Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Failed Project, Wasted Public Fund

These photographs were taken while I was having supper with my family after watching the Wesak day procession. The barriers that you see in these photographs was installed recently. I do not know how much, probably a few thousands ringgit.

Recently, publicities were made in the Chinese newspaper that when these new barriers are installed the traffic obstruction & illegal parking problem at the junction of Air Itam main road and Jalan Air Putih (this is LGE's constituency) will be solved. The theory was with this barrier so near the pavement, the door of those vehicles will not be able to open.

Poor homework was done. While having supper, I noticed that nearly all the vehicles do not have any passengers, these driver seat on the right side of the car, no problem at all to get out from the vehicle. For vehicles with passengers, drivers bought take-away supper at the numerous stalls there. I was there from 9.44 pm to 10.02 pm, at least 16 vehicles broke the laws.

These photographs clearly show the barriers are useless and a waste of public fund. Cars and lorries are still parking at those spots at will.

The solution:
  • There is actually only one solution - enforcement. Get the police or the MPPP enforcement officers to issue summonses as often as possible from 8 pm to 11.45 pm.
  • Ensure for the MPPP summonses there is not discount, stamped on the summonses "NO DISCOUNT" or " NO REDUCTION ALLOWED".
  • Take legal action for these summonses, eventually news will get around that parking at these spots invite real trouble for the drivers.
P.S. Actually, it was my wife suggestion to go and take the photographs. It was her opinion that the barrier that will be installed, will eventually be a waste of public money. She had read the news in Guang Ming newspaper and told me about it. She wants to confirm whether her opinion was correct. She is definitely correct, correct, and correct.



26 comments:

Unknown said...

It's not a waste of public funds la. I think the railings should first be there for the safety of pedestrians using the walkway next to a busy road and not so much to deter cars parking.

The problem with parking has got to do with the attitude of some Penang people and the nature of Penang roads being small. Parking/Stopping right in front of shops "for a little while" is a bad Penang culture which I'm sure everyone is guilty of sometime before though we complain when someone blocks our way. Just that some have made it too habitual.

I don't condone the cars parked where you showed but it's hard for the gov to be really strict on parking. Besides the quick stop to buy food/things, it is so common to see parents and bus sekolahs parking and obstructing traffic along any schools during dismissals. This is also legally wrong but I think the gov has used the right discretion to close one eye sometimes, knowing the offenders don't have much choice.

I'm sure lots of illegal parking was committed yesterday (Wesak day) along the many temples, but we have to agree that it is only right that the gov did not issue any summons indiscriminately.

H'ng Khoon Leng said...

If you look at the third photo you will see blue railing, that is the original safety railing/barrier.

The white and red railing/barrier was installed to prevent illegal parking.

The white and red barrier, actually is dangerous to pedestrian that cross the road now. Previously, from the opposite side of the road, you can cross at any point. Now, you have to be careful and cross only at the right place so that you are able to enter thru some of openings at the barriers.

That place is a dangerous place to park. That is why this attempt was made to prevent illegal parkings. For other places, may be "can close one eye" especially during festivals and after/before school hours.

There are enough parking spaces nearby - at the Air Putih RT parking space. There is no excuse not park properly.

Unknown said...

Anyway... I think Penang traffic is very wild, and not much can be done because of poor planning from long long ago leading to many narrow roads which criss cross and way too many traffic lights. But that's another issue.

The problem where you pointed is an old problem which the old gov also did not manage to solve. If indeed the red/white barriers are to prevent cars parking then it may not be working as planned as you pointed out.

But then again the hawker stalls have taken over the service road in front of the coffeeshop where cars are suppose to pass or park in the first place. So in Penang there are still many unwritten rules which are being "close one eyed". That's part of being uniquely Penang.

H'ng Khoon Leng said...

It is actually a relatively new problem. It started to worsen last year. A few factors contributed to this worsening situation.

The service road had been nearly impassable for more than a decade. It is not the cause of the problem. But, as you had said that is uniquely Penang.

tongkai said...

在您的照片中,大家可以清楚見到馬路旁已畫上雙黃線,意即不可等候或停車。所以,建立略知欄完全沒有錯。錯的是貪圖一時方便而胡亂停車的人。

除非這個地方有停車格,然後又圍上欄杆的話,那的確是政府的錯。

Unknown said...

tongkai,

I, and I believe H'ng also, cannot read chinese so cannot understand what you wrote. So sorry cannot comment on it.

tongkai said...

費死戶:沒關係,是我沒有讀書,不懂英文是我的錯,,完全不關方群隆的事。但我寫了一篇文章

tongkai said...

fishhook:I wish to whisper you that Chia Kwang Chye, Lim Liong Sik, Sak Cheng Lum, Wong Kam Hoong, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng etc not even understand a single chinese when they started their career as a politician.

