NUFFNANG

Monday, 20 January 2014

Is MIC blocking the PM’s transformation agenda

Is MIC blocking the PM’s transformation 

agenda?

This blog has always been keen and passionate about public transportation 

for the longest time. From the first article – “The Public Transportation Issue” 

written in November 2008, about 9 articles have been written. All of it can be 

read here.

What Malaysia needs is a world class public transportation system which can connect
people efficiently, more so in the Klang Valley. The acute problem in traffic, 
compounded by increasing number of cars have made public transportation one 
of the key NKRA of Najib’s administration.
As such, the effort to upgrade the public transportation (buses, LRT, MRT, monorail etc)
iparamount to alleviate the choking problem faced by the people in the capital city
Time lost by the people stuck in traffic jams costs money and opportunity loss.
Therefore, we find it vital that the public transportation especially the LRT and MRT
must be the impetus in attracting the people to use public transportation.
But the news we heard today is both disappointing and alarming. It seems the Malaysian
Indian Congress (MIC) is up in arms against the government in providing a better service 
for the general public.

Prasarana denied entry to Puchong Tamil 

school

PETALING JAYA: A LRT extension construction company is unhappy that its contractors
were prevented from carrying out their work, by a group of MIC members and parents 
from Castlefield Tamil School.
Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana) said it is extremely disappointed that efforts
to build an LRT Line Extension Project (LEP) have been hindered by reckless actions 
of these individuals.
They also claimed that the individuals, who had formed a blockade in front of the 
school yesterday, scuffled with auxiliary policemen from the company, resulting in a 
senior officer being injured. 
This is despite Prasarana obtaining an injunction to enter part of the school
compound and informing the school authorities of the planned work to be 
undertaken.
“This is the third time that we have made effort to enter the site. We have stated
repeatedly that we will ensure minimum interruption to the children’s studies while 
construction of the LEP is underway,” said Prasarana’sgroup director of the 
project development division, Zulkifli Md Yusoff.
“We are dedicated to ensuring that the well-being of the schoolchildren and their
teachers are not compromised during this period. Apart from enhancing the school’s
facilities, we would also ensure the safety of the children and public,” he added.
Yesterday, around 60 MIC Youth members and the parents led by former MIC Youth 
Chief T Mohan prevented Prasarana’s constructors from entering the school. 
They also urged Prasarana to sign an agreement before starting the extension work.
No need for school to be relocated
It is learnt the school administration had passed a memorandum to Prasarana
for a mutual agreement where it wants the company to provide RM20 million to 
build a new school on six-acre plot given by Selangor state government.
However, Prasarana stressed that it is going to occupy only 0.47 acres of 2.8 acres 
of the school compound and upon completion of the project, the five LRT piers will 
only occupy 20 metres of space.
“It is important for the public to understand that LEP can coexist with the school 
harmoniously and there is no need for the school to be relocated for this project to 
commence,” said Zulkifly.
“Moreover, the Education ministry has set a requirement that 100% approval
from all parents must be obtained for the relocation. But, a group of 80 parents 
came out to voice their disagreement,” he added.
“Prasarana will build sound-proof barriers, improve the school’s facilities, including 
installing air-con units in classrooms and improve the landscape by planting trees 
and foliage as a gesture of goodwill.
“There are many benefits to consider, the key of which is improved transport 
convenience for the students and surrounding residents to the greater LRT 
network in Klang Valley,” he said.
The 17.7km LRT extension of the Ampang line under the National Key Result
Area(NKRA) would directly benefit residents in Petaling, Bandar Kinrara, 
Puchong and Putra Heights.
It is learnt that a 180-metre stretch passes the edge of the Castlefield school,
running parallel to the Puchong Damansara Higway (LDP) and the construction 
of the five pillars.
MIC should be held responsible for this transgression as its unruly members are
working against the government’s effort to vitalise the LRT service. Furthermore, it 
seems the school board of Castlefield are getting more and more greedy 
when all effort was given by the government to ease any hardship which may be 
borne by the school (giving airconds, building a hall and school facilities etc) and even 
throwing away RM20 million of taxpayers money just to build another school!
RM20 million of our money to be used just because of a 0.47 acres of space? The school
board must be out of their mind!
God forbid if they would also want to control that RM20 million and pick their own
contractors themselves!
On top of that, MIC and the school board are knowingly defying a court order. In a
civilised country such as Malaysia, defying a court order will have severe repercussions. 
Will the leadership of MIC take responsibility over the action of their members?
All this stupidity by working against the public’s wellbeing should stop.
Castlefield Tamil School is not the first school to have a train line adjacent to it and
nor will it bethe last. In Malaysia, they are many schools which have similar scenario 
and they pose noproblems for the students.
As a matter of fact, according to this report, there are several LRT lines which has
been built nearschools, such as:
  1. Sekolah Methodist Wesley, Sentul, KL
  2. SRJK (T) Appar, Jalan Merpati, KL
  3. SRJK (C) Chong Kwok, Jalan Merpati, KL
  4. SK (L) Jalan Batu, KL
The ball is in MIC’s court. Please get a clearer picture from both sides of the affected
party.

Do not be swayed by petty politics to the detriment of greater good.
As for the greedy school board, enough is enough.

source : jebat must die

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