat nasihat kepada orang ramai mengenai sama ada sesuatu hadiah atau cenderamata yang diberi pada musim perayaan, dikategorikan sebagai rasuah.

Pusat yang akan dikendalikan Bahagian Pemeriksaan dan Perundingan Ibu Pejabat BPR itu boleh dihubungi menerusi panggilan atau SMS ke dua talian khas iaitu 019-6000103 dan 019-6000104, selain laman web BPR, www.bpr.gov.my dan emel, hadiah@bpr.gov.my.

Ibu Pejabat BPR dalam kenyataannya di sini, semalam berkata pusat itu ditubuhkan berikutan pihaknya menerima banyak pertanyaan dan kemusykilan daripada orang ramai berhubung status sesuatu pemberian atau hadiah yang mereka terima sepanjang musim perayaan.

"Kerajaan memandang serius pemberian dan penerimaan hadiah terutama pada musim perayaan kerana jika dibiarkan, ia boleh membuka ruang rasuah apabila pemberian seumpama itu menjadi kemestian yang membabitkan urusan rasmi," katanya.

Mengikut Seksyen 165 Kanun Keseksaan dan Seksyen 11 (a) Akta Pencegah Rasuah 1997 dengan jelas melarang pegawai awam atau swasta menerima hadiah yang bertujuan mendapat balasan atau keistimewaan membabitkan tugas dan kuasanya.

Selain itu, penjawat awam tertakluk kepada Peraturan Pegawai Awam (Kelakuan dan Tatatertib) 1993 yang melarang mereka menerima atau memberi hadiah jika berkaitan tugas awam.

Elaun guru pendidikan khas naik

Utusan Online

PUTRAJAYA 2 Okt. – Seramai 5,600 guru pendidikan khas di seluruh negara akan menikmati kenaikan kadar elaun bulanan dari RM100 kepada RM250 sebulan mulai tahun depan.

Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein berkata, lebih RM10 juta setahun diperuntukkan bagi peningkatan kadar elaun sebagaimana yang diumumkan dalam pembentangan Bajet 2008 bulan lalu.

‘‘Langkah tersebut adalah gambaran kepada komitmen dan pengiktirafan kerajaan terhadap sumbangan guru pendidikan khas di negara ini.

‘‘Sehubungan itu, saya berharap guru pendidikan khas akan lebih bersemangat dan proaktif dalam membantu membangunkan potensi murid istimewa,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Pusat Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Khas (3PK) di sini, hari ini.

Hishammuddin berkata, peningkatan kadar elaun itu adalah wajar memandangkan beberapa senario yang berlaku dalam bidang pendidikan khas ketika ini dan pelbagai tanggungjawab yang terpaksa dipikul oleh guru pendidikan khas.

‘‘Ini termasuk guru perlu menyertai kursus kepakaran tertentu yang tidak dikuasai oleh guru biasa, peluasan program pendidikan khas yang menuntut komitmen yang lebih daripada guru dan peluasan kategori kecacatan murid daripada satu kecacatan kepada pelbagai kecacatan.

‘‘Beban tugas guru bertambah. Selain mengajar, mereka juga terlibat dalam sesi kaunseling, terapi, modifikasi tingkah laku dan menjalankan ‘lawatan ke rumah’ bagi kes tertentu,” katanya.

Sementara itu, beliau memberitahu, Kementerian Pelajaran hari ini menubuhkan tujuh buah Pusat Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Khas (3PK) bernilai RM1 juta dalam usaha meningkatkan kualiti pendidikan khas di negara ini.

Katanya, tujuh pusat tersebut terletak di Putrajaya, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perak, Selangor dan Melaka.

‘‘3PK yang berbentuk pusat sehenti itu sememangnya merupakan antara pendekatan terbaik kerana kita menyedari usaha untuk membangunkan potensi kanak-kanak berkeperluan khas harus bermula seawal usia kelahirannya,” kata Hishammuddin.

Sistem gred untuk PBT

Utusan Online

Oleh ROZAMAN ISMAIL dan HELMI MOHD. FOAD

PUTRAJAYA 2 Okt. – Kerajaan akan melaksanakan sistem penggredan ke atas semua pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) bagi menilai tahap prestasi dan kecekapan agensi itu mulai suku kedua tahun depan.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata, melalui sistem berkenaan semua majlis bandar raya dan majlis daerah akan dinilai prestasi sebelum diberi taraf daripada satu hingga lima bintang.

