HAVE SOME SELF RESPECT. STOP BEGGING FOR POSITIONS AND RECOGNITION SAYS MALAYSIA ASEAN APEC LEAD CONSUMERIST PROF DR JACOB GEORGE TO POLITICIANS FROM MINORITY GROUPS.

You know the first thing this politician did after becoming minister; he made his crony head a government position!

So, it is truly embarrassing when a component party of the BN goes a pleading that a particular state administration is biased and does not respect the friendships among Perikatan Nasional (PN) component parties.

How did this issue arise in the first place?

This particular party alleges they were not given any positions within the state government.

They want appointments as the member of the local council, the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), and community activist (PeKT).

Interestingly they eye also positions within the state GLC which includes as a special adviser to the administrative head of state for the minority community.

The pertinent question is these sought after positions to serve the community or for self-preservation?

It would be a brilliant idea if indeed a group of NGOs seriously conduct a comprehensive study where the minority community was and are today in all fields!

And perhaps, if there was a sharp decline the reasons for it?

At the same time conduct a survey to assess the accumulated wealth of those who claimed to have represented the community then and now.

I think for far too long the community has been pawned and those who claimed to be its leaders benefited not the community!

Today the very fact that there are those pleading for positions raises an important question.

These are for the community or for person?

I say this because I am from the school of thought that the state administrations should appoint individuals outside the political sphere if we are serious about the uplifting of the community rather than political warlords and their cronies.

SHOULD SCHOOLS BE CLOSED NOW ASKS MALAYSIAN ASEAN APEC LEAD CONSUMERIST PROF DR JACOB GEORGE?

We are in a mess are we not?

The pertinent question seems is it time to consider closing our schools to prevent the spread?

After all we have shown the world politicians, adults and those whom we had once trusted cannot be trusted any longer?

They were so foolish and utter reckless!

However, there are few reports of children getting sick with the virus or developing serious symptoms, even as cases worldwide at one time reaching nearly 100,000.

So does it make sense to close schools, given the imponderables and indecisiveness, half-truths, spins and lies that surround us in the wake of the recent spike?

After speaking to experts in the field that answer is not a simple one.

In our context and what we are currently witnessing more so where a spouse of a politician can easily re-enter her institution of learning and cause panic and spread of a virus?

Till today no show of remorse, regret or an apology!

Gosh, what are these people made up of?

Even animals do better!

And what a horrible thing to happen 10 months after we have had so much media and announcements and a national fight to keep numbers down?

And has the dedication, passion and sacrifice of our frontliners now gone to waste because of morons, idiots and the brain dead?

In that school incident, that was not the behavior of an educator but a brain dead masquerading as an educator?

So if this incident is to be a barometer of all things happening based on political expediency and serious gaps in current systems and protocols despite the assurances, hype and claims, I will seriously urge the powers that be to seriously consider a nationwide school closure.

We cannot deny that schools can serve as ideal places for germs to spread.

However others may tell me that there are indeed studies on whether school closures could prevent the spread of Covid 19.

Some suggested a benefit only under certain circumstances, such as if schools remained closed for very long periods.

And certainly true in a household of many children, especially a certain community the questions is raised  whether parents will be able to take time off work, whether children who depend on school meals will have adequate food at home, and exactly how long schools can be closed, even now though it is an ideal period of October?

Some experts say schools should not be closed for COVID-19, unless there is active transmission in the community and for now based on the daily spikes and cross messages and updates I rather support a closure.

It is not a new call after all in response to the coronavirus disease COVID-19 pandemic, 107 countries had implemented national school closures by March 18, 2020.

BOYS AND GIRLS CAN WE STAY FOCUSED AT THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID 19 RATHER THAN A STATE VS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RANT ASKS MALAYSIA ASEAN APEC LEAD CONSUMERIST PROF DR JACOB GEORGE

Honestly I have difficulty understanding the rant by a Selangor state executive councilor that Putrajaya did not consult the state government prior to announcing the conditional movement control order (CMCO) in Klang.

It is reported quoting the State executive councilor that the federal government did not provide any particulars to the state, such as the specific areas affected.

Of course when there are issues it is right that the state-level National Security Council (NSC) needs to meet to iron out the details of the CMCO, once any announcement is made.

But with so many moving parts and decision making processes at play sometime there are gaps and it is pertinent that cool heads prevail after all in view of a pandemic roaring in the community our public behavior and outburst could send out a wrong message.

Which we need to avoid as there are avenues where we can seek clarification without blowing our tops!

I was made to understand that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had called Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and other chief ministers and menteris besar to attend a meeting late in the evening.

That was a brilliant move to put all administrative heads of states on the challenge ahead and updated on the response.

After which clarity came from the Selangor Menteri Besar himself when he announced that the NSC would take charge and provide details on the CMCO in Klang instead of the Selangor government.

He is reported to also have stated that the state had presented suggestions from various agencies and departments in Klang during a meeting with the NSC and Muhyiddin at 11am.

Actually these are trying times and what we need is the state administrations to work with the federal government to serve and protect that this pandemic is contained.

