Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Groundhog Day

After 4 years of implementing the National Service programme for our young Malaysians, our authorities still display the same incompetence. Same old, same old. From illegal buses, the nightmare logistical flight arrangements to the chaos at registration centres, the conclusion is straightforwardly simple - the National Service Department screwed up for the umpteenth time, despite supposed years of experience in dealing with the "teething problems".

The longer term question is, will our national leaders have the political courage to do the right thing?

The Deputy Prime Minister has asked the Department to conduct the necessary "investigations".

The Department has been quick to issue statements denying responsibility for some of the chaos - "Flight delays beyond our control". (In other words, we didn't have any contingency plans.)

At the end of the day, when the dust settles, which thankfully, it'll settle, what are we going to do about it to prevent a recurrence? Should incompetent staff be demoted, if not sacked altogether? Shouldn't we have a culture which promotes excellence instead of incompetence and irresponsibility? With no stern action taken, it'll only send the signal that the government isn't at all concerned with a poorly performing civil service and are happy that the same jokers continue to make a mockery of our delivery system.

Are we waking up to another Groundhog Day?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Right from the beginning, it was obvious that the NS program was not a well planned program. How can it achieve its goal of getting youngsters of different ethnic groups to integrate while the many major national policies in this country are divisive along ethnic lines?

The NS program, like many major programs in this country, is really another opportunity for some selected individuals to siphon off easy money into their pockets, under the disguise of doing something for the good of the nation.

After four years of implementation, the suckers still cannot learn how to suck off money in style (at least cause less suffering to the trainees on day 1)!

Anonymous said...

Just barely few days into the new year, 50 years of independence, the shits unveiled just get bigger and bigger.

What should I say? I used to tell strangers when I was overseas within the first 2 minutes that I am a Msian. Now, I even feel awkward to introduce Msia. How sad.

Anonymous said...

Wat do you expect when Lee Lam Thye is in charge?

He is only excellent in PRO but not in the real execution or implementation of projects

He should be accounted and should resign. He should not waste time giving five star rankings to different khidmat negara camps!
Get his priorities right!

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

GROUNDHOG DAY is a very nice film!
I keep repeating the movie ...

Anonymous said...

Getting to the camp is already having a big havoc, wonder how those trainees will survive in the camp.