Easing policy in Stages

Daily Express 09 August, 2008
Kota Kinabalu: The Cabotage Policy that is blamed by many as the cause for the difference in goods prices between East Malaysia and Peninsular Malaysia will be liberalised progressively, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
"We (Ministry of Transport) are re-visiting and reviewing the existing Cabotage policy and at the same time looking at the proposal from the Malaysian Logistics Council as well as input from the State Government," he said.
"We are in the midst of liberalising the policy, not at one go but progressively," he said when asked to elaborate on his speech after witnessing the swearing-in of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) committee for the 2008-2010 term at Kian Kok Middle School here, Friday.
Nonetheless, Ong reminded logistic players and the public that the Cabotage policy is not the sole factor for the price differences. "Naturally it is only one of the factors because others like freight charges and inland transportation also play a role," he said.
The Cabotage policy issue was raised in previous Parliament sittings by Sabah MPs who had called for it to be revised so that goods in Sabah could be cheaper.
Meanwhile, the Minister said new air routes were being established involving East Malaysian cities including Kota Kinabalu, which are expected to be operational by end of this year.
According to him, studies have been made following the Asean Route Map Liberalisation of Aviation that is expected to be endorsed this October at the Asean Transport Ministers Meeting.
The first step would involve the capital cities in Asean, adding it must be noted that not all the cities are ready for it, though. "So far, only Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand appeared to be ready."
It would also involve low cost carriers but he declined to name them just yet. On another note, Ong said a body akin to the Hospital Board of Visitors might be set up by end of this year to facilitate people lodging reports against the Road Transport Department (RTD) and Puspakom.
"I have been receiving public complaints on the services of Puspakom and counter services of RTD and have been keeping an eye on this," he said, adding that besides receiving information through emails, text messages and the Ministry's portal "pandu cermat", he was also in contact with NGOs.
Referring to the dialogue organised by FCAS after the installation lunch, he said such dialogues with NGOs are like a "proactive outreach" to him.
"If deemed fit, hopefully by end of this year we will set up the board nationwide because people as taxpayers should also have a say in the context of the RTD and Puspakom services," he said.
To a question, he said reports from the public need not be confined to corruption but could be on anything.
Earlier, Ong witnessed Datuk Sari Nuar who was returned as FCAS President and other committee members taking their oath of office.
Sari in his speech reiterated FCAS' stand on the illegal foreign workers and also suggested that the Government seriously look into allowing the employers to settle the high levy on foreign workers in instalments.
He said that by breaking the payment into instalments like for 12 months it would be able to reduce the burden of employers who are presently required to pay nearly RM2,000 for each foreign worker.

翁詩傑：交通部為紓解民困刻檢討路稅減免措施

2008-08-09
翁詩傑：交通部為紓解民困刻檢討路稅減免措施【亞庇八日訊】聯邦交通部長拿督翁詩傑透露其入主該部後，已針對多項課題展開新措施及政策的探究與探討，我國的海、陸、空有望在今年杪內出現新改革！他表示，有關改革措施包括領空開放新航線，逐步開放沿海貿易政策、檢討路稅減免制度、以及設立驗車公司巡查員制度監督檢舉貪污濫權！他是今日主持沙巴中華大會堂第八屆中委宣誓就職禮後，針對我國特別是本地海陸空交通的問題與投訴而宣佈上述消息。空路：提早開放領空翁詩傑透露自己三月尾入主交通部以來，民航事業將有所發展，該部準備進一步把東馬數個重要城市包括亞庇在內開拓新的航線。同時這新的航線也將意味本地的領空開放政策已經提前開放，不需要等到今年十二月東協國家(特別是首都之間)航線全面開放才落實。「這不但止包括我們的首都，連亞庇這首府城市也被圈入開拓的新航線，而有關新航線也包括廉價航空在內。」翁詩傑透露。他表示將在有關領空開放所有計劃正式敲定後，才作全面宣佈。無論如何，他坦承雖然有關東協領空開放政策今年杪就要落實，但是除了我國、新加坡、泰國及汶萊等四個國家，其他國家實際上很多都還未作好準備。海路：檢討沿海貿易政策翁詩傑表示沿海貿易政策是導致本州物價較西馬昂貴的因素質之一。事緣自半島到東馬的海港口岸，自八十年代開始都有政策限定只有馬來西亞本國註冊的船才可享有變相的保護主義。今年內閣重組後，翁詩傑其中一項任務就是研究有關政策，他目前也已經正式指示屬下海事局全面探討大馬物流理事會的所提出的建議，包括準備逐步開放有關政策。「雖然沿海貿易政策的開放不可能一步到位，但是必須與時並進。」此外，翁詩傑表示聯邦政府目前也聽取沙巴州政府希望將實邦加列為區域貨物樞紐的訴求，該部目前也正在全面推敲。陸路：設驗車公司巡查團油價飆升，民困當頭，翁詩傑表示自己曾經提出的全面檢討減免路稅措施，目前已經頗由眉目，交通部在這方面已經作好全面的檢討與建議。由於有關路稅的減免最終與國家稅收息息相關，彼等將尋求財政部的配合，將有關建議提呈聯邦內閣。翁詩傑也透露，這次建議檢討的路稅減免措施，所影響的層面將是全面性的，包括各種排氣量的汽車，使用柴油、汽油的汽車，都在當局考慮範圍。 此外，翁詩傑表示自己接到公眾特別是與驗車公司，陸路交通局的柜臺服務相關的投訴，包括貪污濫權以及服務不能普及、行政存有一些弱點等。他表示自己也針對各項投訴做了明察暗訪，透過各種管道收集了民間與非政府組織意見與建議，他強調當局對貪污濫權不能忽視與妥協，將考慮多方所提出的建議，由機制上着手，建立一個醫院巡查員的制度，全面監督驗車公司。也希望人們作出更多的檢舉。翁詩傑表示有關詳情將會在遲些宣佈，當下已經已經進入第三季，因此希望上述改革能夠今年內完成.