TRANSPORT MINISTER U-Turn in FLIGHT Rationalization - 90% Restore; SAFETY DRIVE in Malay Language Syllabus in 2008; BUY MOTORBIKE with Helmets

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy: “...So by increasing frequencies in Sabah and Sarawak, the reduction in rationalization on 1^st August, 90% would be put back by middle of September”

It looks like the Transport Minister is doing a lot of U-turns lately. First he caused the U-turn in the reduction of fines by the Police and now an almost complete U-Turn (90%) in the flight Rationalization announced on Aug 01 2008.

We wonder if the Transport Ministry is doing any homework when they approved the airlines plans only to realize the mistakes when complaints started to surface after the implementation. Flights are not connected and synchronized resulting in undue delays. Surely they could have anticipated the problems when the numbers and frequencies are cut, inevitably they will be gaps.

And believe it or not, “elements of safety regulation” in the Malay Language syllabus and for primary schools. They should implement immediately educational talks or prepard posters directed at the lower secondary schools to reduce the “mat rempits” coming out immediately rather than start them at the primary level where they are just learning the “abc”. And what do they teach them for 10 years? All the “undangs-undangs” and different parking rules dished out by various local authorities?

And what was the message the Minister is trying to convey, - buying a Motorbike with compulsory purchase of two helmets?

And the reasons given – encourage them to wear

– cannot afford by rural folks

Isn’t the law intact that it is compulsory to wear helmets at all times? So the problem lies in the enforcement. If enforcement cannot be implemented, then make exemptions; exempt the rural folks riding their slow bikes along paddy fields and kampungs. What is the point in having a generation of half-past six “educated in road safety regulations” only to defy the laws?

Or the alternative - increased the fines as usual with the excuse it serves as a deterrent

Elements of road safety regulations will now be incorporated in the Malay language syllabus and will be introduced to about 1000 primary schools in the 2008 session. A Collaboration between the Education ministry and the Transport ministry is aimed at educating the rakyat about road safety and as a start will focus on primary students. The move has received approval from the cabinet. This was announced by the Minister when declaring open the Motorbike Suppliers Association Building in KL.

The subjects will be introduced to 1000 schools initially and in future it will be made compulsory for standard 1 pupil to Form Four students throughout the country.

The date of sale motorbikes with helmets will be announced in two months time. For the rural folks who cannot afford it, the Transport Ministry will give away 1000 helmets. He is also conducting meetings with suppliers to give away the helmet Free of Charge.

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MAS To Add Flights, FAX Given Deadline To Improve Service; September 08, 2006 17:31 PM

MIRI, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- To overcome the problem of inadequate flight services in various sectors of Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will resume services on the Miri-Kota Kinabalu and Kuching-Bintulu routes from Sept 18 and add flights on the Kuala Lumpur-Labuan route by end of this month.

Air Asia and MAS ordered to restore back 90% of the reduction in Aug 01 06

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, in announcing this Friday, said AirAsia and Fly Asian Xpress (FAX) have also committed to increase services on several sectors in the two states which have been facing a shortage of flights following the rationalisation of domestic routes from Aug 1.

Chan said the government has also agreed to give a two-month deadline to FAX, which took over the rural air services from MAS, to improve services.

FAX Airline given subsidy and two months to "buck up"

"All three airlines have agreed to take measures to ensure that their flight schedules connect passengers to important destinations such as Mulu," he told reporters at the Miri airport here.

Chan, who was here to look into the operations of FAX in Sarawak and Sabah, was earlier given a briefing by the airline's chief executive officer Raja Mohamed Azmi Raja Razali.

He also held a dialogue session with representatives from the residents, political parties, travel agencies and ticketing agents which lasted for about two hours.

On the increase in services, Chan said MAS, AirAsia and FAX have also given their commitments to add more flights based on demand.

He said MAS would increase services to seven flights weekly on the Kuala Lumpur-Labuan, Kota Kinabalu-Labuan, Kota Kinabalu-Miri and Kuching-Bintulu routes from Sept 18 and end of this month.

With this, MAS and AirAsia will offer on a weekly basis 14 flights on the Kuala Lumpur-Labuan route, 28 flights on the Kota Kinabalu-Labuan route, 49 flights on the Kota Kinabalu-Sandakan route, 35 flights on the Kota Kinabalu-Tawau route, 14 flights on Kota Kinabalu-Miri route, 28 flights on Kuching-Kota Kinabalu route, 49 flights on Kuching-Miri route, 49 flights on Kuching-Sibu route and 21 flights on Kuching-Bintulu route.

