Internet banking fee, Maybank customers cry foul

Claudia Theophilus
Dec 3, 04 11:56am

Scores of Maybank2u.com customers are furious over a recent move by the country’s largest banking group, Maybank Group, to impose a RM12 annual fee for Internet banking services effective Dec 20.

An announcement on the Maybank2u.com website said the charges would be auto-debited from the customer’s account every six-months with “unlimited log-on access for the six-month period”. It is unclear what “unlimited” means.

First-time users are allowed a one-month free use of the online services but have to subsequently subscribe if they want to continue using the “time-saving” and convenient facilities.

The notice promised customers that they will “always receive quality products and services” in line with the Maybank2u.com’s goals.

The decision has elicited a barrage of criticism stemming from large amounts of frustration and anger over Maybank’s unsatisfactory Internet banking services.

Common gripes over Maybank2u.com’s services include slow page downloads, poor service after 7pm, not online for 24 hours and that some transactions still have to be done at the ATMs.

Hundreds of e-mails are sharing the exchanges between customers’ complaints to the Maybank Group Contact Centre (MGCC) about the move and the standard-format response from the bank.

‘Dirty tactic’

Based on the complaints and queries, customers are miffed over what they describe as “a dirty tactic to rake in instant millions”.

They said Maybank was playing dirty by initially offering the online services for free before signing up millions of users and then charging them a minimal fee once critical mass was achieved, making instant millions.

But a formatted e-mail reply from the MGCC sent by a Nur Azween Yahya to Maybank2u.com customers reminded them of their agreement to the “terms and conditions governing its usage” and cited Clause 18:1 which referred to “service charge or transaction fees”.

Maybank currently charges 50 sen for each Touch ‘N Go top-up, 50 sen for every ATM withdrawal from the 5th withdrawal onwards, RM2 per online interbank transfer of funds and the latest is RM1 per month for Internet banking customers.

The standard reply pointed out the wider range of services offered such as interbank transfers, 3rd party transfers, e-SI and mobile phone services following an upgrade from checking account balance and bill payments.

The reply highlighted the bank’s enhanced security feature as being part of the “advanced features” or recent upgrades done to Maybank2u.com.

Nur Azween said the minimal monthly fee of RM1 was not too much to ask for being able to “initiate countless banking transactions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week” from the “comfort of your office or home”.

“You are still enjoying all the services without the hassle of going to the banks or visiting the payment counters. You don’t have to think of paying tolls, traffic jams, parking woes or reschedule your busy life for one simple banking transaction.” (sic)

She said that choosing to unsubscribe will cancel the customer’s access to Maybank2u.com altogether.

“As an alternative, you may use our other delivery channels, such as our Kawanku ATMs, KawanKu Phone Banking or the conventional way of doing banking - Maybank branches,” she added in the e-mail response.

Senseless move

An unconvinced customer said the bank’s rationale to impose a surcharge on Internet banking did not make any sense because it is charging people for “using the delivery channel that is the most cost-effective and efficient to the bank”.

The customer also claimed that such a move was a first in Malaysia and possibly the region.

“Moreover, this charging is on top of existing monthly account fee, monthly transaction fee, ATM charges, etc,” read the customer’s e-mail to MGCC.

On Nov 8, the Maybank Group announced a pre-tax profit of RM793.2 million for Q3 this year, an increase of 13.2 percent compared to the corresponding period last year while post-tax profit rose 11 percent to RM555 million for the period ending September 2004 compared to the RM501.2 million last year.

A customer said it was unclear from the information posted on the Maybank2u.com website if customers will be charged beginning Dec 20 or whether the system software changes would be implemented on that date.

“There should be a sufficient grace period of between a few weeks and a month to online customers to cancel their subscription before charging becomes effective.”

Some customers have also accused Maybank2u.com of discriminatory practices based on Maybank Singapore’s website where no such charges were announced for account holders there.

“Does it mean that only the online customers with RM (Ringgit Malaysia) account in Maybank here will be charged? If this is so, then I think it is highly irresponsible for Maybank to deceive online customers with RM accounts ... to defray the system cost.”

‘Clumsy’ service

Other customers who maintained several accounts - savings, current and credit cards - were worried about incurring high additional charges.

“That means I would have to pay RM36 a year to use the online facility for my three accounts!” exclaimed a disgruntled customer in an e-mail to MGCC.

“Question is, is this fair? Isn’t online banking supposed to be one of the ‘features’ (that) attract more customers? Why did (Maybank) not charge account holders earlier but only decide to do it now?”

A frustrated customer complained about services being “always clumsy and annoying”.

“The untrained staff always give out incorrect information and then ask us to be more patient, which costs us more money and time. Now they want us to pay more for the services which we deserve as customers.”

Most customers were unwilling to pay the banking surcharges because they felt that Internet banking was now a standard in the industry and a service offered by every bank at no extra cost.

“There are no charges by large foreign banks. Furthermore, a move like this could well set a bad precedent for other local banks to follow,” were the sentiments expressed in the e-mails.

“(If) your Maybank2u team does not bring in enough profit, it’s not the consumers’ problem,” read another e-mails to the MGCC.

Many customers were also angered by the use of a template or copy-and-paste format when replying to the hundreds of e-mails with differing queries.

Some customers, upset with Maybank’s customer service division for adopting a ‘tidak apa’ (couldn’t-care-less) attitude and in responding very late to their queries, said foreign banks always took the time to give a “more constructive reply”.

Only financial institutions registered under the Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989 and the Islamic Banking Act 1983 are allowed to offer Internet banking services with approval from Bank Negara, the country’s central bank.

Meanwhile an online petition has also been mooted for Maybank customers to sign their disapproval over the subscription fee. Account holders are encouraged to sign the petition before Dec 19.

BN MPs sceptical over no water tariff hike claim

Beh Lih Yi
Jan 17, 05 6:01pm Barisan Nasional (BN) backbenchers today aired their concern over the possibility of an immediate increase in water tariffs, despite being assured otherwise, when the management of water supply is taken over by the federal government from state governments in Peninsula Malaysia.

The ruling parliamentarians expressed their views aired during the three-day special Parliament sitting, which began today, to debate the Constitution Amendment Bill 2004. The main amendment proposed was the transfer of power for supply, treatment, distribution and billing of water supply to the federal government.

During the debate, Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) asked how can the government and the proposed National Water Services Commission (Span) ensure there would not be a hike in water tariff.

Citing the widely-opposed 10 percent toll fare hike last December, he argued that the government had allowed the hike despite being empowered to intervene and review the toll fare.

The vocal parliamentarian said the people had been “fooled” by that incident.

“Many excuses could be used to increase the water tariff in future. None of the ministers were bold enough to give an assurance that the tariff will not be raised in the briefing for parliamentarians yesterday,” he added.

Two-year moratorium

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik told reporters yesterday after the briefing that the government will not raise the water tariff for at least two years.

He said any change to the existing tariff would only be decided after the two-year moratorium and after the concessionaires had proven their efficiency to be on par with the benchmark to be set by Span.

The minister also warned water supply concessionaires that the government will not compensate nor bail them out if they fail in their operations.

Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Itam) was also sceptical of the assurance since the debts of state governments in regards to water run into the billions.

It has been previously reported that the Selangor state government had requested a RM2 billion soft loan from the federal government to pay some of its debts to Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd.

“How could we be assured there will be no (immediate) increase when the debts have yet to be cleared?” he asked.

To date, state governments in Peninsula owe the federal government RM7.5 billion as far as water is concerned.

Unveil full plan

Sharing similar concern, Liow Tiong Lai (BN-Bentong) requested the government to unveil its full plan in dealing with the RM7.5 billion debts and asked if Span would absorb the debts.

He also wanted Span to exercise its full authority in monitoring the water tariff while welcoming the establishment of the water services commission.

On Span, Mohamed Razali Che Mamat (BN-Kuala Krai) called on the government to appoint water specialists to sit in the commission to contribute their professional knowledge.

The MP said Span should not follow the footsteps of the national power utility Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), which is now under fire for last Thursday’s power outage in five states.

According to him, none of TNB’s directors have any expertise in that field.

Best solution

Meanwhile, tabling the Constitution Amendment Bill 2004 this morning, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said the state governments were facing difficulties in clearing the RM7.5 billions debt.

He pointed out that despite the huge allocation, it was insufficient to cope with the water industry’s operation cost and high modal is needed to upgrade the present infrastructure.

