Boost for our Tourism?

Eradicate them!!!

This morning, I've received a SMS from my partner in crime KK to tune in to AI FM, 9:15am to listen to our newly minted Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. Well, given the recent hoohaa on female guides having to share rooms with 'male colleague' that actually reads drivers, I faithfully did just as told during my drive from home to office.

Datuk Seri started the talk with her first implementation of revoking licenses of Tour Agencies that fails to adhere to the 'No-Share-Room-With-Male-Colleagues' for the female guides. She explained that she has asked her DG what can be done or is there a provision for the ministry to do anything against TA that flaunts the laws. She was told that there were nothing in the ministry law-book that can do anything on this issue; until she noticed that as a Minister, she has the authority to revoke licenses of errant TAs! Wow! That's a very powerful tool to be granted to a Minister! I just hope this will not lead to abuses....

Back to this topic, I'm really glad that DS Dr Ng appointment is really like a breath of fresh air to our tourism industry. The previous one has done practically zilch and embroiled herself in controversies over the Pempena issue. Kicking the bad ass of the industry that only think of its profits while ripping off the guides and tourists is one helluva job and we must be relentless in this matter. It'll take lots of hard work to put us in the world's map (at least in tourism) but a few rotten apples will definitely spoils every body's hard work. DS has on air emphasized at least three key markets; i.e China, India and the Middle East. While the Arabs are known for the spending powers, China and India are targeted for their sheer volume!

Good beginning if you ask me. To refocus on the bread and butter issue rather than just cosmetics (giant billboard of Ministers welcoming you). She planned to hit the road and use her influence and network especially in China during her previous posting as the Deputy Minister of MOCAT. She used the term to visit old friends and get them to sell Malaysia!

Before I could finish listening to the interview, I reached my office..... so the rest, i don't really know what was talked about. Anyway, from the brief talk, I gather that the new minister will want to be seen as the one that revive to tour industry after a few years in the wilderness. Additional challenges when the world economy is now in the doldrums. If we put all our efforts in, I'm sure we can overcome all obstacles!

This only augurs well for the industry but I want the ministry to tackle the never ending problem of rogue TAs. They are like cancer to the industry. I doubt they will follow the 'no-share-room' ruling; threatening the ladies they face the 'ice-box' treatment if they pursue this matter. What we need is that the Ministry to announce or get the industry player to implement a minimum guide fee of RM180.00/day for professional guiding services. Engage respective Tourist Guides' Association for ideas or opinions. Real actions taken instead of just paying lip service on complaints against bad apple TAs. As the Chinese saying goes, "Kill one to warn many"; or "Won't cry without seeing the coffin". These rogue (especially Chinese market) TAs must be taught a lesson.

Just hope that Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen can really and possess the will power to fight for the industry, fight for us, fight for Malaysia!

For a better tomorrow! To Know Malaysia, Is To Love Malaysia.... my fav!

Ban on Female Guides on room sharing

The snakes are choking us all!

I read this news report from the Star with great interest, Female Tourist Guides welcome ban on twin sharing since I'm directly involved in the tour industry.

With a new Minister taking charge in the Tourism Ministry, Malaysian Women Tourist Guides Association (MWTGA) has 'succeeded' in their push to have ladies/female guides to have a room by their own. Well, I must say Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has issued a very stern warning or ultimatum if you like it that Tour Operators' licenses will be revoked if they failed to fulfill this requirement come 1st June 2009. I used 'succeeded' because looking at the industry, this will bound to fail and nothing but blowing hot air IF the root cause is not tackled by the MoTour.

The problem of female guides having to share room with their male colleague has been an issue for many many donkey years. We heard of horror stories about ladies being harassed by their male colleagues but many chose to suffer in silent. Mind you, that mostly female guides that faced this problem are those dealing with Chinese Markets (HK, PRC, Taiwan). These are real problems but not the only one faced by guides and by guides, I mean male and female tourist guides. Why? Because the main issues here is that Tour Operators a.k.a rats a.k.a snakes in these markets usually operated on a very low tour cost, zero cost tours and some even do a kick-back to the wholesale agents in China! Imagine taking in a group of tourist with negative profits! That's loss making to you and me!

First, don't just talk about rooms. I'd really like to see Datuk Seri issue an ultimatum to operators to PAY PROFESSIONAL GUIDE FEES TO ALL GUIDES or else risked their license revoked! Have a minimum professional fees; let's say RM180.00/day imposed. There are majority of guides that do guiding without getting paid, lucky ones get paid RM75.00/day while a minority of guides still gets RM180.00/day. How do they survive? By becoming salesman la! I know I may sound exaggerated, but it is the truth! As a whole, the whole tourism industry (in Chinese market) suffers. We are salesman on board the coach, we bring tourist to eat in restaurant that you normally don't see even a fly goes there, we checked in 'Hotels' that cockroaches called home! That's what you get when we have operators that still do KB/zero cost tours!