Chan said MAS would increase the frequency of flights on the Miri-Kota Kinabalu and Kuching-Bintulu routes to twice daily when demand increased.

With the additional flights, MAS would have 25 domestic routes compared to 22 when the rationalisation process was first implemented, he said.

The minister hoped that with the increase in services, 90 percent of the problem over inadequate flight services in Sarawak and Sabah could be resolved by end of this month.

Chan said that following the rationalisation of domestic routes, the government has received complaints regarding the shortage of flights in several sectors, connectivity problems between airlines in some sectors and flight delays.

"The government views seriously such complaints," he said, adding that a special committee comprising officials from the ministry, related departments and the airlines has been set up to improve services.

On the flight delays, Chan said the special committee headed by the Transport Ministry secretary-general would provide a detailed report every fortnight and the Department of Civil Aviation has also been directed to look into the problem.

"I will get the first report in two weeks. The commitment of all parties involved to resolve the problem is important while passengers who are sometimes responsible for flight delays should give their cooperation," he said.

On the rural air service issues concerning cargo payment, excess baggage, and fares for senior citizens and children, Chan said these have been resolved and FAX would take the appropriate measures.

"The government is aware of the importance of rural air services to people here and considers it a social obligation," he said, adding that FAX has been given a subsidy for the purpose.

Safety drive in schools from STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: Start them young – that is the way to build future generations of good drivers.

From next year, students in Primary One, Two and Three in 1,000 schools nationwide will have road-safety elements incorporated into their Bahasa Malaysia subject.

“In the long run, Malaysia will give birth to a young generation who are well educated in road safety regulations”
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Update Sep12 06, Tue

Motorcycle Purchase Package With Two Crash Helmets Unnecessary; September 11, 2006 21:38 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) viewed the inclusion of two crash helmets in the purchase of a motorcycle as unnecessary.

Its secretary-general, Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah said Fomca did not see the rationale in having such a purchase deal because motorcyclists in the country were aware of the regulation on wearing crash helmets.

He also said that most motorcycle shops also offered free crash helmets for new purchase.

"Consumers cannot be forced to buy two crash helmets. What is required is enforcement by the authorities on wearing of the crash helmets by motorcyclists. Consumer," he told Bernama in response to an announcement by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, Sunday that those buying a new motorcycle would be required to also buy two crash helmets, even if they already had one.

The regulation will be enforced in a month or two to reduce fatal accidents involving motorcyclists and their pillion riders.

Meanwhile, several motorcycle dealers when contacted today they gave a free crash helmet for every purchase of a new motorcycle.

An agent at Sunny Motor in Setapak, Oh Jing Sheng, 20, said it would be a problem to include the crash helmets in the purchase deal for a new motorcycle.

"Eventhough, we give a free helmet for every (new motorcycle) purchase, a few do buy (crash) helmets of their choice. It will be a problem to include two crash helmets in the purchase deal for a new motorcycle. What if the buyer does not need the helmets," he added.

An owner of Mok Motor in Wangsa Maju, who wished to be known only as Mok, 43, said most of his customers already had crash helmets when they came to buy new motorcycles. "Why should they pay for another two more crash helmets when they already had them," he added.
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“We have the cooperation and support of the Education Ministry to teach children about road-safety,” said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy.

“This is a long-term programme to build a generation of careful motorists.”

Chan was speaking to reporters after opening the new premises of the Selangor and Federal Territory Motorcycle & Scooter Dealers Association here yesterday.

“Eventually it will roll out to all schools nationwide up till Form 4, so that when the young people are ready to ride a motorcycle or drive a car, road-safety values are already inculcated in them,” he said.

“We are starting with 1,000 schools as it will involve retraining the teachers.”

He said this was one of the new measures taken by the Government in the wake of the high 6,200 deaths on the road last year, 58% of which involved motorcyclists or pillion riders.

Malaysia has about 15 million registered road users and 45% of them are motorcyclists.

“We are working with motorcycle dealers to prepare a package – anyone who buys a motorcycle will have to buy two helmets, and that dealers should include a helmet for every motorcycle sold,” he said.

What is the package deal with these towkay suppliers ?(ABOVE & BELOW), Give them to make MORE Money by selling bikes with COMPUSORY Purchase of TWO Helments; C R A Z Y Idea

He added that as most motorcyclists who do not wear helmets are in the rural areas, the Ministry was trying to get people to donate a million helmets.

“The helmets will be distributed to non-governmental organisations and community leaders to be given to those who can’t afford to buy helmets