He said the transfer of power from state governments to the federal government would be the “best way” to tackle various long standing problems surrounding the industry such as the high rate of non-revenue water and poor governance.

This is in spite of the significant financial implication on the federal government side, he added without elaborating.

Apart from the water management takeover, the Federal Constitution will be amended to raise judges’ retirement age from 65 to 66 and to effect the conservation of national heritage by both the federal and state governments.

Radzi said the adjustment to the judges’ retirement age was in line with the amendment of civil servants retirement age from 55 to 56 which took effect in October 2001.

The bill is expected to be passed by the Dewan Negara on Wednesday.

Suhakam, why the silence on water rights?

Beh Lih Yi
Jan 15, 05 5:54pm The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) was taken to task today over its silence on the impending water privatisation move in the country which is widely opposed by civil society groups.

Human rights lawyer-activist Malik Imtiaz Sarwar questioned Suhakam for keeping mum on the issue stating that access to water is deemed as a basic human rights while the poor may not be able to afford privatised water supply.

“Where is Suhakam?’ he asked before delivering his paper at a public forum on ‘Should water supply be privatised?’ in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Malik, the deputy president of the National Human Rights Society, also urged the civil society to engage with the human rights commission and join forces with thm against the water privatisation move, as well as to bring up the issue at the regional level.

In December 2003, a group of 17 associations led by the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) and ERA Consumer submitted a memorandum to Suhakam urging the commission to intervene into the government’s water privatisation plan.

They expressed their concern over the plan such as the management of water resources and claimed that the government’s decision would breach a fundamental human rights.

However, Suhakam has yet to address the water privatisation move, much to the chagrin of those opposing it.

Constitutional rights

On Monday, Parliament will convene a special three-day sitting to debate the transfer of power for supply, treatment, distribution and billing of water supply.

Malik told the audience that the rights of access to water is prescribed in the Federal Constitution and the Convention of the Rights of the Child 1989 (CRC).

He explained that although water rights is not explicitly stated in the constitution, Article 5 of the constitution on the liberty of the person has a wide-ranging definition that could include the rights to water.

The article reads that ‘no person shall be deprived of his life of personal liberty save in accordance with law’.

“Rights to life means more than just a physical existence, it also includes sufficient standard of living and healthcare,” the lawyer argued.

Penang - the role model

Another speaker, Malaysia Trade Union Congress (MTUC) financial secretary-general A Sivananthen said the congress is supportive of the idea of a public-public partnership (PUPs) approach in managing water resources.

He said the approach could ensure that the water authority equates social responsibility with the commercial outlook.

PUPs is also an arrangement that could ensure water management continues to be under state and public control at the same time.

A role model of PUPs is the Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang, Sivananthen said.

Economist and water specialist Charles Santiago who was invited to present a keynote speech at the function reiterated his call to scrap the privatisation plan and his support for the PUPs approach.

Other speakers invited to share their views at the half-day event included Fomca secretary-general Muhamad Sha’ani Abdullah and several religious leaders. The organisers, Research for Social Development’s executive director Richard Yeoh was the moderator.

Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang was among the 100 people present.

NGOs unite to stop water privatisation move

Nurul Nazirin
Jan 17, 05 7:01pm A coalition of seven non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that is lobbying against privatisation of water supply, today submitted a memorandum to Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang at the Parliament lobby.

Led by Malaysian Trades Union Congress president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, the group timed its action to take advantage of the special three-day Parliamentary sitting from today.

Among other matters, it will debate constitutional amendments to transfer power from state governments to the federal government to take over the supply and management of water to consumers. It is widely known that this will be done through privatisation.

In its three-page memorandum, the coalition - comprising consumer groups, trade unions and community-based organisations - argued that privatisation would deprive consumers of the basic human right of access to water.

Syed Shahir reiterated that the government should listen to public views on this matter, to which Lim said he would raise the issue during the debate in Parliament.

The group also approached Backbenchers Club president and Johor Baru member of Parliament Shahrir Abdul Samad, who was in the vicinity, to present their case.

He conceded that privatised water supply has not delivered expected results in some cases.

“They (the companies) have not privatised it the right way. And we have to (live with the) consequences...some companies don’t even have goals,” he said.

However, Shahrir pointed out that this is why the federal government has to get involved in ensuring proper water supply - at present, it has no control over this - as it is a state function.

He said that, with the proposed establishment of Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara as a regulatory body, better control is expected over the concessionaires.

Economist Charles Santiago, who was present, told Shahrir that key MPs should consult NGOs on the issues involved and alternatives available, such as the Penang water management system.

The coalition will go on a nationwide roadshow from next month to inform and educate consumers on the adverse impacts of water privatisation.

Ahli Parlimen BN ragu dengan jaminan harga air tidak dinaikkan

Beh Lih Yi
Jan 17, 05 8:18pm

Ahli-ahli Parlimen dari Barisan Nasional (BN) kurang yakin dengan jaminan kerajaan bahawa kadar harga air tidak akan dinaikkan apabila kerajaan pusat mengambil alih pengurusannya daripada kerajaan negeri di Semenanjung Malaysia.

Mereka melahirkan pandangan tersebut di sidang khas di Dewan Rakyat hari ini ketika membahas Rang Undang-undang Pindaan Perlembagaan 2004. Pindaan utama membabitkan cadangan untuk memindahkan kuasa merawat, membekal dan mengebil bekalan air, kepada kerajaan pusat.

Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) bertanya bagaimanakah kerajaan dan juga Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (Span) dapat memastikan kadar harga air tidak akan dinaikkan.

Sambil merujuk kepada kenaikan 10 peratus kadar tol di Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (Plus), beliau berkata, walaupun orang ramai menentangnya, tetapi kerajaan masih membenarkannya walaupun ia mempunyai kuasa untuk campurtangan dan mengkaji semula kadar bayaran tol tersebut.

Ahli Parlimen yang lantang bersuara itu berkata, orang ramai telah ‘diperbodohkan’ oleh kejadian tersebut.

Oleh itu, katanya, banyak alasan boleh digunakan untuk menaikkan kadar harga air pada masa depan.

Malah, katanya, tidak seorang pun menteri yang ‘berani’ memberi jaminan – sewaktu majlis taklimat kepada ahli Parlimen semalam – bahawa kadar bayaran air tidak akan dinaikkan.

Syarikat konsesi air


Menteri Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi, Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik memberitahu pemberita semalam bahawa kerajaan tidak akan menaikkan kadar harga air selama sekurang-kurangnya dua tahun akan datang.

Menurutnya, sebarang perubahan pada kadar tersebut hanya akan diputuskan selepas tempoh berkenaan dan selepas syarikat-syarikat konsesi air dapat membuktikan kecekapan mereka mencapai tahap yang ditetapkan oleh Span.

Menteri itu juga mengingatkan syarikat-syarikat konsesi air bahawa kerajaan tidak akan membayar pampasan atau ‘menyelamatkan’ mereka jika operasi mereka gagal.

Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Itam) juga ragu terhadap jaminan itu memandangkan hutang kerajaan negeri kini berjumlah berbilion ringgit.

Sebagai contoh, katanya, Kerajaan Negeri Selangor telah memohon pinjaman berfaedah rendah berjumlah RM2 juta daripada kerajaan pusat untuk membayar sebahagian hutangnya kepada Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd.

Oleh itu, katanya, bagaimana boleh mereka yakin sepenuhnya bahawa harga air tidak naik (mendadak) sedangkan hutang tersebut belum dijelaskan lagi.

Sehingga ini, kerajaan-kerajaan negeri di Semenanjung berhutang sebanyak RM7.5 bilion dalam pengurusan air daripada kerajaan pusat.

Liow Tiong Lai (BN-Bentong) yang turut berkongsi kebimbangan yang sama, meminta kerajaan supaya mendedahkan sepenuhnya rancangannya dalam mengendalikan hutang RM7.5 bilion itu dan bertanya sama ada Span boleh menyerap hutang-hutang tersebut.

Sambil mengalu-alukan penubuhan Span, beliau juga mahu suruhanjaya itu menguatkuasakan sepenuhnya kuasanya dalam mengawasi kadar harga air di negara ini.

Menyentuh mengenai Span, Mohamed Razali Che Mamat (BN-Kuala Krai) menggesa kerajaan supaya melantik pakar-pakar pengurusan air untuk menganggotai suruhanya tersebut bagi berkongsi kepakaran profesional mereka.