Unless these are tackled with real effort to eradicate 'Ali-Baba' tour agents, don't even talk about a separate room for the ladies. The operators can't even give a minimum of RM180.00/day!

So, Datuk Seri, please help the industry especially the Chinese Market to go straight again. Too many Ali-Babas doing hit and run. They change company name whenever their debt reaches Mt Everest level! Anyway, I support the 'No share room' ruling. It's a good start, just hope the females won't be boycotted.

Until the rats die, there always be salesman around in buses!

*The male colleagues stated in the papers refers to DRIVERS! Why MWTGA so scared to emphasis this?

Let's go to school again!

Let's go to school again, shall we?

Well, he dug a hole.... too deep to get out and now he blamed someone else for digging that very hole for him to be trapped. He stepped on a pile of his own shit and he blamed someone for not cleaning up his own mess.

He gave a comment during an interview that the Chinese voters were ungrateful and swung their votes to the opposition despite being granted allocation for schools and what not. Since the news broke out, he was under tremendous pressure for those remarks given his position as the N0 2 in the country; a country where racist or hurtful remarks can be sensitive issues.

Put the blame on BN loss at the by-election on the the Chinese shoulders? Calling us ungrateful for all the BN government did? Now, isn't it the duty of the government to give out allocation to all and not just during elections or by-elections? Aren't these our right as citizen to enjoy the benefits? To vote for or against you is a different story all together.

Now the No 2 has tried to squirm out of this hole by (again.....) saying the Chinese media twisted and misrepresented him. He lashed out to the irresponsible reporting, barking " If they don't understand the Malay language, then we can send them to school".

Let's all read into what he said during the interview with Utusan Malaysia....

Q: Tetapi bukankah setiap kali pilihan raya kecil, permintaan kaum bukan Melayu dipenuhi, malah di Bukit Gantang walaupun peruntukan RM1juta diberikan tetapi kaum Cina tidak juga menyokong BN?

[..........]

Ini yang mungkin menyebabkan sukar BN mendapat sokongan walaupun kita fikir bila mereka hendak sekolah Cina dibantu, kita bantu, sepatutnya mereka membalas budi. Pada waktu itu, kita pun tidak berharap sokongan kaum Cina akan meningkat 40 peratus dan sebagainya cuma kita berharap ada peningkatan sedikit tetapi apa yang berlaku ia mencatatkan penurunan, macam tidak ada penghargaan terhadap apa yang kita lakukan.

Now, you make your own assumption on this. Maybe our newly installed Ed Minister needs to go to school again!

Pempena's Biz Venture

Today when I read theSun paper, it really makes my blood boiled. It's big headline that can't be missed "RM18million failed Taxi Venture" with the RM18m in bold red print sure attracts attention!

Now the RM18m wasted by Pempena Sdn Bhd who is the investing arm of Tourism Malaysia, is either because they're really stupid and dumb in business dealings or rampant corruption is the main cause. RM18m reads OUR MONEY! Taxpayer's hard-earned money that goes to the Government coffers are meant for building and developing the country; not for self-enrichment programmes!

For details or the story of this screwed up venture, get a copy of theSun or surf the net. There's details and mind boggling numbers hard for someone like me to digest. From what I read, most probably some smart Alec got duped on a 'sure fire' money making venture with Dalamasa Sdn Bhd.

One of the listed figures are to purchase 5 cars with RM7mil! Yes.... you read it right! A cool RM7mil to be 'invested' in 5 cars (average RM1.4mil/car); most probably a Rolls, Beemer or a S-Class Merc as taxi/limo. Well, to those who are lucky enough to catch a high-end cab to the airport, good for you. The rest of the population like myself, I have never even seen or know such high-end models to be use as cab in other parts of the world I've been to. Maybe we want foreign tourists to know that we are so rich we can afford to ferry passengers in such cars; never mind there are still some poor souls living in poverty! Maybe Pempena carried the 'Malaysia Boleh' motto a bit too far..... Only them can answer.

If you go to PWTC and park your car opposite (at the bus station), you'll see some Naza painted as taxis lying there in sorry state. Some are with puntured tires. Some looked like scraps though you know these cars are quite new. These taxis are painted with blue and with Pempena's permits. A look at these 'junks' tells you how well Pempena can be in business dealings.

Being stupid and duped is one thing. To use taxpayer's monies and be stupid and duped needs to be answerable. Maybe to some, its tidak-apalah.... not my money ma. I suspect, someone might have siphoned part of the mils to their Swiss Bank account. If not for corruption, then what else? I really want to see MACC take some 'real' action on this.

Just hope the MACC can shed some light on this. The rakyat has the right to know. We want someone to be accountable for all these shoddy business dealings. Don't just go after cows and cars....

Rakyat IS demanding answers!