“Sistem ini akan dinilai secara objektif dan diharap melalui sistem penggredan ini kita akan dapat satu cara atau kaedah yang mana sistem penanda aras prestasi dapat diperkenalkan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas mempengerusikan Mesyuarat Majlis Negara Bagi Kerajaan Tempatan ke-59 di sini, hari ini.

Menurut Najib, kriteria penggredan dibuat dengan mengambil kira urus tadbir dan kepimpinan (20 peratus), pengurusan kewangan dan hasil (10 peratus), pelaksanaan undang-undang, dasar-dasar kerajaan, peraturan dan garis panduan (25 peratus), penglibatan komuniti dan masyarakat (10 peratus), perkhidmatan pelanggan (10 peratus) dan program teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi (5 peratus).

Katanya, PBT yang memperoleh 90-100 markah akan dikategorikan sebagai lima bintang, 75-89 (empat), 60-74 (tiga), 46-59 (dua ) dan 45 ke bawah satu bintang.

Beliau berkata, sistem berkenaan akan dinilai oleh satu panel berwibawa yang ditentukan oleh kementerian selain anggota profesional bebas.

Menurut Najib, mana-mana PBT yang menunjukkan prestasi rendah akan diberi perhatian oleh pihak berkuasa di peringkat negeri dan Pusat melalui Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan bagi membaiki prestasi PBT terlibat.

“Penggredan akan dibuat setiap dua tahun dan kalau prestasi tidak mencapai tahap, PBT terlibat kena lakukan usaha penambahbaikan dan kita akan hantar pasukan pakar untuk kaji kelemahan pentadbiran majlis berkenaan,” katanya lagi.

Ditanya adakah sistem ini diperkenalkan disebabkan kelemahan yang berlaku dalam PBT, Najib berkata, ia adalah selaras dengan hasrat kerajaan untuk menambah baik kecekapan PBT kerana ia merupakan pihak ketiga dalam sistem pentadbiran negara.

Menurutnya, mesyuarat yang sama turut mencapai beberapa keputusan lain antaranya, memperluaskan penggunaan lesen komposit bagi membolehkan perniagaan yang baru dimulakan dipercepatkan.

“Jangka masa dua bulan diberikan kepada pemohon untuk mematuhi syarat-syarat penyiapan premis bagi jenis perniagaan tidak berisiko.

“Bagaimanapun jika berlaku apa-apa aktiviti haram atau tidak sah dari segi undang-undang maka tindakan penguatkuasaan boleh diambil pada bila-bila masa sahaja,” katanya sambil menambah tempoh sah laku lesen perniagaan akan dipanjangkan sehingga tiga tahun.

Ada DPP malas – Peguam Negara

Utusan Online

Oleh WAN SYAMSUL AMLY WAN SEADEY

PUTRAJAYA 2 Okt. – Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail hari ini mendedahkan terdapat segelintir peguam dan timbalan pendakwa raya (DPP) yang malas dan cuai semasa meneliti kertas siasatan kes-kes yang hendak dibawa ke mahkamah.

Menurutnya, kelemahan seumpama itu boleh menimbulkan tanggapan negatif terhadap institusi pendakwa raya yang seharusnya memberi keadilan kepada orang ramai.

“Memang ada segelintir pendakwa raya dan peguam agak senior yang tidak efisien dalam tugas yang dipertanggungjawabkan.

“Mereka masih tidak peka dengan kertas siasatan dan membuat kesilapan mudah yang tidak harus berlaku,” katanya ketika ditemui di pejabatnya di sini hari ini.

Abdul Gani berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas kes Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Siti Badariah Mohd. Yusof yang terlewat hadir dalam sebutan kes mengedar dadah di Mahkamah Tinggi Ipoh, Perak baru-baru ini.

Kelewatan itu menyebabkan Hakim Datuk Muhamad Ideres Muhamad Rapee membuat keputusan ketiga-tiga tertuduh dalam kes itu yang didakwa mengedar dadah jenis kanabis seberat 3,049 gram dilepaskan tanpa dibebaskan.

