Press Statement

by Lim Guan Eng

(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): Transport Minister Datuk Chan Kong Choy and Home Minister Datuk Radzi Sheikh Ahmad should be reprimanded by Cabinet for the improper, silly & rubbish behaviour of their ministry forcing an embarrassing withdrawal of the lucky draw and contest organised by the Transport & Home Ministry. The two Ministries have embarrassed not only the BN government but also voters who elected them with the immediate withdrawal of:

1. the Home Ministry's top lucky draw prize of a MyVi car gone missing; and
2. the Transport Ministry's cash incentives programme for capturing traffic offences on camera in conjunction with the Chinese New Year festive period.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said that the lucky draws offer is silly because it was irresponsible of Malaysians to want to be given something just to change their old identity card for MyKad. Radzi is wrong in that it is not irresponsible of Malaysians but irresponsible of the Home Ministry for trying to "bribe" Malaysians with prizes to change their identity cards.

Former Home Minister Datuk Azmi Khalid on Aug 25, 2005 announced the Home Ministry's "Lets Change and Win" lucky draws offer, featuring prizes worth a total RM350,000, to get 12 million Malaysians to change their old identity cards. The prizes include motorcycles, TV sets, holiday packages, computers, camcorders and handphones, sponsored by six consortium companies. All MyKad holders and those who apply for the smart card before Nov 30, 2005, would qualify for the monthly draws with the winners picked randomly by the computer.

To withdraw the lucky draw after it was announced by Azmi, shows that not only Malaysian Ministers are not trustworthy but collective Ministerial responsibility signifies a loss of credibility of Cabinet. Further it is unfair to "contestants" and improper for the Ministry to withdraw the 88 prizes offered for the final lucky draw when the two previous lucky draws were conducted and prizes given out. Whether Radzi admits it or not, the "contestants" have a right to feel cheated by such cancellation of the lucky draw

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said: "The 'Shoot, send and win' contest from Feb 9 to March 10 2007 organised by the Road Safety Department is being cancelled. Chan had announced that a reward of RM150 for the best picture, RM100 for second best and RM50 for third best would be given each day during the period for helping bring traffic culprits to book. Chan is correct that there was a possibility of abuse for profit by some quarters and also encouraging law-breakers when motorists use their camera phone to take pictures whilst driving.

Such inconsistent behaviour is not only irresponsible, it shows that there is poor planning and professionalism amongst top civil servants in the respective Ministries until time and effort is spent on such projects that are improper, silly and rubbish. How can the Prime Minister succeed in developing a first-class mentality to establish cutting edge technology and industries in making Malaysia a developed nation when all the two Ministry officials can think of are organising lucky draws and contests?