It is never too late to start, unless you are afraid of failing after trying.

kinkyskiny said...

yea yea ! we have to learn inkgeris fast fast.

H'ng Khoon Leng said...

Tongkai:

I agreed with you that the govt/MPPP have the right to put up the barrier.

But, my point was that those barriers did not achieve the objective of preventing parking at those spots.

Hence, it is a waste of public fund.

However, DAP politicians can easily twist their original words, and said that the purpose of those additional railings were for protecting pedestrain or the elderly, etc. I would not be surprised.

Unknown said...

Oops.. looks like H'ng can actually read chinese.. Sorry H'ng for speaking on your behalf earlier.

H'ng Khoon Leng said...

I can't read Chinese. I use google translation and also double checked but asking my father-in-law to translate.

tongkai said...

版主好有勇氣,我也想告訴你們,其實先前我的英文版留言也是用谷歌翻譯,才會這麼通順。

真的很對不起沒有告訴大家。我讀書少,非常自卑。

不過,難得見到版主敢大方承認,那我以後不需要過於自卑,可以繼續用華語留言。只是有勞版主再用谷歌翻譯而已。

謝謝你,版主,是你讓我重新抬頭做人!

asian-fellow said...

Hi HKL, good learning spirit!

华人要会中文... 不会可以学.
不能只说"不会"...

东凯,好一个"費死戶"... 哈哈哈! 你知到他是誰嗎?

永年,你的"红毛"not bad ma...

Unknown said...

Yikes... asian-fellow is also here to give his low grade pariah personal attacks. First comment here and nothing constructive or related at all regarding the topic.

fujiwara said...

fishhook, please do not say anything if you don't understand mandarin.

I don't see any personal attack from asian-fellow.

fishhook, please behave.

fishhook, you can just put a few lines, why asian-fellow cannot?

fishhook, asian-fellow is your enemy in logistics kah?

But, he's well respected in our industry.

fujiwara said...

fishhook, how can you say

1. asian-fellow is also here to give his low grade pariah personal attacks?

==> WHICH SENTENCE? YOU ARE REALLY A CHEAP CHINESE, DON'T KNOW MANDARIN & TRY TO BE SMART!

2. First comment here and nothing constructive or related at all regarding the topic.

==> DO YOU THINK YOUR COMMENTS ARE VERY CONSTRUCTIVE. DO YOU WANT TO SUBMIT THEM TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR IMPROVEMENT OR UNITED NATION FOR DISCUSSION. YOU CAN WRITE, HE CANNOT WRITE AH? IF YOU ARE SO GOOD PUT FORWARD YOUR COMMENT TO MR LIM GUAN ENG LAH, HE MAY GIVE DATO'. SO, YOU WILL BECOME

DATO' FISHHOOK LOH!

==> YOU THINK WE ARE HERE FOR EXAMINATION KAH, ALL COMMENTS MUST BE CONSTRUCTIVE. WHO TOLD YOU THAT? OR YOU ARE THE FOUNDER OF BLOGGING?

Small Little Penang said...

Me my self also don't know how to read chinese, thanks to the translator, we can at least understand a little bit (not all) and capture the meaning of the chinese words posted by tongkai.

There is nothing wrong in posting chinese words, if is wrong, why would they implement this in the blog system? I'm sure this are for the convenience of everyone.

Old saying - "Beh hiao ba mui nya lo.. boh si poon eh" (Don't understad just ask la, nothing to lose)

Fishhook - it's seems to me that you like to fire rocket towards asian-fellow. Not only here, but in every other blog as well? Are you in love with him/her?? If no why la you want to attract his/her attention??

A short comment from Asian-fellow u also wan 2 kacau. If you call other low grade, pariah, it means you also one of them, other wise how would u know how to call other ??

*no eye to see*

Asian-fellow comment's intention was to encourage people to learn.

As a chinese must always know chinese, regardless write, read, speak or listen.

correct or not?

i don't see that as a personal attack ..do you? Mr.Fish

Unknown said...

I'm going to ignore fujiwara because I know he is just a young fellow trying to impress his logistics sifu asian-fellow by defending him no matter what. I hope you get your promotion soon.

small little penang, if you choose to defend asian-fellow by ignoring parts of his message "哈哈哈! 你知到他是誰嗎?" and say it is not a personal attack, it's also your choice. I respect your opinion.

Tongkai, if you misinterpret my comment as an insult, I'm really sorry.

The reason I'm still here is because I find H'ng to be a reasonable person who raises interesting topics for discussion and is willing to listen to criticisms objectively.

fujiwara said...

fishhook, thank you. you could ignore me, NVM. I have nothing to lose. Please respect my career and don't simply shoot. Your approach hurts many people.

