Are the various ministries of the government in touch with one another and keeping abreast of the latest regulations, rulings and updates?

On the Feb 14 this year, in a simple ceremony, Minister of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal accorded National Heritage status to Victoria Institution.

He said: "The world already knows its name as Victoria Institution, so it is my pleasure to announce that its name, beginning today, will remain as Victoria Institution."

Bureaucratic idiosyncrasy, fuelled by envy led to the authorities changing the name to Sekolah Menengah Victoria in the late 80s.

Yet, in a news report on RTM earlier this month (on Aug 2), the school was still being referred to as Sekolah Menengah Victoria.

Is one ministry deliberately ignoring the ruling of another ministry? Does it not respect decisions made by a fellow minister?

A case in point is the bahasa baku fiasco some two decades back.

Former information minister Mohammed Rahmat ignored the government's propagation of bahasa baku by saying ‘we are not ready yet' when even privately-owned TV3 had implemented it from day one.