A few months before the flood that hit more than 200,000 people nationwide, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim has given her nod to a proposal by a local entrepreneur who wanted to supply special tents for the evacuees.
A panel who studied the spec of the tent was fully satisfied that it could meet requirements whenever disaster strikes. The ministry's secretary-general also signed a letter for further actions be taken to approve it.
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However, it got stuck at JKM (Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat). The tent that could turn into a makeshift/comfortable 'home' for flood victims, was shot down but the proposal was 'copied from A to Z'.
An open tender was then published in local newspapers (who got it?). Minister at PM Dept Shahidan Kassim had in November announced the 'purchase' of similar tents but with slight changes, taking out the 'privacy spec' from it. (The 'walls' were lowered so that anybody can take a peep into it, while the size could not fit a family of 5 or 6).
Reading media report about the plight of flood evacuees makes me wonder what actually happened in our planning to 'really provide assistance' to them? While waiting for their ruined houses be rebuilt, where are they suppose to spend their days and nights?
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However, some 'copycats' in the government (I believe) took it for granted. They may have thought that the flood wouldn't have brought extensive damage to properties, and that not many people were affected.
Did they make enough money from the tents? I hope so!
But I do hope 'an internal investigation' is conducted before someone lodges a report with the MACC. Things like this must be stopped. Copycats and 'penyamun' at government ministries must be hauled up before similar difficulties recur.
It is a common fact that good proposals from the public are subjected to 'hijackings' by people 'inside' government agencies. As they don't have good brain to produce such an excellent paper, they just wait for it to come and they will either copy or alter it.
Please stop it before you become liability to Umno and Barisan Nasional in the next general election!
I believe YB Rohani herself will support my jottings. While the contractor whose proposal was 'rejected and hijacked' has all documents as evidence, I believe a case is building up here...
A panel who studied the spec of the tent was fully satisfied that it could meet requirements whenever disaster strikes. The ministry's secretary-general also signed a letter for further actions be taken to approve it.
An open tender was then published in local newspapers (who got it?). Minister at PM Dept Shahidan Kassim had in November announced the 'purchase' of similar tents but with slight changes, taking out the 'privacy spec' from it. (The 'walls' were lowered so that anybody can take a peep into it, while the size could not fit a family of 5 or 6).
Reading media report about the plight of flood evacuees makes me wonder what actually happened in our planning to 'really provide assistance' to them? While waiting for their ruined houses be rebuilt, where are they suppose to spend their days and nights?
KUALA KRAI: One of the priorities of flood victims now are tents that will be their temporary shelters for those whose houses were damaged or swept away.I've been to a few flood-stricken areas and 'a temporarily place to stay' is now the utmost issue. Had the ministry and JKM accepted the good proposal, they victims could have sighed in relief.
Although the Government had provided flood relief centres, many chose to return home after water levels subsided over the past few days.
Reporters found that families in Kampung Manik Urai Lama here have set up makeshift shelters using canvas and planks by the roadside.
Others put up sheets of zinc as roofs over the damaged parts of their homes.
Mother of three, Rohaiza Abdul Rahim, 45, said her home was almost fully submerged.
“And, that has left my house badly damaged,” she said.
Rohaiza said she and her husband had to set up a temporary shelter using canvas and mats to cover the floor.
“We had to do this in order to search for belongings which can be salvaged and used,” she said.
“I hope the Government will expedite aid of the tents for us to stay in as it can get quite cold at night,” she added.
The situation in Manik Urai Lama paints a dreary picture with damaged and dusty roads besides houses and shops that were either destroyed or damaged.
Jusoh Yahya, 56, said he was forced to build a hut after his house, left behind by his late parents, suffered significant damage.
“I almost fainted when I saw the house but I want to stay here and clean whatever I can,” he said.
“Cleaning up the house will take time, so I have to build a hut where I can sleep until the tents arrive,” he said. — Bernama
Did they make enough money from the tents? I hope so!
But I do hope 'an internal investigation' is conducted before someone lodges a report with the MACC. Things like this must be stopped. Copycats and 'penyamun' at government ministries must be hauled up before similar difficulties recur.
It is a common fact that good proposals from the public are subjected to 'hijackings' by people 'inside' government agencies. As they don't have good brain to produce such an excellent paper, they just wait for it to come and they will either copy or alter it.
Please stop it before you become liability to Umno and Barisan Nasional in the next general election!
I believe YB Rohani herself will support my jottings. While the contractor whose proposal was 'rejected and hijacked' has all documents as evidence, I believe a case is building up here...