Small sacrifice for greater benefit

 

I refer to your report “PM: We have to sacrifice” (Star, Mar 1).
 

The 20% increase in petrol price will definitely hurt the people, especially those from the lower income group. It would aggravate their hardship further when unscrupulous businessmen take advantage to increase prices of essential goods as well.

 

The rakyat will definitely welcome the statement by the Prime Minister,Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that the  estimated annual saving of RM4.4bil in fuel subsidy will be spent to improve the public transport system which is in a state of chaos in most towns and cities.
 

I am sure the people would not mind the sacrifice if only it would go to spare the lives of their loved ones on our roads. In this endeavor I am syre the rakyat will be solidly behind the prime minister.
 

The only demand by the rakyat is, the money saved should be spent prudently for what is intended. I’m sure this request by the people is not unreasonable. Misuse of the funds at federal, state and local council levels as well as in many government agencies must be checked.
 

The number of deaths from road accidents, approximately 6,000 per year, is unacceptable by any standards. The number of vehicles on our roads must be reduced if we want to reduce the accident rate to a realistic level.
Improving the public transport system in all towns is a definite way to reduce traffic woes. Unfortunately, public transport is not popular because it is not efficiently managed.It must be improved to encourage its use.
 

For a start,the government should revamp and reorganize the bus services, both within and between the various towns and cities.

 

A federal and state level task force, comprising experts on the ground, should be set up to draw up comprehensive plans for this project.

Other mega projects,costing billions of ringgit,can be considered later as long term measures, after implementing an efficient and reliable bus transport system.
 

Dr.Chris Anthony                                                                                

Road deaths keep rising – Part 2

Road deaths keep rising – Part 2
The festive season is over,so is Ops Sikap X, and we lost 226 lives on Malaysia’s killing fields,our roads.This is about 20% more than the previous year.The deaths due to accidents involving motocylists was 148 (65.5%),followed by cars ,47 and pedestrians,11.
These figures were release by the the Acting Federal Traffic Chief Asst.Comm.O.K.Jalil Osman.
 Apart from this major catastrophe during festive seasons, there is an ongoing loss many more lives daily on our roads within our cities and towns all over the country. These too mainly involve the motorcyclists.
 Apart from the selfish and inconsiderate attitude of our drivers, the number of vehicles on the road is a main cause of worry. More than 5 million vehicles were the roads during the Ops Sikap X period ,from Jan 23 to Feb 6,2006.
 Over the years the population of cars keep increasing at a rate that whatever roads and highways we built will not be enough to cope with the increase.   We must think of genuine measures to reduce the number of vehicles on our roads if we are really serious in our endeavors to reduce fatality.
Public transport in our cities is in a deplorable state. In fact our bus services are so unreliable and inconvenient. Other than in Kuala Lumpur, intra-city rail services are not available.Inter-city rail services, which were once very popular as it was cheap, save and reliable, seem to have almost closed down totally. Without an efficient public transport system, the traffic situation in all the cities and major towns is chaotic especially during peak hours.  
Another important factor to consider is separate lanes for motor cyclists. The majority of our fatal road accidents involve these poor two-wheelers and as such the government has to seriously plan how to implement the building of separate lanes for motor cyclists
Safe and convenient travel should be basic right for every citizen and it is the duty of the government, the educators, enforcement agencies and all Malaysians to make it a reality.
Dr.Chris Anthony
(Butterworth)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safety levy on new vehicles

Safety levy on new vehicles
 

The plan by the Ministry of Transport to impose a safety levy of RM100 per car sold is ridiculous and absurd. Although the manufacturer or the importer may be asked to pay, from our experience, we know that ultimately the consumer will have to cough out that amount.
 

Do we need a Road Safety Trust to be established from consumers’ money? What about the millions collected from summonses issued for traffic offences, road tax and tolls? Where does the money all go to if not for projects related to road safety? I’m certain in a few years we shall be debating the misuse of this fund, as with many such trusts funds previously.
 

We had enough of campaigns and slogans. Millions have already been spent on them with little success. Car pooling and anti-drunk driving are two such examples. What we need now is definite long term plans and actions by the authorities to reduce the present road carnage. Serious attention has to be paid to drastically reducing the number of vehicles on the road, providing better public transport system, having separate lanes for motor cyclists and severe but fairly meted punishment for reckless drivers.
 

Education on road safety should have started long time ago in schools and on the roads. It should be an ongoing program and not limited to festive seasons. Financial constraints should not have been a limiting factor all these years.
 

Reducing road fatalities must be a top priority for the government and all Malaysians today. Traffic jams and high road accident rate are not the true indices of a developed nation.
 

