Hailing the Cab

So, where are we going with this? Seven years from now, the authorities promise that all taxis in Kuala Lumpur, and by extension the Klang Valley, will morph into bigger and more comfortable executive taxis.

That isn't exactly our problem, is it?

The taxis are fine as it is and quite well maintained - a far cry from the black smoke-belchers of yesteryears and dodgy air-conditioning and ever dodgier fare-meters.

The fare-meters are still a mite dodgy and the drivers - let's face it, some are are less-than-honest. And that is putting it mildly. And that is part of the problem in Malaysia's public transport industry.

We don't need solutions seven years on. We need solutions now. Integrated public transport system that is efficient, affordable, clean and to the extent possible, enviromentally sound in terms of air and noise pollution.

We don't have much of that now. We can learn.

From our neighbours in Singapore where there is the one card to rule the buses and trains. That taxis have receipt-printers and a trunked radio system with computer systems that provide booking via SMS apart from phone calls and GPS maps.

And you can pay with credit cards too.

And that they still have privately-owned taxis - numbering some 600 or even less - driven by their owners and not owned by conglomerates. But they are a dying breed - literally and figuratively - and will be phased out soon.

As for their buses and trains, they run on time.

From our neighbours in Indonesia where for years the Bluebird group have provided taxis for various segments in Jakarta - from the normal Bluebird taxis to the executive limousine Silverbird - and even provide a post-paid service via vouchers and credit cards.

And while Jakarta still have to get a city train system in place, the authorities have expanded their busway system throughout the city - dedicated bus lanes with all new buses powered by natural gas - that are air-conditioned and run on time.

How about that for innovation.

So it isn't really about the vehicles per se, it is about the service.



So, let's get with the programme.

The Chief Whips (Wednesday): It's Like, Passing the Buck Babes!

Like, the bunch of losers had a protest the other day about the tolls and all and that retired Barney, he is just sooo yesterday, then admitted he was a spaz when it came to contracts.

What a loser!

What a barf bag these politicians are. I mean, not like us in Siber Party of Malaysia (M). We rock!

Give them some trust and what you get, they go postal on you!

Even the other political parties are sooo just giving lip service. That dude from Parti Kera Raba Raba recently said that in 1996 Litrak was given the concession for LDP aaannnnnnddddd that handsome man that was acquitted from sodomy charges also said that in 1997 he stopped a toll hike because a particular Tan Sri was sooo like trying to get some extra cash to fund kickbacks.

Oh. My. Gawd.

Is that handsome man hinting that in 1996 the Finance Ministry had no input to the concession agreements that was spearheaded by the EPU? As if!

Is he saying the EPU is like making all these contractual arrangements without checking with the Treasury? Does he mean the EPU is like, more powerful than the entire government put together?

OhMyGodOhMyGawwddd!!!

Even the Litrak jerks and babes are are sooo keeping their mouths shut by just saying that the Government should be the Barneys replying to questions but had the cheek to joke and tell us to, like go and buy their shares!!!!

WhaaATEVERRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

Excuses are like being passed around more than barbie dolls at my baby sister's tea party!

You do know what this is all about, dontcha? Yeah, its like a complete breakdown in government functions and trust between the politicians barf bags and the people. That's us, baby! The people I mean! (Yeah, Malaysiakini charges a toll too, they call it subscription.)

Well, we in SiPM would sooo do it differently:

1. Like, review the toll concessions and make them public and like, see what can be done. Wouldn't that be sooo cool! Heck, dudes and babes, I would like to know where the buck stops. That buck and more for the toll that is!
2. Like, differentiate roads and their management to local authorities, state and federal jurisdictions. Which also means, like, have local government elections too! And possibly more taxes. Duh!
3. Local councils will legislate that property developers make access to roads and highways and people will be like - hey, won't this make the houses more expensive? Read my lips babes, not if we give them incentives and cheaper land!
   
4. Like, reduce irrelevant taxes and surcharges on cars. That means no import duties! Hey, everyone needs wheels, baby!
5. Like, you know, tax people for using fossil fuel-burning engines to help save the world. Which means you will have to pay more for all that gas. The more you drive the more you pay!!! Sweeeeet!
6. Like, stop usin' even the tolled roads for now. Duh!
7. Like stop usin' even cars for now. Gag me with a SPOOOOON! No I said that already, whip me babyy!!!
   