Beliau tidak mahu Span menjadi seperti Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) yang kini dikritik hebat berikutan gangguan bekalan elektrik yang menjejaskan lima negeri Khamis lalu.

Menurutnya, tidak seorangpun pengarah TNB yang mempunyai kepakaran dalam bidang tersebut (bekalan elektrik).

Penyelesaian terbaik

Sementara itu, ketika membentangkan rang undang-undang tersebut, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad berkata, kerajaan-kerajaan negeri kini menghadapi kesukaran untuk menjelaskan hutang RM7.5 bilion itu.

Menurutnya, walaupun diberi peruntukan besar, tetapi ianya tidak mencukupi untuk menampung kos operasi pengurusan air dan modal yang besar diperlukan untuk menaiktaraf infrastrukturnya.

Oleh itu, katanya, pemindahan kuasa mengurus air – daripada kerajaan negeri kepada kerajaan pusat – adalah ‘jalan terbaik’ untuk mengatasi masalah-masalah yang berpanjangan dalam industri tersebut seperti kehilangan pendapat dan kawalselia yang lemah.

Ini tidak mengambilkira kesan kewangan yang besar terhadap kerajaan pusat, katanya tanpa mengulas lanjut mengenainya.

Selain mengambil alih pengurusan air, Perlembagaan Persekutuan juga akan dipinda untuk menaikkan umur persaraan hakim, daripada 65 kepada 66 tahun dan untuk memulihara warisan negara oleh kerajaan negeri dan pusat.

Menurut Radzi lagi, pindaan terhadap umur persaraan para hakim itu selaras dengan pindaan umur persaraan kakitangan awam, daripada 55 kepada 56 tahun, yang berkuasa pada bulan Oktober 2001.

Rang undang-undang itu dijangka diluluskan oleh Dewan Negara Rabu ini.

Tuntutan Memorandum 81 Pertubuhan patut dijawab

Lee Ban Chen
Jan 12, 05 12:23pm

Lee Ban Chen

LEE BAN CHEN, yang dilahirkan di Johor, pernah diusir dari Singapura oleh Lee Kuan Yew pada tahun 1966. Pasa masa itu, Ban Chen sedang melanjutkan pelajarannya di Universiti Nanyang. Beliau juga pernah ditahan dibawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) selama tujuh tahun dari 1967 kerana terlibat dalam pemogokan petani di Ladang Bukit Asahan, Melaka and Ladang Triang, Pahang. Ban Chen juga pernah bertugas sebagai editor di akhbar Sin Chew Jit Poh selama satu tahun pada 1976.

Malapetaka Tsunami tidak dapat dielakkan? Meninjau semula Dasar Kebudayaan Negara UKM buta sejarah PKM dalam perjuangan anti-British? Sastera Mahua dan sastera Negara Samy Vellu: PMC yang patut disalahkan Setahun selepas Dr Mahathir bersara 'Api dan minyak? untuk seribu tahun' Kegagalan strategi serang 'istana'

Malapetaka tsunami telah mengentengkan perkara-perkara yang lain, tidak kira ia perkara besar atau kecil, penting atau tidak penting.

Misalnya, penyerahan memorandum yang ditandatangani 81 pertubuhan, yang meminta Kementerian Kesihatan menghentikan penswastaan dispensari di hospital kerajaan, jelas sekali merupakan perkara yang amat penting, yang membabitkan berjuta-juta rakyat yang memanfaatkan kemudahan itu.

Justeru itu, di samping memberi perhatian terhadap malapetaka dan kerja bantuan untuk mangsa tsunami, kerajaan, khasnya Kementerian Kesihatan, juga patut mengkaji dan memberi jawapan yang proaktif terhadap memorandum yang mewakili hasrat dan kepentingan berjuta-juta rakyat yang terbabit.

Tujuh alasan yang dikemukakan supaya cadangan penswastaan itu dihentikan serta-merta, patut dikaji oleh Kementerian Kesihatan, dan hasil kajiannya diumumkan agar satu rumusan atau dasar yang lebih adil dan saksama, dapat dipersetujui semua pihak terlibat. Saya ulangi tujuh alasan itu untuk perbincangan selanjutnya:

1. Mengikut angka tahun 2003, seramai 1.8 juta atau 80 peratus pesakit dalam dan 7 juta pesakit luar negara kita telah dirawat di hospital kerajaan. Ini bermakna tindakan memaksa mereka menanggung kos ubat-ubatan, akan membebankan berjuta-juta pesakit terbabit.

2. Menswastakan dispensari hospital kerajaan akan memberi tekanan kewangan terhadap lebih daripada 75 peratus keluarga Malaysia yang berpendapatan rendah atau sederhana.

3. Perbelanjaan kerajaan Malaysia terhadap kesihatan (2.7 peratus daripada KNK), jauh lebih rendah daripada kadar yang disyorkan oleh WHO (5 peratus daripada KNK).

4. Malaysia mempunyai sistem kesihatan yang amat berkesan dari segi kos. Oleh itu, tidaklah munasabah jika ianya digantikan dengan sistem penswastaan yang sebaliknya akan meningkatkan kosnya.

5. Penswastaan "General Medical Store" pada tahun 1993 dan lima perkhidmatan sokongan dalam tahun 1997, telah menyebabkan peningkatan kos pada kadar yang tinggi. Hakikat ini membuktikan dasar penswastaan hospital kerajaan hanya menguntungkan badan swasta.

6. Keunggulan sistem kesihatan sekarang, umpamanya kos yang berkesan dan berkemampuan menampung berjuta-juta pesakit dengan percuma atau dengan bayaran minima, tidak patut diubah atau diswastakan tanpa persetujuan atau mandat rakyat.

7. Sistem kesihatan awam kita merupakan satu komponen penting untuk mewujudkan wawasan sebuah masyarakat penyayang di mana orang kurang upaya, golongan miskin dan wargatua, diberi perlindungan dan pembekalan kemudahan asas yang sempurna. Prinsip dan wawasan ini hendaklah dikekalkan.

Empat tuntutan

Demi menunaikan janji Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdulah Ahmad Badawi untuk melaksanakan dasar mesra rakyat dan berkhidmat kepada rakyat, Menteri Kesihatan Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek hendaklah lebih bersikap terbuka, telus, bertanggungjawab dan bersedia berbincang dengan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) berkenaan agar kepentingan berjuta-juta pesakit tidak terjejas oleh sebarang program penswastaan yang membabitkan hospital kerajaan.

Berasaskan semangat dan etika kerja yang terbuka, telus dan bertanggungjawab seperti yang dijanjikan oleh Perdana Menteri, maka wajiblah Dr Chua memberi jawapan konkrit terhadap empat tuntutan dalam Memorandum 81 Pertubuhan dan ditegaskan pendirian serta tindakan yang akan diambil oleh kerajaan mengenainya. E,mpat tuntutan tersebut ialah:

1. Membatalkan cadangan dispensari swasta di hospital kerajaan.

2. Melakukan kajian terhadap penswastaan yang telahpun dilakukan dalam bidang kesihatan dan mengumumkan keputusannya kepada rakyat.

3. Mengadakan dialog dengan rakyat sebelum sebarang penswastaan dan pengkorporatan selanjutnya di bidang kesihatan.

4. Mengurangkan pembaziran wang rakyat kesan daripada penswastaan projek dengan kos yang jauh lebih tinggi daripada kos yang dikenakan sebelum penswastaan dilaksanakan.

Sikap berdolak-dalik – umpamanya menafikan laporan akhbar yang berkaitan atau cuba mengelakkan isu yang dikemukakan sebagai isu yang tidak benar bagi meredakan kemarahan atau bantahan rakyat, – bukan satu sikap yang ikhlas.

Rasanya kontroversi penswastaan bidang kesihatan telah lama berlarutan, dan sudah tibalah masanya untuk kerajaan mengkaji semula dasar berkaitan dengannya, untuk menjamin supaya kepentingan berjuta-juta rakyat yang menggunakan kemudahan hospital kerajaan dan wawasan masyarakat penyayang, tidak terjejas.

Langkah itu eloklah dimulakan dengan membuat kajian terperinci dan memberi jawapan secara tegas, telus dan bertanggungjawab terhadap empat tuntutan dalam Memorandum 81 Pertubuhan itu.

