Chow Kon Yeow: 曹观友

The government has saved RM7.7 billion since the implementation of the privatization programme in 1983. Since then, 113,220 public sector workers had been transferred to the private sector.

The government said this in a written reply to my question listed 67 in the Order Paper today.

Below is the full reply in Bahasa Malaysia:

Tuan Chow Kon Yeow (Tanjong) minta Perdana Menteri menyatakan apakah dasar penswastaan sudah gagal memandangkan sektor perkhidmatan awam semakin bertambah sehingga menjadi 4.6 peratus daripada jumlah populasi Negara.

Jawapan

Dasar penswastaan telah memberi banyak manfaat dari segi mengurangkan bebanan kewangan dan pertadbiran kerajaan. Sejak diperkenalkan pada tahun 1983, sejumlah 113,220 pekerja sektor awam telah dipindah kepada sektor swasta. Selain daripada pengurangan beban pentadbiran kerajaan, dasar penswastaan juga telah menjimat perbelanjaan mengurus berjumlah RM7.7 bilion.

Selain itu, banyak kemudahan dan utiliti awam telah disediakan untuk rakyat secara penswastaan kerana pihak kerajaan terpaksa mengawal perbelanjaannya.

Pertambahan bilangan pekerja dalam sektor perkhidmatan awam antara lain adalah disebabkan oleh pertambahan peranan perkhidmatan awam selari dengan pertambahan penduduk dan perkembangan ekonomi.

Oleh itu, kerajaan terpaksa meningkatkan pekerja-pekerja awam seperti dalam bidang kesihatan dan pendidikan dan juga bidang keselamatan dan pemantauan.

Jumlah pekerja sector awam ialah sebanyak 1,152,467 orang. Dari jumlah ini, sebanyak 652,711 pekerja atau 56.64% terdiri daripada anggota polis dan tentera serta dalam bidang perguruan dan kesihatan.

Three more new bills have been tabled for first reading this morning. This being the second meeting of this year’s session, the focus is on passing bills. There is not much opportunity for general debate as in the first meeting (for the Royal Address) or the third meeting (Budget). The exception is when the government presents a supplementary budget.

The three bills are the Pathology Laboratory Bill, Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill and Malaysian Qualifications Agency Bill.

It is not possible for MPs to be well-versed in all matters; therefore MPs are usually given areas of specialization. This will allow MPs to speak on subjects that are closed to their hearts and cause.

The Pathology Laboratory Bill seeks to provide for the regulation and control of pathology laboratories.

The Malaysian Qualifications Agency Act 2007 proposed by the bill seeks to establish a body corporate by the name of “Malaysian Qualifications Agency” as a national body to implement the Malaysian Qualifications Framework, to accredit higher educational programmes and qualifications to supervise and regulate the quality and standard of higher education providers, to establish and maintain the Malaysian Qualifications Register and for related matters.

At the moment the debate for an amendment bill for the Environment Quality Act is still going on. Clause 2 seeks to amend subsection 34B(4) to provide for a mandatory imprisonment and fine for illegal dumping scheduled toxic waste. Clause 3 seeks to amend subsection 43(1) to include the CEO as one of those to be liable for an offence committed by a body corporate.

I am trying to get a chance to take part in the debate. It is difficult to say when I will be called to speak. There are a few more MPs lining up to speak. The wait can be very frustrating.