Ong, Kayveas giving ministry a bad image



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Ong, Kayveas giving ministry a bad image
19/04/2002 NST By Dr A. Soorian Seremban

April 19: IT was not amusing to read the news item headlined "Minister and deputy differ on quota issue" (NST, April 16) which reported that the Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and his deputy Datuk M. Kaveas "seem to be at odds over recent issues, including the 30 per cent housing quota for Bumiputeras. While Kaveas announced yesterday that the quota may be reduced if the quantum burdened developers, Ong shot down the idea today".

To another statement of the deputy minister that the "Government may increase the number of councillors in local authorities and pay them a salary, Ong said this could not be done as it would burden the people".

To the citizens, this state of affairs of a deputy minister being openly at loggerheads with his boss in the Government is not only pathetic to watch but undermines the credibility of the Government.

This seems to convey to the public that the Housing and Local Government Ministry is in a disarray and not cohesive enough to present a solid front in its policy making.

If the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing, it will only serve to confound the housing industry.

As it is, we are told that there is an overhang of over RM20 billion unsold properties in the market and because of this, coupled with the multitude of complaints against developers, the deputy and his boss should get their act together and sing only one tune in policy matters.

The housing industry is crucial to the ignition of the economic take-off in the country and needless to say, the relevant ministry plays a key role in its operations.

It is quite apparent that the minister and his deputy do not meet and discuss issues privately and come to a consensus before giving public statements.

Sadly, they prefer to shoot from the hip as and when they please, quite oblivious to the damage they inflict on public opinion on good governance.

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