Syed Abdul Razak Alsagoff

Not so efficient after all … Hello, what happened to ‘super efficient’ kiasu Singapore at Changi! If it happened at KLIA, all hell would have broken loose among political doomsayers and they will be baying for the resignation of the Transport Minister. It must be most embarrassing for Changi and Singapore to stomach such a slip up, thereby denting aviation safety at the so-called world’s best international airport. Two aircraft, Scoot and Emirates, were involved in a minor collision on Changi’s tarmac, grounding both jets. No one was injured in the collision. “What happened to super efficient Singaporeans? Obviously something had gone wrong with Changi’s ground aviation control for such a collision to happen,” Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak Alsagoff said. He said humans were prone to making mistakes and “it is therefore not necessary to look up at Singaporeans’ ‘super efficient’ image as a global standard. “Likewise, it is also best to view mistakes with pos

A total of 131,841 drug addicts have been registered in Malaysia between January 2010 and February this year, said the Home Ministry. - NST File Pic War against drug abuse, trafficking not just about enforcement and punishments … For decades Malaysia and the rest of the world have been waging a seemingly losing war against drug abuse. The latest development is the National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada)’s effort to draft a National Drugs Policy strategic plan to comprehensively tackle the serious issue of drug abuse in the country. “For decades we have been fighting drug abuse and drug trafficking but the scourge continues to haunt communities and nations unabated. “Why is that so? Perhaps we must start identifying the root causes of drug abuse and trafficking,” Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak Alsagoff said. He said the revelation in Parliament that the war on drugs was now aimed at reaching out to high-risk communities. “So, I assume the authorities, like the p

Budding young Malay entrepreneurs told to seize business and trade opportunities in OBOR’s Shaanxi China’s Shaanxi Province in the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) Initiative offers vast opportunities for Malaysian entrepreneurs to venture into and tap for trade and business. Shaanxi’s economic attraction is unique because it is also home to five major Muslim territories. “It is, therefore, a huge market potential for Muslim businesses to go into joint-ventures for all types of business, be it food or industries,” Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak Alsagoff said. Speaking on the sidelines at the China (Shaanxi) Enterprise Economy and Tourism Cooperation Conference, Syed Razak urged Malaysian entrepreneurs, especially young Malays, to always look out for both domestic and international trade and business opportunities. “Budding young Malay entrepreneurs should not fear venturing into and seizing economic and business ventures. Learn to be brave and think big. “Economic an

When one-bedroom flats cost almost RM6 million each … For the past decade or two, Malaysians have been crying out protests for affordable housing. The price of houses have shot up nationwide due to rising cost of construction materials and land prices. “That is expected in a developing nation which is striving to achieve developed nation status. But the housing prices in the not so urban and even rural places have also become unreasonably high,” Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak. He said it was only natural for property prices to go up due to land scarcity and property development in urban cities like Kuala Lumpur and The Klang Valley, Johor Baru, Penang Island, Seremban and Malacca. “But prices of houses in the outskirts and not so urban towns have also shot up beyond the reach of majority of Malaysians. Why? I must say it is partly due to profiteering,” he added. Syed Razak, who is Gerakan’s nominee to contest N.37 Bukit Lanjan in the coming 14th General E

BUKIT LANJAN: Either it’s mandatory death or not, no discretion please! (UPDATED:  Gallows await 1,122 ) The Cabinet’s review of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 to allow judges to use their discretion in sentencing offenders instead of imposing the mandatory death sentence is certainly disturbing. Disturbing because discretionary powers mean it is open to abuse and is also subject to weaknesses. “It is either mandatory or not. No discretion. Why must a judge, who is after all human, allowed to decide on the life of a drug trafficker?” Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak Alsagoff asked. He said despite the death penalty, the drug abuse menace continues to grow and cripple communities and society, drug trafficking continues to thrive and flourish. “There is still no fear in many drug pushers and traffickers despite the death penalty. Imagine what will become of the drug abuse problem if the death penalty is removed,” he added. Syed Razak said no doubt the death penal

The Star Online Pic Preparing for disruptive technology and cyberspace with Jack Ma It’s enlightening to note that Malaysia is moving to prepare its workforce for disruptive tehnology and cyberspace. And, that is what it was all about when Prime Minister Najib Razak and Alibaba founder Jack Ma launched the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ). Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak Alsagoff said disruptive technology had unfolded since the advent of the digital era. “Disruptive technology is really a very wide term that covers everything about digital development or technological advancement. “It is only in recent years that the tech industry has started stressing on the need to address disruptive technology issues to adapt to lifestyle evolution,” he added. “To simplify the understanding of disruptive technology, the banking industry is most appropriate. The banking services and industry in the 60s and 70s, and today are completely different. “We don’t have to queue up