Appeal to our national leaders to do something about Selangor

 

I find it very shocking that a Selangor state exco has recommended that everyone attending concerts in the state of Selangor be screened for drugs.

    This is, in my opinion, a sad state where leaders have not given much to what he was saying. The suggestion is not only laughable, but it does not augur well with someone holding such a position. He should, in fact, refrain from making such a statement. 

Knee Jerk Response

    Most concerts for New Year's Eve attract big numbers of participants. The State Local Government and Tourism Committee chairperson Ng Suee Lim's suggestion is at best another "knee jerk" reaction to the deaths at a New Year countdown concert.

    In fact, I have a number of questions to ask Ng: 

(a) Who will pay for the urine tests? Will it be charged into the tickets? Or, will the state government pay for the urine tests?

(b) How will the SOP take into consideration the number of people that need to be screened within a short time frame just an hour or two before the concert?

(c) How can Ng be assured that samples submitted to the laboratory technicians will not be compromised? For example, A is a drug addict, and he submits the urine taken from B. 

(d) How sure are you that the urine test conducted will provide accurate results, and not someone who has just consumed some prescribed medicine? 

(e) Given that such a mistake can be made, how would Ng suggest the authority or the event organiser handle such a situation, where the participant insists that she has taken some presecribed medicine.

        Ng should have given some thought to his recommendation. His suggestion is akin to telling every lorry driver to conduct a urine test and the results then submitted to the Road Transport Authroity (JPJ) before he takes the 20-tonne truck on the road. 

    This only goes to show the kind of quality of our state leaders in the current exco. I find this very disturbing that even in the previous exco, another state leader Ng Sze Han, when asked about his response to the landslide in Batang Kali, merely said that the state would develop guidelines for the camping sites. The truth is landslides will happen, regardless of whether there are guidelines in place or not. 

    And what about this one when the state exco in charge of tourism, environment, green technology and Orang Asli affairs, Hee Loy Sean denied claims "that quarrying at Bukit Lagong would affect Orang Asli communities in the area."

    The fact that Orang Asli depend on the forest for their livelihood, any intrusion into the natural habitat of the flora and fauna, would result in their livelihood being threatened. Were they even consulted in the first place?

Do this Instead! 

    Ng should, instead, tell the press that he is still in the process of discussing the SOP with a number of government agencies, and no recommendations have yet been drawn out to discuss. 

    My suggestion to Ng is to discuss with the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK). I am sure its director-general, Dato' Ruslin Jusoh will be able to provide some good solutions.

    Ng should also speak to the K9 unit from the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to seek for their cooperation to send their dogs to sniff out drugs. Some dogs are, in fact, trained to sniff out drugs that have been consumed; and the more recent the drug use, the more detectable os the odour.

    One final suggestion from a layman: Ng should make it mandatory for the event organisers to have people trained in detecting red eyes, which are a tell-tale sign that the individual has consumed drugs. 

    An amendment can also be made to the law to make it mandatory for people to sign a declaration that they are not on drugs; if they are found to have consumed some illegal drugs, the punishment should be heavy. Signs should then be placed all over the concert venue to warn people against the use of illicit drugs. 

    All these suggestions are more practical than Ng's recommendation to screen the concert goers. Please do not become another laughing stock. 

Appeal to the National Leaders    

    I am only an ordinary citizen, who just want a change of government for the good of all Malaysians and to give our future generation a new hope for Reformasi.

    It is time that our national leaders take cognizance of what is happening to the Selangor State Government under Pakatan Harapan, instead of allowing the state to deteriorate further.

Read to see the contrast between Selangor and Penang.