New school projects on hold
Published: Oct 15, 2008 4:12 PM | Updated: Oct 15, 2008 4:15 PM
The increasing costs of building materials have forced the Education Ministry to postpone the construction of several new schools, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
The increasing costs of building materials have forced the Education Ministry to postpone the construction of several new schools, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Education Minister Razali Ismail said the projects were to be reviewed due to the increase in the prices of steel and cement.
He said this while responding to a question from Yusoff Mahal (BN-Labuan).
To another question from Yusoff, Razali said the education departments in Federal Territories of Labuan, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya had been streamlined.
"Under the restructuring exercise, the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Education Department has branch offices in Pudu, Bangsar and Sentul/Keramat, while other offices are in Labuan and Putrajaya," he said.
Razali also said that the ministry disapproved public caning punishment as it would have a negative impact on the dignity of the students and have detrimental effects on them.
10,000 taxi permits
On another matter, the House was also told today that the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry was processing about 10,000 applications for individual taxi licences.
Minister Noh Omar said these applications were received since the offer was made on July 15 until today, which is the closing date.
He also gave an assurance that only those eligible would be issued the licence. He told this in response to a question by Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjung).
Noh said the move to issue the licence to individual drivers was to provide an opportunity for genuine taxi drivers to have their own licences, instead of having to lease the taxis from taxi companies.
He said with the issuing of the licences to individual taxi drivers, the ministry had no plan to issue new taxi licences to companies.
"All the while, we have been giving (the licence) to companies because of certain reasons, but today we notice that many companies do not comply with the stipulated conditions, like looking into the welfare of their taxi drivers and to provide a good service.
"We find that the companies have become like car selling companies where upon settling payments for the taxi, the driver only gets the car, but the permit still belongs to the company ... that is why we have decided to issue the licence to individuals," he added.
Noh said the ministry had also introduced courses for taxi and bus drivers at the Giat Mara Centres.
"We also have a system to record on drivers' performance where those whose names are in the blacklist and have been involved in accidents will not be allowed to drive taxis in future," he added.
Deputy Education Minister Razali Ismail said the projects were to be reviewed due to the increase in the prices of steel and cement.
He said this while responding to a question from Yusoff Mahal (BN-Labuan).
To another question from Yusoff, Razali said the education departments in Federal Territories of Labuan, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya had been streamlined."Under the restructuring exercise, the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Education Department has branch offices in Pudu, Bangsar and Sentul/Keramat, while other offices are in Labuan and Putrajaya," he said.
Razali also said that the ministry disapproved public caning punishment as it would have a negative impact on the dignity of the students and have detrimental effects on them.
10,000 taxi permits
On another matter, the House was also told today that the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry was processing about 10,000 applications for individual taxi licences.
Minister Noh Omar said these applications were received since the offer was made on July 15 until today, which is the closing date.
He also gave an assurance that only those eligible would be issued the licence. He told this in response to a question by Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjung).
Noh said the move to issue the licence to individual drivers was to provide an opportunity for genuine taxi drivers to have their own licences, instead of having to lease the taxis from taxi companies.He said with the issuing of the licences to individual taxi drivers, the ministry had no plan to issue new taxi licences to companies.
"All the while, we have been giving (the licence) to companies because of certain reasons, but today we notice that many companies do not comply with the stipulated conditions, like looking into the welfare of their taxi drivers and to provide a good service.
"We find that the companies have become like car selling companies where upon settling payments for the taxi, the driver only gets the car, but the permit still belongs to the company ... that is why we have decided to issue the licence to individuals," he added.
Noh said the ministry had also introduced courses for taxi and bus drivers at the Giat Mara Centres.
"We also have a system to record on drivers' performance where those whose names are in the blacklist and have been involved in accidents will not be allowed to drive taxis in future," he added.
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