Sambil menyatakan kekecewaannya, Abdul Gani menegaskan beliau tidak teragak-agak untuk ‘menjatuhkan hukuman’ ke atas mana-mana pegawainya yang didapati melakukan kesilapan seumpama itu.

“Saya memang menjaga setiap gerak-geri pegawai pendakwa dan akan bersama mereka untuk mengenal pasti punca masalah itu berlaku,” ujarnya.

Abdul Gani menjelaskan, kesilapan yang kerap berlaku sekarang dikatakan berpunca daripada kurangnya semangat dan rasa bangga mereka yang menjawat profesion Timbalan Pendakwa Raya.

“Fikiran mereka mungkin lebih menjurus kepada soal gaji dan tidak pada tanggungjawab yang seharusnya diselesaikan,” katanya.

01 October 2007

Kontroversi Sharifah Hapsah, Saran Kaur dan gaji Prof RM8 juta!

HarakahDaily

BANGI, 1 Okt (Hrkh) - Majoriti kakitangan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), termasuk para profesor kanan, semakin tidak berpuas hati dan resah-gelisah dengan gaya pentadbiran Naib Canselor, Prof Dato' Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin.

Sekurang-kurangnya dua isu besar menjadi bualan umum warga kampus di sini. Pertama, pelantikan Timbalan Naib Canselor Hal-Ehwal Jaringan Industri dan Masyarakat, Prof Dr Saran Kaur a/p Delio Singh, dari Pusat Bahasa dan Linguistik, mulai 1 September lalu, untuk tempoh tiga tahun.

Pelantikan itu dikatakan tidak dibuat secara telus dan terbuka mengikut tatacara dan prosedur yang ditetapkan oleh Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi. Prosedur sedia ada ialah pencalonan dibuka untuk warga UKM membuat cadangan dalam tempoh tertentu dan diikuti dengan sesi temuduga calon setelah mereka mengisi borang kompetensi dan ujian MEQI bagi menilai emosi dan intelek calon.

Bagaimanapun, Naib Canselor mengetepikan semua prosedur berkenaan.

Lagi pula, jawatan yang diluluskan oleh Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam ialah TNC Hal-Ehwal Pembangunan, bagi merancang dan memantau projek pembangunan yang diberikan peruntukan hampir RM1,000 juta bagi tempoh Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan. Bagaimanapun Sharifah Hapsah telah mengubah nama dan bidang tugas jawatan tersebut.

Menurut sumber, bidang tugas TNC baru ini bertindan-tindih dengan dua TNC sedia ada, iaitu TNC Hal-Ehwal Pelajar dan Alumni, serta TNC Hal-Ehwal Penyelidikan dan Inovasi. Khabarnya Saran Kaur masih belum pasti apa yang dapat dilakukan kerana pembahagian tugas di antara TNC sedia ada masih jauh daripada jalan penyelesaian.

"Beliau hanya memanaskan kerusi sahaja," kata seorang kakitangan UKM yang tidak mahu dikenali.

"Malah, dari segi kelayakan," tambahnya, "beliau memang tidak layak langsung untuk memegang jawatan TNC. Kepakaran beliau dalam linguistik tidak akan berguna dalam membincangkan hal-hal seperti isu pemindahan teknologi, paten, hak-cipta intelek dan sebagainya. Beliau juga tidak pernah menjawat jawatan pentadbiran yang memberi cukup pengalaman untuk melaksanakan tugas TNC."

Difahamkan Sharifah Hapsah melantik Saran Kaur, walaupun tanpa mengikut prosedur lazim, kerana mereka merupakan kawan rapat sejak lama, selain faktor gender. Banyak jawatan kanan di UKM kini, termasuk dekan dan pengarah institut, mudah diperolehi oleh pensyarah wanita dan ini menimbulkan rasa tidak puas hati banyak pihak.

Misalnya, jawatan Pengarah Institut Alam dan Tamadun Melayu (Atma), yang dikosongkan oleh Prof Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin diisi oleh seorang pensyarah kejuruteraan, Prof Dr Che Husna Azhari.

