Messy 2008 For Pak Lah

Written by Kadayan Banaa

It seems that the opening of 2008 is a bit messy for Pak Lah to start with. 2007 ended with Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Leck uncomfortably resigned due to suspected sex video scandal and widespread rumours on the possibility of petroleum price hike. Pak Lah quoted as saying that Dr Chua's resignation was “appropriate”, while Datuk Seri Najib assured that government has “no intention” to increase the petroleum price in near future.


Najib & Hishamuddin: 1st cousins...



Then, within the first week of 2008 more issues were exposed.

Parents voice out their dismal over increasing amount of school “fee”. Came the unexpected shortage of cooking oil. Then followed by equally shortage of flour. Last Monday, TV3 reported that fishermen in Tawau unable to work due to diesel (subsidized) shortage.
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First, parents dissatisfy over increasing amount of school fee. Then comes the unexpected shortage of cooking oil. This was followed by equally shortage of flour. Finally, the fishermen in Tawau unable to work due to diesel (subsidized) shortage.
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Datuk Hishamudin was really busy during the first week of school day. He miserably trying to explain that government has abolished the school fee, and the extra school payments aren't “fee”, there aren't compulsary at all. They are based on schools necessary expenses such as computer lab "fee", School's Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) "fee" etc., not government fee, he said.

While he is busy explaining, more reports from parents all over the country to spoil him.

Hishamudin doesn't really know what is going on at the school level. Some of those “not compulsory” payments actually made compulsory by schools.

For example of a school in Kota Kinabalu, PIBG backed extra tuition program every year. The tuition IS compulsory for all PMR and SPM students. The monthly payment of RM50 IS necessary. Unless students pay, they won't get their official PMR or SPM result slip. School holds them until payment are received. So, under this circumstances, if it isn't compulsary, I dont know what it is.

Najib was seen as slightly lost his tamper while commenting the issue on TV. [Tenang Datuk, kena “heart attack” kang susah]. First, never lost your tamper on TV. Torgut Orzal, Turkey PM died on stage sometime ago. I happened to watch the footage, and I don't like it.

The harsh reply from goverment isn't necessary, in my view.

Forget the amount, Datuk. When government said it abolished school fee, people expect to see some reduction on school payment amount on registration day, if not free at all, as no fee can easily intrepreted as free.

But school management seems has taken advantage of the situation. When government abolish the fee, schools are thinking of making quick buck. They increase the amount of “not compulsary” payments, likewise the payment amount.

Eventually, the final amount payable by parent is higher than the payable amount WITH government school fee, before it being abolished by government.

I think the situation is not good, and outright reaction is something that within our expection.

Afterall, if government can say “... boleh ambik balik le, berapa sangat le duit tu”, then ask the school to never charge the “berapa sangat” amount from parent.

Ask the money from government instead.

This is the personal view of the author and it does not necessarily reflect the official view of kadayanchronicles.blogspot.com on the matter – Kaawai Tanah.