I am not sure how many people have commented on this matter in their blogs or written to the relevant authorities but we, the rakyat are still finding it very difficult to find or purchase plain white sugar in the city.
More than 1 month ago, I read somewhere on the internet that the world is running short of sugar and the price of this commodity have risen drastically. We in Malaysian have been assured by our Domestic Trade Minister that we will not be affected and sugar are in abudance for the Hari Raya period as it is a controlled item. I ask now, what do we control if there is nothing to control?????
Only this morning, my daughter went to 2 sundry shops and 2 hyper-markets but sugar was out of stock. I hope the officers of this ministry will go around to the shops and do spot checks instead of just making statements from their offices or announcing their visits to these places.
Another case in point is the H1N1 flu problem......... when the problem first arised in Mexico, we relaxed and thought that it will not reach our shores BUT...................... Now, after 59 fatalities, we are still having inconsistent reports from the various government departments.
Our decision makers always have this syndrome called "It will not happen to us".......... However, when things happen, we are always not prepared..............
Thank You....
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
MATTA IS SEEKING MATA-MATA'S (Police) HELP
I read with great interest this early Sunday morning's paper. Other than the 'normal' chaotic situation in the country, which I prefer not to touch on at the present moment. There is this article which some of you in the travel industry might be interested.
"Police reports lodge against MATTA Senior Exco Members". (For those not in the travel industry, MATTA = Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents). See the accompanying story in the 'Star' http://ww.thestar.com.my today, Sunday - 2nd August 2009.
I have never been elected or offered myself for election as an Exco member or held any post in this association but through my appointment as a committee member and later as the Deputy Chairman for the bi-annual MITF (MATTA International Travel Fair) during the 2002/2003 season, I have come to know and have rubbed shoulders with most of the Excos, past and present.
I was also at the recent Annual General meeting held at the PWTC but I left early without voting because what I witnessed during that meeting saddens me. I said to myself, "This is not a meeting of an association but more like a political party where people were rushing to get elected".
I really wonder why so many of them wanted to be elected especially during this period of economic turmoil and the H1N1 epidemic. I am not being selfish in my thinking but don't you think that its better for these so called 'politicians' be talking or thinking of how to get through this problems instead of fighting for positions?
We must understand that when this industry was hit by the world economic downturn, we were afraid that the public will not travel because they wanted to keep their money but we were proven wrong as those with huge bank balances still travelled and the industry was still doing well until spring of this year when we were hit by the H1N1 epidemic. People were scared to travel overseas because they were afraid they will be infected with the flu when they come back. We concentrated on the domestic portion of our industry but it seems that this segment is also hard hit with the 5th death yesterday.
So, what now for this industry? Fight it out at association level to see who holds the influential posts? I get to thinking that maybe by having these posts, the holders can get closer to the Minister and the Tourism Malaysia people to get some kind of 1st hand news or handouts for their own companies? Well, your guess is as good as mine.
Our travel industry is really ill now. It is in the "Intensive Care Unit". We do not want to have the 'Doctors and Specialists' to fight. Due to this fighting, some of them any end up in lock-ups or even prison.
I noticed that after YM Tunku Dato' Iskandar (Mitra) stepped down as President (due to ineligibility to stand for re-election, MATTA has not ben the same as it was. Maybe all the members should unite and bring this man back to head this association as an interim measure until all the legal matters have been solved.
To all the people in the industry, if you are reading this and agree with me, please forward to all your friends.
If you do not agree with me, just treat it as a posting from someone who holds the travel industry very close to his heart.
"Hope that MATTA will be back at it's old time best and strength, respected by the members and bring back confidence to the public".
"Police reports lodge against MATTA Senior Exco Members". (For those not in the travel industry, MATTA = Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents). See the accompanying story in the 'Star' http://ww.thestar.com.my today, Sunday - 2nd August 2009.
I have never been elected or offered myself for election as an Exco member or held any post in this association but through my appointment as a committee member and later as the Deputy Chairman for the bi-annual MITF (MATTA International Travel Fair) during the 2002/2003 season, I have come to know and have rubbed shoulders with most of the Excos, past and present.
I was also at the recent Annual General meeting held at the PWTC but I left early without voting because what I witnessed during that meeting saddens me. I said to myself, "This is not a meeting of an association but more like a political party where people were rushing to get elected".
I really wonder why so many of them wanted to be elected especially during this period of economic turmoil and the H1N1 epidemic. I am not being selfish in my thinking but don't you think that its better for these so called 'politicians' be talking or thinking of how to get through this problems instead of fighting for positions?
We must understand that when this industry was hit by the world economic downturn, we were afraid that the public will not travel because they wanted to keep their money but we were proven wrong as those with huge bank balances still travelled and the industry was still doing well until spring of this year when we were hit by the H1N1 epidemic. People were scared to travel overseas because they were afraid they will be infected with the flu when they come back. We concentrated on the domestic portion of our industry but it seems that this segment is also hard hit with the 5th death yesterday.
So, what now for this industry? Fight it out at association level to see who holds the influential posts? I get to thinking that maybe by having these posts, the holders can get closer to the Minister and the Tourism Malaysia people to get some kind of 1st hand news or handouts for their own companies? Well, your guess is as good as mine.
Our travel industry is really ill now. It is in the "Intensive Care Unit". We do not want to have the 'Doctors and Specialists' to fight. Due to this fighting, some of them any end up in lock-ups or even prison.
I noticed that after YM Tunku Dato' Iskandar (Mitra) stepped down as President (due to ineligibility to stand for re-election, MATTA has not ben the same as it was. Maybe all the members should unite and bring this man back to head this association as an interim measure until all the legal matters have been solved.
To all the people in the industry, if you are reading this and agree with me, please forward to all your friends.
If you do not agree with me, just treat it as a posting from someone who holds the travel industry very close to his heart.
"Hope that MATTA will be back at it's old time best and strength, respected by the members and bring back confidence to the public".
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