8. With all these new taxes, the federal government will have money to improve and build better public transport infrastructure. Yes if SiPM wins the elections, the government will be building the infra. Duh! Why didn't think of this before? Duh... of course SiPM we don't have and will not have cronies to make rich!
   
9. Management of these transport infras will be privatised! Woohoo all these ideas are turning me on!
10. All Touch'N'Go smart tags will be using RFID... This is so like yesterday's technology and Singapore has like had it for yeaaarrrs. But the trick is everyone has to RFID for ALL tolls. You can so top it up in mamaks, petrol stations, 7-11s, etc. No need for toll booths. Now just whiz thru. Like no more bottle necks babes!!!
    
11. Vote out those Barneys running the show in the next elections. Vote for the Siber Party of Malaysia (M). Sweeeet!

Seems to me that the entire Barisan Nasional government and past leaders like Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim and the civil service sooo totally failed us.

They, like, took us for a ride. One that we are paying for! Gag me with a s SPOOOON already!

So, like, you know what to do! Vote for the Siber Party of Malaysia (M). We are rad and mad, but you know we can way do it because we are tubular!

Later babes!

P.S. Wednesday is like in brackets because I sooo only finished this article this morning. Ooopps my baadd! heheee

The Weeks That Wanked By: 26th Dec-7th Jan 2007

It's been a crazy two weeks... it's been slow here as many of us are still recuperating from excessive partying but before I forget, let me wish everyone a Happy New Year!

So far for SiPM it has been a good start with our MP/Chief Whip YB Maya Minah Black and newcomer Tatak Sombong contributing their thoughts (ok actualy YB Minah Black hasn't really started yet, her New Year address was drafted by me... So YB please start on your Wednesday column ok? ;) hehee)

And as for Tatak Sombong he's been flying high with the highest number of contribution (ie 2).

The toll price hike has been a topic close at our hearts and this is shown by contributions by Tatak Sombong hinting that we should protest about Proton too while we are it, and Mydeen's suggestion that we should boycott the tolled roads altogether so that we hurt the concessionaires' revenue. Meanwhile Mat Merah reminds us that we really can't do anything about the toll hike (because it was agreed to by the previous administration) other than the ONLY thing we can do: VOTE the current government OUT and vote SiPM in!!! Mat Merah said this again over at Aisehman.

On PROTON, Mat Merah already made recommendations here at Aisehman.

Ever since Kickdefella has blogrolled us, our members have been actively participating in discussions there. Kickdefella was trying to drum up support if he should continue making movie posters and both Mat Merah and Mydeen said go for it Kickdefella!

In Kickdefella, the Prime Minister is never not mentioned, this time there were discussions about saving him, Mat Merah quipped that we should try to help him to go on that straight and narrow path but if he doesn't want to listen, VOTE Pak Lah OUT! Vote SiPM instead :) And Mat Merah reminds us again to to our civic duty come next election: to vote as many SiPM candidates in the next election!

The hanging of Saddam Hussein was also a hot topic at Kickdefella, Kickdefella wanted Pak Lah to comment on the hanging, but Mat Merah reminded him there'll be no difference as Saddam is dead, Meanwhile Dek Mat advised a commentor the danger of vengeance and retribution eventhough the victims were your own flesh and blood.

Synery Drive's merger of the three big plantation companies were still hot in rockybru (as are all other trivial things like the Rm30mil yacth) and Mydeen gave a comment that the opposition are keeping silent about it because they lack the expertise to comment, so they're gonna take below the belt potshots soon...

The floods in South Johore are still hot over in monsterblog. Mat Merah writes that we all need to be prepared for disasters which he thinks that the government is not good at (other than the preparation for which kueh to serve during meetings). Vote for SiPM because we were all scouts! We are always prepared! ;)

Back at Aisehman, SiPM supports Aisehman's proposal to ban political parties based on ethnicities. Mat Merah explained in details in the comments.

Also Aisehman wrote about Air Asia's new cheap flights to UK. Mat Merah commented that the "Easy Asia Virgin" will have meals and other services at a cost... how much for a lifejacket?

Back at one of our other favourite haunts, monsterblog, Mydeen sarcastically reminds us that this year is 2007, two-double-oh-seven, the year we have a licence to kill politicians. Not literally but figuratively of course through the ballot box! ;)

But the best comment of all is reserved for one of the hot shot bloggers over at monsterblog Mack. Mack says that "If SiPM is on the ballot, my X will be right next to it".

Mack has made up his mind. you should do the same too...

Vote for Siber Party of Malaysia (M)!