ON matters as different as highway tolls and religious terminology, the dynamics of decision-making are perforce radically different.
The former is informed by policy and contractual obligations; the latter is an attempt at a compromise that safeguards peoples' sensitivities while not constraining religious freedom. Yet, these two instances have been conflated in recent days into further evidence of a dithering administration, uncertain of itself and at the mercy of gusting public opinion.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed's announcement last Thursday of raised tolls on five highways, having provoked a chorus of objections from road users, consumers and, predictably, the opposition, was rescinded within 24 hours -- first in the form of a postponement till the end of the year, and subsequently, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, "indefinitely". Najib's terse allusion to the revocation, costing taxpayers RM287 million in compensation payments to the concessionaires involved, fell largely on deaf ears -- it is in the nature of consumers to be far more concerned with what they pay out of their own pockets than what the government has to do with their tax ringgit.
Over the matter of the use, or otherwise, of the sacred name "Allah" in non-Islamic contexts, the back-and-forth is even more distressing. What appears to be reigning at the present stage of this continuing issue is confusion. The gazetting on Feb 16 of a 1986 cabinet decision on this matter permitted a locally published Christian journal to continue using the word, on condition that the publication prominently display on its cover a message specifying that it was for Christians only. It should be noted that the journal in question persisted with its suit on the matter, accepting the gazetted dispensation but pressing on with its case for unrestricted publication in the national language as well. The Malaysian Islamic Dakwah Foundation responded in protest that the publication should not be allowed to use the word in question until the courts decide these matters. On that basis, the government has rescinded the gazette in question.
No matter how all this plays out, there's no doubt such "flip-flop" decision-making fatally undermines public faith in the clarity and resoluteness of those charged with steering the ship of state through the present stormy seas of politics and the jagged shoals of a receding economy. When decisions can be made and revoked like this, the strength of any decision is compromised by the obvious weakness of conviction behind it.
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Talk on Intellectual Property Law (10 Feb 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, the talk on “Intellectual Property Law” will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 10 Feb 2012 (Friday). The talk will feature Bahari Yeow Tien Hong. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings (21 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, the seminar on “The Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings”, featuring Sanjeev Kumar Rasiah, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 21 Feb 2012 (Tuesday). Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Conveyancing (24 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar featuring Jeremiah R Gurusamy will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 24 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Mediation Skills Training Course (29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012) Organised by Bar Council, the Mediation Skills Training Course will take place at 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, at Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012 (Wednesday to Sunday). Deadline for registration and payment is 17 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on “Land Fraud: An Australian Perspective” (13 Mar 2012) Organised by IGIL, GSGSG and UUM COLGIS, this free talk featuring Quintin George Rozario of Delta Law, Brisbane, Australia, will take place at 9:00 am, at Dewan Seminar A, Pusat Konvensyen, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, on 13 Mar 2012 (Tuesday). To RSVP, contact Mr Abutt (04-928 4397; abutt@uum.edu.my).
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Circular No 023/2012: Talk on ISO 9001 | 2008 Quality Management System Certification