You can give your comment to the blog but please don't shoot others or criticise others.

I don't like your way of personal attack. My career or job shooted you?

Let me explain to you the two sentences:-

1. 好一个"費死戶"... 哈哈哈!
(it means a funny and good translation created from a gentleman).

==> 費死戶 = fishhook (chinese)

2. 你知到他是誰嗎?
(Do you know who's he?)

==> a normal question.

understand? If you're not sure any mandarin, i suggest you don't simply interpret and shoot or get angry for nothing.

again, i hope you respect the career of others. I'm a fresh graduate from UTAR, joined the logistics 5 months ago and like it very much.

asian-fellow is from the same industry and he's well respected therein, but he doesn't know me and cannot help me for any promotion. Please don't simply create problems for your own satisfaction.

Please continue with your comment and stop shooting others.

fujiwara said...

fishhook, i'm worried of you. don't know mandarin, you can be silent and learn. a lot of people can teach for free. we all are chinese must know our basic language.

please don't simple interpret and try to be smart, follow by a attack.

visitors including me cannot stand with your way. So, please ignore me even I give any comment, because your comment come along with boom.

Small Little Penang said...

Mr.Fish - i see no personal attack in Asian-Fellow's statement. Of course, you may correct me if i'm wrong BUT, i get 1 of my friend to translate what it is said.

I believe i don't have to write it down here on what i was told rite? Since Fujiwara (japanese guys??) has do the honour by translate a lil bit or explain a lil meaning.
Domo arigato Fujiwara-san.

fishhook, 1 word of advice for you.. Don't insult or shoot other people Career by doing so, your insulting your own career as well.

Sayonara...

Unknown said...

Enough already. I don't want the attention anymore. This is HKL's blog not bash fishhook blog.

Sorry if I have misinterpreted asian-fellow and accuse him wrongly. Sorry for being a cheap chinese and did not learn the chinese language. Sorry if I have rocket people. Sorry for insulting your career. Sorry HKL for this mess.

Thank you SLP for your good advice not to insult people's career. Thank you fujiwara for teaching me chinese and for worrying for me. Thank you asian-fellow for the encouragement not to give up learning chinese.

You guys are among the smartest and kindest people i have encountered. I cannot imagine how Penang can grow without you guys. I truly respect you all. Fujiwara, you are a really smart guy with a passion for logistics. It would be a lost if AK Ventures doesn't hire you. I wish you all the very best and happiness.

There you have it. I've said my sorrys, I have said my thank yous and I have sing your praises.

Can you guys cut it out now?

YOU WIN OK!!

Can we move on now?

asian-fellow said...

Hi fishhook,

Ok lah... Our life have to go on...

There're thousand categories of bloggers. For me, it's simple... ie. looking around for new friends for info or knowledge sharing on certain common topics. It could be a line or a full write-up should time permits. But, I can share with you that my assignments at work, are substantial, probably making my life shorter.

So how, it has to go on... Of course, we require a forum for thoughts' exchanges, it might not help the work in a direct manner, but at least it make less tense or anxious.

Let's move on for a better objective in blogging. Indeed, I respect the power of blogging and like it very much. But, sorry I'm new in it and don't really know the common practices and will learn. It's something in contrast to my world of logistics.

I'm concerned over a postulated sequence or development of politics cum social in Malaysia, as those have an effect on the international trade, which I survive with.

I respect you, the one having a tendency to persist to a stand or opinion, even on this virtual-reality.

Sorry, I'm seen tediously lenthy, it could be attributed to my unaltered mode of practice trained from my postgraduate studies... hahaha.

Hearten Thanks to fujiwara and small little penang, too.

fujiwara said...

Fishhook,

Come on......don't be like that..without your entertaiment or so call rocket, we also have nothing to write about in this meaningful forum. Anyway, we weren't come here for war.

Sometimes, you words just too much "tulang" thats why we just step out for the advise.

In addition to this, in the comparison with you, im not the smartest and kindest ppl because we believe you are the one who is qualifying to carry these titles.

Oh ya....one more word for you. Thanks for your concern on my career but i think the issue of whether AK Ventures would like to hire me or not is none of your business right???

Anyway, thanks for your warm and kind advise. Cheers...

Small Little Penang said...

Mr.Fishhook,

Let's forget the past and look towards the future. Nothing to be praise or shout off. Let's just all learn from each other.

Everyone make mistake, nobody in the world is perfect, you and i make mistake. We just have to be carefull in our doing to avoid any mistake.

You respect me, i respect you, you respect other, other respect you. The world is round.