Dr.Chris Anthony
Butterworth

Road deaths keep rising by the day

Road deaths keep rising
Just after three days into Ops Sikap X and we already had 35 road deaths. Over the Chinese New year weekend, the traffic would increase drastically so will the deaths. The authorities are taking numerous measures to keep these fatalities to a minimum but sad to say their efforts may not produce the desired results. It looks as though our motorists are racing to create new record on road deaths come each festive season.
Apart from these major catastrophes during festive seasons, many more lives are also lost daily on our roads within our cities and towns all over the country. These mainly involve the motorcyclists.
What has gone wrong? Is there no remedy for this problem? Every year we are losing so many lives including promising young adults who would otherwise become excellent future leaders, scientists, professionals and entrepreneurs.
Most Malaysians will agree the selfish and inconsiderate attitude of our drivers is the main cause of the high death rate on our roads. Much has been discussed and actions taken but we are not able to change the attitude especially the younger drivers. As parents, teachers and leaders at all levels we must continue to inculcate good values in all our young men and women.
The enforcement agencies especially the police must device better methods to control irresponsible behavior on the roads. Obviously their present ways are not really working as they should. Reckless drivers especially of big vehicles are never seen to be booked but the poor, careful driver who occasionally exceeds the speed limit by a mere 10km.on a clear stretch of the highway immediately gets pounced upon.
 The number of vehicles on the road is a main cause of worry. Over the years the population of cars keep increasing at a rate that whatever roads and highways we built will not be enough to cope with the increase.   We must think of genuine measures to reduce the number of vehicles on our roads if we are really serious in our endeavors to reduce fatality.
Public transport in our cities is in a deplorable state. In fact our bus services are so unreliable and inconvenient. Other than in Kuala Lumpur, intra-city rail services are not available.Inter-city rail services, which were once so popular as it was cheap, save and reliable, seem to have closed down totally.
As a result of these poor public transport systems, the people are forced to own personal cars. To add to these, the government has made it easy for the people to own cars by allowing the finance companies to give very high loans payable over as long as ten years. As a matter of fact, one can buy a car without down payment as they are given 100% loan.
Another important factor to consider is separate lanes for motor cyclists. The majority of our fatal road accidents involve these poor two-wheelers and as such the government has to seriously plan how to implement the building of separate lanes for motor cyclists
Educating our drivers, improving public transportation and providing separate lanes for motor cyclists are.  in my opinion is more urgent than fighting to construct a half crooked bridge between Malaysia and Singapore.
The government has to realize that the life of every citizen is valuable. It has a moral obligation to safeguard these lives of her citizens on Malaysia’s killing fields – ROADS.
Dr.Chris Anthony
(Butterworth)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malaysia’s killing fields

Fatal Road Accident Rate Alarming

 

It is really distressing to note from SM.Mohamad Idris letter that about 6,000 Malaysians die in road accidents per year.This is an alarming figure and definitely calls for immediate inquiry and action by all parties.SM.Mohamad Idris has mentioned a number of measures to be taken to reduce these wasteful and premature deaths of young Malaysians on our roads.Our roads have become real death traps to these youngsters.

 

One more important factor is the ever increasing number of vehicles on the roads.I have been driving for the past 28 years and the volume of traffic now has increased so tremendously that today it is almost impossible to avoid accidents however careful we are.

 

It has become a fashion to own cars now,not one but as many as one can afford.It is common for one to own a sedan,one four-wheel drive,one MPV each for a different use.The government seems to encourage us to buy cars and motor cycles by allowing  100% loans with extended repayment periods.Soon we may be allowed to pay for life.If we buy a imported car loans exceeding the value of the car can be “arranged”so that we can even get some extra cash to pay for the fitting of accessories.

 

Motor vehicles may be a necessity today but the numbers can be reduced if we have better public transport system.These systems should be available not just in Kuala Lumpur but throughout the country.Most of us would prefer to take buses,trains,LRT if they are available and run properly.Our train services which used to be popular,safe and cheap form of transport are almost dead now.Their places have taken by express bus operators.The drivers of these buses reclkessly speed along our highways like big bullys.Their big brothers,the lorry,truck and trailor operators are even worse.These operators are never seen to booked by the authorities but the poor careful driver who occasionnaly exceeds the speed limit by a mere 10km.on a clear stretch of the highway gets summoned repeatedly.

 

Our leaders often claim our country is rapidly on its way to attained a developed status.We even have a vision to acheive that.What are we doing to reduce the loss of lives on the roads.Many futures intellectuals are being lost daily on this battlefield,ROADS.

 

Dr.Chris Anthony