Zaman mengabaikan memorandum badan bukan kerajaan, patut sudah tamat jika jaminan Perdana Menteri Abdullah untuk mesra rakyat dan berkhidmat kepada rakyat, adalah ikhlas dan merupakan dasar baru kerajaan Barisan Nasional.

Jika Memorandum 81 Pertubuhan yang mewakili hasrat dan kepentingan berjuta-juta rakyatpun boleh diabai atau dienteng-entengkan, maka maka kata-kata mengenai ‘mesra rakyat dan berkhidmat kepada rakyat’ itu hanyalah omong kosong sahaja...

Economist: Water privatisation policy requires transparency

Yoon Szu-Mae
Jun 9, 04 12:23pm

If the government believes that privatisation leads to cheaper supply and more efficient use of water resources, then such plans, including proposals on water tariffs, must be made transparent, said economist Charles Santiago.

Speaking at a national dialogue on water in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, he said there is currently little open debate on water policies, while the tender process for utilities is not transparent.

He said the controls placed over information, coupled with lack of consultation over decision-making, has raised concern as to whether privatisation is truly more efficient and cheaper than government-led implementation of projects.

Santiago was presenting a lead paper at the eight-day First Malaysia Water Form, on community views in relation to Malaysia's move towards water privatisation.

The national dialogue is jointly organised by the government and Global Water Partnership - a multi-sectoral body funded by the World Bank and United Nations Development Programme.

It has brought together representatives of the corporate sector, government agencies and non-governmental groups to discuss the future of integrating water management in Malaysia, with the aim of ensuring sustainable use.

Exclusive rights

Inevitably, the discussion touched on the most crucial and controversial component - the treatment and supply of water and the government's role given privatisation of the sector.

State governments, as well as businesses vying for exclusive rights, have argued that public-private partnership will optimise the industry’s potential.

Two key proposals, 'private management' and 'full cost recovery', are expected to bring about cost reduction, greater management efficiency, better delivery, and allow governments to split investment risks with businesses.

However, Santiago argued that the government's focus on ‘full cost recovery’ has resulted in supply of, and access to water, being no longer seen as a public good and human right.

"In a privatised environment, access to water will be a function of affordability and no longer a need or a right to sustain life and livelihood," said the economist, who is also Co-ordinator of the Asia-Europe Water Justice Network.

Privatisation, but more specifically full privatisation of water management, he said, will give businesses the right to exercise control over who gets water, and how much.

"For one, I know that at least one factory in Ipoh is using prepaid cards as a method of making water payments in Malaysia," he said.

"Think about it. If the poor can no longer pay for water, chances are high that they will resort to obtaining water from other (untreated) sources, making them vulnerable to being hit by various water borne diseases."

With businesses essentially driven by the profit motive, he asked where water conservation – another reason for privatising supposedly wasteful public-managed utilities – fits into the equation.

"Privatisation is being put forward as the solution to resolve the problem of scarcity and to promote efficient use. This is an absurd claim. The need to create profits, and conserve water resources at the same time, is a conflicting proposition," said Santiago.

However, the push to privatise is also driven by external forces. Foreign corporations could end up managing domestic resources if the General Agreement on Trade in Services, currently being negotiated at the World Trade Organisation, allows foreign acquisition of water treatment and distribution rights.

All this entails a possible loss in political and economic control of domestic natural resources, he said, as decisions affecting water pricing and distribution may come from some corporate boardroom in France of Germany.

'Remember IWK'

Santiago conceded that privatisation does not necessarily project a completely negative picture – there have been instances where the private sector can improve delivery.

"But it (decision as to whether or not to privatise) should involve a thorough evaluation of the failure of existing (public) policies before the next course of action is identified," he said.

He reminded participants of the "colossal privatisation failure" of sewerage company Indah Water Konsortium, which the government was forced to buy back to the tune of RM200 million in 2000 due to irrecoverable losses. By then, it had pumped about RM1 billion into the company.

While Santiago said certain aspects of water delivery could be privatised, this should remain open to public scrutiny and under government control, he said.

"All documents relating to water privatisation have to be made public as a way to ensure people's participation and transparency....privatisation contracts must be placed before Parliament and the state assemblies for debate, discussion, and scrutiny."

‘Unrealistic suggestion’

Santiago's call for greater scrutiny of public awards was questioned by a government sector participant at the meeting.

Department of Irrigation and Drainage deputy director Ahmad Fuad Embi said the tender process for awarding water concessions is already governed by a standard procedure that is applied at all levels of government.

"It is simply unrealistic to suggest that tender contracts should be tabled in Parliament. It is a mistake. There are already enough control mechanisms (to ensure that tender processes are clean)," said Ahmad Fuad, whose department oversees water resources and management under the Natural Resource and Environment Ministry.

He said it was unfair of Santiago to suggest that the tender system and awarding of public concessions are kept secret.

Participants however, also noted that there has been at least one case of improved delivery following privatisation.

Prof Chan Ngai Weng, president of Penang Water Watch, said the state’s privatisation move has resulted in the cheapest water tariff nationwide, better service delivery, and greater profits for the state government, which owns a majority stake in concessionaire Penang Water Supply Corporation.

Chan said this could be because Penang, prior to privatisation, had already taken the lead as the country's most efficient water provider.

The important aspect of the Penang case is not privatisation alone, said Chan, but the fact that even after privatisation, the government continued to maintain strong controls over decision-making – therefore ensuring that the public interest took priority.

In any case, if Malaysia's aim is to ensure a steady supply of water, its main task should focus on preventing wasteful use, he said.

So while the government is calling for a review of existing water tariffs in order to raise more funds to replace old pipes and build new catchment areas, the changes must encourage conservation of water use.

A simple way to achieve this, he said, is by implementing a sliding scale tariff that charges consumers progressively higher prices for every cubic metre of water used above a standard of say, 20 cubic metres per household.

"We need to penalise wasters, not users," he added.

Keng Yaik aims to cut water privatisation costs

Beh Lih Yi
Jul 31, 04 7:33pm

The Energy, Water and Communications Ministry has identified an approach to cut down the high cost of water in the country by includingsewerage services in its water privatisation projects.

Its minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik said today that a meeting he had with the Economic Planning Unit and the Finance Ministry yesterday has agreed to include the sewerage services to the projects, apart from water treatment and distribution.

He told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today that such an approach was essential to reduce the high cost of water as a major factor contributing towards the high costs is the separation of water treatment and distribution.

Under the current policy, water treatment projects are handled by private companies while state governments handle the distribution of water.

“This has imposed a high cost on state governments as a lot of water are non-revenue water, which state governments have to bear,” he said.

Modification of foreign models

The minister also revealed that the government has appointed consultant firms to work on a holistic approach for water privatisation projects especially to outline measures that could allow the public and private sectors to work together in sharing the high cost of capital expenditure involved.

On Tuesday, Lim said that the government will need to spend RM50 billion, equivalent to a third of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, in the next five years to improve water and sewerage services.

On the government’s plan to follow closely the United Kingdom water privatisation model, he said the Malaysian model will be a modification version of UK and French model but the regulatory system will be based on the UK model.

Under the UK model, the private sectors are responsible from the beginning till the end of the water services such as sourcing, treatment, distribution, sewerage, billings and collections. In the French model, it is done by the municipality but private companies are tasked with the operation and maintenance.

‘Ring-fencing’ approach

Earlier, the minister told a forum titled ‘Is Malaysia ready for privatisation of its water resources’, that another interesting part of the UK model was its ‘ring-fencing’ approach which is meant to protect the water services companies in the event that the parent companies become insolvent.

The approach not only manages to attract investors to the water industry but also enables the banking sector to participate in providing long term loans or bonds with low interests.

On the proposed National Water Services Commission, the minister said the commission and the Water Services Act are expected to be ready early next year, subject to parliamentary approval.

The commission will act as a regulator of the water services industry in Malaysia including the sewerage sector and it will be entrusted to put in bench-markings particularly in the area of tariff setting, procurement procedures, quality and technical standards.

He added that a ‘water voice panel’ comprised of consumers and interested groups will also be incorporated in the commission.

On those involved in water pilfering, he stressed that the concerned individual or party will be penalised under the water privatisation blue print.

The forum was jointly organised by Era Consumer, Federation of Malaysia Consumer Associations and the Selangor and Federal Territory Water Watch. About 200 people were in attendance.