Our frontliners are sacrificing themselves in challenging circumstances to serve and protect the community.

Our limited resources are being stretched!

This is not the time for war games between state and federal.

I was just updated and I am overjoyed that that the state government will work to the best of its abilities with all agencies to ensure the well-being of the rakyat!

There are red zones and now we need to address that and not wear a red faces!

ILLEGAL DUMPING IS ORGANIZED CRIME KNOWN TO THE POWERS THAT BE SAYS MALAYSIA ASEAN APEC LEAD CONSUMERIST PROF DR JACOB GEORGE

I have serious difficulty if authorities in Selangor claim unaware that illegal dumping has been taking place in many areas which includes a bank of Sungai Damansara in TTDI Jaya, a suburb of Shah Alam.

I am glad that in the year 2020  a spokesman for the Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) has gone on record that cleaning works had been carried out but added that further action would be taken because investigations had shown that dumping on the site was a recurring problem.

As far as I can remember for the last 30 years the dumping of concrete, food waste, rubbish and other materials have been an ongoing process, very professionally organized, with heavy equipment, certainly no isolated event!

I remember raising the alarm more than once,10 years ago, then again a few years later,only to get death threats, an attempt to force me off the road, damage to my vehicle and the false police reports made by thugs and shenanigans who were bodyguards for those behind this organized process.

I was harassed, forced to give a statement and made to stand on a witness line for of all people these thugs to identify me as the person who warned them against carrying out the dumping both into the river and an unoccupied area/plot near Taman TTDI Jaya Shah Alam, Selangor in open view.

Only the immediate and timely involvement by the then Home Minister and IGP prevented further attacks on me.

I remember my colleagues from the Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) came to my rescue as well warning that:

‘Jika apa apa jadi kepada Saudara kami Dr George, kita kat PPIM akan cari kamu sampai lubang Cacin!”

Third parties then intervened and there was a meeting where I was shown evidence that this fleet of actions is not isolated but organized and who’s who were on the take and to back off as it was very dangerous for me to continue.

It is now obvious that things still stink to high heavens and nothing has changed despite the rhetoric surround this very blatant and criminal act on our water resources and environment.

Yesterday I told a journalist who had called me that it was time for a special taskforce to be appointed by HRH our beloved Sultan of Selangor with powers to address this issue in the public interest and over-riding powers against existing agencies be they the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), the Petaling District Office and Kumpulan Semesta, a company that does maintenance works along rivers.

HRH has always being very concerned about our water resources, environmental protection and the Eco-systems involved.

The task-force to comprise prominent individuals who have a track record of consumer and environmental advocacy, others from respective government agencies (both state & federal), the Home Ministry, which includes the Attorney General’s Chambers!

The task-force chaired jointly by the Selangor Menteri Besar and the Federal Environmental Minister’s office.

Unless this is done no level of statements coming from any quarter will protect public interest.

There are sufficient evidence from photographs, videos and witness statements being piled up over decades, and the issue still continues.

Perhaps, these videos should be also uploaded into the social media forum to highlight and shame those who have failed in their public office and pledge to protect the environment and public interest in the state of Selangor!

DESPICABLE AND EMBARRASSING BEHAVIOR BY OUR POLITICIANS SAYS MALAYSIA ASEAN APEC LEAD CONSUMERIST PROF DR JACOB GEORGE

Another politician is positive Covid 19!

For a first, get in your thick ego and head, that there are no superheroes or heroines from the Avengers to protect any one on earth from the Wuhan Virus alias Covid 19!

Secondly, all those super huge signage put up on the way to the KLIA or others round-a-bouts throughout the nation is no savior either!

IF at the end of it all, we are irresponsible paying lip service to the sacrifices of our frontliners but doing things that are crooked as is the political culture?

Thirdly and most important of all, we have drop the ball for political expediency and gluttony in not putting in place a ban on Peninsula politicians, Cabinet members and middle and lower level politician wanna-bees and busybodies from visiting Sabah during their state elections.

The nation is paying for this indiscretion, failure in one’s duty of care and plain morality!

From the onset I have been asking whether we have two set of laws operating.

Daily we announce how many hundreds we arrest in pubs and social drinking holes.

But how many from that group have been tested for Covid 19 or have ended up a cluster, can someone intelligent answer?

Officially, operating word – officially, our mortality stand at 136 and there are 1,540 active cases and infection has passed the 11,000 mark.

One thing is clear no movement control order (MCO), conditional MCO and recovery MCO is going to change that!

More so if those in political leadership have betrayed the Malaysian people – period!

Most of us are fed up with the indecisiveness and political agendas!

Be they the way we treat the common man and woman, students, the big business fraternity, the daily wage earners and small businesses.

They are not the public sector and civil service where no matter what happens, they are not impacted by wage deductions or loss of income!

Instead of quarantining politicians who came back from Sabah, for 14 days as others returning from abroad, is  the government now considering taking ‘stern and immediate action’ on the people’s movements.

Are common Malaysians to suffer because of the mammoth indiscretion and recklessness of Malaysian politicians?