"Kita tak kisah kalau mereka yang dilantik itu berkelayakan, sama ada lelaki atau wanita," kata seorang lagi pensyarah. "Tapi kalau yang dipilih itu tidak menepati kriteria akademik, hanya kerana mereka kawan rapat Naib Canselor, maka ia sesuatu yang menyedihkan."

Dikatakan pejabat bagi TNC baru juga belum ada dan berlaku suasana kelam-kabut apabila ia disedang dibuat proses ubah-suai sehingga beberapa bahagian terpaksa dipindahkan ke Kolej Kediaman Keris Mas.

Menurut pemerhati, kalaupun KPT mahu melantik kalangan bukan Bumiputera sebagai TNC, masih ramai lagi calon yang lebih layak dan berkebolehan serta berpengalaman berbanding Saran Kaur.

"Apakah Naib Canselor UKM membuat keputusan hanya berdasarkan perasaan, tanpa melihat rasional dan asas kukuh?" tanya seorang bekas pensyarah kanan yang ditemui. "Jika ini pegangan dan amalan beliau maka akan hancurlah UKM dan sia-sialah perjuangan dan pengorbanan orang Melayu menubuhkan UKM dahulu."

"Waktu mula datang ke UKM, beliau membawa janji-jani ketelusan dan keterbukaan," tambahnya. "Sekarang terbukti semua jaminan itu palsu, malah beliau terbukti seorang yang tidak mempunyai sebarang misi atau visi. Beliau hanya mahu menjaga hati Perdana Menteri, TPM, Dato' Mustapa Mohamad dan segala kroninya sahaja dan tidak peduli apa akan berlaku kepada universiti."

"Bagaimanapun, saya kira Pak Lah sendiri tak akan berpuas hati dengan prestasinya," ujar bekas pensyarah kanan itu lagi. "Tiada idea-idea baru yang dikemukakan. Kepimpinannya juga dipertikai ramai. Pejabatnya sudah menjadi tempat lepak dua tiga orang kawan-kawan rapat yang kini memegang jawatan tinggi di UKM. Kalau ini berterusan impian meletakkan UKM sebagai universiti penyelidikan akan musnah begitu saja."

Harakah edisi cetak akan membuat pendedahan lebih menggemparkan tentang satu lagi isu yang hangat diperkatakan sekarang, iaitu pelantikan Prof Dr Tan Hock Lim, rakyat Malaysia, dari Universiti Adelaide, Australia, bagi menubuhkan Anvanced Surgical Skills Center di Hospital UKM.

Ini kerana ia membabitkan perbelanjaan hampir RM8 juta hanya untuk gaji Dr Tan!

Kempen boikot dapat sambutan

Berita Harian

KUALA LUMPUR: Kempen Boikot Kenaikan Harga Barang anjuran bersama Kongres Kesatuan Pekerja Dalam Perkhidmatan Awam (Cuepacs) dan Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC) sejak 23 September lalu, mendapat sambutan pengguna.

Presiden Cuepacs, Omar Osman, berkata kempen berkenaan berjaya meningkatkan kesedaran orang ramai mengenai kuasa mereka sebagai pengguna agar tidak menjadi mangsa peniaga yang cuba mengambil kesempatan dalam musim perayaan.

“Kita gembira melihat maklum balas diterima daripada pengguna sejak kempen ini dilancarkan seminggu lalu memberangsangkan. Semakin nampak riak kegelisahan di kalangan peniaga yang cuba mengambil kesempatan,” katanya kepada Berita Harian, semalam.

Kempen Boikot Kenaikan Harga Barangan anjuran bersama dua badan yang mewakili hampir dua juta ahli itu dilancarkan di Plaza Tol Sungai Besi pada jam 3 petang, 23 September lalu.

Tindakan memboikot barangan yang dinaikkan pada harga melampau itu diputuskan dalam mesyuarat khas Biro Pengguna Cuepacs dan Jawatankuasa Pengguna MTUC di Wisma Cuepacs, di sini, pada 21 September lalu.

Gabungan Cuepacs dan MTUC yang masing-masing mempunyai 1.2 juta dan 800,000 ahli ini adalah satu amaran kepada peniaga dan pengeluar barang keperluan pengguna supaya tidak terus menekan rakyat.