NGOs: Water privatisation will punish the poor

Nurul Nazirin
Jan 11, 05 3:35pm While the Malaysian parliament will convene a special three-day sitting on Monday to debate transfer of power for supply, treatment, distribution and billing of water supply, an Indonesian court has been preoccupied with similar issues.

In both countries, non-governmental organisations are rallying against the proposal which, they claim, will burden those unable to pay for privatised water supply.

Malaysian economist Charles Santiago (left), said he testified against the privatisation of water resources in a case before the Judicial Review Act 7, 2004, at the Constitutional Court in Jakarta last Wednesday.

The case was filed by 17 civil society groups led by environmental group Wahana Linkungan Hidup Indonesia, to challenge the government’s move to privatise the supply of water.

They argued that the main role of the constitution and the government is to protect the welfare of the people and that water privatisation is contrary to this notion.

“If the role and objective of the Constitution is to safeguard and fulfill the needs and rights of Indonesians, the move should not take place,” he said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

He said the Malaysian government’s proposal to centralise power on water management and supply, as part of its move to privatise the process, raises similar issues in respect of public interest.

“Access to water must be identified primarily as a public good and a human right. The state has an important obligation in ensuring that the country’s water resources remain in the hands of the public sector,” he said.

On Saturday, Santiago will be among speakers at a public consultation in Kuala Lumpur, on human and religious rights affected by water privatisation. Organised by Research for Social Advancement, it will discuss the impact of water liberalisation for consumers.

Details crucial

Santiago urged the government to be transparent in its tender process, and to give out details on the terms and rates set out in the contract.

“My concern is that clean water reaches everyone, (including) the poor and vulnerable groups. This may not happen if supply is privatised ... water can only go to people who can pay,” he said.

“If supply is disconnected because they can’t afford to pay the bills, then it would constitute a deprivation of human rights. Water is a gift from God ... this basic human need should not be trampled upon.”

He also said it is essential that the government provides for the fundamental needs of the people, regardless of race, religion and socio-economic status.

The government’s rationale for centralising power for management and supply of water stems from the inability of state governments to pay for replacement of old and broken pipes. This has led to deterioration of supply and complaints about murky water from taps.

However, Santiago suggested that the Penang water system should be adopted by other states, as this has been shown to work and reportedly minimises opportunities for corruption and abuse of power.

The system used in Penang allows the water concessionaire to focus on core responsibilities and commitments in balancing profitability with public interest.

The management and staff of Pulau Pinang Perbadanan Air are strongly committed to administrative excellence and public service, as well as a commercial outlook, Santiago noted, adding that the body operates without political interference into its operations and policies.

“If (water authorities) follow the Penang model, they can’t turn some people into millionaires,” he added.

“Penang is successful ... the company is making profits because of cost reduction and enhanced revenue efficiency.”

Public-public partnership for water management proposed

Beh Lih Yi
Jul 31, 04 8:08pm

The government should consider a public-public partnership (PUPs) approach as an alternative option in managing water resources in the country, said economist Charles Santiago.

He told a forum entitled ‘Is Malaysia ready for privatisation of water resources’ in Kuala Lumpur today that PUPs is an arrangement that could ensure water management continues to be under state and public control at the same time.

Among others, the approach can also ensure efficiency in the provisioning of water services including decreasing the non-revenue water, providing affordable and accessible water for all, ensure water quality and the accountability of the water corporation to the public.

Model for PUPs

Santiago, who is also the Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation director, said the Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBA) is a model to build a public-public partnership for other state water providers.

According to him, the PBA is a privatised entity but the ownership of the company is largely in the hands of the state government.

The state owns approximately 75 percent of the company, five percent of the company has been sold to PBA workers and the remaining 20 percent are equally distributed to PBS consumers in Penang and the public.

The chairperson of the PBA is Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon, which means the state can still exercise political control of the PBA in the interests of consumers.

“Put differently, the people of Penang can exercise their entitlement or right with the state and the state has an obligation to meet the demands of its people,” Santiago said.

Nonetheless, he pointed out there will be no ‘entitlement-obligation’ relationship between the people and the state if the state authorities decide to sell its stake to private capital.

“People will not be able to claim entitlements vis-a-vis the markets and the markets have no obligation to the people,” he explained.

Most efficient

The PBA’s water tariffs are the lowest in the country, it also has the lowest non-revenue water in the country of 18 percent and it is the highest profit making water body in the country with an annual profit of RM50 million.

Santiago described PBA has one of the most efficient monitoring of water distribution system in the country and able to provide water in an effective, efficient and affordable manner.

“Therefore, the appropriate lesson for Malaysia would be to learn from PBA in terms of operation, management, distribution, billing, reduction of non-revenue water and still keep the management and control of water resources in the hands of the state and public control,” he argued

About 200 participants took part in the forum jointly organised by Era Consumer, Federation of Malaysia Consumer Associations and the Selangor and Federal Territory Water Watch. Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik officiated at the event.

KENAPA KITA SANGSI KEMPEN MAKAN IKAN

Oleh Pak Ngah (Laman M@RHAEN)

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Apalah yang ada pada pemikiran kita rakyat marhaen ini, bila dikatakan ikan di Pulau Pinang dan persekitarannya tidak sesuai dimakan, kita tak makanlah. Bagi kita Tsunami bukannya menjadi asas pertimbangan tetapi ada perkara lain yang lebih utama. Sekali pun berbagai gimik dan promosi dijalankan oleh Kerajaan yang memerintah sekarang ini ianya masih sukar diterima kerana ianya lebih merupakan gimik politik dan tujuan perniagaan sahaja. Perhatikan tajuk berita hari ini:

Sesi yakinkan orang ramai makan ikan
KUALA LUMPUR 12 Jan. - Para pegawai Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani yang diketuai oleh Menterinya, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin akan `turun padang' untuk sesi makan ikan dan hasil laut lain.

Ia bagi meyakinkan orang ramai bahawa hasil laut terutama ikan selamat dimakan walaupun selepas bencana tsunami.

Sesi tersebut akan dilakukan lusa di satu lokasi yang akan ditetapkan oleh pihak penganjur.

Muhyiddin berkata, beliau bersama para pegawai Kementerian itu tidak akan teragak-agak untuk makan hasil laut yang ditangkap oleh para nelayan di negara ini kerana ia adalah selamat dan bebas daripada apa yang dianggap oleh sesetengah pihak.

"Jika Menteri perlu turun untuk makan ikan goreng bagi meyakinkan orang ramai maka saya tidak akan teragak-agak untuk berbuat demikian,'' katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian bagi menjelaskan khabar angin mengenai ikan di laut yang dikatakan memakan mayat mangsa bencana tsunami.
Menurutnya, khabar angin itu telah menyebabkan jualan ikan merosot di pasaran kerana orang ramai bimbang selepas mendengar khabar angin tersebut.

"Jualan ikan di pasar borong Kuala Lumpur merosot sebanyak 50 peratus,'' katanya.

Walau pun khabar angin tersebut tiada sebarang kebenarannya, rakyat akan terus beranggapan begitu memandang begitu besarnya manusia yang terhayut dan hilang di lautan yang luas ini akibat tsunami. Andaian dan anggapan tersebut agak sukar untuk dihapuskan tetapi yang nyata kenapa rakyat tidak mahu makan ikan mungkin disebabkan oleh perkara tersebut di bawah ini, sudah lupakah mereka? Tsunami tidak menghilangkannya sebaliknya menyebar luaskan lagi. Perhatikan berita berikut:

Penyelidik akui tidak berani makan ikan ternak di perairan Pulau Pinang
PULAU PINANG 20 Dis. - Seorang penyelidik pencemaran laut mengakui beliau sendiri tidak berani memakan ikan yang diternak di perairan pulau ini termasuk kerang yang diternak di kawasan Kuala Juru dekat sini kerana dikenal pasti mengandungi bakteria.

Ingatkah lagi tentang pencemaran najis tertinggi di Asia Tenggara, kalau sudah lupa diperlihatkan kembali petikan dari akhbar Utama tersebut:

Pencemaran najis antara tertinggi di Asia Tenggara
KUALA LUMPUR 20 Dis. - Kajian dua universiti termasuk sebuah dari Jepun mendapati tahap pencemaran akibat najis dan kumbahan di perairan Pulau Pinang merupakan antara yang tertinggi di Asia Tenggara.

