Is it customary, obligatory or a resolve when VIPs deliver new year messages?

Every year without fail whether they are around or travelling, the message will be published in the mainstreams. I guess this is not an issue if it is customary or obligatory (in respect of delivery only). But if it is a resolve, therein lies the conviction and I think they have to deliver it in person at the appropriate time.

Let us take a look at a few new year messages.

1. He pledged that his party would continue to improve the livelihood and welfare of the community. He also wanted his ministry to ensure Malaysians continue to enjoy high quality healthcare.

2. He spoke about the various rail projects that will lead to enhanced connectivity and resulting in greater opportunities for local businesses. Also, a long-term goal of transforming Malaysia into a competitive regional logistics hub in Asean.

3. His ‘amanat’ (mandate) which just came in, talks about redesigning higher education and to provide the best higher education system in the world.

Reality check...

Healthcare

A couple weeks ago, a friend visited his friend who was admitted due to a broken bone that happened in Terengganu. His friend had to pay RM2,200 for a private ambulance to Hospital Selayang (HS). Once admitted, he was told to wait for one month for the operation theatre slot. They suggested him to go to a private hospital for the operation which will cost about RM25,000.

While at the hospital, my friend struck a conversation with some nurses. They complained that they were tired and over-worked. In one case, there is only four of them and they have to take care of 40 patients. It did not help when the air-conditioning had broken down and had yet to be repaired. There was no faucet/spigot to control the shower in the ward bathroom. The toilet is not fit to be a hospital facility since maintenance is reduced.

Patients had to buy their own bedpan as the HS no longer provides this essential item for orthopedic patients. The budget for for food per patient per day is RM2.50. My friend saw the meal for dinner consisted of rice and one dish plus four very thin slices of apple.

All these could be due to the budget cuts.

The question now is how do we ensure Malaysians continue to enjoy high quality healthcare as stated by the VIP? The hospital’s vision towards being a world-renowned medical institution may have to be revisited.

Rail projects

The VIP spoke about the various rail projects that will lead to enhanced connectivity and resulting in greater opportunities for local businesses. He also touched on Phase 1 of the Logistics Trade Master Plan (LTMP) that has been successfully completed.

If I am not mistaken those impressively large rail projects such as Klang Valley MRT (KVMRT), East Coast Rai Line (ECRL) and High Speed Rail are not under his control. So, would he be in a position to report or commit on such projects? Hopefully, there are no overlaps or duplication and worse still, conflicting objectives.

It is good to note that the Phase 1 of the Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) has been successfully completed. I do hope that the overall LTMP will be an implementable plan. It will be more meaningful if the authorities could solve the taxi problem and on a bigger scale, to find a solution on the missing Flight MH370. By the way, I just read the news on some KTM Berhad (KTMB) procurement controversy.

Higher education

A report in The Sunday Star (Jan 8, 2017) does not offer much hope for the future of the country’s premier institution of higher learning. Universiti Malaya is just one of the many public universities struggling to cope with reduced federal funding.

The budget cuts have had a telling effect on the academic staff. Many of the staffers have been let go and most staff members whose contract has ended have not been given a renewal. The reductions were also affecting running costs such as staff having to buy their own stationery.

The minister said that the cut should be “viewed positively” and public universities have become too dependent on government funding, adding that a decade ago it was a fraction of what was now given. The government aims to reduce dependency to 40 percent by 2025. The ultimate goal is to make Malaysian universities more competitive on a global scale and to boost the country’s ranking and improve institutional efficiency,

The new formula to address issues of productivity, competency and the incentive to innovate, is 5 percent of total funding will be reserved and redistributed based on performance ratings.

The universities also have taken steps such as appointing contract staff, multitasking and cost-cutting to overcome difficulties. But most under contract have not got renewals.

But if staff are reduced, how would we expect to have growth in student numbers, especially at the graduate level and how would it work to improve test scores?

Isn’t the government committed in supporting research universities for the purpose of meeting the long term nation’s prosperity and promoting the nation’s economic growth and development?

My view is, rather than drastically cutting the allocation to universities and having a separate formula to address issues of productivity, competency and the incentive to innovate, we might as well disband the Higher Education Ministry (functions to be taken over by the Education Ministry) and the savings used to help our future leaders who are now in the universities.

I think this move will be more effective in terms of productivity, competency and the incentive to innovate by the authorities.

Malaysians can then look forward to a brighter year as the prime minister put it in his new year’s message and he also wants developments to be shared equitably

What say you...