Mengulas lanjut, Omar berkata kempen terbabit bukan hendak memboikot semua barangan tapi segelintir saja yang dikenal pasti mengalami kenaikan dan tujuannya adalah untuk menyedarkan masyarakat pengguna mengenai hak mereka.

Katanya, peniaga seharusnya bertimbang rasa dan tidak mementingkan keuntungan kerana kenaikan harga barang mendadak seperti sekarang jelas mengambil kesempatan di atas kenaikan gaji sektor awam dan musim perayaan yang bakal tiba.

“Walaupun tindakan boikot ini bakal mengundang perdebatan, ia adalah jalan yang kita terpaksa ambil. Pengguna perlu bertegas dan bersatu hati kerana jika tidak, pengguna akan terus dibuli sesuka hati.

“Kita hendak pengguna memboikot peniaga yang menjual barangan pada harga melebihi ditetapkan. Biar mereka tahu, pengguna mempunyai kuasa berbuat demikian jika teraniaya,” katanya.

Omar berkata, pemimpin Cuepacs dan MTUC yang tidak memakai seragam akan turun padang untuk membuat pemeriksaan harga barang di lokasi terpilih seperti di pasar dan kedai runcit.

Dress code: Another setback for unity

NSTP

IS there a new dress code for female government servants?

While the baju kurung is allowed to be worn by female government staff, irrespective of race, the attire identified with other races is to be donned only by the staff of those communities concerned. This was disclosed during two separate seminars held recently.

This latest development is indeed disheartening and runs against the spirit of Malaysian unity.

I hope this is not the stand of the government and just the misplaced over-zealousness of a few officers down the line.

As long as an employee is appropriately dressed, why should the origin of the attire matter?

Immigration Dept paves way for better service

NSTP

KUALA LUMPUR: Dealings with the Immigration Department are now breezier due to several measures instituted this month.

Special Task Force To Facilitate Business (Pemudah) member Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam said working permits for expatriates, for instance, had been extended to five and 10 years, as opposed to the previous condition of a maximum of three years.

He said it now only took one week to process the permits and an executive lounge had been set up to serve the applicants.

Additionally, business visas had been extended to six months, compared with three months previously.

Gnanalingam said these were among the improvements in the public delivery system.
“The Immigration Department has done a good job and is among the public sectors that have made a lot of improvements.

“Credit should go to Pemudah chairman Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan who has been pushing for the changes.”

Pemudah is a high-powered 23-member task force handpicked from the public and private sectors to promote faster reform in the country's delivery system and enhance economic activity.

D-G: Don't just make noise, bring it up with us

NSTP

KUALA LUMPUR: Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry director-general of enforcement Mohd Roslan Mahayudin rebutted NCCC director Darshan Singh's assertion that his division was not doing anything about the problem.

“People can make a lot of noise in the marketplace but if they don't bring it to our attention, how do we take action? Co-operation from the consumer is very important.”

Roslan said thousands of cases came under his division and compounding the offenders was sometimes the fastest way to resolve the cases.

“We compound them and we take them to court if they fail to pay within 14 days.

“If we immediately file the case in court, it sometimes takes time for the matter to be resolved.
“The people who commit the offence also don't feel like they're being punished as they only get their penalty a few years later by which time they would have already made much more money.

“After all that time, the court may just decide to compound the offenders, anyway,” he said.

He said the licences of 20 direct sales companies identified to be conducting scratch-and-win scams had been revoked.

It was illegal for sales personnel to approach anyone's home from 7pm till 9am, or on public holidays, said Roslan.

“After that they have the right to approach the homes of consumers but the consumer still has the right to chase them away.”

Fire destroys officers’ mess

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Fire destroyed the senior police officers' mess at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak here.

The 67-year-old dilapidated building had been earmarked for demolition in November to make way for a new building.

There were no casualties in the 12.15am incident yesterday.

Pulapol commandant Senior Asst Comm II Amar Singh said initial investigations showed that the fire was caused by a short-circuit in the wiring system. A detailed investigation would be carried out.

Although the mess was gutted, 10 other rooms were not affected. He said losses were estimated at RM300,000.

Federal Territory Fire and Rescue Department deputy operations officer Mohd Ali Ismail said 35 men brought the fire under control in 30 minutes.