Penyelidik Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Prof. Madya Dr. Mohd. Pauzi Zakaria berkata, kajian pada 2003 oleh UPM dan Universiti Tokyo itu mendapati kerang, kepah, kupang dan lokan di kawasan tersebut didapati tidak selamat dimakan kerana mempunyai kadar kepekatan kimia yang tinggi.

"Dengan menggunakan penunjuk pencemaran najis manusia `fecal sterol', didapati kadar pencemaran di perairan Pulau Pinang adalah amat tinggi,'' katanya ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.

Beliau diminta mengulas kenyataan Pengurus Besar Alam Sekitar Malaysia, Dr. Abdul Rani Abdullah semalam, yang menyatakan kerang, kepah, kupang dan lokan dari perairan Pulau Pinang berisiko tinggi kepada manusia kerana hidup dalam air dicemari oleh najis dan kumbahan yang di alir terus ke laut.

Kelmarin, Menteri Tenaga Air dan Komunikasi, Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik berkata, Pulau Pinang akan mendapat sistem pembentungan dan rawatan air moden bernilai RM468 juta.

Menurut Mohd. Pauzi, kadar pencemaran yang tinggi itu berlaku kerana ada sesetengah pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab membuang najis dan kumbahan secara terus ke sungai dan laut tanpa sebarang rawatan terlebih dahulu. "Kajian kami turut mendapati Sungai Pinang di Pulau Pinang merupakan sungai kedua paling tercemar di seluruh Malaysia selepas Sungai Klang,'' katanya.

Pengarah Institut Alam Sekitar dan Pembangunan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Komoo berkata, langkah kerajaan membina sistem pembentungan dan rawatan air moden adalah tepat pada masanya. "Tanpa sistem pembentungan yang baik, pencemaran di kawasan perairan laut akan berlaku mengakibatkan hidupan-hidupan laut dijangkiti bakteria dan tidak selamat dimakan,'' ujarnya.

Tambahnya, Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang perlu mengambil tindakan segera mengatasi masalah di kawasan-kawasan yang telah dikenal pasti mengalami pencemaran yang teruk.

Sementara itu Pengasas Yayasan Anak Warisan Alam, Khadijah Abdul Rahman berkata, isu hasil laut yang tercemar hanya akan mengakibatkan negara kekurangan makanan-makanan yang berzat dan terpaksa bergantung hasil laut yang diimport.

"Masyarakat Pulau Pinang perlu bersepakat dalam memulihkan kembali persekitaran dan menghentikan pencemaran yang sedang berlaku,'' katanya.

Yang memaklumkan kepada kita bukan nelayan Pantai atau Ahli Politik tetapi para pakar yang diperakui didalam bidang ini. Apakah kita ingin mendengar kata-kata dari Ahli Politik, Peniaga atau Pakar Hidupan Laut. Umpamakan kalau kita sakit, apakah kita akan mendengar kata-kata Ahli Politik, Peniaga atau Ahli yang Pakar ia itu Doktor. Bagi Pak Ngah tentu memilih doktor.

Lembah Kelang dan selatan tanahair terputus bekalan elektrik

Roshan Jason
Jan 13, 05 2:40pm

Separuh Semenanjung Malaysia terputus bekalan elektrik selama satu jam hari ini mengakibatkan berlakunya kesesakan lalulintas yang teruk di bandar-bandar utama, manakala beribu-ribu penumpang komuter terkandas.

Bekalan elektrik terputus pada jam 12.20 di wilayah tengah dan selatan, menjejaskan bekalan ke Lembah Klang, Seremban, Melaka dan Johor Bahru.

Bagaimanapun, bekalan pulih semula secara berperingkat-peringkat mulai jam 1.25 petang.

Sepanjang tempoh berkenaan, kakitangan stesen LRT telah mengosongkan penumpang sebelum menutup terus stesen-stesen terbabit. Menurut Putra LRT, perkhidmatannya pulih pada jam 4.45 petang.

Perkhidmatan telefon talian dan telefon bergerak turut terjejas dan pusat pengendali kerosakan Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) juga tidak dapat dihubungi.

Sementara itu, perkhidmatan antara bandar KTM terjejas hampir tiga gam, mengakibatkan 24 komuter tidak dapat bergerak. Perkhidmatan tersebut hanya pulih semula pada jam 3 petang dan tiada penumpang yang dilaporkan cedera.

Sistem sokongan

Manakala perkhidmatan Express Rail Link ke Lapangan Terbang Kuala Lumpur juga terhenti berikutan ketiadaan bekalan elektrik, tetapi kini sudah disambung semula.

Bagaimanapun, lapangan tersebut, pelabuhan-pelabuhan utama dan hospital tidak terjejas kerana mereka mempunyai sistem sokongan sendiri.

Bernama melaporkan Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Jalan Hang Tuah menerima banyak laporan mengenai orang terperangkap dalam lif di sekitar Kuala Lumpur, termasuk di bangunan pejabat kerajaan dan swasta.

Pihak Tenaga Nasional Berhad, ketika dihubungi, berkata bekalan elektrik pulih semula di semua kawasan terbabit pada jam 4.30 petang. Bagaimanapun, ia tidak menyatakan kawasan yang terbabit.

Bagaimanapun, kawasan di utara semenanjung termasuk Ipoh dan Pulau Pinang tidak mengalami masalah bekalan elektrik.

Pada 3 Ogos 1996, kerosakan yang sama berlaku mengakibatkan seluruh negara bergelap. Kerosakan yang berlaku selama 14 jam itu mengakibatkan kerugian berbilion-bilion ringgit.

Dua tahun lalu, kejadian yang sama berlaku di lima negeri di utara Semenanjung yang mengakibatkan kerugian di antara RM20 juta dan RM30 juta.

kekurangan bekalan

Pada bulan September 1992, sembilan daripada 13 negeri di Semenanjung terputus bekalan elektrik selama dua hari berikutan Tenaga Nasional tidak dapat memenuhi permintaan yang meningkat secara mendadak.

Dalam sidang akhbar petang tadi, Timbalan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif TNB, Abdul Hadi Mohd Deros memberitahu reporters bahawa bekalan elektrik dapat dipulihkan di semua kawasan terbabit pada jam 2.50 petang.

Bagaimanapun, tinjauan malaysiakini mendapati, sehingga jam 4.20 petang tadi, bekalan elektrik ke beberapa kawasan perumahan di Subang Jaya dan Bandar Sunway – kedua-duanya di Selangor – masih belum pullih.

Menurut Hadi, gangguan bekalan elektrik itu bermula pada jam 12.16 tengah hari dan pulih sepenuhnya dua setengah jam kemudiannya.

Katanya, gangguan berpunca daripada masalah di stesen Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz di Kapar, Selangor, mengakibatkan berlaku kekurangan bekalan sebanyak 1700 megawatt.

Hadi berjanji akan melakukan siasatan terperinci mengenai kejadian tersebut, tetapi tidak dapat menyatakan punca sebenar masalah itu.

Pampasan

Hadi bagaimanapun enggan menyatakan jumlah kerugian yang dialami oleh TNB akibat gangguan tersebut, tetapi bersedia menjawab “soalan-soalan teknikal sahaja”.

Beliau juga enggan menyatakan sama ada TNB akan membayar pampasan kepada syarikat, industri atau individual yang mengalami kerugian akibat kejadian tersebut.

Hadi bagaimanapun berkata, beliau akan mengadakan satu lagi sidang akhbar di KLIA pada jam 11.30 malam ini apabila Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif TNB, Che Khalib Mohamad Noh pulang dari Cina.

“Apa berlaku mempunyai kepentingan negara dan oleh itu, perdana menteri dan menteri tenaga, air dan komunikasi telah diberi taklimat mengenainya,” kata Hadi ketika menjawab panggilan telefon daripada Timbalan Perdana Menteri ketika sidang akhbar itu berlangsung.

Ditanya mengapa orang ramai tidak dimaklumkan menngenai punca sebenar gangguan bekalan elektrik hari ini, Hadi berkata TNB tidak menyembunyikan apa-apa maklumat tetapi beliau perlu mengadakan siasatan terperinci terlebih dahulu, sebelum mendedahkan maklumat lanjut mengenainya.

Beliau juga berkata, pihaknya cuba mendapatkan stesen radio untuk menyiarkan laporan mengenai gangguan tersebut tetapi berlaku kesesakan talian telefon dan komunikasi yang lain.

Hadi berkata, pihaknya akan mendapatkan perkhidmatan “pihak ketiga” – sepertimana dalam kejadian pada tahun 1996 – untuk meningkatkan sistem yang digunakan sekarang bagi memastikan kejadian yang sama tidak akan berulang.

Kekurangan diesel di Sabah meruncing

KOTA KINABALU, 14 Jan (Hrkh) - PAS Sabah menggesa Kerajaan Negeri menyelesaikan segera krisis kekurangan minyak diesel yang semakin meruncing di negeri ini sejak kebelakangan ini.

Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS Sabah, Ustaz Anuar Ali berkata kekurangan bahan bakar yang semakin serius itu telah menimbulkan pelbagai masalah dan kebimbangan di kalangan pengguna terutama yang terlibat secara langsung dengan kegiatan ekonomi.

Permasalah itu bukan sahaja dirasai oleh pengguna kenderaan darat tetapi turut dirasai oleh para nelayan dan petani.

“Kita mahu agar pihak kerajaan segera mengambil tindakan bagi menyelesaikan masalah ini demi kepentingan rakyat dan pengguna di negeri ini,” kata Anuar ketika mengulas mengenai isu berkenaan yang mencetuskan pelbagai kesulitan kepada para pengguna bahan bakar tersebut.

Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Tawau, Keningau dan beberapa daerah lain telah dikenal pasti menghadapi kekurangan teruk diesel di stesen-stesen minyak masing-masing sejak seminggu lalu.

Di Sandakan sahaja dikhuatiri kira-kira 500 buah lori mungkin tidak dapat digunakan berikutan kekurangan bahan bakar itu di semua stesen minyak sejak minggu lalu.

Sementara di Lahad Datu dikatakan kira-kira 100 buah lori 10 tan di letakkan di sekitar stesen-stesen minyak bagi menyuarakan ketidakpuasan hati mereka terhadap sistem quota peruntukan diesel oleh kerajaan yang mengakibatkan tercetusnya masalah tersebut.

Mengikut sistem itu, stesen-stesen minyak hanya diperuntukkan antara 170,000 hingga 200,000 liter diesel setiap hari sebagai langkah untuk mengelakkan penyeludupan dan penjualan haram bahan bakar tersebut.

Menurut Anuar, jumlah yang diperuntukkan itu amat tidak mencukupi bagi keperluan pengguna di negeri ini.

Ini kerana katanya, penguasaan penggunaan bahan bakar oleh pengguna di negeri ini sehingga 60 ke 70 peratus berbanding bahan bakar lain.

Keadaan ini berlaku ekoran kedudukan geografi Sabah yang luas dan bergunung ganang.

Anuar turut mendakwa, sesetengah pengusaha membekalkan minyak diesel lebih daripada yang dibenarkan kepada kenderaan-kenderaan industeri yang mana kenderaan tersebut sepatutnya mendapatkan bekalan di stesen khas perindustrian.

Akibatnya kenderaan-kenderaan kecil seperti bas sekolah, pick-up, kenderaan perkhimatan awam dan kenderaan untuk kegunaan ekonomi yang memerlukan menghadapi masalah kehabisan bekalan.

Boleh dikatakan hampir setiap petang menyaksikan berpuluh-puluh kenderaan yang menggunakan bahan bakar itu terpaksa berbaris panjang menunggu giliran di stesen-stesen minyak dikawasan berkenaan yang menghadapi masalah kekurangan bekalan.

Suasana ini turut menimbulkan kesesakan di stesen minyak dan menyukarkan kenderaan lain yang mengunakan bahan petrol untuk mendapatkan bekalan.

Sementara di Keningau, kanak-kanak sekolah menjadi mangsa apabila mereka terpaksa datang lewat kesekolah berikutan kenderaan (bas sekolah) mereka terpaksa berbaris panjang bersama kenderaan lain untuk mendapatkan bekalan di stesen-stesen minyak.

Manakala di Sandakan pula, dilaporkan seorang pemandu dalam lingkungan umur 25 tahun telah melepaskan geramnya dengan memecahkan alas meja kaca di pejabat Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Ehwal Pengguna, yang kecewa mendapatkan bekalan diesel walaupun sudah beberapa kali berbaris panjang di salah sebuah stesen minyak di daerah itu.

Anuar mahu agar pihak kerajaan meningkatkan pemantauan dan penguatkuasaan lebih serius terhadap penjualan bahan bakar itu bagi memastikan tidak berlakunya kes penyeludupan atau pengusaha yang mengambil kesempatan menjualnya kepada pihak lain.

“Pada saya, perlaksanaan sistem quota yang dikatakan bertujuan mengawal penyeludupan perlu dikaji semula selain penguatkuasaan dan pemantauan yang lebih serius oleh kerajaan," katanya.

Beliau menambah sekiranya keadaan terus tidak terkawal, dibimbangi akan menimbulkan seribu satu macam lagi masalah terutama sekali kegiatan ekonomi rakyat pastinya akan terjejas. - SAM/zs

FOMCA Serah Memorandum Bantah Kenaikan Tol Kepada PM

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Dis (Bernama) -- Gabungan Persatuan-persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA) akan menyerahkan memorandum bantahan terhadap kenaikan kadar tol sebanyak 10 peratus kepada Pejabat Perdana Menteri pada petang Jumaat, kata Pengarah Komunikasi FOMCA Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman.

Mohd Yusof berkata antara kandungan memorandum itu ialah cadangan FOMCA untuk mendesak kerajaan membatalkan kenaikan kadar tol 10 peratus di Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan yang dijadual bermula 1 Jan depan, dan menggesa kerajaan supaya mengkaji semula perjanjian konsesi yang sedia ada.

"FOMCA adalah saluran untuk rakyat menyuarakan hak mereka, jadi memorandum bantahan itu merupakan pandangan rakyat (melalui FOMCA) mengenai isu kenaikan tol 10 peratus yang membebankan semua pihak ini," kata Yusof kepada Bernama selepas sidang media kempen rakyat bagi mengutip sejuta tandatangan untuk membantah kenaikan kadar tol 10 peratus di pejabat FOMCA, Petaling Jaya, di sini.

Turut hadir ialah Presiden FOMCA, Marimuthu Nadason dan Timbalan Setiausaha Agung FOMCA, Indrani Thuraisingham.

"Melalui kempen ini rakyat berpeluang menyuarakan pandangan mereka dengan menurunkan tandatangan melalui borang yang diedarkan ke semua agensi kerajaan dan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO)," kata Yusof yang turut memaklumkan bahawa kempen itu akan berlangsung selama sebulan bermula Jumaat.

"Mereka (rakyat) boleh menyatakan sokongan terhadap kempen dengan menghantar e-mel ke alamat toll@fomca.org.my, khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) 012 dan 019 atau melayari laman web online www.petitiononline.com/no2hike/petition.html," dan menambah kata borang kempen juga boleh dimuat turun dari laman web, www.fomca.org.my.

Terdahulu dalam sidang media, Marimuthu berkata kenaikan kadar tol itu adalah tidak wajar berdasarkan kepada empat faktor -- kenaikan tol yang dilihat akan membebankan pengguna, kualiti infrastruktur dan perkhidmatan Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan yang tidak memuaskan, ketiadaan ketelusan dalam perjanjian konsesi dan ketiadaan undang-undang BOT (Built-Operate-Transfer) dalam perjanjian konsesi antara kerajaan dan pihak swasta serta halangan Akta Rahsia Rasmi 1986 yang menghadkan tahap ketelusan perjanjian projek-projek kerajaan.

"Kenaikan kadar tol Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan sebanyak 10 peratus akan membebankan pengguna terutamanya golongan berpendapatan rendah," katanya.

FOMCA akan mendapat maklumatbalas kerajaan terhadap memorandum itu selepas mesyuarat kabinet Rabu depan, katanya.

-- BERNAMA

Fomca kutip sejuta tandatangan bantah kenaikan kadar tol

PETALING JAYA, 24 Dis (Hrkh) - Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna-pengguna Malaysia (Fomca) hari ini melancarkan kempen mengutip satu juta tandatangan membantah keputusan kerajaan membenarkan Plus menaikkan kadar tol 10 peratus berkuatkuasa 1 Januari ini.

Presiden Fomca, Marimuthu Nadeson berkata, pihaknya kesal kerajaan sewenang-wenang membenarkan Plus (Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan) meneruskan rancangan menaikkan kadar tol pada 1 Januari ini.

"Masyarakat bosan dengan isu ini. Jangan kata kami halang rakyat guna lebuh raya tetapi kami membantah kerana ini akan membebankan orang ramai," ujar beliau.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika mempengerusikan sidang media majlis pelancaran kempen mengutip sejuta tandatangan membantah kenaikan harga tol di pejabat Fomca di sini pagi tadi.

Turut hadir dalam sidang media itu ialah Pengarah Komunikasi Korporat Fomca, Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman; Penasihat Undang-undang Fomca, N Indrani dan Pengarah Bahagian Aduan Pengguna, Ismail Aziz.

Kata Marimuthu, kempen itu adalah sebagai tekanan kepada kerajaan bahawa pengguna tidak mahu dibebani dengan kadar kenaikan tol yang sebenarnya menguntungkan kerajaan sahaja.

Mana janji BN dalam pilihan raya 2004?

Marimuthu seterusnya mempertikaikan kenyataan Perdana Menteri dan seluruh pemimpin Barisan Nasional (BN) sewaktu kempen pilihan raya.

Katanya, janji-janji manis yang ditaburi BN untuk membela rakyat dan menjadi hamba rakyat tidak tertunai malah menyusahkan rakyat terutamanya golongan miskin.

"Kita tak pilih kerajaan kerana nak dapatkan perkhidmatan pada harga yang tinggi, jangan sampai rakyat hilang kepercayaan terhadap kerajaan setelah mereka memilih kerajaan BN dalam pilihan raya yang lalu," tegasnya.

Selain itu beliau juga mengingatkan kerajaan bahawa Plus adalah dimiliki oleh syarikat yang berkepentingan kerajaan di mana rakyat mempunyai hak dalam kepentingan tersebut.

Menurut Marimuthu, pada tahun 2004 kerajaan telah dua kali menaikkan kadar tol dan harga minyak.

Kenaikan tersebut akan mengakibatkan kenaikan harga barangan dan makanan selain perkhidmatan pengangkutan lain seperti bas dan teksi, katanya.

Kenaikan tol bebankan pengguna

Beliau menegaskan, Fomca secara serius membantah kenaikan kadar tol atas beberapa aspek, pertamanya ialah kenaikan harga tol akan membebankan pengguna terutamanya golongan berpendapatan rendah.

Ujarnya, secara tidak langsung harga barang harian akan meningkat dan memberi kesan terhadap Indeks Harga Pengguna (CPI).

Selain itu kata Marimuthu, walapun pengguna membayar kadar tol yang tinggi, kualiti infrastruktur yang diperolehi masih berada di tahap yang rendah.

Jelas beliau, tuduhan itu berasas kerana pengguna masih mengalami masalah kesesakan jalan raya yang teruk terutamanya pada musim perayaan dan pada waktu-waktu kemuncak di plaza tol.

Kerajaan tidak telus

Tegas Marimuthu, Fomca juga mendapati kerajaan tidak telus dalam proses perjanjian konsesi dengan tidak mendedahkan kepada umum mengenai perjanjian yang telah ditandatangani.

Buktinya ujar beliau, tidak ada satupun akta untuk menyelenggara atau menyelaras perjanjian konsesi antara kerajaan dan swasta.

Justeru kata beliau, akta ‘Build-operate-transfer(BOT)’ perlu diwujudkan selain mengkaji semula Akta Rahsia Rasmi 1986 untuk memastikan masyarakat mengetahui syarat-syarat dan terma perjanjian di antara kerajaan dengan pemegang konsesi.

Fomca seterusnya mendesak kerajaan mendedahkan terma-terma perjanjian konsesi penswastaan kepada umum kerana ia memberi impak terus kepada semua pengguna.

Kata Marimuthu, jika kerajaan enggan mendedahkan dan seterusnya menangguh kenaikan harga tol, Fomca akan terus memberi tekanan kepada kerajaan dengan siri-siri bantahan yang lain.

Dalam pada itu pihaknya juga akan menyerahkan memorandum bantahan kepada Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi secepat mungkin.

Beliau berharap, Abdullah akan mengkaji memorandum Fomca dan seterusnya menghentikan tindakan menaikkan kadar tol yang dikatakan berkuatkuasa pada 1 Januari ini. – lanh

Fomca To Send Memo Against Toll Hike To PM On Monday

PETALING JAYA, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) today launched a month-long campaign to get one million signatures to protest the 10 per cent rise in toll charges on the North-South Highway scheduled to begin on Jan 1 next year.

Fomca will also submit a memorandum to the prime minister's office on Monday, calling the government to abort the hike and make public and review the terms of the concession agreement.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the launch of the campaign at its office here, Fomca President Marimuthu Nadason said the hike was not proper because, among other things, the quality of the infrastructure and the service at the highway were unsatisfactory.

He said there were also a lack of transparency in the agreement and the absence of Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) laws.

"Above all, the increase will burden the people, especially the lower-income group," he said.

He said Fomca hoped it would get the government response to its campaign after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Forms for the people to sign will be given through the government departments, agencies and non-governmental organisations.

The public can also express their support for the campaign through e-mail: toll@fomca.org.my or fax 03-78771076. They can also visit the website www.petitiononline.com/no2hike/petition.html or download the form from the website www.fomca.org.my.

-- BERNAMA

Fomca: Halt monopolistic moves by banks

Claudia Theophilus
Dec 13, 04 4:41pm The government must ensure that banking services are managed in a just and fair manner so that the financial services sector can compete globally, said the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca).

In a memorandum to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dated Dec 6, it urged Bank Negara Malaysia to control profit-making activities by financial institutions.

For a start, Fomca wants a stop to all proposals for service charges for non-banking transactions and to gradually lower the other service charges, so that banks offer innovative services that generate revenue and increase efficiency.

The five-page document was in response to thea public outcry against arbitrary charges levied by local banks, which had prompted the DAP to send a protest memorandum to Bank Negara last week.

Maybank, the largest banking group, will levy a RM12 annual fee to access its maybank2u.com online services come Dec 20.

The central bank responded by announcing plans to implement guidelines to cap banking service charges beginning Feb 1. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has questioned the delay.

Fomca secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said Bank Negara is responsible for monitoring decisions of banks that are inefficient, discriminatory and monopolistic in nature.

He said electronic and Internet banking has become the basic platform for all commercial transactions.

“The introduction of Internet banking as a free service, in addition to receiving wide support from customers, has also reduced investment, operational and labour costs,” he said in the memorandum.

“It reduces traffic congestion for banking business, loss of man-hours, cost of transfer of funds and banking infrastructure costs in rural areas; simplifies bill payments; reduces risks of theft and robbery; and improves the quality of life by reducing stress.”

Purpose defeated

On the 50 sen charge by Maybank for every withdrawal exceeding four times per month, Muhammad Sha’ani said it may be one way of forcing customers to use online banking for payments and transfers.

“But can the bank promise excellent service throughout? Lower service charges would compel banks to increase efficiency and enhance their services in order to remain competitive.”

He cited the example of an ATM having insufficient funds to enable withdrawal of RM4,000 twice and the number of withdrawals required if only RM10 notes are available, and how much the transaction would cost in relation to the service fee.

“When payments at point-of-sale and via e-Pos fail, customers are forced to withdraw from the ATM for the purpose of trade,” he explained.

He noted that some banks have stopped providing passbooks, forcing people to use the ATM for cash withdrawals, making it difficult for them to check the balance or identify the account holder in an offline situation.

Muhammmad Sha’ani said the RM2 charge for all inter-bank funds transfer is expensive because the commission on a cheque is a minimum 50 sen or a maximum of 0.5 percent of the value transferred.

“Lower charges should be imposed for Internet banking transactions, similar to developments in the securities trading sector and commission for airline ticketing agents.”

On the RM1 charge per withdrawal at another bank’s ATM, he said, only serves to reduce the efficiency and competitiveness of the banks.

“The reduced number of branches following the bank mergers has led to the duplication of banking infrastructure. All banks should try to increase the facilities at strategic locations and share the infrastructure wisely,” he added.

He also noted that banks force traders, merchants and organisations who need the merchant account facility to record high monthly sales.

“This burdens them while banks chase unreasonable profits for every facility they offer, setting aside the social responsibility to expand their services to all parts of the country.”

Muhammad Sha’ani said some banks impose a service charge for current accounts that discriminate against customers with a low account balance.

“Banks should provide incentives to encourage higher savings,” he said, suggesting an annual service charge of RM10 for current accounts as one way of encouraging higher savings.